2021-2022 Campus Guide

In order to safely and effectively remain on campus, Cape Henry Collegiate has updated guidelines and procedures for our community. While it may be different, we will still bring young people and teachers together in partnership to learn and to develop a strong and supportive community. 

The following are our principles for returning to campus:

• Provide for the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff by using multiple, layered mitigation strategies to decrease the chances of COVID-19 affecting our campus

• Offer challenging and engaging daily instruction that continues to foster the educational growth of our students and the academic community at CHC

• Attend to the social and emotional wellbeing of our students 

• Remain committed to strengthening our community

• Comply with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Virginia Department of Health Services (VDHS), and Virginia Beach Health Department 

• When safe, remove mitigation strategies in order to provide a more “normal” experience.

First Days

Tuesday, August 24  |  PK3-Grade 2 and Grade 6 First Day of School:

The Prekindergarten 3-Grade 2 students will have their first half-day of school on Tuesday, August 24, from 8:00 a.m.-noon. This will be an opportunity for the students to get out of their cars, walk into school, head to their classrooms, and spend part of the morning getting to know their teachers and classmates. We will run a carline dismissal. Parents are asked to place signage on their dashboard with their child’s full name and grade level. Name placards will come home this day for anyone who has not yet received one.

Wednesday, August 25  |  First Full-Day of School for All Grades

All PK3-Grade 12 students will have their first full-day of school on Wednesday, August 25, from 8:10 a.m.-3:20 p.m. To expedite the morning's activities, parents are asked to use the carline drop-off lanes. Middle and Upper School students are required to be in professional dress, as stated in the Dress Code. Lower and Middle School parents are asked to place signage on their dashboard with their child’s full name and grade level. Name placards will come home this day for anyone who has not yet received one.

School Calendar

All school events can be found on the School’s mini-calendar. A more detailed calendar can be found by logging in to the MyCompass section of the website.

If a calendar change occurs, we will communicate as quickly as possible.
 

Cape Henry has maintained a layered approach to COVID-19 mitigation strategies to increase safety and health. These protocols are designed to create the most robust learning experience while maintaining our focus on in-person learning and rebuilding community through co-curricular activities and programs. Protocols will be adjusted throughout the year across all three divisions in order to maintain our instructional and mission based goals.

We will:

• Continue the use of the Daily Health Screening Student Questionnaire

• Wear face coverings when indoors

• Encourage eligible students and community members to get vaccinated

• Place limitations on large gatherings of students and community events

• Introduce staggered lunch waves in Café Dolphin with expanded outdoor seating options

• Maintain a distance of 3-6 feet in all instructional spaces and Café Dolphin

• Utilize outdoor spaces to connect larger groups of students and community members to host events and strengthen community

Daily Home Health Screenings

PRIOR TO REPORTING TO CAMPUS, all CHC guardians/parents are required to complete the Daily Health Screening Student Questionnaire for their student(s) on a daily basis until notified otherwise by the School Nurse. Any student who has symptoms related to COVID-19 should stay home and immediately notify the School Nurse via email at schoolnurse@capehenry.org.

Upon arrival on campus, students must submit their Daily Health Screening Student Questionnaire at the designated entrance. Each student will receive a booklet of the Daily Health Screening Student Questionnaire. 

Arrival 

All students should arrive on campus between 7:50-8:10 a.m. Instruction begins in Lower School classrooms at 8:10 a.m. and Middle and Upper School at 8:20 a.m.  All students will report directly to their homeroom teacher in Lower School and first bell class for Middle and Upper School.

