COVID-19 Continuous Learning

While COVID-19 is changing how we learn, teach and come together as a community, we are still Pembroke Hill. We will remain welcoming, fun, engaging, creative and inspiring, and we will never lose sight of what makes us uniquely Pembroke Hill.

Principles guiding our work include:

Fostering the important relationships that make Pembroke Hill so strong while committed to the health and safety of our community

Providing the best continuous learning program no matter the environment for our students from early childhood through upper school

Responding quickly, and making decisions thoughtfully, with clarity and confidence and based on facts

Health and Safety

Maintaining a healthy environment on our campuses will require the collective effort of everyone in our community.

Our top priority at Pembroke Hill is the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. We realize that maintaining a healthy environment on our campuses will require the collective effort of everyone in our community. After observing the daily increase in our area’s COVID cases and reviewing the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Children’s Mercy Hospital and the City of Kansas City, we have developed updated mitigation strategies, outlined below.

Mitigation decisions will be based on our community data, including the level of viral transmission and test positivity rate within our school and city.

Health and Safety Procedures

Masks

COVID Testing

Testing

A reminder: at-home and PCR testing for COVID remains an important tool for managing the spread of COVID and will still be strongly encouraged for community members with COVID-like symptoms or with a suspected high-risk exposure to COVID. We are grateful to our families for self-reporting symptoms and positive results from tests obtained outside of PHS. It is very important that you continue to keep the office of infection control apprised of any of these circumstances within your family.

Isolation & Exposure

Isolation & Exposure Protocols

Isolation Protocol

Isolation will be a least a MINIMUM of five days from symptom onset (or from the positive test date, if asymptomatic).
If an individual's symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours prior to day 5, they may return to school with strict mask use until day 10 (no eating or drinking in close contact with others, please, from day 5 to 10).
If fever or other significant symptoms continue past four days, an individual must have improving symptoms and be fever-free for 24 hours to stop isolation between days 5 and 10, continuing mask use through day 10.
If still mildly symptomatic, but symptoms are resolving, isolation may end after day 10.

Symptoms of COVID may include, but are not limited to, muscle aches, fatigue, cold symptoms, fever, headaches, abdominal pain, nausea and lose of sense of smell and taste.

You will NOT need to test negative to return to school once your isolation is complete.

We ask that families please notify any known close contacts (same room unmasked and within 6 feet; people who have shared car rides with you; and those who have shared meals with you) to help prevent further spread of COVID and protect high-risk individuals.

COVID Exposure Information

These guidelines apply to those individuals with possible COVID exposure and those with known COVID exposure. Please Note: Household members of individuals who test positive for COVID are at significant risk of subsequently testing positive for COVID within two to five days.

Per CDC guidance, people who have had a possible or known COVID exposure should:

Wear a mask indoors at school/in public for five days following the exposure and avoid contact with individuals who might be at risk for severe COVID during this period.
Avoid eating and drinking in close proximity to others during this time.
Take a COVID test between three and five days post-exposure. This can be a rapid antigen test (home tests are acceptable) or a PCR test.
- If the COVID test is negative, and you/your student has no symptoms of illness, you do not need to take any additional action.
- Please take a COVID test immediately if symptoms of illness arise.
- If you have a negative COVID test, but are symptomatic, please repeat the test for a total of three negative tests per current COVID guidance.

Please be on high alert for any mild/moderate symptoms, including:

Fatigue
Stuffy nose
Itchy throat
Headache
Generalized "feeling off"
Sore throat
Cough
Fever

If you (or your child) have a positive test result, please contact our office of infection control, nurse@pembrokehill.org for additional guidance regarding quarantine and isolation.

Vaccinations

We encourage everyone who is eligible to obtain the COVID vaccine. Because vaccinations are not yet available for our younger students, we feel we have an obligation to do everything possible to keep them safe.

If you/your student(s) have received both doses of either Moderna, Pfizer, or one dose of J&J’s COVID-19 vaccines and their information has not yet been uploaded, please upload their information using the following instructions. Magnus Health COVID-19 Vaccine Upload Instructions

Vaccination status information, as always, is held confidentially.

Vaccine Registration Resources

Missouri COVID-19 Vaccine Registration

Kansas COVID-19 Vaccine Registration

Wyandotte County COVID-19 Vaccines

COVID-19 Vaccine at Children's Mercy

Visitors/Events

Self-Screening

HVAC

To help maintain a clean and healthy environment, we added several mitigation layers to our heating and cooling system to address the surrounding air flow and air quality within our buildings.

