List of 17 items.

• DAILY HEALTH PROTOCOLS: Daily Symptom Checks

  St. Edmund's will use the Ruvna Health app for daily symptom monitoring. To review more details about this process, please review our January 4 communication.

   

  The CDC recommends daily self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms before your child departs for school. Families should review the CDC guidelines pertaining to staying home when sick, which urges families to keep children home from school if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or problem breathing
  • Fever
  • New loss of taste or smell

  
  Children should stay home if they exhibit two or more of the following symptoms:

  • Sore throat
  • Muscle pain
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Runny nose or congestion
  • Headache
  • Poor appetite
  • Fatigue

• DAILY HEALTH PROTOCOLS: Monitoring Student and Staff Health

  • All those entering the building will have their temperature taken upon arrival. Students or adults with a temperature of 99.5 or greater will be taken to the sick room, where a second temperature check with a temporal scanner will be administered after 15 minutes to confirm the elevated temperature. An elevated temperature will be defined as 99.8 degrees F for a temporal scanner, or 100 degrees F or greater for an oral temperature. If a student has an elevated temperature, they will need to be picked up within an hour.
  • If a Student, Faculty, or Staff member presents with COVID-19 symptoms during the school day, they will immediately report to the School Nurse’s office.
  • Handwashing protocols will be in place for all students and will be supervised by teachers. Handwashing will take place at arrival; before and after snack; before and after lunch; after recess; and other times as determined by Faculty.
  • Hand sanitizing stations and classroom hand sanitizers will be filled daily to ensure that hand sanitizer is available for all persons during hours of operation. Additionally, all classrooms and offices have been equipped with a cleaning supply station including an OSHA approved cleaning agent, rubber gloves and paper towels.
  • All students, faculty, and staff are required to complete a daily symptom assessment through the Ruvna Health platform.

• DAILY HEALTH PROTOCOLS: Stay Home When Sick

  Families should review the CDC guidelines pertaining to staying home when sick, which urges families to keep children home from school if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:
  

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or problem breathing
  • Fever
  • New loss of taste or smell

  
  Children should stay home if they exhibit two or more of the following symptoms:
  

  • Sore throat
  • Muscle pain
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Runny nose or congestion
  • Headache
  • Poor appetite
  • Fatigue

• KNOWING THE SIGNS OF COVID

  Families should review the CDC overview of the symptoms of COVID-19 and contact a medical provider immediately if a member of their family is exhibiting one of the following: 
  

  • Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
  • Fever or chills
  • New loss of taste or smell

  However, students should not attend school if any of the following symptoms are present:
  

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or problem breathing
  • Fever or chills
  • Sore throat
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle pain
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Stomach pain
  • Runny nose or congestion
  • Headache
  • Poor Appetite
  • Fatigue

• DAILY SAFETY PROTOCOLS: Social Distancing and Limiting Person-to-Person Interaction

  Use of strict zones by division with grade levels as distinct cohort groups will be implemented to reduce the total amount of person-to-person contact. This includes:

  • Student-holding areas by zone during morning arrival and staggered dismissals will avoid cross-zone interaction.
  • Students will eat lunch in their classrooms.
  • Boxed lunches will be pre-ordered and delivered to students using an app developed by Metz Food Services
  • Upper School students will carry backpacks during the day to reduce trips to their lockers.
  • Extended Day will be organized by the same zones used throughout the school day.

  • An analysis of square footage in each classroom space was completed to determine the maximum number of bodies per room and the excess person capacity using projected enrollment. 
  • Where Faculty and Staff cannot limit themselves to interacting with one division, strict social distancing will be carried out.
  • Communal spaces such as the auditorium, cafeteria, library, signature experience space, and student lounge have been assigned to specific zones.
  • Parents, volunteers and visitors will not be permitted in the school building.
  • Admissions tours will only be held after school when students are not in the building, and any space visited by the tour will be cleaned and disinfected following the tour.

• FACE COVERINGS AT SCHOOL

  • Masks or masks and face shields will be required for every person in the building when they are in contact with others, beginning with arrival and ending with dismissal.
  • Students are required to bring their own masks; additional backup masks will be available, however we ask that all students and families take this responsibility seriously and procure several masks before the beginning of the school year.
  • All community members must wear 2-ply or 3-ply masks. Gaiters will not be permitted. Review the World Health Organization recommendation on effective composition and fabric of facial coverings.

• CLOSE CONTACT

  On October 21, the CDC announced an expansion to the definition of close contact:

  • A “close contact” is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period* starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. Considerations to determine a close contact may include environmental factors and the types of masks worn during the encounter. 

• MASK BREAK GUIDELINES

  Schools may allow students to remove face coverings when students are:

  • Eating or drinking when spaced at least 6 feet apart; or
  • When wearing a face covering creates an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task; or
  • At least 6 feet apart during “face-covering breaks” to last no longer than 10 minutes.

  Schools must teach students and families how to properly wear a face covering (cover nose and mouth), to maintain hand hygiene when removing the face covering for meals and physical activity, and how to replace and maintain (washing regularly) a cloth face covering.

