Archives for May 2020

New CDC Summer Camp Guidelines

May 26, 2020 By Y3K

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have just released their new guidelines for camp directors pertaining to children attending summer camp during the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines are to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The camps are to be responsible for germ prevention. They are to promote healthy hygiene practices such as hand washing and employees are to wear a face mask. Summer camps are to intensify cleaning, disinfection, and ventilation of facilities and buses. Additionally, summer camps are to take temperatures of staff and campers and follow state and local orders.

What will the camp day be like for children during the COVID-19 pandemic? What strategies will they use to keep everyone safe throughout the day? Check back here for the new CDC summer camp guidelines to be followed during the camp day.

A Sign of What’s to Come?

May 18, 2020 By Y3K

Schools are opening up again to administer Advanced Placement exams for selected students according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. They put in place the following rules to allow them to have the testing administered in the school buildings, yet not infect everyone with COVID-19.

According to their plan, following rules are supposed to be observed:

No congregating outside school.
Ordered/staggered entrance and exit of students into and out of the building and classrooms.
No more than a total of 10 students and staff in any single classroom.
Adequate spacing of desks to ensure social distancing in each classroom.
Students must return home immediately following the test.

Are these safety rules a sign of what is to come in education? When schools are re-opened for both students and staff, is this how schools will conducted? It will be interesting to see what happens this coming September.

Advanced Placement Exams and COVID-19

May 13, 2020 By Y3K

Advanced Placement exams are still going to be conducted in school buildings for certain students according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. They have released their plan as to how to issue the AP exams, yet not spread COVID-19 infection. It is up to local schools to make sure the rules are followed.

According to their plan, students and staff will be required to wear face coverings at all times. All students and staff must apply hand sanitizer upon entering the building. Students will be monitored by staff while in the building while still maintaining social distance. Social distancing standards of at least 6 feet will be maintained before, during, and after test administration.

How will they protect students and staff from contracting COVID-19 from the beginning of the AP exams to end? Check back here as we will list how they plan on achieving this goal. Their AP testing plan may be a sign of what is to come for everyone once they decide to open up schools again for all students.

Breaking News: In-Person Advanced Placement Testing

May 8, 2020 By Y3K

Advanced Placement exams for 2020 will still be conducted in-person at local schools on a limited basis, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The option to test at a school will only be made to a restricted number of students. Only those students who do not have adequate access to a computer and internet connectivity at home will be allowed to take an AP exam in a school building. This shocking news is according to a newly released memo from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. They published guidance for Advanced Placement testing for school districts.

Check back here as we will post their plan as to exactly how they will be allowing students and staff into school buildings to conduct these tests, while keeping everyone safe from COVID-19.

Executive Function and COVID-19

May 4, 2020 By Y3K

There is a special part of our brain that is responsible for executive function skills. These skills include our ability to organize, plan ahead, and especially important in this day and age of COVID-19 . . . our ability to sense danger. The problem is that this all takes place in the prefrontal cortex and this area of the brain does not fully develop until we are well into our 20’s.

Therefore children and teens may not sense COVID-19 danger and choose not to social distance. It is up to us as responsible parents to monitor and keep our kids safe. We need to make sure our teens are following social distancing. It is your responsibility as a parent to make sure they follow the rules even when they are out in public places like a field, playground, or hanging out with their friends.