Specifically, we are:

Through the heating and cooling systems, increasing the number of fresh air cycle exchanges in buildings each day to bring in more fresh air.
Adding Needle Point Ionization technology to cleanse the air as it circulates throughout the buildings. This technology increases the ability of air filters to remove particles.
Replacing air filters more frequently.

Handwashing/Sanitizing

Cleaning/Sanitizing

Return to Campus Protocols

These guidelines will be followed to determine when a person may return to campus after testing positive for COVID-19 or after exhibiting symptoms.

I think or know I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms.

Isolate for at least five days after symptoms first appear; and
At least twenty-four hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication; and
COVID-19 systems are improving; and
Contact nurse@pembrokhill.org.

I have had severe illness from COVID-19 (admitted to a hospital and needed oxygen).

Your healthcare provider may recommend staying in isolation for longer than five - seven days after your symptoms first appeared. You may need to finish your period of isolation at home.
Following hospital discharge, follow-up testing will be determined by your healthcare provider.

I tested positive for COVID-19, but had no symptoms.

If you continue to be symptom-free, you can be with others after five days have passed and remain masked for ten days from your positive test.

I have developed symptoms after testing positive.

Follow the guidance above for "I think or know I had COVID-19 and had symptoms."

I have been exposed, but not exhibiting symptoms.

You will need to contact the office of infection control so they can help determine the safest plan for you to return to school.

I either had COVID-19 or tested positive for COVID-19, and I have a weakened immune system.

If you have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised) due to a health condition or medication, you might need to stay home and isolate for longer than five to seven days. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.

Travel

Academic Programs & Procedures

We will alert your division head that you will be absent from school during your isolation dates, and this will ensure that as long as you are feeling well, you will be able to participate in virtual/asynchronous learning.

Wornall Campus:
Early Childhood students with COVID related absences have access to optional asynchronous learning experiences and a materials box. Parents will be contacted by Kasey Reaves, EC administrative assistant, to schedule pick-up of the asynchronous activities and materials box.

Lower School students with COVID related absences will be handled like any other absence. Teachers will work with students to catch them up on anything they missed upon their return to school. Should you have any questions, please contact Karen Boyle.

Ward Parkway Campus:
Providing your student(s) feels well enough to participate in asynchronous learning activities, please have them log in to Schoology for their assignments. Students should email their teachers with specific class-related questions.

If your student(s) are having difficulties with asynchronous learning, please contact the center for teaching and learning at teachingandlearning@pembrokehill.org.

You will NOT need to test negative to return to school once your isolation is complete.

Is Your Child Engaged? Challenged? Known? Supported?

Small class sizes at Pembroke Hill allow teachers, counselors and learning specialists to fulfill our promise:

Every child is known, cared for and valued
Teaching and learning is at its highest level
A growth-oriented culture of excellence thrives
Positive supportive relationships exist

Wornall Campus (Early Years through Grade 5)

Contact Samantha Piper at 816-936-1231 or spiper@pembrokehill.org.

Schedule With Samantha

Ward Parkway Campus (Grades 6-11)

Contact Bart Robertson at 816-936-1536 or brobertson@pembrokehill.org.

Schedule with Bart

Early Childhood School

Early Childhood Schedule

Early Room: 7:45 - 8:10 a.m.
Arrival: 8:10 - 8:30 a.m.
Classes will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Dismissal:
- Early childhood students without lower school siblings: 2:50-3:05 p.m.
- Early childhood students with lower school siblings: 3:10 - 3:25 p.m.
- Extended Day: 3:10 - 6 p.m.

Late Start: 10:00 am - First Thursday of Each Month (September - May; No Late Start in November or January)
Early Room for F/S Children ONLY on All School Late Start Days: 7:45 - 9:40 am
Arrival: 9:40-10:00

Lower School

Lower School Schedule

Early Room: 7:45 - 8:10 a.m.
Arrival: 8:10 - 8:30 a.m.
Classes will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Dismissal: 3:10 - 3:25 p.m.
- Extended Day: 3:10 - 6 p.m.

Middle School

Upper School

Learn More

Social Emotional Learning & Support

Social Emotional Learning

Providing care and personal growth opportunities for students will continue to be a high priority at Pembroke Hill.

