AHSTW Softball & Baseball Guidelines for COVID-19 Preventions

Hello everyone,

We are excited to announce that both baseball and softball activities have been approved to begin on June 1, 2020.  Since the announcement last week we have been working with the Department of Education, Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union to develop guidelines and best practice to allow us to provide these opportunities in a safe setting for all participants and spectators.  

At this time we are prepared to share those practices.  We ask that you review the following information prior to attending our summer activities.

General Health Information:

●      Signage will be posted at all entrances indicating no one should attend or participate if they currently have symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the last 14 days.

●      Student-athletes and coaches will be required to take their temperature at home before coming to practice or games. If a student-athlete’s temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher the

student-athlete or coach will be required to stay home. This needs to be done at home before attending practice or game and is the responsibility of the athlete.

●      Anyone exhibiting symptoms should not attend practice or game; must remain fever free without medication for 72 hours and symptom free.

●      Any athlete showing symptoms of illness will not be allowed to practice or play. Please consider consulting a physician with any of the following symptoms:

○      Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher

○      Shortness of breath

○      Sore Throat

○      Loss of taste or smell

○      Headaches

○      Body aches

○      Nasal congestion

○      Nausea

○      Vomiting

○      Diarrhea

○      Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

○      Positive COVID-Test

*** Parents or players please contact your coach if you have symptoms of illness and need to miss practice or a game. Coaches are required to have players showing symptoms of illness to not participate or attend practices or games.

●      Participants may be asked to report their temperature or subject to temperature checks by district personnel.

●      Pre-existing health conditions must be reported to our coaches and athletic department immediately.

●      Return to Participate:

○      Student-athletes must be fever free without the use of medication for 72 hours before returning and symptom free. [Per Recommendations from the CDC, Department of Education, IGHSAU, & IHSAA]

●      AHSTW Community Schools will follow the guidance and procedures of the Iowa Department of Public Health in the case of a positive COVID-19 test.

●      We ask that all athletes for baseball and softball have their own personal hand sanitizer for practices and games. Use of hand sanitizer is encouraged throughout practices and games.

●      Coaches are responsible for tracking absences for the purpose of noting potential COVID-19 cases.

Reporting Protocol:

●      Coach will take attendance each day

●      If player is absent, coach will call player to find out why

●      If player is absent due to illness the coach will talk with parent and inform parent the school nurse will be calling to follow up with some health questions

●      School nurse will check for COVID-19 symptoms

○      If no symptoms of COVID-19: follow 72 hour rule

○      If symptoms of COVID-19: nurse will recommend consulting a physician

●      If COVID-19 positive: the school will follow the guidance from the Pottawattamie County Public Health

Guidance:

●     Participants should follow any further guidance or requirements issued by the Governor of Iowa, the Iowa Department of Public Health, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union or other authority governing participation in Iowa public school district extracurricular activities.

Practice Procedures: [Team]

●      Student-athletes and coaches will be required to take their temperature at home before coming to practice and may need to report it to the coach. [100.4 degrees] Coaches may also check temperatures prior to practice if necessary.

●      Equipment will be sterilized before and after practices

●      Players should use their own gloves, bats, and helmets as much as possible.

●      Student-athletes are encouraged to NOT share their own equipment with teammates during practice. Personal items must be disinfected before and after each practice.

●      No dugout use is allowed during practice; players gear will be spread out 6 feet apart

●      Team meetings or huddles must be socially distanced

●      Coaches are responsible for ensuring social distancing is maintained between players as much as possible. This means additional spacing between players while playing catch, changing drills so that players remain spaced out, and no congregating of players while waiting to bat.

●      No sunflower seeds are allowed.

●      Athletes are required to bring their own water bottle or water jug to practice. NO SHARING DRINK OR FOOD ITEMS

●      No water fountains or hydrants will be available during practices or games.

●      Parents must remain in their cars or drop off and pick up players after practice. Players reporting to and leaving practices are not allowed to congregate in parking lots and must follow social distancing guidelines. Parent contact with coaches should be done through email, phone calls, or other electronic communication if at all possible.

●      Masks may be worn in the dugout, during practice, and in the field but not required to do so unless it becomes required by local or state officials.

