COVID-19 Info Hub

Across the school and throughout our community we continue to instill and follow health and wellness best practices across campus, which include:
 

• We encourage best practices to reduce spread of germs. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice), or use an alcohol-based hand rub that contains at least 60% alcohol. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, throw the tissue away, then wash your hands.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow if a tissue is not available.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Recommending enough rest for students and adults.
• Encouraging people to understand the facts.
• Remember that the virus is not specific to any single race or origin. Discouraging stigma is important. 

Distance Learning describes the education delivery model in which campus is closed or an entire class or grade level are required to quarantine.  This differs from Virtual Learning wherein a student joins an in-person class remotely.

Access the AAS Distance Learning Plan 

• Ministry of Health Order from 25.11.2020 (BG & EN)
• Ministry of Health Order from 27.10.2020 (BG & EN)
• Ministry of Health Order from 22.10.2020 (BG & EN)
• COVID-19 Algorithm for Action for Schools (BG & EN)
• Ministry of Education Guidelines for the 2020-21 Year ( BG & EN)

• World Health Organization

• WHO Advice for Public

• How to protect yourself (video)

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention

• Bulgarian Ministry of Health (in Bulgarian) 

Mental and emotional health resources

• Letter from the AAS Counseling Team

• 30 Things Wolves can Do for Emotional Health

• Coronavirus Anxiety: How to cope if you are feeling anxious about the outbreak

• Talking to Children About COVID: A Parent Resource

• Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus (Child Mind Institute) 

• Great Comic For Kids on Coronavirus

• Coronavirus (BrainPOP video)

• How to talk to Kids and Teens about World Trauma

Communication 

In addition to teachers’ regular communication with families, the Principals, Director of Learning and Curriculum, ICT Manager, Marketing & Communications Manager, and Business Manager, will be available via email. 
The Director will provide regular updates to the school community, and will also be available via email.

Library Team

The Library team will:

• Support colleagues in finding resources for high-quality distance learning experiences and research
• Maintain the check-out and return system for library materials.
• Teach regular library lessons as part of the daily schedule.
• Be available digitally for students, families, and teachers as needed for support
• Share weekly resource updates and tips 
• Books can be checked out from the Library using this procedure

Business Office

The Business Office will operate as normally as possible, with normal office hours either from its usual location or remotely.

Admissions Office

The Admissions Office will operate as usual, with normal office hours either from its usual location or remotely.

Campus Security

Campus is closed to parents and visitors unless a pre-arranged appointment is made. If someone needs to be admitted to campus, they will need the permission of the appropriate division Principal or the Director. 

Cleaning and Maintenance

The facilities team will continue cleaning and disinfecting the campus.

IB Exams

If our school closes for an extended period, the IB Coordinator will communicate directly with IB2 students and teachers regarding changes from the IB. At this point, internal exam assessment deadlines have already been adjusted and there are contingency plans in place to respond to various situations. As of today, there are no changes to the IB DP External exams in May.

Transportation Services

All school transport services will be suspended during closure.
 

As we navigate the changing circumstances regarding COVID-19 happening around us, we are continuously looking for ways to meet our community’s needs. Based on requests for accommodating circumstances that prevent students from participating in in-person learning, we have outlined the following new measures.

• Parents may request to opt-out of in-person learning for their child if they are under a legally required quarantine due to COVID-19
  • Divisional principals should be contacted through email about the quarantine requirement (the form is no longer required)
  • The email should include the start and end date of the required quarantine
  • Principals will confirm through email the start date for virtual learning for that student
• Parents may also request long-term opting-out of in-person learning for their child if there is a concern involving a health condition considered to be in the high-risk category for COVID-19. 
  • In order to do this, they should fill out the long-term opt-out form by Monday, November 30, 2020. 
  • A parent or guardian is encouraged to attend an information session to be held on Tuesday, December 1@ 14:00-14:30 or 18:00-18:30. A Google Meet link will be shared with those who are approved.
  • Requests under these conditions are for the entire period of Wednesday, December 2 until Friday, January 7. At the end of this period, you will be required to submit a subsequent request in order to continue virtual learning. Requests will only be accepted during designated dates.

All students approved for Virtual Learning are required to participate in Virtual Learning in accordance with the Virtual Learning expectations for the duration of the time period.

 

• Fill-out Long Term Opt-out Form (ES)
• Fill-out  Long Term Opt-out Form (MS/HS)

 

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