Traditionally our school year begins with an increased focus on building relationships to foster a sense of trust and belonging. Faculty care deeply about getting to know each individual student and creating community in their classrooms. School counselors partner with teachers and parents to support the transition into the school year and to observe students for areas in which they may need additional support.

Additionally, school counselors will provide instruction regarding emotional intelligence, social skills, self-care and other key components of social/emotional learning. This learning will support student participation in discussions regarding race, equity and inclusion throughout the year as well.

On the Ward Parkway campus, students will continue to participate in the advisory program. Advisory aims to provide a small group setting for students to build supportive relationships with each other and their adviser. Through these relationships and classroom activities, academic, personal and social development is further supported.

The Mindful Moments program will continue on Wornall Campus and will continue to be introduced on the Ward Parkway Campus. Mindful Moments are short bursts of mindfulness that create cumulative courage and resilience.

A regular mindfulness practice can improve cognitive function, in addition to managing stress and anxiety. Our mindfulness and wellness coach combines the Mindful Schools Curriculum and yoga-inspired movement to create accessible tools for faculty and students. She will also provide coaching support for teachers so they may incorporate mindfulness techniques into their classrooms in all scenarios.

Recently several faculty and staff members have engaged in professional learning with the following organizations: Institute for Social Emotional Learning, Mindful Schools and Mental Health First Aid as an early step in our efforts to align and strengthen a comprehensive approach to social emotional learning at Pembroke Hill.

Counseling Department Team Members

We welcome and encourage parents to connect with our team as questions or concerns arise.

Counseling Department Team Members

We welcome and encourage parents to connect with our team as questions or concerns arise.

Lindsay Kobolt

Director of Counseling/Wellbeing & Early Childhood Counselor

lkobolt@pembrokehill.org

Resource Classes

Attendance

Extended Day

Extended Day will be offered in early childhood, lower school and middle school. Children on the Wornall Campus will be divided into the following groups:

Early years
Preschool/prekindergarten
Kindergarten-grade 1
Grades 2-3
Grades 4-5

We encourage parents to complete an Extended Day contract if interested in this program.

For more information, contact Paula Engetschwiler, director of Auxiliary Programs, 816-936-1337, pengetschwiler@pembrokehill.org.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up

Wornall Campus

Early Childhood:
Please reference the early childhood handbook for details on drop-off and pick-up.

Lower School:
Please reference the lower school handbook for details on drop-off and pick-up.

Ward Parkway Campus

Drop-Off
Students may be dropped off as early as 7:45 a.m.

Student Pick-Up Outside Normal Dismissal Times
If students need to be picked up early, please contact the school office at least 15 minutes prior to the pick-up time so that your child can be ready.

Bookstore

Technology

Learning Management System (LMS)

Schoology is our learning management system for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Early childhood students and families use Seesaw. We believe that integrating one platform streamlines the teaching and learning experience, is a benefit to families with children in more than one division and provides appropriate pedagogical tools and ease of use for students and faculty.

Through this school-wide LMS, there is a digital workflow to create and manage lessons, assignments, quizzes and other educational information among teachers, students and parents.

Devices

Our research clearly indicates that students from kindergarten to grade 12 need access to a device in the event we move to a distance or hybrid learning model. We will provide students with the following devices:

Upper school	All upper school students use a Surface Pro.
Middle school	All middle school students use a Chromebook.
Lower school	All lower school students use an iPad. These devices will remain at school, with the exception of grade 5, where students take the devices home each day.
Early childhood school	In the event of remote learning, early childhood students and families have access to material boxes with resources for home activities in lieu of devices.

Technology Assistance

We encourage families who are concerned about their internet access to contact our Technology Helpdesk at helpdesk@pembrokehill.org or 816-936-1234.

Transportation

We will continue to offer van transportation service to south Johnson County and the Northland. However, because of the virus, the van capacity will be reduced to nine students, which allows for an empty seat between passengers. At this time, based on ridership, we plan to combine the two southern routes into one and shift the second vehicle to meet the needs of Northland families who have registered for the program.

Roundabout Transportation, our transportation provider, will implement additional safety protocols, including drivers and students will wear face masks at all times they are in the vans and have contact with each other. They will also be in assigned seats.

The vans will be disinfected before and after all trips. Students’ temperatures will be taken prior to each trip.

For more information regarding this transportation service, contact Paul Schlimm, director of operations at pschlimm@pembrokehill.org.