Covid Safety Guidelines and Procedures

 
 
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STAFF

  • All staff are required to be vaccinated.

  • Will be trained on how to put on, take off, clean and discard of PPE.

  • Will be trained on cleaning and disinfecting procedures for tables, chairs, toys and bathrooms

  • Must practice hand hygiene when sharing objects or using frequently touched areas.

  • Will have access to personal hand sanitizer, wipes, tissues, disposable masks and Ziploc and paper bags.

DROP OFF PROCEDURES

  • Children will be dropped off at the rear entrances to the school and at the ramp entrance to the main level. You will be assigned an entrance and drop-off time in August, as well as a phase in schedule.

    a. All drop-off and pick-up will be done outside the school building - parents and others visitors will not be allowed to enter the school.

  • Signs will be posted NO PARENT/CAREGIVER OR NON-ESSENTIAL VISITORS ALLOWED ON PREMISES.

  • Any parent or child exhibiting symptoms of a dry cough, shortness of breath, or a fever of 100.4 or higher or any other COVID-19 symptom, will not be admitted to school.

  • Teachers will escort the children to their classrooms.

  • Upon entering the school, the teacher will place your child’s items directly into their cubby to prevent cross-contamination.

  • We will be requiring all children to have at least 2 extra sets of seasonally appropriate outfits on hand at the school. Clothes should be labelled with your child’s name and put in sealed Ziploc bags. Bags will be put into your child’s cubby.

  • We ask that parents not enter the building in the morning or at the end of school.

  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol will be available at drop-off.

  • If you arrive after 9am, please call the Director at 914-391-8352 or 914-723-1018 and a teacher will come out to perform the drop off procedure with you.

PICK UP PROCEDURES

  • We ask that parents not enter the building at pick-up.

  • When you arrive and are ready to pick your child up, a staff member will bring your child and his/her belongings outside to meet you.

  • We ask that you keep communication with this teacher to a minimum.

  • Any parent or child exhibiting symptoms of a dry cough, shortness of breath, or a fever of 100.4 or higher or any other COVID-19 symptom, will not be admitted to school the following day.

GENERAL PROCEDURES

  • As of April 1st 2022, masks are no longer required but you have the option to send your child with a mask.

  • For the health and safety of the children, staff, and facility, please refrain from dropping off or picking up at the school if you are not feeling well.

  • With regard to snack items, as per our normal policy, anything leftover will be disposed of and will not be sent home. Each child will bring their own snack for the day in individually sealed bags or a container labeled with their name. Water will be provided by the school. PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE A NUT FREE ENVIRONMENT. Children in the 2's may bring a sippy cup.

  • If you need to speak to the teachers or Director, please call the office, 914-723-1018 and we will address all your needs either in person, by phone or ZOOM.

  • Ideally, the same parent or designated person should drop off and pick up the child every day.

CLASSROOM PROCEDURES

  • Teachers will monitor children during handwashing to ensure proper procedure.

    • Teachers will be turning on and off the faucet and assisting with soap to create less touchpoints by the children. Proper handwashing signs will be posted.

  • Manipulatives will be rotated and cleaned after each specific use.

  • We will extend the indoor environment to outdoors, and bring the class outside, weather permitting as much as possible.

  • Outside windows will be open as much as possible when appropriate to increase air circulation in the classrooms.

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING CLASSROOMS, BUILDING AND PLAYGROUND

  • All normal cleaning policies will still be in place.

  • Hand sanitizer stations will be in place.

  • Frequently touched areas will be cleaned and disinfected throughout the day (tables, door handles, handrails, light switches, faucets, etc.).

    • Our classrooms will be cleaned and sanitized each night using The Apollo UV-C Lamp for entire room disinfection and The Ryobi One Cordless Fogger Mister.

    • Each classroom will be outfitted with an air filtration system.

    • We will follow CDC and DOH guidelines for sanitizing equipment, toys and materials.

    • Cleaning materials /equipment will be purchased following EPA.GOV-List N:Disinfectants for use against SARS-cov-2(COVID 19).

WELLNESS POLICY

  • Staff and Children will be instructed to stay home if they are sick.

  • We recommend vaccination for all students to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. It is important to stay up to date, especially as new vaccines become available.

  • If your child is exposed to COVID-19:

    • If they are not vaccinated they must isolate for 5 days before testing. After 5 days and a negative COVID test result, they may return to school and remain masked until 10 days since their exposure.

    • If your child is vaccinated and exposed to COVID they may continue to attend school if they are asymptomatic but must remain masked for 10 days following exposure. If at any point your child displays COVID-19 symptoms they must isolate and receive a negative COVID test to return to school.

  • If your child tests positive:

    • If they are not vaccinated the child must isolate at home for a full 10 days from the onset of their symptoms, day 0 is the date of first symptoms. They can return to school on day 11 if they are fever free for 24 hours and have improvement of symptoms.

    • If they are vaccinated the child must isolate for a full 5 days, day 0 being the first day symptoms began. They can return to school on day 6 if they are fever free for 24 hours and have improvement of symptoms. These children must remain masked at school until day 11 since their onset of symptoms.

    • For any questions regarding your child’s status of when they can return to school please contact Cheryl at headofschool@stjamesscarsdale.org.

  • Any child who exhibits the following symptoms will be removed from the classroom and brought to the office and/or designated isolation space. Parents will be called, and the child must be picked up within one hour.

    • Fever of 100.4 or greater

    • Shortness of breath

    • Difficulty breathing

    • Vomiting or nausea

    • Dry cough

    • Diarrhea

    • Fatigue

    • Sore throat

    • Muscle or body aches

      • Any child that has been sent home for the above-mentioned symptoms, must have a doctor’s note and negative COVID test to return to the school.

      • Negative COVID test results should be emailed to headofschool@stjamesscarsdale.org

  •  As of June 25, 2021 the NYS Travel Advisory has been lifted. Please follow all CDC guidelines as well as Westchester County updated Quarantine Practices.

  • If staff, parent or child tests positive, all individuals who were in contact with the individual dating back to 48 hours will be notified. Confidentiality will be maintained.