Starting Strong - FAQs - St. Mary Academy

Updated 4:00 p.m., Fri, October 23 (Click here to see revision history.)

FAQs

Academics and Extracurriculars

	Lower School	Middle School	Upper School
How will my daughter be assessed?	At this time, the primary focus is to keep girls engaged in meaningful learning opportunities to develop and keep skills fresh. The activities will encourage them to read, build, play, practice old skills and build upon new ones, share ideas, explore and move. Assessment will occur through review of student work and ongoing quizzes or tests.	Bay View’s Virtual Learning Plan asks teachers to focus on formative assessment (monitoring student learning) as well as summative assessment (evaluating student learning). More plainly, teachers will review work in smaller parts as students accomplish tasks—much like they would during an in-person class—through participation or small writing assignments. Projects and more significant writing assignments may be part of class assignments, but they will generally be broken into smaller pieces with more frequent feedback provided. Assessments through quizzes and tests will also be given to students but will focus more on applied learning rather than the recall of facts or the simple processing of math equations.
Will there be grades or will classes be pass/fail?	We will resume using regular grades when we resume classes on September 8. Moving to pass/fail last March gave everyone the grace to adjust to the sudden alteration in how teachers were teaching and students were learning. With many months of preparation, we are now prepared to resume our regular grading policies. We will administer mid-term and final exams.
Will PE be offered?	Yes, there will be PE offered in the Lower School as well as extended recesses.	Yes, there will be a newly formed class that combines health and wellness class for students in the Middle School.	Yes, there will be a newly formed class that combines health and wellness class for students in the Upper School.
Will there be before- or after-school care offered for In-Person and Hybrid Learning?	Yes, students who arrive before 7:30 a.m. should report to the Wellness Center. Families interested in having their daughter participate in the Extended Day Program should contact Ms. Moreira.	Yes, students who arrive before 7:30 a.m. should report to the Wellness Center. Students who will be picked up after the school day ends will report to the Wellness Center. There will be assigned seating and all safety measures will be followed.
If my daughter chooses the Hybrid Model, can she decide which days she would like to attend school?	No, there is more structure to the Hybrid Model. The structure requires all students to learn from home on Monday. Students with last names beginning with a letter in the first half of the alphabet (A–M) would attend school in-person on Tuesday and Wednesday and learn from home on Thursday and Friday. Students with last names beginning with a letter in the last half of the alphabet (N–Z) would learn from home on Tuesday and Wednesday and attend in-person on Thursday and Friday. See Our Hybrid Learning Model for more details.
For Hybrid Learning, will siblings be on the same schedule?	Yes, siblings will be in the same group in the Hybrid Model. See Our Hybrid Learning Model for more details.
Can students who are in the Virtual and Hybrid Learning Models participate in extracurricular activities?	That depends. Students in the Hybrid Learning Model may participate but must be present for meetings, practices, rehearsals or other related events even when they are scheduled on a day the student is learning from home. Students who are learning virtually may participate in those extracurricular activities that are being held virtually. They should check with Ms. Wasson for athletics and Ms. Pate for all other activities.
How will after school clubs run?	After school clubs will run either virtually or in-person, depending on the nature of the club and the faculty member leading the club. Should clubs meet in person they will have to follow all the health and safety precautions used during the school day. Students may contact Ms. Pate with questions about specific clubs.
Will there be field trips this year?	No, at this time we are not planning for any field trips or outside travel. We will monitor state and national conditions and communicate if there are any changes.
What does a Virtual Learning day look like if the whole school is in this model? How long will my daughter sit in front of a computer?	Each Lower School grade will follow a set weekly schedule. With this age group we have worked thoughtfully to develop a schedule that balances teacher-led, computer time, which can be demanding for young students, and family-led, non-computer time, which can be demanding for families. Each day includes periods of teacher-led synchronous instruction, periods of family-led asynchronous work, and regular recess or break periods. These grade-level schedules will be sent to families soon, but you can see a sample schedule on in the Lower School Virtual Learning Plan.	Each Middle and Upper School student will receive an individualized schedule from classes they have selected. The day will consist of four 70-minute blocks of instruction, interspersed with regular breaks and a 30-minute lunch period. You can see sample Middle School and Upper School daily schedules in the Middle School and Upper School Virtual Learning Plans.
If we select Virtual Learning, are there additional supplies we should have on hand?	Yes, Lower School teachers have identified, by grade level, what types of supplies would be helpful for girls to have at home so that they are prepared to engage fully in projects. Lists are being updated now, and you can find them here.	Students who are in art classes may need supplies. Teachers will provide those lists when they meet with students during the first week of school.
Will students be able to charge their device during the school day?	Yes, it will be important for your daughters to bring their charger to school with them to ensure that it is always ready for use. We will have additional charging areas available for them in their classrooms. We also suggest that girls bring earbuds or headphones to school.
Is it possible to switch to a different learning model once school starts?	Yes, should a student decide that she wants to move to a different learning model she would need her parents/guardians to send a request to Mrs. Cummings or Ms. Gribbin indicating which model they would like. The school will need five school days to ensure that all records are changed and teachers are notified of the switch. Families are able to change once per semester, except in the case of extenuating circumstances.
Can I use the Virtual Model without giving five days notice if my daughter is sick or in quarantine?	Yes, you can use the Virtual Learning Model from home if your daughter is quarantined or if she is sick but well enough to participate in school virtually. Parents must certify that their daughter is ill (including symptoms) via kthompson@bayviewacademy.org (Lower School) or attendance@bayviewacademy.org (Middle and Upper Schools) by 7:30 a.m. Your daughter will not be marked absent when she participates from home.
Is there any flexibility with Virtual Learning for parents who work? Can lessons or assignments be done in the evening?	Students who are learning from home are required to follow the same schedule as their peers during the school day so that they can observe instruction and participate in class discussions. There may be times when teachers are using class time for students to work on assignments or projects. On those occasions, and with teachers’ permission, the student may work in the evening.
Will there be an athletics program this fall?	Not applicable.	We are waiting for guidance from the RI Principals’ Comm. on Athletics. We will post information on Bay View’s website when it becomes available. Questions may be directed to Jen Wasson, Bay View’s Athletic Director.	Each sport’s status is updated on the RI Interscholastic League’s website. For Crew, contact Lisa Evans. Equestrian, contact Alicia Cugini to continue private lessons. Questions may also be directed to Jen Wasson, Bay View’s Athletic Director.

