Community Wellness Guide

    • aerial 2020

Reopening 2020

The Brookwood School Wellness Committee is working to provide you with clarity about the year to come and to maintain our community wellness. Our preliminary plans incorporate the School’s guiding principles, which are mission-driven and will provide us with the roadmap in our planning and several operating modes which are informed by state and national health and safety guidelines. We will keep our community updated here and via email messaging.

It is our vision to make life on Brookwood's campus as normal as possible, with students physically in classrooms, while taking appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Guiding Principles

Our guiding principles are mission-driven and will provide us with the roadmap in our planning.
 

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  • Calm

    We feel firmly that reopening and running school is essential to the well-being, growth, and success of Brookwood students. We have taken a level-headed approach to running the school in the midst of the pandemic.

    Our overarching goal has been to make life on Brookwood’s campus as normal as possible while staying as safe as possible for our students within the context of our current environment.

    We support the vision of the American Academy of Pediatricians which “strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.”

  • Community

    We are still in the midst of a global pandemic and need to take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While we are hopeful for the best, it is realistic to expect that it will continue to be disruptive in all of our lives for the foreseeable future. 

    We also know how important it is for our students to be on campus, learning from our teachers. As we have shared previously, children need to be in school in order to meet key developmental milestones for growth: academically, physically, spiritually, and socially.

    The success of this school year depends strongly on the good faith, flexibility, and understanding between families and the school in the mutual goal of having students thriving at school.

  • Compassion

    While our priority is to be on campus as much as possible, we are also preparing for potential interruptions and may need to adjust the school calendar accordingly. As always, we will work closely with our families to communicate more information when and if needed.

    As we adapt to this new normal, we seek compassion in all of our proceedures, remembering that our students and families are the reason Brookwood School exists.

  • Connectivity

    Brookwood places a high value on classroom-based, engaging education with teaching and learning experiences on campus. However, for those students who are out sick, are in quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure, or have a family member who is at high risk for exposure to COVID-19, we will provide this alternative, short-term option of Broadcast Learning through Google Meet to students who are at home. This will be a live video broadcast of the classroom or teacher.

    Broadcast Learning will vary by division. In most cases, the classes will include audio and video broadcasting when appropriate. This will provide real-time access into classroom activities and the classroom community for our students learning from home.

    Similarly, faculty who are unable to come to school, but are well enough to teach, can teach from home into the Brookwood classroom using the same technology. In this instance, there will be a Teaching Assistant or Substitute Teacher in the Brookwood classroom to facilitate the class.

Operating and Learning Modes

Operating and learning modes are informed by health and safety protocols, classroom schedules, cafeteria procedures, cleaning protocols, gathering and common spaces guidelines, extracurricular and field trip activities.

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  • Blue

    In this mode, Brookwood will cautiously proceed with many aspects of normal school operation while limiting some activities due to their elevated risk to the health and safety of our community.
    Read More

  • Yellow

    This mode employs multiple physical distancing strategies to limit transmission risks by increasing physical space between students and limiting interactions in large group settings.
    Read More

  • Orange

    This mode reduces the total number of people who can be on campus or a portion of the campus at any time to maximize physical distancing and minimize the mixing of student groups.
    Read More

  • Red

    This mode requires us to close the campus or a portion of the campus to students. The continuous learning plan is implemented for those students. This may have to be implemented in short periods by division or the whole campus.  We would expect to close the campus only in the events of  1) widespread presence of the virus on campus or, 2) government-mandated shutdown.
    Read More

Operating Mode by Division

2020-2021 Policy and Procedures

Many of the day-to-day operations of Brookwood School may undergo changes due to COVID-19 and our newly adapted health safety measures. Please check this site often for updates.

List of 4 items.

  • Arrival and Dismissal Guidelines

    Click here for Arrival and Dismissal Guidelines for All Divisions.

  • Lunch

    Pepi Foods provides our daily lunch service for those students who choose to purchase lunch at school. The menu will be limited to expedite time spent in the lunch line. Grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, and other selections will be offered daily. Please note, for students who bring their lunch from home, there are no microwaves available as they are high touch points. 
    Read More

  • Physical Education

    Physical education classes will still occur in most modes. Modifications may be made based on the Mode and current community health status.
    Read More

  • WAS and ACE Guidelines

    Warriors After School and After Class Enrichment Guidelines 

    Brookwood School is proud to offer after school care for children in Junior Kindergarten through eighth grade for our working parents.  Please click here for our guidelines.
     

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

We will update these Frequently Asked Questions periodically. We will answer questions on a rolling basis as needed.

List of 14 items.

  • What will lunch service look like?

    Pepi Foods will still provide our daily lunch service for those students who choose to purchase lunch at school. The menu will be limited to expedite time spent in the lunch line. Grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, and other selections will be offered daily. 

    Please click here for an important letter from Pepi regarding school lunch.
    Read More

  • Will students and faculty be required to wear cloth face coverings?

    Yes, a cloth face covering over the nose and mouth will be worn on campus by all faculty, staff and students. The current Operating Mode will dictate the specifics on mask wearing for each division. 

    Students are required to provide their own cloth face coverings. Like all outerwear, slogans or advertising are not acceptable.

