Check the flocknotes below for the most up to date information on our return to school in the fall. Our formal Return to Learn Assurances for the Iowa Department of Education can be found on our homepage under COVID 19 or by clicking HERE.

Due to our mitigation strategies in keeping St. James and Washington Community Schools healthy and safe for students, families, and staff, we have incurred some negative effects. One of those effects is teachers having less time to prepare for instruction and for collaboration. The Washington Community School District (WCSD) school board approved first semester calendar changes for five additional early outs allowing for professional development. Our St. James school board has approved that we follow public in adding the following early outs to the first semester calendar:

Friday, October 23 12:55pm dismissal
Friday, November 13 12:55pm dismissal
Friday, December 11 12:55pm dismissal
Friday, December 18 12:55pm dismissal
Friday, January 8, 2021 12:55pm dismissal

During this time, teachers will continue their collaboration with WCSD in special education, professional development in technology specifically SeeSaw, Google Suite (Gmail, Google Classroom), MobyMax, JMC (student information system), and through the Diocese, Basic Faith Formation.

Return to Learn Update

Please see the attached documents. The first one is a letter provided by Washington County Public Health and the second is our updated version of our Return to Learn Onsite Plan. 

NOTE:  This Return to Learn On-Site Plan has been proposed by the Return to Learn Committee and approved by the St. James School Board on August 12, 2020.  We will continue to develop this plan and recognize that additions, corrections, and deletions will be necessary as we progress through the school year. Our next step is to more fully develop our procedures to ensure students continue to receive instruction in the event that students must be in quarantine or isolation pursuant to the rules of the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department of Education.  

Return to Learn Update

August 4, 2020

To follow up with what Washington Community School District released regarding face coverings and our decision at St. James to do so as well, please note the following: 

Social Distancing and Close Contact Guidelines:
Additionally, guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control address social distancing and close contact from the perspective of the risk being increased when people are within six feet of one another for fifteen minutes or more. These guidelines are being factored in when developing the District’s plan. The following guidance will be in place for the various grade spans: 

•  Adults in the program will wear face coverings and maintain appropriate physical distancing from one another as much as possible. 
•  The teachers and paraprofessionals will work with students and families on infectious disease control measures including the washing of hands on a regular basis. 
• The teachers and paraprofessionals will work with the students on becoming comfortable with wearing a face covering by wearing a mask for brief periods of time, but wearing a face-covering throughout the entirety of the school day will not be require

• Adults in the K-5 classrooms will wear face coverings and maintain appropriate physical distancing from one another as much as possible.  
• In grades K-2, students will be taught how to appropriately wear a face covering as part of instructional lessons focused on proper hygiene. Students at this age will not be required to wear a face-covering throughout the entire school day but will practice wearing them throughout the day. Students will be instructed to wear face coverings when transitioning throughout the building as well as when social distancing is not possible. 
• In grades 3-5, students will be taught how to appropriately wear a face covering as part of instructional lessons focused on proper hygiene. They will also be expected to wear a face-covering throughout the school day, being provided periodic breaks of no more than ten minutes at a time. Students will be expected to wear face coverings when it is more difficult to social distance from one another. 
• Student learning spaces will be placed with social distancing in mind in K-5 classrooms. 
• Students will not be required to wear face coverings during physical education, outdoor recess, and lunch. Guidelines for appropriate physical distancing will be put into place during these times. 

St. James provides high quality and effective instruction aligned with the Common Core Standards, while guiding students in grades preschool through fifth as they develop into life-long learners of their Christian Faith.