Arrival Timeline
Lower School (7:50-8:10 a.m.)	Lower School Bus Riders (Escorted to The Sims Lower School) Prekindergarten-Grade 5 (Lower School Entrance)
Middle and Upper School (7:50-8:20 a.m.)	Grades 6-8 (Main Entrance) Middle and Upper Bus Riders (The Perry Family Auditorium Entrance) Grades 9-12 (Main Entrance)

Late Arrivals

Any student arriving late to school must proceed to the respective division’s main entrance. Parents are asked to sign in at the Lower School Office for students in Prekindergarten 3-Grade 5 and the Front Desk at the Main Entrance for students in Grades 6-12. Students in Grades 6-12 must then report to their Division Office. Parents must wear a face covering when entering the building.

Absences

If a student will be absent, please email studentabsence@capehenry.org with the student’s full name and grade level in the subject header by 9:00 a.m. Please include your child(ren)’s reason for absence in the email.

Early Dismissals

If a parent needs to pick up a student early from school, they must call or email the division office with the student’s name and pick-up time. 

• Lower School Office
  (757) 963-8252
  lindabawcom@capehenry.org
• Middle School Office
  (757) 963-8263
  jackiemelendez@capehenry.org
• Upper School Office
  (757) 963-8213
  gloriaspeight@capehenry.org
• Front Desk
  (757) 481-2446

Dismissal

Lower School Dismissal

Parents will be provided a color-coded name placard to display on their dashboard. It is essential that anyone picking up a student uses the school-printed placards. Teachers will be notified as parents arrive, and students will be escorted to the designated pickup location. Students in Prekindergarten through Grade 4 will be picked up in front of The Sims Lower School. Students in Grade 5 will be picked up in front of the main entrance of campus. Families with children in PK3-Grade 4 and a student in Grade 5 should go through the Lower School loop and will make a second stop at the main entrance to pick up their child in Grade 5. On rainy days, Grade 5 students will dismiss from The Sims Lower School. 

Students are asked to be alert and ready for pick-up in order to facilitate a smooth pick-up process. Students who remain on campus after the designated pick-up time will go to the Division Office to call parents/guardians.

Middle School Dismissal and Pick-Up Procedures

All students should be picked up by 3:45 p.m. unless participating in a supervised afterschool activity, such as JV/Varsity athletics, play rehearsal, or Afterschool Enrichment Programs.

In an effort to ease end-of-the-day traffic congestion, the Middle School will utilize Pick-Up Zones for dismissal. These zones will vary based on the student's seasonal athletic activity.

• ZONE 1 (Middle and Upper School Main Entrance)
  Students participating in PHYSICAL EDUCATION, VOLLEYBALL, DANCE, or TENNIS will dismiss directly to the Middle and Upper School Main Entrance.

• ZONE 2 (Creech Family Stadium Parking Lot)
  Students participating in SOCCER, FIELD HOCKEY, or CROSS COUNTRY will dismiss directly to the Creech Family Stadium Parking Lot.

• On rainy days, ZONE 1 will be utilized for all Middle School students. An email will be sent to parents if/when we are utilizing the rainy-day dismissal plan.

Parents are asked to utilize the color-coded car placards to help facilitate the dismissal process.  

Upper School

Upper School students who are being picked up by a parent/guardian will utilize the main entrance for dismissal. Carline placards are not being used for Upper School students at this time.

Walkers/Bike Riders

Parents of Middle and Upper School students who walk or ride their bikes to school are asked to email the appropriate division office granting permission for their child to leave at the designated dismissal time whenever walking or riding to/from school. Lower School students are not permitted at this time to walk or ride their bikes. CHC strives to be a good neighbor to those whose residences border our campus. Families are asked not to list their child as a walker in order to use adjacent streets to park and wait for their child(ren).

