Return to Walker

We are proud of the work our students, families, faculty and staff are doing this school year. Despite ever-changing dynamics amid the COVID pandemic, our community is leading with grace and empathy, and our faculty continue to engage our students in the world-class education our families are accustomed to. 

Check this page often for updates from our Health & Safety and Teaching & Learning Taskforces, frequently asked questions and more. If you have questions, please use the “Questions and Feedback” button in the upper right corner. Or call us at 770.427.2689.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Modified Orange Phase

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Key Dates and Phases

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  • I would like to better understand how The Walker School will determine when the red zone would be the safest option.

    We use many different metrics. Every day we look at data from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Cobb & Douglas Public Health, Harvard Global Institute, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Policy Lab, The Path to Zero in addition to being in regular communication with the Cobb & Douglas Public Health Department. We also have several task force members who attend the special meetings that Cobb & Douglas has for school leaders every two weeks. One of the sources we use is the Georgia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Status Report. We review the Cases Chart filtering on Onset Date to get a more accurate picture of the trend of cases.

    The Walker Health & Safety Task Force meets twice a week to discuss these data points.

  • What does the beginning of the year look like in Orange/hybrid?

    Primary and Lower School students will be on campus full time with limited class sizes.

    Middle and Upper School students will be in a hybrid A/B day model. This will include a rotation of two on-campus days, two WalkerConnect days. On the WalkerConnect days, students will participate in classes via our interactive livestream system, which means they will be able to actively participate in class.

  • What specifically determines when we move from Orange to Yellow or Orange to Red?

    The Walker School administration will decide based on guidance from the Walker Health & Safety Task Force when to move from one phase to another. The Health & Safety Task Force was formed in February 2020 and meets twice a week to discuss developments from the CDC and federal, state and local health departments. The Task Force also consults with medical experts in the Walker community.

  • Will primary school students be allowed to do the hybrid model or is it online or 5 days a week?

    In the Orange Phase, Primary School students will be using WalkerConnect or on-campus five days a week. 

Health and Wellness

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  • What will daily screenings include?

    Each morning, parents will be asked to complete a symptom screener using the SchoolPass application that can be downloaded onto a tablet or phone. The symptom screener will help to identify students who are exhibiting possible symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to the virus.

    Faculty, staff and visitors to campus also will be required to use the SchoolPass app prior to entry to campus each day.

    Once on campus, all community members must complete a temperature screening.

    Primary School screenings will take place in carpool. Lower School, Middle School and Upper School students should proceed immediately to their designated screening locations upon arrival on campus.

    Questions that will be asked include:
    1. Have you experienced any of the following symptoms within the past 24 hours: fever, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, chills, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, loss of taste and smell, congestion / runny nose
    2. Have you been in contact with anyone experiencing the symptoms above within the past 24 hours?
    3. Do you have reason to believe you have been exposed to or have COVID-19?

  • What are the requirements for face coverings?

    Based on guidance from the CDC, state and local health departments and the American Academy of Pediatrics, face coverings are required of anyone arriving on the Walker campus.

    To offer the most optimal protection, face coverings must cover a person’s nose and mouth (from the bridge of the nose to below the chin) and fit securely around the ears or behind the head. Face coverings should be at least two layers of tightly-woven fabric. Walker recommends face coverings that are adjustable around the nose and ears.

    Neck gaiters/buffs are only allowed if they have multiple layers of tightly-woven fabric and can be secured with ear loops. 
    Masks with exhalation valves are not allowed because they protect the person wearing the mask but not others.
    Face shields are only allowed in certain instances and must be approved by the division.

  • Are neck gaiters/buffs acceptable?

    Neck gaiters/buffs are only allowed if they have multiple layers of tightly woven fabric and can be secured with ear loops. 

  • I see that disposable masks are available on an emergency basis, but are they considered appropriate for a student to bring from home on a daily basis?

