DAILY DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Beginning November 30, 2020, Hamilton Local Schools will be returning to the full virtual operating model through December 22, 2020. 

The preschool teachers are working to put together virtual school plans for all of the preschool classes and will be contacting the parents/guardians of preschoolers with these plans on Monday, November 30.
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Columbus, Ohio 43207
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Ranger Restart 2020
Virtual Nov 30 through Dec 22

We miss our students and want to have them join us in school each day. However, we have to keep student and employee health and safety at the forefront of our decision-making by considering the current environment when making operation decisions throughout the school year. Please keep in mind that we all have to remain flexible as our operations can change due to the spread or containment of the coronavirus. We are in the Virtual Plan from November 30 through Dec 22.
Green and Gold 50/50 Calendar
This calendar shows when students in the Green and Gold 50/50 schedules will be in our school buildings.
Virtual Plan Daily Schedule
This schedule currently is being used for the elementary school online students.
Ranger Restart 2020 Document
Updated November 20, 2020 (Updated current plan to Virtual.)
Franklin County Public Health
FCPH Guidance
& Response Protocols
These documents were posted by FCPH on August 30, 2020. The file includes FCPH's algorithm for in-person learning, COVID protocols, FAQs, a COVID reporting link, and a contact tracing infographic.
WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME
Check in with your child each morning. 

DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Fever of 100.4° or higher
  • New or worsened cough
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose

OR ANY TWO OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Headache
  • Body aches
  • New or worsened fatigue
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Health Safety

Masks

  • Per governor's statewide mandate, all students (K – 12th grade) will be required to wear approved face coverings when at the bus stop, riding the bus, in hallways, and whenever they are in classrooms.
  • Since masks aren’t a one size fits all, individuals are asked to have their own mask(s) to use while in school. When worn, masks should cover the nose, mouth and chin in order to work properly.
  • Students will be provided with “mask breaks” at various times during the school day. We understand there may be medical exemptions signed by a licensed healthcare professional, but all those must be presented to our school nurse prior to the start of school.
  • You can email copies of signed exemptions to our District Nurse, Mrs. Brickey at [email protected] prior to the start of school. She will validate these exemptions for our district.
  • Students who do not have a medical exemption and still choose not to wear a mask will need to enroll in our semester-long online curriculum option.

Social Distancing

  • The limited number of students in our buildings during “50/50” operating model will allow us to set student desks/seating at least six feet apart.
  • When we are in the “Every Day” operating model, students will be at least three feet apart in their classrooms.
  • Students in grades K-6 will not change classrooms for academic instruction during the school day to limit opportunities for virus exposure. Teachers will move from classroom to classroom in these grade levels as needed during the school day. This practice will also limit students passing each other in the halls. 
  • HMS students will remain in the same classroom until they have a controlled class change when going to “specials” courses. Teachers will be the ones moving classrooms for core classes, health, and career explorations. 
  • In both operating models (“50/50” and “Every Day”), HTHS students will need to switch classes during the school day. Class changes will be controlled with specific traffic flow directions that will limit exposure during class change.

Temperature Checks & Handwashing

  • All HLS employees, students, and visitors are asked to take their temperature before coming to district buildings and grounds. Anyone with a fever over 100.4° must remain out of buildings and away from district grounds.
  • Handwashing will be promoted as a healthy habit.
  • Hand sanitizer will be provided in each classroom for students and employees to use.

No Shared Supplies; Drinking Fountains & Water Bottles

  • We ask that students do not share supplies during the school year to limit opportunities for COVID exposure. 
  • Students will keep their supplies in desks, cubbies, or personal backpacks.
  • Water fountains will not be available during the pandemic.
  • Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles to school.

Recess

  • Recess will follow social distancing requirements that need to be met.
  • Guided recess sessions will allow students to interact and be active in a safe environment.

COVID Infection

  • We need to work together to minimize student and staff COVID transmission. There is no way to completely prevent the spread of a virus until a vaccine is available. We have daily cleaning procedures for all buildings and buses. Parents need to stress to their children the importance of keeping social distance, wearing masks, and hand washing/sanitizing while they are in our schools.
  • HLSD will work with local health department officials in the investigation of those who are cases or contacts of that case.
  • For reference, health department officials say that people have to be within six feet for a time of at least 15 minutes to be considered a contact of someone who has been confirmed as a COVID case.
  • Students quarantined at home can complete assignments. Our teachers will maintain Google Classrooms throughout the school year. Students who are out due to being sick or quarantined will have the total number of days they are out of school to complete any assignments.
Cleaning

Building/Classroom Cleaning

  • HLSD will follow guidelines set by the CDC and FCPH.
  • All classrooms will be cleaned at the end of each school day through wiping, mopping, and fogging/misting (pending approval) all surfaces and materials.
  • Desks and seats in classrooms will be cleaned before and after classes.
  • Hand Sanitizer will be provided in each classroom.
  • We will also be increasing each building’s fresh air intake 25%.