Students who are not on campus for a school-sponsored and supervised afterschool activity must be picked up at the designated dismissal time. Any concerns about a student's ability to be picked up at the designated dismissal time should be communicated to the division appropriate Director of Student Life. (Upper School Director of Student Life, Mr. Greg Angilly; Middle School Director of Student Life, Mr. Lance Hurdle)

Dismissal Timeline
3:00-3:25 p.m.	Lower School Dismissal  PK3-Grade 4 – The Sims Lower School Grade 5 – Main Entrance
3:20-3:45 p.m.	All Bus Riders will be dismissed. Lower School bus riders will be escorted to the buses (via the bus loop gate). Grades 6-8 (See Zone Map) Grades 9-12 (Main Entrance)

 

 

Schedules

Lower School 

Students will start the year in their classroom with their homeroom teacher for Math, Language Arts, and Social Studies instruction. Tentatively, academic switches in Grades 3-5 for Math will begin after Back-to-School Night. Special subject area teachers (Music, Guidance, Spanish, Science, and Art) will resume use of their classrooms and students will travel to them. Physical Education classes will be held outdoors when possible and in the gyms. Lunch will be served in the classroom for Prekindergarten 3 through Grade 2. Students in Grades 3-5 will eat on a staggered schedule in Café Dolphin. 

Middle and Upper School

The Middle and Upper School will resume the rotating seven-bell schedule. Students will attend each class six out of seven days in the rotating A-G schedule. Instructional class size limits will permit physical distancing of three to six feet in classrooms. A daily break is included between Bells 2 and 3, and lunch will be served in Café Dolphin or in an outdoor/advisory classroom setting. CLICK HERE to view the 2021-2022 Middle and Upper School Schedule.
 

Extended School Day Program

• The Extended School Day Program (ESDP), an afterschool program for PK3- Grade 5 students, will resume with the new school year. There will be no before-school care. For the first semester, we will not offer drop-in care. ESDP contract options have been issued. Please email Dr. Shamaine Williams at shamainewilliams@capehenry.org with questions. 

• Lower School Afterschool Enrichment Programs will be offered for the first semester. Please email Mr. Tyler Faubert at tylerfaubert@capehenry.org with any questions.

Athletics

• Fall sport-specific schedules are available on the Cape Henry website.

• Middle School Physical Education and Athletics occur during Bell 6. Students will be required to register for their activity of choice prior to the start of each athletic season. 

• Locker rooms will be used, and students should adhere to the dress code for school and change for PE/athletics. Middle School students will not return to the locker room after Bell 6.  

Season	Dates	Start of Competition
Fall	August 9-November 13	August 20
Winter	November 8-March 5	November 19
Spring	February 22-May 23	March 3

Visual and Performing Arts

• All Lower School students will continue to have their weekly music and art classes. 

• Middle and Upper school visual and performing arts classes will continue as a part of the regular school day schedule.

• Private piano lessons are offered in person. Contact Mrs. Stephanie Fluharty at stephaniefluharty@capehenry.org with questions.

• Dance registration for Lower School students has been sent to families. Email Mrs. Ericka Ricks at erickaricks@capehenry.org to learn more. 

• Middle and Upper School dance programming will resume at the start of the school year. 

• Band, chorus, and orchestra plan to have limited seating for live concerts for the first semester. Dates and times will be announced closer to the end of the semester.

• Middle and Upper School will hold student theater productions. The Upper School Play (Grades 8-12) and the Grades 5-7 Musical will be held during the first semester. Audition questions can be directed to Mrs. Stephanie Fluharty at stephaniefluharty@capehenry.org.

Face Coverings 

While indoors, face coverings will be worn by all CHC students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Students must put on their face covering before entering the building each morning.

Families are expected to provide each student with a face covering. Students are encouraged to bring additional face coverings as backup. A disposable mask will be provided should a student forget to bring their own. Please make sure to label all non-disposable face coverings with your student’s initials or name.

Face Covering Requirements:

• Must be two- or three-ply and fit securely to cover the mouth and nose.

• Must be mask style and have ear loops or ties behind the head. Neck gaiters are also permitted as long as they fit snugly and are worn properly. Gaiters should be made of cotton (not polyester spandex).

• Face coverings with respirator valves are not permissible without using another surgical mask to cover the valve.

