ASMS COVID-19 Campus Closing FAQs
OPERATIONS
1) With schools scheduled to close on Thursday in the state of Alabama, will ASMS classes be continuing after this date?
Yes. Remote education and coursework will continue. The Alabama School of Mathematics and Science is its own state agency. We are keeping with the Governor’s guidelines to close our campus, but we operate outside of the state’s K-12 school system. Therefore, in mirroring the decisions of institutions of higher education in Alabama, ASMS will move forward with remote education.
2) Will faculty and staff members be on campus? How can I reach them?
Faculty members will not be on campus and only a select few essential staff members will be permitted to come to campus. The best way to reach any ASMS employee in the days and weeks ahead will be to email them. Please refer to our school directory here: https://www.asms.net/about/directory/
3) What kind of communication can I expect from ASMS in the days and weeks ahead?
As we move forward, we will be as transparent and proactive as possible in communicating. It is our intent to send out regular messages and updates to ensure our community is both supported and informed.
4) Will the school campus be sanitized and disinfected?
Our entire campus will be disinfected and sterilized according to the CDC protocol during the close of campus.
5) What has ASMS been doing to prevent the spread of disease?
We have been continually reviewing the advisories from national, state, and local public health officials regarding how to best prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. We currently have no cases of the Coronavirus in Mobile county, our employees, or our students. Our facilities and maintenance staff members have continually been implementing measures to sanitize and disinfect campus. COVID-19 prevention posters were posted around campus with best practices for preventing the spread of disease. Each faculty and staff member received a sanitation kit, and they were advised to regularly clean and disinfect their classrooms and offices. We also canceled non-essential travel. We have officially closed the campus and only essential personnel are permitted on the premises.
6) What if I need to return to campus during this time?
Campus is closed, and you will not be permitted to return until our campus officially reopens. We will send formal communication when this happens.
7) What do I do if I am having issues with my ASMS e-mail account or Microsoft Office suite programs?
You should submit a help ticket to the ASMS IT department here: https://asms365.on.spiceworks.com/portal/tickets
ACADEMICS
1) How will students be graded and evaluated during this time?
Public school classes are technically cancelled until April 6, but educational instruction will continue at ASMS. Students will receive communication from their faculty members regarding how their curriculum will move forward and expectations for coursework throughout this time.
2) How will courses such as PE, Band, or Art be moving forward?
Students will receive communication from their faculty members regarding how their curriculum will move forward and expectations for coursework throughout this time.
3) Will advising and course registration for fall of 2020 continue?
Course scheduling for the fall of 2020 will continue in a remote format. Students will receive communication from our Academic and College Counselors, but patience is requested as their availability will be limited.
4) Will the school have makeup days?
Since we are progressing with coursework and classes at this time, we will not have any missed days that need to be made up. If this changes, we will send formal communication along with a plan.
5) What will happen with AP tests?
The College Board has issued a statement, which can be found here: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update?fbclid=IwAR1KmTaNBkgHiawGfzF_DYLvn0aQ2xDyRbbmJQ8xkRJnuN2u_BGSOSNR7AA
6) What if my student needs access to library resources?
The ASMS library is closed, and students are not permitted to return to campus for any reason. If your student needs a resource for a class, your student should e-mail Ms. Mollise, ASMS Librarian, at amollise@asms.net. Students are still able to access JSTOR for their courses.
STUDENT AFFAIRS
1) Will ASMS Student Affairs professionals still be available?
Yes! These professionals will be available but on a remote basis. You can contact any of our professionals via e-mail, and if needed, they can schedule a call with you.
Kara Whitney – Director of Student Affairs (kwhitney@asms.net)
Joyce Boatman – Student Affairs Assistant (jboatman@asms.net)
Katrina Thompson – Assistant Director of Community and Judicial Affairs (kthompson@asms.net)
Lacey Broadus – Personal Counselor (lbroadus@asms.net)
Kathy Kilcrease – School Nurse (kkilcrease@asms.net)
2) How can I talk to my student about COVID-19?
We don’t want to cause panic among our children, but we do agree with the CDC’s statement, “Parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear.” The CDC offers these tips on how to communicate about coronavirus with your child:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html
3) What should I do if I am becoming concerned about my student’s mental, emotional, or physical health as a result of staying home?
You or your student should e-mail ASMS licensed professional counselor, Ms. Lacey Broadus at lbroadus@asms.net. Ms. Broadus can provide recommendations as well as resources. Your student may also set up a phone call or virtual counseling appointment with her.
4) What should I do if I am concerned that my student cannot see their mental health professional or physician in Mobile?
You or your student should e-mail ASMS nurse, Kathy Kilcrease, at kkilcrease@asms.net or licensed professional counselor, Ms. Lacey Broadus at lbroadus@asms.net. Nurse Kilcrease or Ms. Broadus can provide recommendations as well as resources. Your student may also set up a phone call or virtual counseling appointment if needed.
EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
1) Will future ASMS events and activities be taking place (e.g. Prom, Honors Day, Senior Convocation, Graduation)?
We have been continually reviewing the advisories from national, state, and local public health officials. We do not have the answers to these questions at this time. As we move forward, we will be as transparent and proactive as possible in communicating. It is our intent to send out regular messages and updates to ensure our community is both supported and informed.
2) How will ASMS community building continue?
It is our priority that ASMS continues to be connected as a community. Our goal is to provide communication which connects and resources our community members in this time of transition. Our Office of Student Affairs will also implement plans to maintain hall unity and relationships amongst students. ASMS hall staff members will be reaching out to check in with the students in their hall and offer support. The school will also continue sending out messages which highlight the success of students as well as their education.
3) How will the Jo Bonner Leadership Academy be moving forward?
Some dates for the JBLA are subject to change. ASMS staff members will directly email applicants regarding date changes. Interviews for Ambassador and Peer Advisor will still be held this month. Candidates selected to interview will do so via phone and video call platforms. ASMS staff members will communicate directly with applicants about this process. The JBLA retreat will be postponed until a later date. Training dates may be adjusted as well.
4) How will the campus closure impact the Summer Internship Program?
We will continue to receive and review applications through March 20th as originally planned. However, there may be a delay in arranging interviews for students, since these will need to be conducted remotely via Skype or phone. It is also possible that the COVID-19 pandemic limits internship possibilities for our students, and we will monitor the situation with that in mind.
ADMISSIONS
1) How will the admissions process continue?
The ASMS Admissions Team will continue to evaluate applications and interview prospective students. The interview process will be conducted remotely. For additional information, e-mail admissions@asms.net.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ACT: https://www.act.org
AP and SAT: https://pages.collegeboard.org/natural-disasters
Mental Health:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html