Social and Emotional Wellbeing

	Lower School	Middle School	Upper School
My child struggles with transitions. What is being done to help students transition back to school?	We have known since we first shifted to Virtual Learning last March that returning to school—whenever that day came—would come with a certain amount of apprehension and trauma for our students. To address this, we have completely overhauled our Student Orientations to address areas that we expect to be triggers for stress and anxiety. Moreover, we have developed this reopening plan with particular attention to processes that will provide our students with routine, a sense of security and, more importantly, grace as we all adapt to our still-new circumstances. We are also partnering with Butler Hospital’s Adolescent Unit to develop trainings for our faculty and staff to help identify and address concerning behaviors as they arise. And we continue to collect resources for families and students (posted in the Family Portal under the heading Suggested by Our Faculty), so we can partner in a successful launch to the new year for your daughters.
Whom should I contact if my daughter becomes anxious or displays other worrying behavior?	Margaret Cummings or Jaimi O'Connor	Grace Mills	Drea Harms or Jaimi O'Connor

Health and Safety

	Lower School	Middle School	Upper School
Will face coverings be required? What types of coverings are acceptable?	Yes, masks are required for every child and adult at Bay View. Please see the Face Masks and Coverings section for more details.
Will the school provide face masks for students and staff?	Students and staff are expected to provide their own masks, but extras will be available for instances when a student has forgotten hers or the mask has become unusable for some reason. Lower School families are encouraged to send in extra masks for their daughters in case a mask is soiled during the school day.
Can my daughter wear a face shield instead of a mask?	No, face shields do not provide adequate protection. They can be worn in addition to a mask, but not as a replacement for one. Bay View has face shields available for any student who would like one.
How will mask breaks work?	Students in the Lower School will be given mask breaks multiple times a day during recess and lunch periods.	Students in the Middle and Upper Schools will be given a mask break during lunch and at least two other times during the school day. We will identify classes when the girls are within their pod so that they can go outside together, distance themselves and take a mask break.
How will mask usage, distancing and hand washing be enforced?	Bay View is committed to maintaining healthy and safe practices. Students will be provided with background knowledge about why these precautions are needed and how we expect them to follow the guidelines. Reinforcing these practices will be done in the spirit of mutual concern and responsibility for everyone in the Bay View community. Our youngest students will be guided to wash their hands several times a day.
Will students and staff be tested on a regular basis?	Bay View does not currently have plans to proactively test either students or staff on a regular basis. Using RIDOH’s guidance, we have developed a COVID-19 Screening Tool that all students (or their parents/guardians) and staff must complete each morning before coming to campus. You can also read more about our COVID-19 Control Plan, including detailed scenarios, here.
Will hot lunch be offered?	Bay View will not have food services available for students this year. Students should bring their lunch and snacks to school. We will not allow the use of DoorDash or other food delivery services.
How will lunch be managed given that masks will be off while eating and drinking?	Students will eat lunch in their classrooms. Desks are 6 ft. apart, which allows them to be mask-free while eating. Students will go outdoors on nice days to eat lunch.	Students will eat lunch in their homeroom where there is sufficient spacing for them to sit at their desk mask-free. Grade levels will also have assigned days when they can eat lunch under the tent. This area will also have assigned seating that is socially distanced.
Will there be access to a microwave for girls to heat up their lunches?	No, students will need to bring any temperature-sensitive items in an insulated container. All lunch items should be relatively easy for Lower School students to open.	No, students will need to bring any temperature-sensitive items in an insulated container.