• Face coverings should be free of slogans, logos, and other statements. Cape Henry Collegiate and college/university names may be displayed on face coverings. 

• Bandanas and scarves are not approved face coverings.

If a student would like to wear a face shield as an extra layer of protection, they are welcome to do so. Yet, a face shield cannot replace a mask unless a student has a documented preexisting medical condition that prohibits them from wearing a mask, then the student will be required to wear a face shield. A doctor’s note must be provided to Mrs. Kelly Hummel, School Nurse.

Handwashing

Personal hygiene measures are a key component to preventing the spread of COVID-19. Students will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after having been in a public place, before and after eating, after using the restroom, or after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, they will be instructed to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol with guidance on covering all surfaces of their hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Students will be reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. CHC has placed hand sanitizer stations in common areas across campus. 

Health and Safety Policy Enforcement

All administrators, faculty, and staff will model and enforce the new health and safety protocols that have been established on campus. Faculty and staff will refer any student who intentionally refuses to adhere to the policies to the appropriate division administrator.

Travel

We ask all CHC families to review the CDC and Virginia Health Department guidance for nonessential, domestic, and international travel. Please follow all state and local travel restrictions. For up-to-date information and travel guidance, check the state or local health department of your current location, along your route, and at your planned destination.

Allow Physical Space

Students will be expected to practice physical distancing while on campus. Classroom furniture has been adjusted in order to allow for physical distancing. Physical distancing also applies when in other spaces on campus. 

Shared Equipment/Materials

Cape Henry has reduced the use of shared materials. When a student uses shared material/equipment, they should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer afterward. All Lower School classrooms have a sink for handwashing, and hand sanitizer is available in all classrooms and workspaces on campus. 

Lockers

Middle and Upper School students will have use of lockers. Students are reminded to use their assigned locker only.

Classrooms

Classrooms have been outfitted with appropriate furniture and equipment to support physical distancing. Classrooms have been arranged to space seating three to six feet apart. 

Club Meetings and Spaces

Meetings and events with large groups/grade levels/divisions will have capacity limitations.  

Lunch

Cape Henry’s food service program will provide lunch to all students. Dining in Café Dolphin will resume in a staggered manner. Students in Prekindergarten 3-Grade 2 will place lunch orders in advance (in their classroom) and will begin the year eating in their classrooms. Students in Grades 3-12 will return to Café Dolphin while also utilizing our expanded outdoor dining spaces. Faculty/staff supervising students during lunch will oversee student handwashing/sanitizing prior to and after eating. Sharing of food and drink is prohibited. Physical distancing should be maintained during meal/snack times. Students are welcome to bring their own lunch/snack and should store it in a personal cooler/lunch box. No refrigeration or microwaves will be available.

Students should bring a labeled refillable water bottle as water fountains have been reconfigured to utilize the touchless bottle-filling feature only.

Hallway/Restroom Use and Monitoring

Students should do their best to follow physical distancing guidelines while in and around restrooms as well as passing through the hallways.

Visitors

Visitors must wear face coverings when indoors on campus. Parents or visitors who are volunteering or meeting with a faculty or staff member must also complete the Daily Health Screening Questionnaire upon arrival.

FIre/Lockdown/Tornado Drills

Drills will proceed with the required state schedule. 

Cleaning/Filtration

Cape Henry has increased cleaning and disinfecting to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19. 

CHC regularly conducts preventative maintenance on all ventilation systems. Additionally, we have:

• Enhanced the Building Automation Systems to allow for continual monitoring of systems with alerts to any deficiencies, on-demand ability to change run schedules, and enhanced efficiency.

• In the fall of 2020, CHC equipped all HVAC units with an air ionization system. This technology improves our air quality by reducing airborne particulates, odors and pathogens, without producing ozone or other harmful byproducts.

• The highest rated filters possible, up to MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating of 13.

• Adjusted outdoor air dampers to maximize the intake of outside fresh air and reduce the recirculation of air.

