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cohort model

UPDATED APRIL 12, 2021

Contact Department:
Upper School and Lower School

Oversight Executive:
Upper School Principal
Lower School Principal

Scope:
These required protocols apply to Upper School, Lower School, child care, extended supervision, and athletics.

Definition of Terms:
Cohort: an assigned group of students. ISI will assign all students to a primary cohort based on their class and/or grade level. Students may be assigned to a secondary and or tertiary cohort based on participation in child care, extended supervision, or athletics. 

Pod: a grouping of classrooms or a wing of a facility designated to serve a single cohort. 

Policy Statement:
To return to in person learning, during a pandemic, while mitigating serious health risks for our students, faculty, staff, and their families, as well as the broader Central Indiana community, requires the sacrifice of some freedoms that have long been central to school communities.

To mitigate serious health risks to our school community the following guiding principles have been established and will remain in effect until further notice:

  • restricted access to our facilities and limited mobility within them;
  • lower school students are grouped in cohorts that stay together and with the same faculty/staff throughout/across school days/extra curricular activities so that mixing of cohorts is limited as much as possible;
  • upper school students are grouped in cohorts that stay together and with the same faculty/staff throughout/across most of the school day/extra curricular activities so that mixing of cohorts is limited as much as possible. In French, Mandarin and Spanish language classes, students may be in a class with students from another grade level;
  • classrooms and programming spaces are structured so individuals can remain 6 feet apart, observing social distancing best practices when possible;
  • use of shared spaces (e.g. cafeterias, assembly spaces, etc.) is limited so intermixing of cohorts is avoided when possible.

Reason for Policy:
1. Provides guidance on how cohorts and pods will be structured

2. Aids in contact tracing should it be needed.

Procedures:

1. Cohorts will be structured as follows until further notice:

 Grade Level  Maximum Cohort Size  Cohort Structure
3 year old 14 students Students remain in their assigned classroom, and receive specialist classes in their room or outside.
Lunch served in the classroom.
Pre-kindergarten 16 students Students remain in their assigned classroom, and receive specialist classes in their room or outside.
Lunch served in the classroom.
Grades 1 to 5 18 students Students remain in their assigned classroom and receive specialist classes in their classroom or outside. Lunch served in the classroom. Students may be assigned to an additional cohort, not to exceed six students in their grade level, for academic interventions.
Grades 6 to 7 40 students

Students will be grouped into grade level cohorts for most of the school day. 
In French, Mandarin and Spanish language classes, students may be in a class with students from another grade level.
Students and faculty will move within their grade level pod to attend classes.
Middle school students will have PE either in the Blackwell gym or outside.
Lunch served in the Blackwell gym but at tables assigned to cohort.

Grade 8 to 10

 50 students

Students will be grouped by grade level cohorts in assigned pod areas for most of the school day.
In French, Mandarin and Spanish language classes, students may be in a class with students from another grade level
Students and faculty move between classrooms with most, if not all, classes live.
PE will be held outside in designated areas or in classrooms, and in the Blackwell gym for Middle School students.
Middle School students will be served lunch in Blackwell gym but at tables assigned to cohort. High School students will be served lunch in the pod.
Grade 11 to 12 60 students

Students will be grouped by grade level cohorts in assigned pod areas for most of the school day.
In French, Mandarin and Spanish language classes, students may be in a class with students from another grade level
Students and faculty move between classrooms with most, if not all, classes live.
PE will be held outside in designated areas or in classrooms. 
Lunch served in the pod.
Child Care Dependent on Registration Child care cohorts will be assigned by session.
Supervised play will happen in a designated location in the building or outside.
Upper School Extended Supervision Dependent on Registration Extended supervision cohorts will be assigned by session.
Participants will have supervised study time in designated location.
Athletics Dependent on Registration Each athletic team will function as a cohort.
Additional information found on the COVID-Ready Campuses Athletics page.

 

2. Cohort facility assignments have been designed to ensure students can be spaced 6 feet apart if required, in all facilities during all programming with 100% of students on campus. 

Related Information:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-schools.html

 

HELPLINE AVAILABLE

317-923-1951 ext. 300
Calls accepted Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.