  • What constitutes a cloth face covering?

    Per CDC guidelines, a cloth face covering should  
    • fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
    • completely cover the nose and mouth
    • be secured with ties or ear loops
    • include multiple layers of fabric
    • allow for breathing without restriction
    • be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

  • What are the enhanced safety protocols the school is putting in place to keep my child safe?

    We have enhanced protocols for staying home when sick, physical distancing, face coverings, cleaning, daily wellness screenings, our School Nurse, and visitors on campus.
    Read More

  • How will students be informed of Brookwood’s health and wellness procedures?

    A weekly Health Update newsletter is emailed to our community on Fridays. The newsletter and this webpage will provide information regarding ongoing procedures. 

  • What data is being used to drive our decisions about operating modes?

    We are prepared to move fluidly from one operating mode to another as necessary while preserving the integrity, continuity, and excellence of our academic programs. When transitioning from one operating mode to another, a teacher workday may be required to prepare and plan.

    We have developed the Health Advisory Committee. This committee is composed of Medical professionals who will guide policy and procedures and make decisions throughout the year.

    Additionally, our decision-making is informed by:
    • American Academy of Pediatricians
    • Center for Disease Control
    • National Federation of State High School Associations
     

  • Can divisions be in different operating modes?

    Yes. There are many factors that would go into changing the operating modes. The decision to change an operating mode would be made in consultation with the Health Advisory Committee and would be a judgement call based on the number of positive cases in that division.

  • What is the protocol for a positive COVID test of a faculty member or student?

    Any persons with suspected COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to quarantine until proven otherwise. Click here for our flow chart.

  • How can families maintain health/safety routines when not at school?

    When not at school, families can help reinforce safety protocols by:
    • Teaching healthy hygiene practices
    • Teaching and encouraging our health protocols
    • Maintaining preventative health practices
    • Help keep students emotionally safe
    Read More

  • How can my child stay connected with classwork when she or he is out of school?

    Brookwood places a high value on classroom-based, engaging education with teaching and learning experiences on campus. However, for those students who are out sick, are in quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure, or have a family member who is at high risk for exposure to COVID-19, we will provide this alternative, short-term option of Broadcast Learning through Google Meet to students who are at home. This will be a live video broadcast of the classroom or teacher.

    Broadcast Learning will vary by division. In most cases, the classes will include audio and video broadcasting when appropriate. This will provide real-time access into classroom activities and the classroom community for our students learning from home.

    Similarly, faculty who are unable to come to school, but are well enough to teach, can teach from home into the Brookwood classroom using the same technology. In this instance, there will be a Teaching Assistant or Substitute Teacher in the Brookwood classroom to facilitate the class.
     

  • Will you continue to offer bus services?

    Yes. We continue to offer our morning bus route from Moultrie each day, as well as the morning and afternoon routes to and from Cairo. We will be requiring the following before a student may board the bus:
    • Temperature check
    • Assigned seating on the bus
    • Students will be required to wear a cloth face covering on the bus at all times
    • Buses will be sanitized after each use

  • What will athletics look like in the Fall?

    We recognize that athletics and physical education are key elements of a Brookwood education, and we are committed to doing everything we can to continue to excel in that area. We are currently proceeding with fall athletics. Additional distancing and sanitary guidelines are in place. 

    Fan attendance guidelines are available here.

  • What will performing arts look like in the Fall?

    We are proceeding with  the one-act play in the fall and plans for the all-school musical in the winter. We will continue to evaluate and provide updates. 

  • What about Warriors After School and ACE?

    WAS and ACE are available when absolutely needed, with additional distancing and sanitary guidelines, including limited capacities. As with all other programs, these will be evaluated on an on-going basis.

Task Force

The following faculty, staff, and administrators make up the Brookwood School Wellness Committee.

Randy Watts, Headmaster
David Grooms, Assistant Headmaster, Upper School Director
Sam Caudill, Middle School Director
Francine Wright, Lower School Director
Kelly Campbell, Director of Advancement
Rebecca Erwin, Director of Admissions
Melissa Breese, Business Officer
Rob Clendenin, Director of Facilities
James Twilley, Director of Fields and Grounds
Shane Boggs, Athletic Director
Drew Giudice, Coordinator of Physical Education
Keith Massey, Registrar and Dean of Students
Josh Hanke, Director of Instructional Technology
Kendra Burrus, Director of Continuous Learning
Katie Owens, School Nurse
Allison Harrell, School Counselor
Bruce Hunter, Director of College Counseling
Karla George, Assistant to the Headmaster

HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Katie Owens, RN
Amy Cooper, MD
Bob Miles, MD
Mark Hudson, DO
Brandi Warren, MD

We Are Warriors

    • Mask Up, Warriors!

      Mask Up, Warriors!

How to Wear a Mask

How to Wear a Mask from Brookwood School on Vimeo.

Health and Wellness Resources

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The content of this webpage will be updated periodically, especially as circumstances change. We would like to thank the Southern Association of Independent Schools, and notably Porter-Gaud School, for the guidance in putting together the content for this page.

Brookwood School

Located in Thomasville, GA, Brookwood School is a private school for grades JK-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.