• Increased frequency of HVAC filter changes and system preventative maintenance

• Purchased additional HEPA filter units for specific work/instructional spaces as needed.

Custodial services have been increased during the day to clean high-touch points and bathrooms. Every day, after hours, cleaning and disinfecting will occur in each classroom. However, disinfecting high-touch surfaces is not a substitute for handwashing with soap and water as recommended by the CDC. 

Signage

Signage is present on campus to remind students, faculty, and staff of physical distancing, hand hygiene, and COVID-19 symptoms. CHC has posted signage prominently throughout the campus, including but not limited to common areas, restrooms, high-traffic areas, as well as entrances and exits. 

Classroom Technology

Cape Henry invested in technology that allows for a more interactive experience when students are required to learn remotely due to COVID-19. As a reminder, families may not elect remote learning as an option. It will be made available when necessary, due to a student’s required quarantine related to COVID-19 or medical situation, with approval by the Division Head. 

The Brooks Family Spirit Store

The on-campus spirit store is currently closed; however, families can email Mrs. Nicole Lauruska, the Spirit Store Manager, at nicolelauruska@capehenry.org, if they would like to set up a time to stop by the store. Parents will be required to adhere to the Visitor Policy. Our newly designed online store will be opening soon, which will allow families to purchase all of their CHC spirit gear. Please be patient as we launch this endeavor. In the meantime, all students will receive their 2021-2022 spirit shirts their first week back on campus. 

Community

Creating and sustaining a vibrant community is extremely important to all of us at Cape Henry Collegiate. This year, we will be working to further strengthen our community and sense of belonging on campus. As part of our Core Values, we are committed to ensuring that we dedicate time to welcome our newest members while embracing our returning students. In Middle and Upper School, advisory groups will meet daily.

Snacks on Campus

Vending machines and Café Dolphin are open for students in Middle and Upper School to purchase snacks during their break. Students are free to bring their own snacks for snack/break time and are also asked to bring a refillable water bottle. All water fountains have been removed, and water bottle refill stations have been added. As a friendly reminder, Cape Henry Collegiate is a nut-aware environment, and students are asked to bring snacks that do NOT contain nut products.

Transportation

Along with our partner, Tranquest, LLC., we are committed to providing a safe and healthy home-to-school transportation option for our families. Mitigation measures have reduced the capacity of buses so we have been prioritizing bus service on a first-come, first-served basis. For current information, please review the Transportation Resource Board on MyCompass or email transportation@capehenry.org.

Each child will have an assigned seat on the bus and there will be no more than two riders per seat. Children will be required to wear a face covering at all times on the bus. Hand sanitizer will be available on the bus.

While we know the on-campus experience is the most valuable approach for our students, we recognize that some students may not be able to come to campus due to COVID-related quarantine requirements for a period of time. In these cases, families will work with the appropriate Division Head to transition to remote learning.

Remote learning will not be available for other absences or for any “day-of” requests for non-COVID quarantine reasons.

A Family Pledge and Commitment

We ask all families to commit to supporting Cape Henry’s health, wellness, and safety protocols by agreeing to keep children home from school when they do not feel well, have COVID-like symptoms or have potentially been exposed to the virus. We ask families to perform daily temperature checks of their children before coming to school for the day. If a student has a temperature of 100.4 °F or higher, they must remain home. On campus, upon arrival each morning, students will turn in their Daily Health Screening Student Questionnaire.
 

Our Health Clinic, in accordance with CDC guidelines, has additional space and distancing for students and employees. The Clinic is separated into “well” and “sick” areas to keep students separated and help mitigate any possible virus spread. The “well” side will allow for an efficient and safe workflow of typical health services while operating separately from the “sick” area. 

