Frequently Asked Questions
Updated August 18, 2020
Frequently Asked Questions
Will school have hot lunch or just cold lunch?
Please visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/menus/breakfast-meals for an updated menu.
For remote learning, will the school move time to sign on in the morning (i.e. 10 am so allow time to get to day care) to a later time and extend the deadline for students to turn in their daily assignments to accommodate that they will be traveling to day care and need to do the work assignments when their parents pick them up from day care at 6 pm?
As of this time we have not received any official policy from the DOE.
Where do we go to change from hybrid to all remote if parents choose all remote closer to the 1st day of school?
Please see the Update for Families on Instruction letter from Chancellor Carranza here. This communication includes more information about both remote and blended learning options so families are better empowered to make a decision. Translations available on the InfoHub. You can choose to be fully remote at any time by completing this form. https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference
If parents choose all remote from hybrid, what can parents expect as a response - that their child can sign in the next day via google classroom? Do they need to call the school?
Yes, if a parent decides to switch to 100% remote please inform the teacher as well as the main office. This will help make the transition easier for all. Please also complete this form. https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference
Will all sick children be placed in the same isolation room?
No. In order to accommodate a student who may exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, every building must designate space to be used as an Isolation Room. An Isolation Room is a place where a student with suspected COVID-19 symptoms can be safely isolated in the building until they can be picked up by a guardian.
Has the school's ventilation been improved, upgraded or changed in anyway to allow for improved air circulation in the school?
As of August 18, 2020 no improvements have been made.
Is the school's plan to open all windows to allow for air circulation?
Yes
Please advise if busing will be provided?
If your child meets the OPT guidelines then bussing will be provided.
For full remote learning, how will the students be grouped?
They will be grouped with peers that are only doing full remote learning.
Will students enrolled in full remote learning be learning at the same pace as their peers in blended learning?
Yes
Will the teacher teaching full remote be the same teacher teaching the remote portion for blended learning?
Currently the teachers assigned to remote are teaching remote students only. This can change if the DOE policy changes.
Will there be a limit to how big the class size will be for remote learning?
We are awaiting DOE/UFT guidelines.
If in a case that school has to be shut down for more than 14 days, how will the students be grouped then?
The child’s classroom teacher will provide full remote instruction.
Will the students go back to the original class that was assigned in June?
Some students will be moved to a new class to accommodate staff and students that will be working remotely.
My children learn in the gifted and talented program. We choose the blended learning. Who will teach the children for the days when they are learning at home?
Staffing has not been finalized as there are staff members that applied to work remotely.
Will my child need textbooks from school for remote learning?
We are currently working with vendors to provide digital access.
How will children be evaluated for IEP?
Please email our Dmessano@schools.nyc.gov.
Updated August 16, 2020
I have two kids in PS200. I want to know more about dismissal. Is every grade going to have a specific time for dismissal?
Arrival and dismissal procedures will be posted on the school website. Procedures will ensure social distancing and utilize multiple exits. Here is the most up to date plan.
Will new kindergarten students’ classes be sent to the parents email?
Kindergarten students will all be assigned a Gmail@ps200.com email address. Parents will have to login to this email address to find out their child’s assigned class. Please visit PS200.com for more information.
Who is going to teach G&T 1st grade online?
Currently that decision has not been finalized.
How can we find the supply list for each grade?
A supply list for each grade will be posted the week of August 17, 2020. Please visit PS200.com
What will the students be served for breakfast and lunch?
Please visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/menus/breakfast-meals for an updated menu.
How many hours will our kids will sit in front of a computer/iPad for remote learning days?
Currently the DOE has not issued guidance for how long teachers/students are expected to be “live” in front of a computer.
Is the school building ready?
As of August 17, 2020 we are still waiting on the delivery of some items that the DOE is providing.
My child cannot wear a mask for more than 15 minutes. Is that OK?
No, with the exception of breakfast and lunch, students and staff must wear face coverings protecting their nose and mouth while on school property or on DOE-provided transportation, unless students cannot medically tolerate a face covering or wearing the face covering is developmentally inappropriate.
August 5, 2020
Is school starting in September?
The mayor stated during a June press conference that the city wants as many kids in their classroom as possible on September 10, 2020. This may be the first day of school for the 2020-2021 school year. Additional information will be provided to us on August 28, 2020.
How will I know what class my child is assigned to for September?
The classroom assignment is the same as you received on their June report card. The “Group” they are assigned will be shared later this month. Kindergarten class assignments will be determined later this month.