Game Procedures: [Team]

●      Student-athletes and coaches will be required to take their temperature at home before coming to practice and may need to report it to the coach. [100.4 degrees]

●      Equipment will be sterilized before and after games.

●      Players should use their own gloves, bats, and helmets as much as possible.

●      Student-Athletes are encouraged to NOT share their own equipment with teammates during games. Personal items must be disinfected before and after each game.

●      Social Distancing is required around batting cages and while in lines for drills.

●      Dugout allowed to be used for games. JV Players are expected to be socially distanced in the stands while Varsity is playing. This expectation will also be expected during JV games. Varsity players will be expected to be in the bleachers to provide more room in the dugout.

●      No sunflower seeds are allowed.

●      Athletes are required to bring their own water bottle or water jug to games. NO SHARING DRINK OR FOOD ITEMS

●      No water fountains or hydrants will be available during practices or games.

●      At the end of the game, our team will acknowledge the other team from in front of our dugout by a wave or tip of the hat.

●      Parents must remain in their cars or drop off and pick up players after games. Players reporting to and leaving games are not allowed to congregate in parking lots and must follow social distancing guidelines. Parent contact with coaches should be done through email, phone calls, or other electronic communication if at all possible.

●      Masks may be worn in the dugout, during warm-ups, and in the field during games but not required to do so unless it becomes required by local or state officials.

●      No team meals can be provided

Game Procedures: [Fans]

●      Spectators SHOULD NOT attend if currently showing symptoms or if they have been in contact with someone confirmed positive of COVID-19 in the last 14 days or if they are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above in the general health information section.

●      NO concession stands - coolers are acceptable at home games but must be limited to use by single households and contain no alcohol or tobacco products.

●      No sunflower seeds are allowed.

●      It will be the responsibility of the fans to practice social distancing during games. Family units are allowed to sit together, but are expected to be 6’ apart from other attendees.

●      Spectators will be asked to respect Social Distancing Rules and that younger children attending games remain with parents in the seating areas.

○      Areas will be designated down both foul lines and in the outfield for spectator seating. We ask that families sit together in an area with no crossover..

●      Bleachers will be closed to attendees during the game. Please bring a lawn chair or stand during the competition.

●      Masks may be worn but not required to do so unless it becomes required by local or state officials

●      Restrooms will be available. Please be sure to wash hands after using and limit the number of

people in the restroom when possible.

●      No team meals can be provided

●      Parents must remain in their cars or drop off and pick up players after games. Fans attending games are not allowed to congregate in parking lots and must follow social distancing guidelines. Parent contact with coaches should be done through email, phone calls, or other electronic communication if at all possible.

Game Admission:

●      There will be a $5.00 entry fee for all adults. 12th grade and under are FREE. School passes are still honored. Having exact change would be very helpful when paying to limit extra interaction for our ticket taker.

Transportation Plan:

●      AHSTW will continue to transport teams to away athletic events.

●      Parents do have the option to transport kids to away games after signing the transportation waiver (waiver will be provided with the preseason information)

●      We will promote social distancing on the bus and seat students appropriately; masks will be worn per Iowa Department of Education guidelines

●      One bus per team may be used. [Baseball / Softball]

AHSTW Update [April 27, 2020]

AHSTW Community School District,

We continue to plan for the end of our 2019-2020 school year even though we will not be meeting face-to-face with our students anymore.  Our planning sessions allow us to reflect upon all items facing us at this time and at this time we would share the following information around classes, grading, technology, lunch services, and more.

Q & A:

When will our 2019-2020 School Year end?

●      The AHSTW Community School District will end the school year on Friday, May 22, 2020.  This date is the last date on our 2019-2020 school calendar.  I believe our staff members have done a terrific job sharing activities for our students during this voluntary learning time, and we are so appreciative of their efforts.  We know they will be working hard to continue providing services through the duration of our 2019-2020 learning experiences.  We encourage all students to continue to engage in the opportunities, as we will return next fall and want all students to be as prepared as possible for their next steps on their educational journey.

What will be my student’s grade at the conclusion of the school year?

●      High school students will receive credit for their 2^nd Semester courses at the letter grade they had achieved when classes ended at the conclusion of 3^rd quarter.  Students will be allowed to submit any missing assignments or complete corrections on past assignments prior to May 8, 2020.  This would be corrected and used to adjust grades at the conclusion of our school year.