Bus Cleaning

  • All buses will be wiped down between each route.
  • Fogging after all morning and afternoon routes have been completed.
  • All riders are required to wear masks that cover their nose and mouth.
Meals

Breakfast

  • Breakfast will be available in the morning.

Lunch

  • Our buildings have plans to utilize a common area or classroom that they will choose based on what their daily enrollment allows.
  • Daily student attendance totals will determine the lunch location of students in each building. We can utilize our cafeterias or classrooms to properly social distance at a rate that is approved by FCPH that provides a safe space for students while they have lunch.

Lunch distribution, if in the Virtual plan, will be determined and announced in future updates 
Transportation

Buses will operate in Every Day and 50/50 models

  • Buses will run routine routes
  • Bus routes will be posted to the district and transportation websites as soon as they are finalized. Our route information is typically posted two weeks before the first day of school.
  • All buses will be wiped down between each route.
  • Fogging after all morning and afternoon routes have been completed.
  • All riders are required to wear masks that cover their nose and mouth.
  • Seats will be limited to two students per seat.
  • In order to limit exposure, student pick up/drop off location will have to be the same location. For example, if your child gets picked up from a sitter in the morning, they will have to be dropped off there in the evening as well.

Other Transportation

  • To allow for social distancing in the Every Day and 50/50 operating plans, we request that parents transport their child to school when possible.
  • Career Center transportation will work as it has in the past. If you are able to bring your child to HTHS each morning, it will reduce the amount of potential COVID exposure because it will limit the number of students on buses. We will offer busing to students who need transportation each morning. All students will need to arrive at the high school by 7:00 a.m. each morning.

Building-Specific Transportation Procedures

  • The preschool is encouraging parents to transport students.
  • The elementary school will use multiple entrances.
  • The intermediate school will not allow students in as early as past years to sit in the cafeteria.
  • The middle school will use multiple entrances.
  • The high school will use multiple entrances for students getting off the bus, continue to use the aides for early students, and ADVISORY will be 9th period to allow better flow out of the building at the end of the day
Nov 30 - Dec 22

Virtual

Virtual Plan icon

The Virtual Plan provides live instruction from Hamilton teachers for all Hamilton students, excluding those in the Online Plan. Click the picture below for the Virtual Plan daily schedule.
Virtual Daily Schedule
Other Plans

50/50

The 50/50 Plan provides in-person, in-building instruction to half the students on assigned days. On the weekdays that students are at home they are given remote learning assignments. The assigned groups are called the "Green" and "Gold" groups. The Green group attends school on Wednesdays, Fridays, and every other Monday. The Gold group attends school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other Monday. Click the pictures below to see a 50/50 summary and overviews of the Green and Gold schedules.
50/50 Schedule Summary
50/50 Green
Green 50-50
50/50 Gold
50/50 Gold

Online Option

Online icon
The Online option is available for parents who choose by August 7 to enroll their students in the online learning platforms selected by the district. The Jefferson County ESC online curriculum is available for students in grades K-6. Apex is available for students in grades 7-12. With this option a Hamilton staff member will oversee the online learning but there is no guarantee that a Hamilton teacher will be teaching the class. The option depends on the number of students whose families choose this option. Click the pictures below to see the Online option and frequently asked questions about the Online Plan.
Online Decision Flowchart
Schedule Plan Decision Flowchart
Click on the chart above for a helpful flowchart to guide the decision to attend school in the district model or the Online Plan.
Online FAQ
Online FAQ
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District Administrative Offices
775 Rathmell Road   |   Columbus, Ohio 43207
Phone: 614-491-8044   |   Fax: 614-491-8323
Schools Phone Numbers Fax Numbers Schools Phone Numbers Fax Numbers
Hamilton Township High School 614-491-8044 x1800 614-492-1495 Hamilton Elementary School 614-491-8044 x1300 614-492-1499
Hamilton Middle School 614-491-8044 x1500 614-491-0260 Hamilton Preschool 614-491-8044 x1231 614-491-5564
Hamilton Intermediate School 614-491-8044 x1600 614-492-1059
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District Administrative Office | 775 Rathmell Road | Columbus, Ohio 43207 | Phone: 614-491-8044 | Fax: 614-491-8323
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