8/13/2020 - Update: You child's class may be changed to accommodate teachers who applied to work remotely and were granted the accommodation. You will be informed later this month of your child's class and group assignment. If you are not receiving emails from our school account, BensonSchool@ps200.com, please complete this form to be added.
Where can we get the supply list?
School supply lists will be posted to the P.S. 200 website and distributed via email to the student’s Gmail accounts later this month.
How many students will be allowed in each classroom?
The number of students allowed in each classroom is based on the size of the classroom that allows social distancing. We are following CDC & DOE guidelines. Most rooms will have 9-12 students.
When is the last day to submit the remote learning survey?
August 7 is the last day to complete the DOE survey to choose Blended Learning or fully Remote Learning.
Complete it here: https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference
Do the students have to wear masks? How will students eat when they have to have the mask on?
As per the Chancellor’s webinar on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, students will be required to wear masks. They may be removed during breakfast and lunch. Breakfast and lunch will take place in your child’s classroom and they will be adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Are students going to do “face-time” with their teachers when school starts?
As per the DOE, every class will include “live instruction.” The amount will vary by grade, depending on what is developmentally appropriate. Visit DOE information here.
What happens to working parents?
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City is planning to provide quality, safe, free childcare options for 100,000 children this fall. This follows the release of the Mayor and Chancellor's preliminary school reopening plan, which utilizes a cohort-based blended learning system with both remote and in-person education for students. You can read more information here.
Will classes be switching throughout the day?
Students will remain in the same classroom for “Core Subjects.” We are awaiting guidance from the DOE for PE, Art and Music.
What are the different models?
To view the models offered by the DOE, please click here. https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-year-20-21/return-to-school-2020/school-schedules
P.S. 200 will follow CDC & DOE guidelines when making this decision.
Click here to download Model 1 and Model 2.
Will NYPD/School Safety workers still be present in the school?
School Safety officers will continue to be present in our school.
What do I do if my child needs a device to work remotely?
Visit https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/remotelearningdevices
Please do this as soon as possible so your child will be ready to begin learning on the first day of school.
I have 2 children that attend P.S. 200. Will they be in the same group?
Yes, P.S. 200 is working on having siblings in the same “Group” to the greatest extent possible.
When will we be notified of the schedule so that working parents may make accommodations? We will do our best to notify you as soon as possible. Once a model has been approved by the DOE and parent surveys have been completed we will start to schedule students. When we complete this we will share what group each child is assigned to. Please visit PS200.com for updates.
When will the school know how many teachers will be teaching remotely? As of July 15, 2020, the DOE issued guidance on the reasonable accommodations process to work from home. Any DOE members who are over the age of 65 and/or who have an underlying medical condition as set forth by the CDC guidelines may be eligible for an accommodation to work remotely. Though there is no firm deadline, the DOE is asking all staff to complete their application by July 31st to allow time for schools to plan for the fall.
Is P.S. 200 able to provide as much PPE and support from the DOE to keep our children, teachers and administrators safe?
As per the DOE, at the start of the school year, the DOE will provide all schools with necessary supplies to help protect students and staff from COVID-19, including hand sanitizer, soap, disinfectants, and thermometers.
Learn more on the DOE's Health and Safety website.
What is the procedure when students need to use the bathroom? We are awaiting DOE guidance.
What are social distancing requirements on school buses? (updated 8/13)
Social distancing requirements will reduce the typical school bus capacity to approximately 25% of its normal operating passenger capacity. The only exception to this will be students from the same household who will be seated with each other and will still be required to wear face masks. Seating on the bus will be clearly marked to designate which seats may be used and which seats will be blocked off for social distancing.
How are safety and health checks going to be monitored? The administration and staff are currently working on health and safety protocols for the reopening of school.
If children feel overwhelmed with their masks on, can they take a “mask break?” Yes, as long as they adhere to the 6 feet social distancing guidelines.
Who will be "teaching" the students during school if teachers are working remotely? To the greatest extent possible students will be taught by a P.S. 200 teacher.
Will students have different teachers in blended learning?
To the greatest extent possible students will be taught by a P.S. 200 teacher.
What happens during a fire drill?
Evacuation drills during the COVID-19 pandemic will be conducted as follows:
•All students must participate in drills.
•With consideration to overall number of students and physical distancing guidelines, drills may be conducted in stages rather than all at once.
For instance, instead of an evacuation drill being executed for the entire building, it can be conducted in stages with select floors participating at one time.
