ECU Community School reopens for new academic year with safety procedures
Students and staff returned to the East Carolina University Community School on Aug. 17 to new procedures and policies promoting social distancing, mask wearing and awareness of COVID-19.
The Community School, a collaboration between ECU and Pitt County Schools, provides training opportunities in K-5 education for future teachers and administrators and improves student performance in low-performing schools.
Scholars at the ECU Community School can participate in face-to-face learning. Desks are socially distanced and all scholars wear face coverings while at school. (Photos by Rhett Butler)
“The Community School faculty and staff have done an amazing job of helping our scholars to adjust to our ‘new normal,’” said Tracy Cole, principal of the ECU Community School. “When our scholars, faculty and staff report to campus, there are visual reminders to help keep everyone safe.”
This academic year, the school has altered the daily schedule to accommodate social distancing on buses and enhanced cleaning. Classroom seating has been arranged so scholars are separated from one another by 6 feet when feasible. Cloth face coverings must be worn on buses, inside school buildings and anywhere on school grounds. Hand sanitizing stations have been added through the school and scholars will be taught good handwashing techniques.
“The scholars have been excited about returning to school, seeing their classmates and the Community School faculty and staff,” Cole said.
She said that parents have shown appreciation that the school is offering a variety of learning options. As of Aug. 27, 50% of the scholars take part in fully virtual instruction, 46% take part in face-to-face instruction, and 3.5% take part in hybrid instruction.
The school had implemented one-to-one technology before the coronavirus pandemic and had cameras equipped in each classroom, which are now being used to record and livestream lessons for scholars taking part in virtual learning.
Educating the whole child has always been a mission of the school and is more relevant now than ever. The school employs a full-time school counselor and full-time in-school social worker to support scholars, families and staff with coping and resiliency.
Scholars follow social distancing markers as they wait to go into a classroom at the ECU Community School.
“The Community School faculty and staff members are so glad to see the scholars,” Cole said. “They have gone above and beyond to help scholars adjust and provide them with rich and relevant learning experiences.”
According to Cole, students and staff have adjusted well to the changes. Staff members reviewed protocols and procedures established by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Public Instruction during teacher workdays before school officially began.
“As a school family, we developed a consistent language for teaching and modeling these procedures to our scholars,” Cole said. “On the first day of school, the staff started teaching and modeling the new procedures for our children. We celebrate the scholars when they meet and exceed the expectations. We lovingly correct them when they are not doing what is expected. Constantly, we remind the children that these changes are for their safety and well-being.”
Being able to bring scholars back to the classroom was a joint effort among the university, Pitt County Schools and the community.
“By working as a team, we are able to continue to offer our scholars a quality education to help prepare them for life at the next grade level and beyond,” Cole said.
Learn more about the policies and procedures the school is following on the Return to the ECU Community School website.