Children exhibiting symptoms that require being sent home must be picked up within 45 minutes from the time the parent/guardian is called. In the event that a parent or guardian is not able to be reached, CHC will call emergency contacts. The parent/guardian should call the nurse’s office at (757) 963-8232 when they have arrived at CHC and the nurse will bring the child to the car for dismissal. The parent/guardian member will be asked to contact a licensed health professional to establish an appointment and follow further guidance.

Deciding When to Stay Home

Parents knowing when to keep children home from school is a very important part of keeping our campus open and healthy. To help, we have outlined key protocols to help families determine when a child should stay home. Please refer to the “Symptomatic Students” section of the Return to Campus Policy for Students for details.

Families can help reinforce safety protocols by:

• Teaching Healthy Hygiene practices:

  • Encourage frequent handwashing and use of hand sanitizer.

  • Practice coughing and sneezing into the elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

  • Add daily temperature checks to the morning routine.

• Maintain Preventative Health Practices:

  • Continue regular doctor visits and well-child appointments.

  • Keep immunizations and physicals current.

  • Encourage physical activity and time outside.

• Help Keep Children Emotionally Safe:

  • Ask how they are feeling and give them space to share and ask questions.

  • Maintain a routine at home to provide stability.

  • Continue reassuring them that the adults in their lives are there to support their well-being, both physically and emotionally.

  • Reach out for help. Our counseling team is available to provide support. 

    • Ms. Taria Conley, Lower School Counselor

    • Mrs. Amy Wight, Middle School Counselor

    • Mrs. Jill Qualters, Upper School Counselor

• Teaching and encouraging our health protocols:

  • Visually show and practice keeping six feet apart.

  • Practice wearing a face covering.

Even putting forth our best efforts by layering health mitigation strategies, there remain circumstances beyond our control. In the event we are notified by government officials or the health department of the need to close the campus, the school will continue remotely. As in March 2020, the transition will be quick and efficient. 

In the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case, we will continue to work closely with the Virginia Beach Health Department (VBHD) to guide and assist us. The VBHD treats each positive case individually and will provide specific guidance for testing, quarantining, and next steps for those in close contact with the individual. 

Our Commitment

In the event that we are required to limit or restrict access to campus or parts of campus (for example, to restrict access for just one division), Cape Henry Collegiate will transition to a remote learning schedule.

During any period of temporary remote learning, we remain committed to:

• Delivering on our mission

• Providing students with a high quality, student-centered learning experience

• Ongoing communication with families

Cape Henry remains committed to supporting our faculty through ongoing professional training to support and enhance the instructional experience for our students. In addition, the C.A.P.E. Institute embedded professional development program will run this fall with faculty and staff participating in sessions on a variety of topics.

To support our ongoing professional learning, Cape Henry Collegiate will not hold classes on September 29. On October 27 and November 17, we will have a two-hour delayed opening. All professional learning dates and other school closures are available here.  
 

Although Cape Henry Collegiate will implement multiple mitigation strategies to increase safety, as long as COVID-19 continues to spread by community transmission, there will be a risk that students could become infected with COVID-19. This risk extends to the families of students as well as others with whom the student may have contact. To this end, all parents who plan to send your child(ren) to campus are asked to adhere to state and local guidelines and the School’s expectations to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Cape Henry Collegiate cannot ensure that, even with the steps being taken, your child(ren) will not be exposed to COVID-19. Therefore, you acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assume the risk that you and your child(ren) may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by coming to our campus.

You understand and acknowledge that you will not drop off any child that is experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19.

All parents are reminded to complete the acknowledgment form in MyCompass after reviewing the “Return to Campus Policy for Students.”

As we start the 2021-2022 school year, we feel fortunate that our community is so committed to supporting the well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. We will approach our work with a focus on strengthening and reconnecting our community. We also remain committed to the mission of Cape Henry Collegiate.

We recognize that COVID-19 will continue to impact the Cape Henry Collegiate community for the foreseeable future. Together, we will keep our campus and community safe while providing our students with an outstanding educational experience.