It’s not going to be a typical school year at Waynesville Schools

(Waynesville)–School starts this coming Monday in the Waynesville R-VI School District. However, it’s already clear that thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not going to be a typical school year. While most elementary and middle-school students are set to attend classes in person, Waynesville High School and Waynesville Career Center students will remain at home to start their year virtually on Tuesday, Aug. 25the. The change was announced Wednesday after the district was notified that two WHS students recently tested positive for COVID-19.
As of now, WHS students are scheduled to return to the classroom on Aug. 31st. School-issued laptops and other materials will be distributed to WHS and WCC students today and on Monday. All high-school sports practices and events are canceled until students return.
Since the last time students were in class, there have also been several changes made that students and parents should be aware of before starting the new year. Here are some of the mitigation measures, procedures, and practices outlined by the district in its most recent press releases:
Students are required to wear face masks covering the nose and mouth before boarding a bus, arriving at school, and conducting nearly any activity within school buildings any time social distancing cannot be maintained. Parents are advised to send two masks to school with each student. The district will provide masks to students who do not have one. In most cases, once students are in their classrooms they will be able to remove their masks. However, there may be some classes where social distancing isn’t possible, and in those cases, an area will be designated for mask breaks.
Students and teachers will be able to keep their masks on at all times if they so choose.
Waynesville has a goal of keeping bus occupancy below 60 percent this year. As a result, the district is asking all parents who can transport their students to and from school to do so. When dropping off and picking up their students, parents are asked to pull forward to the maximum extent possible as directed by the child’s school to help traffic flow. Also, be cautious, since multiple children will be departing their vehicles at once.
Parents who need to obtain items from their trunk should pull into a parking spot and walk their students to the front of the building. Parents will not be allowed to walk their student to their classrooms.
Pay attention to School Resource Officers, who will be present at buildings to keep traffic moving. Avoid arriving early in the afternoon and sitting in the parking lot, which can cause traffic to back up. Parents should arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to school letting out.
The district is also asking parents to screen their students for COVID-19 symptoms at home before boarding buses. Students who have symptoms should be kept home and parents should contact their school.
Bus seating will be assigned this year, with one student per seat, if feasible. Siblings will be assigned together in a seat.
All students will be required to wash or sanitize their hands before entering serving areas or eating meals in their classrooms.
Elementary school students will have their meals dropped off at their classrooms, and ID cards will be scanned by staff members.
Waynesville Middle School and Waynesville High School students will choose pre-packaged meal components. Students will have their ID cards scanned as they enter the lunch door or be pre-scanned by staff members.