●      Eighth grade students enrolled in HS Algebra will be able to (1) accept their current grade, (2) work to improve their grade by submitting any missing assignments or completing corrections on past assignments prior to May 8, 2020, or (3) retake the course as a freshman.

●      In grades PK-8, students will receive grades earned at the conclusion of 3^rd quarter, as well. No 4th quarter report cards will be issued. 

Will my student move on to the next grade in 2020-2021?

●      Students will move on to their next grade in beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.  The only exception to this would be if our staff members have previously spoken with you about concerns for the upcoming year.

How will we be able to collect my student’s personal belongings?

●      We are currently working on a process for families  to pick-up student materials or personal belongings.  Please be watching for information to be shared by your student’s building principal.

How will we address our summer technology needs?

●      Students who have checked out devices during our extended leave time will be allowed to keep their devices over the course of the summer.  The devices were shared during our extended leave to help students stay in touch with the learning opportunities shared by our staff members.  Over the summer, students will be able to use the computers to gain access to the educational websites shared by staff.  However, our staff members will not be developing lessons for you to view or complete over the summer.

●      Acceptable use policies will remain in effect throughout the summer, as will content filters and student monitoring systems. 

●      Technology maintenance and repair services will not be available throughout the summer.

How will we return items to the school?  [Library books, technology, and etc.]

●      We do ask that library books be returned to the school when you visit to pick-up your students' belongings.  Books can be placed in a return box during your assigned time.

●      Chromebooks will need to be returned with the students on the first day of school in the fall.

What if we are moving out of the school district prior to the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year?

●      If families are moving out of the district this summer, they will need to return school property when they move.

How does the closure affect our 2020 Senior Class?

●      The Governor recently allowed certain graduation requirements to be waived.  However, each student must have been on track to graduate at the beginning of the year and or semester in order to be eligible to graduate.  This means a student who was credit deficient must have recovered the appropriate number of credits to become eligible for graduation in order to graduate.  Students in the senior class who were in a credit recovery program are allowed to complete the courses during this time of absence.

●      If a student has fallen into this category after the beginning of the year, our High School Principal will be in touch with you to discuss this topic with you individually.

●      Students in the Class of 2020 are also required to complete CPR certifications and a Government course prior to graduation.  Those expectations have been waived at this time, if the student has not completed the work up to this point.

How does the closure affect graduation?

●      Graduation has been postponed to at least June 7, 2020.  We are also discussing future options, as we want to provide seniors with the event they have rightfully earned.  Mr. Sauvain will be in touch with our seniors and senior parents to identify potential later dates.   If we are unable to host graduation on June 7, 2020 the alternate date will be July 12, 2020.

How does the closure affect prom and summer sports?

●      Prom was previously delayed to June 13, 2020.  At this time, we are hoping this will occur, but we are discussing other options.  If June 13, 2020 does not work, we will prioritize graduation and most likely cancel prom.

●      Summer sports are still being planned for and guidance will be shared by both the boy’s and girl’s athletic associations.   At this time, summer sports are eligible to start on June 1, 2020.

How will my student schedule classes for the 2020-2021 school year?

●      Registration for students entering grades 9-12 will begin as soon as we are able to meet with students.  This means registration may occur at some point during the summer or later this year.

●      Specific plans for grades will be shared at a later time.

●      Mrs. Birks has already met with students regarding next year’s college courses and has this part of registration completed.

●      PK-8 classes will be developed in their usual manner.  Classes for the 2020-2021 school year will be shared as they always have. 

Will meal delivery continue throughout the summer?

●      The meal program that was put in place on March 20, 2020 will run as long as the federal program allows.  Since AHSTW was not a participant of the Summer Food Program in the past, our program is set to expire at the conclusion of the school year or May 22, 2020.  We hope the meal program will be extended, if not, we unfortunately will be unable to continue the service.

What will the 2020-2021 school year look like?

●      Iowa school districts will be developing Return to Learn plans.  These plans are due to the State Department of Education on July 1, 2020.  We are awaiting guidance on this plan to assist us in knowing what types of activities will be allowed.  However, we are planning for the future and discussing potential possibilities.  We will develop options and share our plan at the appropriate time.

