Conejo Adventist^® Elementary School

2020-2021 GUIDELINES FOR SAFELY OPENING CAES SCHOOL CAMPUS

In preparing for the coming school year, CAES plans to implement these 13 guidelines so we can resume in-person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year. Implementation of this guidance will depend on local public health conditions of Ventura County and California at large. This is a fluid document and will change as the circumstances dictate.

1.General Measures

• CAES will continue to keep informed of state/county/conference regulations regarding disease control measures.
• Community organizations that utilize the campus and resources will follow the public health county guidelines for their organization to use our facility. They will not be present during school hours.
• In the event of a mandated temporary closure due to exposure or COVID-19 illness on campus, teachers will implement a distance learning plan appropriate for their grade level.
• This site-specific plan will be evaluated and updated throughout the school year as we see areas that can be improved.
• Students requiring direct support providers will be accommodated in our classrooms in accordance with our Handbook.

2.Practicing Healthy Hygiene

• Every classroom has a sink with soap and paper towels, hand sanitizer to use when appropriate, and tissues for coughing/sneezing/blowing nose. We will practice:
  • Frequent hand washing or hand sanitizing when appropriate
  • Using a tissue to wipe nose and to cough/sneeze inside a tissue or elbow
  • Wearing face coverings when applicable and the proper care of such coverings

3.Wearing Face Coverings

• Kindergarten-2^nd grade students are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in the classroom if it can be worn properly.
• 3^rd-8^th grade students must wear a face covering in the classroom unless they are medically exempt.
• All staff are required to wear a face covering.

4.Ensuring Teacher and Staff Safety

• Teachers and staff will be tested monthly.
• Teachers and staff will minimize contact with each other.
• Teachers and staff will monitor their health condition daily.

5.Cleaning, Disinfection, and Ventilation

• Frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned/disinfected daily.
• Classrooms will be cleaned daily.
• Use of playground equipment will be limited by cohort and cleaned between uses.
• Sharing of objects and equipment will be limited to the extent practicable.
• Proper ventilation inside the classrooms will be utilized.
• One non-touch automatic water bottle station will be available for use.

6.Distancing Inside and Outside the Classroom

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

For drop off and pick up, follow the directional arrows for traffic and pull as far forward as possible. As people leave, please continue to move forward to minimize traffic issues.

• Contact outside of the student body and staff will be minimized.
  • Parents and students will remain in the car until a staff member has performed a health check.
  • Students arriving between 7:30-7:45 will be supervised in the courtyard, practicing social distancing.
  • Students arriving after 7:45 will go directly to the classroom.
  • For pick up starting at 2:30 (K-2^nd) and 3:00 (3^rd-6^th) and 3:15 (7^th-8^th), parents will remain in their cars and the students will be sent out.
  • For after school care starting at 3:30 (M-TH) or 12:30 (F), authorized pick up individual will sign out the student at the designated table and call the care provider to verify authorization to pick up.

CLASSROOM SPACE

• Students will remain in their classroom cohort with the same teacher for most of the day, including lunch, recess, and PE.
• Classroom setup will be arranged for social distancing.
• Band and choir are on hold until further notice.
• After school sports are on hold until further notice.
• Assemblies will be in the classroom virtually.

NON-CLASSROOM SPACES

• Nonessential visitors and volunteers on campus will be limited.
• Communal activities will be limited, with staggered use, properly spacing occupants.
• Non-classroom space for instruction, including regular use of outdoor space (weather permitting) will be utilized. For example, part-day instruction outside.
• Hot lunch is on hold until further notice.
• Recess activities will be held in separated areas designated by cohort, when practicable.
• Field trips will be virtual or not take place until allowed by authorities.

7.Limiting Sharing

• Each child’s belongings will be kept separated to the best of their ability.
• Classrooms will be adequately supplied with materials to minimize sharing.
• Students will avoid sharing electronic devices and other materials as much as practicable.

8.Training Staff and Educating Families

• Staff will be trained, and educational materials will be provided to families for the following safety measures:
  • Enhanced sanitation practices
  • Physical distancing guidelines and their importance
  • Use of face coverings
  • Screening practices
  • How COVID-19 is spread, preventing the spread if you are sick, specific symptom identification, when to seek medical attention

9.Checking for Signs and Symptoms

• Staff and students who are sick or who have recently had close, prolonged contact with a person with COVID-19 must stay home.

• Staff and students should self-check for the following symptoms, based on your base-line information about your own health, prior to arriving on campus and should stay home if exhibiting any of these symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell.
• Students must be fever free for 48 hours before returning to school following any illness.
• Students and staff exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be sent home.
• Families will be notified of positive exposures at school.
• Should an illness occur on campus, we expect families to be respectful and supportive of individuals who become sick.

10.When a Staff Member or Child Becomes Sick

• Any students or staff exhibiting symptoms will immediately be required to wear a face covering and to wait in an isolation area until they can be picked up, as soon as practicable.
• Areas used by any sick person will be closed off and will not be used until cleaned and disinfected, as soon as practicable.
• COVID-positive staff members and students should not return to school until they have met CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation, including 3 days with no fever, symptoms have improved, and 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
• Students will have access to instruction when out of class due to a prolonged sickness.

11.Maintaining Healthy Operations

• Illness and symptoms will be monitored among our students and staff to help isolate them promptly.
• Communication will be maintained to allow staff and families to self-report symptoms and receive prompt notifications of exposures and closures.
• Staff will be tested monthly.

12.Considerations for Partial or Total Closures

• We will monitor state and local orders and health department notices about transmission in the area or closures and adjust operations accordingly.
• When a student, teacher, or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 and has exposed others at the school, we will:
  • In consultation with the local public health department, we will decide whether school or classroom closure is warranted, including the length of time necessary, based on the risk level within the specific community as determined by the local public health officer. (See CDPH Framework)
  • Implement communication plans for school closure to include outreach to students, parents, teachers, staff, and the community.
  • Maintain regular communications with the local public health department.

13.Distance Learning

• In the event we are not able to begin school in person, the teacher will implement remote learning.
• Once we return to school in person, should we need to close for an extending period of time, the teachers will transition back to distance learning.
• Every student will be issued a school-owned chromebook for use in the classroom and at home.