Reopening Strategy

Answers to this are still evolving and our decision will be impacted by the local community athletic plans and by the guidance provided by our medical consultants. We do recognize there are varying levels of risk within different team sports. There is a high probability that it may be necessary for some sports to be delayed, modified, or canceled.

Yes, we are planning on offering music with safety protocols in place. These may include students being socially distanced, reduced class sizes, instrument coverings, outdoor rehearsals, or focusing on music appreciation instead of performance at the start of the year.

Smaller groups will assemble and adhere to socially distancing safety guidelines. This will include using virtual engagement. Solo performances as opposed to praise teams will be utilized with no sharing of microphones.

PE classes will take place in the Rodney Fulbright Gymnasium and outside. Planned activities will consider physical distancing measures as well as limiting the sharing of equipment among students.

We are eliminating self-service bars in the cafeteria. Products like utensils, condiments, etc., will be provided in individually wrapped packaging and disposable plates and containers will be used. Self-serve options will be individually packaged, and menus have been revamped so that meals can be provided in closed containers unless the meals are served and handed directly to the student. Spaced seating inside the cafeteria will be designated for students and extra outdoor seating is being provided so students can physically distance and eat outside. All cafeteria workers will follow FLA and AdventHealth safety protocols. Families will be required to have adequate funding in their student's lunch account as we will be operating on a cashless system. Of course, students always have the option of bringing their own sack lunch from home.

No. Due to current safety concerns during this pandemic, students will not be permitted to leave and return to campus throughout the school day. Seniors may leave campus when their classes are complete.

In an effort to keep both staff and students safe, we are pursuing unique alternatives and virtual activities/events. We understand the importance of social engagement for our high school students and are striving to continue this in a safe and creative way. Present circumstances and safety concerns make it highly unlikely, at this time, that students will be placed into a bus or van for off campus trips or activities.

Remote real-time virtual access to classes will be available for students who, for medical or safety concerns, feel they cannot be in the classroom:

1. A student in a high-risk category
2. A student with a temporary absence due to a health concern where on-campus attendance is not recommended/ allowed, but the student can still work from home to allow the continuation of instruction, so the student does not fall behind.
3. A student whose parents may not feel comfortable having them on the physical campus due to the inherent risk of possible exposure.
4. Remote virtual learning students must be preapproved in advance. Please contact our registrar at Gabriela.Lopez@forestlake.org if you want your student to begin the year virtually.

Students will not be permitted to switch back and forth between in person and remote learning options at will. When a virtual student and their parent considers it safe to return to the physical classroom, such arrangements may be made.

We will place the student in a designated isolation room to separate anyone who exhibits COVID-like symptoms. The school nurse will use Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions when caring for a student with possible COVID-19 Infection. Parents will be called to pick up student and ask them to notify local health officials. The school is currently finalizing a partnership with AdventHealth that will allow our school nurse to immediately access an online doctor to assist with assessing a student. Should it be deemed necessary, the doctor will be able to immediately issue an order for COVID testing to take place at a local CentraCare where the results can be received in 15 minutes.

The school will notify families and staff of any positive case at a school. Under federal law, we would not be able to identify the person. However, FLA would immediately begin working with the Health Department to facilitate contact tracing for anyone who may have had 'significant' contact with that person, currently defined as having been within 6 feet for 15 consecutive minutes. This would include but not be limited to students/staff in the classroom or participating in extracurricular activities, etc. Through the contact tracing process, those with such contact would be informed of the steps they need to take depending on the circumstances of each case.

Deep cleaning/sanitizing of facilities would be carried out as appropriate, and the affected areas locked down as necessary. FLA would consult with the Health Department on any additional steps that would need to be taken to promote the safety of others at the school.

It will be important for the school to have knowledge if anyone has tested positive for COVID-19, resides with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and/or has come in direct contact within a 14-day period with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Tracing diagnosed cases within our school community will allow us to have a better understanding of our overall school-wide campus health and safety plan, as well as any concerns localized to a building, or classroom.

Lucy Fincher, our school nurse has been designated to be the school point of contact for COVID-19 concerns. Her email is Flora.Fincher@forestlake.org and her office phone is 407-862-3780. Please notify her immediately of any possible exposure or positive test result for COVID-19 and keep your student at home until return to school is approved.

We recommend that you not travel out of town during the current pandemic. If you are traveling out of town, please notify the school, and should it be deemed necessary, the school may ask the student to wait for 14 days before returning to school. Should this be necessary, the student will be able to temporarily connect virtually to class.

Schools and districts, locally and globally, are facing similar challenges. We have been examining models and have had many conversations with school leaders across the state, country, and internationally to learn about creative ways to reopen schools. This includes other public schools, districts, private schools, and Adventist academies.