●      Guidance will be shared with our school district in hopefully 2 weeks.

We are thankful for all of your efforts during this time.  It has been terrific to see how everyone has come together to make this best out of a difficult situation.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us and we will get back in touch with you!

We Are AHSTW,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent of Schools

AHSTW Community School District

AHSTW Learning Update [April 17, 2020]

Dear Parents, Students, and Community,

I hope this letter finds you well.  I understand that today provided us all with the news that we did not want to hear:  Schools will be unable to open for the remainder of the school year.  This means that our distance learning opportunities will continue through May 22, 2020.  We would very much like to see our students back with us, but this step was necessary to help promote the health and safety of our community.  Please know that we are here for everyone and will continue to support everyone’s needs both academically and emotionally as we proceed.

Two weeks ago, we began delivering learning opportunities through a distance learning model.  This model is a voluntary model.  Even though the opportunities are voluntary, we highly encourage all students to participate, as learning and understanding is extremely important.  Please know that our staff members have prepared activities designed to assist all students in maintaining their level of understanding in preparation of our return, whenever that may be.  In addition to the materials, we also encourage questions.  Questions are normal, expected, and desired.  So, please engage with our staff and allow them to assist during this time.

I understand that today’s announcement brings with it many questions.  Please know that we are working to provide you those answers and will do so in a timely manner, but our staff also needs to take a breath and work through the announcement, as we are disappointed to not see our students in our classroom desks for the remainder of the school year. This is difficult for each and every person in our community, but  we will get through this.

With that said, there are a few things I can provide some information on at this time:

·       Graduation will be moved to our June 7, 2020 alternate date.  We hope this date will allow us to provide the experience that everyone deserves, but please know we will be monitoring the situation and may need to look for another alternate date or graduation plan.

·       Senior Awards will also be postponed and we will be working to find a time to recognize all students receiving scholarships and awards.

·       Prom was moved to June 13, 2020 a few weeks ago.  At this time, we plan on using this date, however, alternate plans may need to be made.

·       Spring sports have been cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year.  I understand  this is not how we expected the 2019-2020 athletic season to end and my thoughts are with you.

Iowa School Districts will also be working on a return to school plan for the 2020-2021 school year.  This plan will include the start date, potential summer services, and more.  All plans are due to the State Department of Education by July 1, 2020.  We will share all information as soon as it becomes available.

In short, the AHSTW Distance Learning program will remain in place until our last day of school which is scheduled for May 22, 2020.  We encourage everyone to participate and continue learning in preparation for next year!  We also want you to know that we are here for you!  Please ask questions of your teachers to help you in your understanding of the material or any needs that may arise.  We want every student to succeed and every question deserves to be answered!

Best wishes,

Mr. Darin Jones

AHSTW Community School District

AHSTW Information Update

Hello everyone,

In listening to Governor Reynold's press conference this afternoon, we learned that Iowa schools will remain closed through April 30, 2020.  We obviously will follow these guidelines.

Dr. Lebo, Director of the Iowa Department of Education, shared that Iowa Schools will be required to identify which method of delivery we will choose by April 10.  Those delivery methods include:

1.) No Instruction - Schools will be required to make up the days missed between April 13 and April 30.

2.) Voluntary

3.) Required

* Different options are available at different grades spans in a district, as well.

The description of options two and three will be shared early next week with the application being due on April 10.

We met tonight as an administrative team after the meeting with the Department of Education.  We were excited to learn that our plan addresses the items discussed, and we feel very confident in the plan we are beginning to implement at this very moment.  I understand questions will arise in the area of instruction, promotion of students to the next grade level, how credit is provided to students in grades 9-11, and how all of this will impact our seniors.  Please know that these answers are being developed and will be shared soon.

During this time of leave our focus will continue to be on learning.  We encourage our students to take advantage of the opportunities made available to them by our staff, as each teacher is able to provide opportunity and feedback.

We also want to share that all AHSTW activities and contests have been cancelled through April 30, 2020.  We will be sharing updated schedules as they are completed.  It is also important to remember that our school facilities both indoor and outdoor have been closed to promote the health of our community.

Thank you again and we will successfully navigate these uncharted waters!

Mr. Darin Jones

AHSTW Superintendent