    Disposable masks are allowed as long as they are sized appropriately for your child. Make sure it covers their nose from the bridge of the nose to below the chin, fits snugly around the face, does not have to be adjusted regularly and has enough layers to block the flow of air.

  • If students are social distanced inside, do they need to wear face coverings also?

    Yes, students and faculty will be required to wear face coverings inside all buildings. They may remove their face coverings during snacks, lunch and PE if they are socially distanced. According to the CDC and other health agencies, face coverings combined with social distance and hand washing are the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

  • How are you going to enforce the mandatory wearing of face masks on campus?

    In order to keep Wolverines protecting Wolverines, it is the expectation of everybody on campus to wear masks. We are also continuing to lead with grace, empathy and understanding. We do not want the mask-wearing or social/physical distancing to be punitive and shaming in any way. If someone really doesn't want to wear a mask, they have the opportunity to do WalkerConnect. Our students tend to be very willing to do the right thing particularly when it's explained to them in a way that benefits themselves and helps them help other people along the way.

  • Will face coverings be required when students arrive on campus? When can students take their face coverings off?

    Everyone arriving on campus must wear a face covering upon arrival. Walker has a limited supply of face coverings for those who do not have them.

    Students will be able to remove their face coverings multiple times throughout the day, including during lunch, snack, recess, PE if they are physical distancing and any other time they are outside when physical distancing is possible.

  • How do you plan on limiting elementary class size? Will you be dividing their class with some extra teachers?

    In the Orange Phase, Lower School classes will be divided into dens with no more than nine students in a classroom. 

  • What will be the primary school class ratio size?

    Some classes in the Primary and Lower School will have 10-11 students because they can safely distance based on the room size and occupancy levels. Also, children in that age group have been shown to have reduced transmission rates.

  • How will social distancing be maintained in the hallways in between periods as students switch class periods?

    Hallways and stairwells have been identified and marked as one-way throughout most buildings on campus in an effort to reduce congestion in doorways and hallways. We are staggering class dismissal times, and students in the Middle and Upper schools will not be using lockers.

  • How will Walker ensure social distancing measures are in place during PE/Recess for Lower School Students to limit any risk of virus transmission?

    In the Lower School, dens will stay together for PE and recess. Faculty will be on hand to oversee risk mitigation strategies. We found during summer camp that after being reminded a few times children remembered to maintain proper distance.

  • If my daughter has a migraine, since it is a headache, she would need a doctor's note to come to school?

    If your child has a pre-existing condition, you should email Nurse Dana Ferguson at walkernurse@thewalkerschool.org. She will follow up with you.

  • What has the school done to improve ventilation?

    The Facilities Department investigated various methods recommended by the CDC and ASHRAE including the following:
    • Increased ventilation/fresh air exchanges
    • Increased frequency of filter changes Installing higher MERV level air filters
    • The use of air purification systems
    • The school has increased the flow of outside air and the runtime of all units
    • Additionally, the buildings will be flushed in the middle of the night with outside air
    • Air filters have been increased as much as each unit will allow and a plan has been developed to increase the frequency of the filter changes
    • Air purification systems will be added to each of the isolation rooms as the potential for additional aerosolization of COVID germs is increased for those rooms

  • What has Walker done to their HVAC system?

    We have changed our filters and increased filtering as much as systems allow. We are working on mechanical enhancements proven to be effective in killing COVID-19 germs.

  • Will the Lower School provide shields for the children?

    Lower School students are using face shields only for language activities in which seeing the mouth or tongue is necessary for instrution. Primary School students will be provided shields, though we have found that many of our youngest students prefer wearing masks.

Exposure and Testing

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Academics and Activities

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Schedules and WalkerConnect

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Division Town Halls
Resources

  • Main Campus

    700 Cobb Parkway North
    Marietta, GA 30062
    770.427.2689

  • Primary School

    830 Damar Road
    Marietta, GA 30062
    770.427.2689
The Walker School is a private, co-ed day school offering opportunities in academics, arts, and athletics for preschool, elementary, middle, and high school students in Metro Atlanta.