Will my child be able to use the drinking fountains?	Yes, the students will have access to drinking fountains that are assigned to each pod. Filters have been changed and they will be cleaned. Students may bring their own water bottles to school.
Where will my daughter keep her lunch, books, and coat if lockers aren’t used?	We will have crates below each student’s desk so that she can use that to store her belongings.	Students will bring their backpacks with them throughout the day and place them under their seats during class. Coats will be placed on the back of their chairs.
How will Bay View decide when to switch to Hybrid Learning? Fully Virtual Learning?	For Lower School and Middle School, students will maintain In-Person Learning when the At-Scale Hybrid Learning Model is being implemented for students in Grades 9 through 12, unless they are out of school due to illness or their families have selected the Hybrid Learning Model. The only scenario in which all students in Preschool through Grade 8 would be required to learn via Virtual Learning is if the Governor issued a mandatory school closure, as happened last March. Otherwise, for our youngest students, Hybrid Learning remains one of the three options from which families may choose. You can read more about the three models here.		Students in the Middle and Upper School would move to a full Hybrid Model only if there is a significant increase in COVID-19 cases at the school and we deem this necessary. We will move to full virtual if the Governor issues a mandatory school closure.
What precautions are you taking on school buses?	Statewide buses are not managed by Bay View, but you may read more about the guidance for these buses on RIDE’s COVID-19 page. Our private bus serving Warwick and South County will have assigned, socially distanced seating and follow all of the same practices and cleaning protocols as Bay View’s campus.
Will there be a late bus this year?	No, there will not be a late bus this year.
How often will the school be cleaned?	Please refer to our Building and Facilities Cleaning Protocols document.
How will classrooms be modified to keep students safe?	Air quality/circulation benefits from HVAC HEPA filters, open windows and classroom doors; desks are between 4 and 6 feet apart, desks will be cleaned after each class, manipulatives will be cleaned daily and extraneous furniture has been removed. Some Upper School classes have “satellite rooms” for students to use when the classroom cannot safely hold the entire class. Students would rotate using this room.
How will you maintain social distancing in hallways?	Lower School students will remain in their classes most of the day. Specialist teachers will move to each classroom. Any movement is teacher-led and socially distant.	Middle School students will have little movement outside of their homeroom. Any travel will be done in small groups and remain within St. Joseph Hall.	Upper School students will move primarily within their section of the building in Mercy Hall. Any movement will be done in a staggered manner using specific assigned hallways and staircases.
How are you ensuring there is good air quality in the buildings?	All of the buildings on campus have been reviewed for air quality and filtration systems. The HVAC system is equipped with HEPA filters. In addition, windows will remain open as well as class doors to keep air circulating.
Will classroom windows be opened at all times when students are present? Even in winter?	Windows will remain fully open as long into the fall season as possible. When colder weather begins we will keep the windows opened slightly to encourage circulation and open them fully during class transition periods.
Will visitors be permitted on campus?	The entry of visitors will be strictly controlled and limited to those deemed essential. All visitors will also be required to complete the COVID-19 Screening Tool prior to coming to campus. Careful visitor logs will be maintained, so that our nurses have access to complete information when conducting Contact Tracing should any suspected exposure occur.
Will Bay View tell families when someone in their student’s classroom or pod becomes ill with COVID-19?	The sharing of health information is governed by HIPAA privacy regulations, so Bay View is restricted in how much detail can be shared. However, if someone in your child’s pod is diagnosed with COVID-19 or has an outside exposure to a confirmed case, parents/guardians will be kept apprised to the extent allowed by law, including notice to self-quarantine and next steps. The community at large will receive a more general communication alerting them to a case or exposure on campus. See our Health Scenarios and Action Plans for more information.

