After seven months of nearly empty hallways at Highlands, students are finally returning for in-person learning on  September 17 or 18. Students with last names A-Kim will return to school on the 17, while last names Kin-Z will return on the 18. All students will be learning in the building on the 21 and forward.

There will be many changes throughout the building that students and teachers will be expected to comply with for the new FTIS Healthy at School guidelines.

To safely return to school, students will be required to follow social distancing guidelines and maintain a six-foot distance between themselves and other individuals at all times. In classrooms and in the lunchroom, students will have assigned seats that place them at least six feet away from others. In the hallways, students are expected to maintain a six-foot distance from one another to the best of their ability. To aid in this process, students are being asked to use the same route to travel between classes each day. Lockers will not be provided this school year in order to help prevent traffic jams in the halls.

Students will also be required to wear a mask at all times unless they are eating or drinking. This includes wearing a mask while traveling through the hallways, as well as when seated during class. Masks should be two-ply cloth or medical grade paper masks and should fit snugly, covering both the nose and mouth. Students will not be permitted to eat in classrooms and will only be allowed to eat during their assigned lunchtime in their assigned seat. Students are allowed to drink water during class or class change, though it is strongly recommended that students bring their own water bottles and do not use the school fountains.

The school will be regularly sanitized to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. High traffic areas, such as handrails, will be sanitized a minimum of three times daily. Students will also be required to wipe off their desks before leaving class with a Clorox wipe. Time throughout the day will be provided for students to wash their hands and a bottle of 60% ethyl alcohol hand sanitizer will be placed in each classroom for student use.

Before heading to school, it is expected that all students will have performed a personal screening on their state of health. Any student experiencing a fever over 100.4,° cough, vomiting, new rash, or exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual in the past 48 hours are asked not to show up at school. Upon entering the building, students’ temperatures will be checked using either a handheld temperature scanner or thermal cameras.

Due to the Fort Thomas Independent School District’s top-notch facilities, diligent staff, and meticulous planning, a return to school is possible, but only if students are able to commit to the distancing, masking, and sanitizing guidelines provided by the school and state.

If you have any questions or would like more specifics on what FTIS and HHS are doing to keep students safe and healthy, visit https://sites.google.com/fortthomas.kyschools.us/ftishealthyatschool/home?authuser=0.