COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan

AIM Academy is committed to in-person learning as it provides the best possible learning experience for all our students. There will not be an option to Zoom into on-campus classes when students are out of school for a COVID-related absence.

Why? The most optimal learning happens when students are learning in-person in the classroom, when there are consistent classroom structures and routines with minimal disruption, and when teacher attention does not need to be divided between in-person students and students on Zoom. For the benefit of all of our learners, we are not having students who are absent join classes via Zoom this year.  We expect that our continued health and safety measures will keep our community safe and keep students in the classrooms as much as possible.

That being said, if a student will miss an extended period of time due to a confirmed positive COVID exposure or a positive test, we will work to implement division-specific accommodations to ensure the continuity of student learning. As always, our partnership and commitment to meeting student needs will be at the forefront of any circumstance that results in prolonged absence due to the impacts of COVID as outlined above. Please note, accommodations will not be available for non-COVID related absences including vacations, quarantining due to travel, absences due to other illnesses, or appointments.

If your child will be absent due to a positive COVID test or exposure to a confirmed positive COVID case, please do the following:  

• Please email attendance@aimpa.org and COVID-19 Coordinator Lindsay Brown covidsupport@aimpa.org to let us know that your child will be out of school and the reason.

• See our FAQs for details about each division's COVID-related absence plan.

AIM plans to offer Extracurricular Activities at all program levels this fall including performing arts, athletics and robotics. Our programming will adhere to AIM guidance as well as sports guidance determined by the Penn-Jersey Athletic Association. Learn more about Fall Extracurriculars by contacting Jason McGhee, Director of Athletics and Student Life at jmcghee@aimpa.org.

AIM will be joining other area schools including Miquon and Norwood-Fontbonne Academy in partnering with Yay Lunch! for our meal service this school year. You can watch a video about the Yay Lunch! process and get a jump start on creating your account here.

Our cafeteria will be open to student dining this year, but due to spacing constraints, students may dine in the cafeteria or another space. We will also be using our two outdoor tents during lunch. We have adjusted our dining and recess periods to maximize space for students.

We will encouraging social distancing of students, but will not be using one-way travel patterns on staircases or having designated entrances for students (except for at the start of the school day). We will continue to encourage students to use separate sides of hallways when passing one another. 

Restroom occupancy will continue to be limited. Our restrooms feature touchless faucets at the sinks. At any time there should not be more individuals in a restroom than there are sinks in that restroom.

Expectations on Trains, School District Buses and Van Transportation

Federal mandate still requires that anyone riding on mass transportation - public or private - wear face coverings while on the bus or train.

Arrival and Dismissal

In order to provide as much social distancing as possible and reduce congestion, we will continue our arrival procedures from 2020-2021.

Morning Arrival

Bus and Train Transportation: Lower and Middle School students arriving at AIM via train or bus should go to the AIM Community Center (ACC) upon arrival at school prior to 8:00 am. They will be supervised and sent to classes at 8:00 am. Upper School students arriving before 8 am must wait under the tent in the rear parking lot until 8 am.

Lower School Car Drop Off: Lower School parents are asked to drop students off at 8:00 am and to enter AIM’s campus at the farthest entrance on River Road. Students need to stay in cars until they are greeted by staff at 8:00 am to go to classrooms. See FAQs for information about Before-School Care.

Middle School Car Drop Off: Middle School parents are asked to drop students off at 8:00 am in the parking lot closest to the AIM field. Students need to stay in cars until 8:00 am, when they can head into the school building. See FAQs for information about Before-School Care.

Upper School Car Drop Off: Upper School parents are asked to drop students off in the SEPTA lot (entrance at River Road and Manor Road) at 8:00 am. Please note that you must park in one of the open parking spots and wait until 8am to release your child(ren). Students should walk along the sidewalk to the US entrance NOT through the main parking lot.

Late Arrival: After 8:10 am, students are considered late. Parents should park in the parking lot, buzz their child in at the front door and follow lateness procedures above. Students are not permitted to cross the parking lot without parent supervision.

All students will be required to sanitize their hands upon arrival at school.

Afternoon Dismissal

Afternoon dismissal for students taking a bus or van will take place beginning at 3:15 pm at the Main Entrance to the building. Afternoon dismissal for Lower School students being picked up by car will be at AIM Community Center (ACC) entrance, in the main parking lot for Middle School, and in the SEPTA lot for Upper School.

To enter the Lower School carpool line, cars will proceed on River Road and turn into the last AIM entrance. Lower School parents who are picking up their children are asked to follow the car line as directed.

To pick up a Middle School student, parents should park in an open space in the main parking lot closest to the entrance until students are dismissed.

To pick up an Upper School student, parents should find an open parking spot in the SEPTA lot and wait to leave until your student enters the vehicle.

At 3:15 pm, the staff person assigned to afternoon dismissal duty will release the student to the authorized parent or guardian. The staff member is assigned to afternoon dismissal until 3:30 pm. After that time, remaining students will be brought to the front lobby to await pick up.

AIM Academy staff members are assigned to this afternoon dismissal. 

AIM will continue to reduce the number of non-essential visitors to campus.

All visitors will be expected to adhere to AIM's health and safety protocols and are expected to mask regardless of vaccination status when students are in the building. Non-essential visitors should continue to use video conferencing or other means to communicate with employees whenever possible. While most visitors likely have their own mask, we will be sure to have enough masks available. We require masks to be worn at all times within the building.

• AIM will hold small group, on campus Tuesday Tours in order to share our school with interested families who have attended an online Information session.

• Parents and Guardians may drop off items in a designated area near the front desk.

• Parents and Guardians that are picking up a student should park in front of the main building and sign the student out at the front desk. They should then return to their vehicle and wait for a staff member to walk the child out to the vehicle.

• Facilities Contractors and Vendors must enter through the front entrance of the Main Building.

• Deliveries will be placed in a designated area near the front desk

• AIM Institute for Learning & Research teacher training programs and events will continue to be held online.