•If schools conduct a drill in stages, all students must participate in a staged drill before the completion of the school day (e.g., first and third floors conduct drill in the morning; second and fourth floors conduct drill in the afternoon).
•School must schedule drills to ensure that each group of the school’s blended learning schedule has an opportunity to participate in a drill.
•For instance, if the first drill of the school year includes students in Group A, schools must schedule the second drill when Group B is in session.
•Students should exit the building and proceed to their staging area in single file lines. Staff not assigned to students at time of drill should monitor staging areas.
•Students should be instructed to maintain a distance of six feet to comply with physical distancing guidelines and to wear a face covering. While younger students may be accustomed to exiting the building holding hands, for now this must be discouraged. Older students should be instructed to refrain from congregating in groups and remain in single file lines while exiting the building.
•Expand street staging areas which might require extending current staging area to an additional block from the school. It is best to assess this in advance and inform all staff of any changes that must be made.
•All physical distancing guidelines must be followed as students and staff re-enter the building after any evacuation drill or emergency.
What time will school start and end? Tentative times are from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM
What is the procedure to pick up and drop off students?
The administration and staff are currently working on drop off and pick up procedures for the reopening of school.
Will after-school programs be available? We are awaiting guidance from the DOE.
What are arrival and dismissal procedures? Once finalized these procedures will be posted on our website.
Will 3rd, 4th & 5th grade students still have State Tests in the upcoming school year? We are awaiting guidance from the DOE.
How will the school ensure cooperative lesson planning and teaching amongst teachers teaching the same students? Teachers will be provided time from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM daily for instructional coordination.
The P.S. 200 website contains many video tutorials for parents to become familiar with Google applications. It contains videos in 11 languages. You can visit it here: https://www.ps200.com/resources/google-classroom
Building Safety Measures:
o At all times, students and staff must wear face coverings protecting their nose and mouth while on school property or on DOE-provided transportation, unless students cannot medically tolerate a face covering or wearing the face covering is developmentally inappropriate. Central will provide these, along with disinfectant; hand sanitizer; and electrostatic sprayers.
o School leadership and facilities staff in every school are reviewing school space and making necessary repairs and adjustments to ensure safe conditions for in-person student learning, including repairs to HVAC systems, maximizing ventilation, and replacing regular air filters with higher efficiency types.
o Schools will be cleaned throughout the day and disinfected each night, with special attention to high-touch areas.
o School buildings will display signage on face coverings, hand washing and physical distancing.
o Schools will be allowed to modify or reconfigure spaces to ensure compliance with physical distancing rules.
o More information and guidance on non-school workplaces will be forthcoming as well.
Test, Trace & Other Health Protocols:
o DOE recommends that all staff take a COVID-19 test in the days before the first day of school and monthly throughout the school year. Staff will have priority access for testing at 34 city-run testing locations, with tests provided free of charge and with expedited results. Free testing is also available for families citywide.
o If a student or teacher is feeling sick, they are required to stay home and, if their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19, are asked to get tested.
o If a student begins experiencing symptoms in school, they will be isolated and monitored by a dedicated staff member until they are picked up by their parents or guardians.
o Staff members who become symptomatic at school are asked to notify administration and immediately leave the building.
o In the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case in a school, NYC Test + Trace and NYC Health will investigate to determine close contacts within the school. All students and teachers in the classroom with the confirmed case are assumed close contacts and will be instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days since their last exposure to that case. In older grades where students may travel between classes, this applies to all classes that the confirmed case was in.
o If there's more than one case in a school, and it's not in the same classroom, learning will continue remotely and the school building will close for at least 24 hours while NYC Test + Trace and NYC Health investigate. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, affected classrooms or the whole building will remain closed for 14 days for quarantine. The protocol lays out additional steps for each possible exposure scenario.
o There will be a clear flow of information to facilitate fast action and prevent spread. A positive confirmed case will trigger an investigation by the NYC Test + Trace Corps and DOHMH to determine close contacts within the school, and to work with the DOE to issue clear guidance and decisions based on the outcome of the investigation. Schools will communicate to all families and students within the school any time a case is laboratory confirmed.
Screening, Entry/Dismissal and Movement Protocols: To minimize the number of individuals who come in contact with each other, and to identify potentially sick students and staff to the greatest extent possible, schools will be required to develop entry and dismissal protocols consistent with all applicable health guidance, as well as to redesign building movement protocols to keep people in cohorts and allow for physical distancing consistently.