Operational

	Lower School	Middle School	Upper School
Will attendance be taken?	Each grade-level teacher will take attendance in the morning homeroom at 8:00 a.m. If your daughter cannot participate in classes, regardless of learning model, email Ms. Thompson or call her at 434-0113, ext. 141.	Attendance will be taken during homeroom each morning between 7:55 and 8:15 a.m. Attendance will be taken again at the start of every synchronous class. Students who will be absent or tardy should email attendance@bayviewacademy.org.
What happens if my daughter is unable to attend an online session?	Families should email Ms. Thompson or call her at 434-0113, ext. 141.	Families should email attendance@bayviewacademy.org if she began the school day but later became ill or unable to attend a class.
What should I do if my daughter is kept home sick but is well enough to follow classes virtually?	Families should email Ms. Thompson or call her at 434-0113, ext. 141.	Families should email attendance@bayviewacademy.org to let the school know that their daughter won’t be in school that day. Teachers will be notified which students are learning from home. Your daughter won’t be marked absent if she attends all her classes virtually.
Who should we contact if we need technology support?	Students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 will purchase a Chromebook, and students in Grades 6 through 12 may bring a device of their choice. Parents should let Mrs. Cummings or Ms. Gribbin know if they do not have stable internet access at home.
Will there be a refund or reduction in tuition for this year?	No, Bay View is not able to offer a reduction in or a refund of tuition for In-Person, Hybrid or Virtual Learning. The actual per-student cost for every student attending Bay View is more than the cost of tuition and is supplemented by fundraising, donor and foundation support. Approximately 90% of our costs are fixed as we begin the school year. Contracts, personnel decisions, student materials and education supplies are all determined with little flexibility to realign once we begin the year. The additional requirements needed to respond to COVID-19 introduces new financial burdens on the school.
Does my daughter need to wear her uniform when learning from home?	We are requiring students to wear a top (blouse, polo shirts) that is in keeping with the Bay View uniform. We learned last year that dressing appropriately serves as a good reminder that they are participating in school and expected to be prepared to engage fully in their learning process.
If my daughter has a study period in the morning can she come in for the second period? Or, if she has the last period free, can she leave early?	Not applicable.	Not applicable.	Students in their senior and junior year and with their own transportation may leave school early if they have a study during their last period. We do expect all students to be on campus on time even if their first period is a study so that we have an accurate attendance for contact tracing purposes.

Back to the main Reopening Plan page.

SAFETY FIRST. All decisions will be made with the health and safety of our staff and students as a first priority.

OUR MISSION. The plan must uphold Mercy values and the culture that makes Bay View strong.

CONTINUED EXCELLENCE. Academic rigor must be expected and supported for every student.

HOLISTIC OUTCOMES. We will attend to the needs of the “whole child” as a central tenet of our reopening plan.

TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIVE. Ongoing and clear communication with the entire community will be essential in order for us to be cohesive and nimble throughout the changing conditions during the school year.