CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

Community Choice Model
In this model the teacher provides instruction in the classroom each day to a cohort of students who have chosen the In-person Option. Students who have chosen the On-Line Option remote into the class using Google Meet and ZOOM. The learning platform for all learners in the class will be Google Classroom for grades 1-6. For PreK and Kinder the platform will be Class DoJo.

Fully On-Line Model
In the event that, at any point in the school year there is a mandate to close the building we will implement a fully on-line model of instruction. Once the order to close is rescinded we will resume our Community Choice Model. The benefit of a small school is that we can move swiftly from one model to the other. The learning platform for the on-line model will be Google Classroom for grades 1-6 and Classroom DoJo for Kinder and PreK. (see reopening plan newsletter)

• Classrooms Cleaned and Sanitized
• All air and water system checked for proper operation
• Purchase of PPE and health monitoring equipment
• Purchase of cleaning equipment and supplies
• Students Screened for temperature and symptoms prior to admittance into the building
• Isolation room provided for students who become ill during school hours
• Nurse on campus to facilitate ongoing screenings as necessary

• COVID-19 in the community: When there are larger numbers of people who have the coronavirus in the community, the risk of being exposed to someone with COVID-19 increases with any social interaction, including at school. 
• Risk of COVID-19 at school: What is your school doing to help keep people healthy? Ask about symptom screening, handwashing, face coverings, social distancing and learning in cohorts or pods. Look for clear and frequent communication.
• Your child's risk of COVID-19: If your child has a medical condition, talk with your doctor to see if they are at higher risk of severe COVID-19. In-person school may be the prefrred option for children with some medical problems when proper COVID-19 prevention precautions are taken. Families who choose in-person school should talk with the school about their child's medical condition. 
• Family's risk of COVID-19: If you live with someone who is older or who has a medical condition, you may think about risk of in-person school differently. The risk of a child bringing COVID-19 home may be serious for other people at home even if it is low risk for your child. 
• Challenges with remote school: Remote school affects each child and family differently. Some children have educational, developmental, or mental health needs that are difficult to meet with remote schooling. Some families are not able to stay home with their child or access the technology they need to help children with remote learning. 

• Children develop important social connections with teachers and classmates.
• Being out of school can be harmful for children’s mental health, particularly during COVID-19 social distancing and isolation.
• Many children receive learning support like physical therapy, speech therapy and mental health services at school and are not able to get this help at home.
• Schools provide meals and physical activity that children may not have at home.
• In-person school is important for racial and social equity.
• Remote learning leaves children behind if their families don’t have access to technology, resources and supervision for learning at home.

As new information comes to light and the situation changes, families can revisit this conversation with their pediatrician and continue ongoing dialogue throughout the school year.

These medical conditions may put children at increased risk for severe COVID-19:

• Obesity
• Chronic lung disease (including uncontrolled asthma)
• Heart disease
• Neurologic conditions
• Diabetes (especially type 2)
• Cancer treatment
• Weakened immune system from a medical condition or medication
• Organ transplant
• Bone marrow transplant
• Metabolic and genetic conditions
• Liver disease
• Sickle cell disease

When assessing your child's risk, consider the severity of your child's underlying condition, if they have multiple conditions that increase risk, and how suppressed their immune system is. Your child’s pediatrician can help guide you.

How can we keep kids and teacher safe from the coronavirus and other infections while they are at school?

By combining several of the following strategies, we can decrease the risk of COVID-19 in schools:

• Hand hygiene: Frequent handwashing (with soap and water or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol) decreases the spread of infections at home and at school.
• Distancing: Staying 6 feet away from other people decreases the spread of COVID-19. However, this is not always possible. When you cannot stay 6 feet apart, 4 feet is better than 3 feet, and 3 feet is better than 2 feet. People should have as much space around them for as much of the day as possible.
• Face coverings: Wearing a cloth face covering or mask helps block the spread of infectious particles from the nose and mouth. Some children may not be able to wear a mask: those under age 2 and any child who has serious trouble breathing or a neurologic or developmental condition that means they can’t a face covering without help. Most children with asthma and other chronic lung conditions – and adults – can wear a mask safely.
• Vaccination: Staying up to date on routine vaccines including the influenza (flu) vaccine protects children from serious infections. Many of the diseases that vaccines prevent have similar symptoms to COVID-19 and can lead to missing school and even severe illness.
• Checking symptoms and staying home if sick: Checking for symptoms and keeping people at home when they have symptoms lowers the chance of bringing COVID-19 into school (and communities). Anyone who is a contact of someone with confirmed or probable COVID-19 should also stay home, including children, until that contact is fully recovered. To keep schools healthy, families and staff must report any sick symptoms, even mild symptoms like a runny nose or sore throat.
• Pods or cohorts: These are groups of children and teachers that stay together at school while minimizing their interactions with other groups. Sticking with these groups lowers the risk of spreading COVID-19. This is because children have contact with fewer people who might be sick. If someone has COVID-19 in a school with strict pods or cohorts, only the people in that group would be exposed and public health officials can help monitor any potential exposure while keeping others safe.

Many children who have COVID-19 have mild symptoms, and some have barely any symptoms at all. People can develop symptoms 2 to 14 days after exposure (5 days on average) to COVID-19.

• “Confirmed COVID-19” is when a person has a new positive COVID-19 PCR test from a nose or throat swab.
• “Probable COVID-19” is when a person has symptoms of COVID-19 and has been in contact with someone with COVID-19 but has not had a positive COVID-19 PCR test.

If a child has symptoms of COVID-19 and a negative COVID-19 test, families should talk with their doctor about what is making the child sick and when they can return to school.

How can i prepare my child for the changes at school this year?

The first step is to look at the school guidelines to best understand what the year will look like. Once you understand your child’s specific situation, start talking about what the school days will look like. Explain in age-appropriate terms what your child can expect – this includes everything from checking for symptoms of illness at home every morning, to getting to school (riding the bus, carpooling, walking, etc.), to lunchtime expectations (likely in the classroom instead of the cafeteria), and finally to what happens when they get home. Practice with your child if it will help them feel more comfortable.

Discuss your child’s important role in helping to slow the spread of the coronavirus among their friends and teachers by washing their hands and wearing a mask.

What should kids being to school every day?
Just like planning for lunch, parents should help their kids bring what they need to stay safe and healthy. During the pandemic, kids should bring the following items to school:

• A clean face covering (and a spare, if they have one)
• Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content