STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island Academy in Dongan Hills is anticipating opening its campus for a full in-person learning experience for its students in pre-K3 to 12th grade for the 2020-2021 school year.

Eileen Corigliano, assistant head of school, said the school will be able to serve all of its students for in-person learning on campus, while also following social distancing procedures in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

One of the benefits for us is that we were already a small school, she said. So our class sizes can be as small as one student to 15 to 16 students and thats always been the case for us, even before all of this. That was one of the appeals to us -- the small class sizes. When I say one [student], we have children who are studying something that they were really passionate about, so we created a course for them -- but I would say on average our classes are anywhere from six to 15.

Large classrooms and already small class sizes will allow students to social distance when they return to class this fall, according to the school. Desks will be spaced apart and the school is looking at other safety options -- such as personal protection dividers or partitions.

Students and staff will also be required to wear a face mask during the school day.

Additionally, students and faculty will take advantage of the schools 12 acres of property. Outside spaces will be used for instruction and lunch -- weather-permitting. Staten Island Academy will also be putting up tents outside for additional coverage to provide an open-air learning experience.

We will be spending more time outside than usual, Corigliano said. Weve taken advantage of our campus always, everything from science outside, to reading with little kids outside, to obviously playtime and recess outside, but really pushing that even further.

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And for those who may be high-risk for severe illness in the case they contract the coronavirus, there will be options for remote learning, Corigliano said.

We understand that there may be students or faculty who may not be well, have immune deficiencies or compromised immune systems that wont allow them to attend campus, so were in the process of wiring all of our classrooms with cameras and sound capability so that a child and/or a faculty member who is unwell -- or for any restrictions for quarantining or whatever reason -- can still engage in the learning process remotely, although we will be on campus, said Corigliano. So that will hopefully provide an opportunity where people dont have to miss out in a day and age that they may be missing more school than normal.

The seven different buildings on campus will each have air purification -- whether it is installed in air conditioning units or systems, or stand-alone purification systems. Screens have been added to windows to provide fresh air circulation, as well.

And there will be more efforts when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting the campus.

Weve historically had a maintenance staff during the day and a cleaning crew at night, so our staff is on campus from 7 a.m. to midnight prior to COVID in cleaning and disinfecting the buildings and the campus all year round. But of course, were upping that, were switching and making sure we have some cleaning crew people on campus during the day to just be constantly cleaning handrails and doorknobs -- and obviously bathrooms and any places where kids are eating , Corigliano said.

The schools cleaning crew is working with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, as well as safety guidelines and regulations.

In-class instruction is whats best for our kids -- but doing it safely, so were trying to make sure that we can tick both sides of those boxes, Corigliano said. For the kids who cant come to the school, theyll have the opportunity to attend classes remotely.

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Staten Island Academy re-entry plan: Full in-person learning experience to be offered - SILive.com