   

  Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health and Department of Education

• FACILITIES PROTOCOL: Cleaning, Sanitizing, Disinfecting, and Ventilation

  • A deep cleaning of all facilities has been conducted and disinfection projects have been procured that are approved by the CDC and meet OSHA requirements for the elimination of the COVID-19 virus.
  • Sufficient inventory of disinfectant has been procured to sustain sanitation efforts through the first trimester of the school year. Relationships with established vendors are in place to ensure the availability of supplies through the remainder of the school year.
  • Daily cleaning will occur after school hours nightly with deep cleaning on weekends as needed. Additionally, high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs and stair railings will be cleaned throughout the school day as will bathroom sinks and toilets.
  • The Infirmary and Wellness Rooms will be cleaned by the School Nurse after each student visit.
  • Hand sanitizing stations and classroom hand sanitizers will be filled to ensure that hand sanitizer is available for all persons during hours of operation. All classrooms and offices have been equipped with a cleaning supply station including an OSHA approved cleaning agent, rubber gloves and paper towels. School staff and faculty will use the cleaning supply stations to wipe off desk surfaces through the day including before snacks and before lunch.
  • UV light wands will be used throughout the day to disinfect shared toys and equipment.
  • School ventilation systems have been inspected, all filters changed and are set to ensure the maximum amount of fresh air flow as is appropriate for the existing weather conditions. Additionally, all classroom windows will be open nightly to allow for additional fresh air.
  • Maintenance Staff have been trained in disinfection protocols. Faculty and staff will be trained in the use of the cleaning supply stations and UV light wands.

• GUIDELINES FOR RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER AN ILLNESS

  Returning to School After an Illness (COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Diagnosis)

  If a Student, Faculty or Staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, they will be required to:

  • Stay home a minimum of 10 days
  • Be fever free for 72-hours without fever reducing medication and with symptoms improving before returning to school

  
  

  If a Student, Faculty, or Staff member has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they will be required to:

  • Stay home for 10 days from the date of exposure
  • Check their temperature twice a day and monitor for COVID-19 symptoms
  • If living in the same household as the positive case, remain home and begin 10 day quarantine immediately after day 10 of the case isolation

  
  

  If a Student, Faculty, or Staff member has not been tested but is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 they will be required to:

  • Stay home until afebrile for 72 hours (if fever present) and any respiratory symptoms improving with clearance/alternative diagnosis provided by their doctor. 
  • If no clearance/alternative diagnosis provided by a doctor: Exclude for 10 days from symptom onset AND at least 72 hours after fever resolution (if present) and any respiratory symptoms improving.
  • Siblings should also stay home if members in the household are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 until an alternative diagnosis is provided by a PCP or a COVID-19 test is completed.
  • Communicate closely with their doctor. This is imperative and will be closely monitored by our School Nurse who will remain in communication with families and their family doctor.

  
  

  If a Student, Faculty, or Staff member has a negative test:

  • Stay home until afebrile for 72 hours (if fever present) and any respiratory symptoms are improving.

• SIBLING/FAMILY MEMBER PROTOCOLS

  Guided by the CDC and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health, our policy and practice around sibling quarantine when a sibling/family member is considered a close contact is as follows:

  • A sibling of a close contact must remain home if the close contact or any other family member exhibits any symptoms.
  • A sibling of a close contact will be guided to quarantine with their close contact while the ACHD completes contact tracing and provides the necessary clarity for a return to school. 
  • A sibling of a close contact may attend school if the close contact and all other family members are asymptomatic, provided a completion of contact tracing. 

  
  

  Additional Guidance:

  • Siblings/family members MUST remain home when anyone in the household has a pending COVID-19 test.  
  • Siblings/family members should also stay home if members in the household are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 until an alternative diagnosis is provided by a PCP or a COVID-19 test is completed.

• TRAVEL POLICY

  • For any members of our community planning non-essential travel (students, families, faculty, and staff), we will require a 10-day post-travel quarantine before returning to campus. 
  • This 10-day quarantine applies to the traveler and any member of their household. (For example, if an adult travels out of state but their child remains home, that child will also need to complete a 10-day quarantine upon the traveler's return if they share a household.)
  • Individuals and family members cannot test out of the required quarantine. This is a clarification on the State Orders for travel and is developed by SEA to mitigate the considerable risk that comes with non-essential travel. 
  • This is mandated for all non-essential travel. (Details on essential travel can be found HERE.) 
  • The Ruvna app reflects updated language asking whether you/your child or any member of your household has traveled outside of the Commonwealth in the past 10 days for non-essential purposes. 

• UPDATES TO FAMILIES: Sharing Information With Our Community

  All protocols, procedures, and guidelines create conditions to minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19. However, we anticipate there could be cases in our community. 

   

  All positive tests of COVID-19, known exposures to staff or students, or presentation of symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (PA DOE) must be reported to the school nurse, Meghan Olson.  Any positive cases or exposures will be shared with the Allegheny County Health Department. The ACHD will guide through contact tracing to determine any SEA community members who were in close contact with the infected person. 
  
  Close contact is defined as either being within approximately 6 feet of a COVID-19 case for 15 or more minutes, or having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on). (PA Department of Health)  Close contacts in the school setting can include any individuals that have spent substantial time indoors together and will be determined by the ACHD.  (PA DOE)
   
  Community members diagnosed with COVID-19 are expected to stay home a minimum of 10 days; they must be fever free for 24-hours without fever-reducing medication and with respiratory symptoms improving before returning to school.  Community members deemed a close contact will need to remain in quarantine 10 days after last day of exposure.  If a family member is positive, anyone in the same household will remain home and begin quarantine on day 10 of the isolation.  
   
  With the creation of zones, it is unlikely that a diagnosis would require a full-school or zone closure. It is possible that a cohort or class may need to temporarily transition to remote learning for deep cleaning and time for additional testing. In the event a cohort or class requires a 10-day quarantine, the entire group will transition to SEA@Home for that time. Families will be notified via email and our emergency contact system in SEAPort.  
   
  Please note: In keeping with HIPAA health privacy laws and FERPA educational privacy laws, the names of those who test positive or are exposed to COVID-19 must be kept confidential. Members of the community determined to have been in close contact with an infected individual will be notified immediately as guided by the ACHD. Once close contacts have been notified, a community announcement will be made acknowledging the presence of cases in our immediate community.  Committed to the respect and feelings of others, the school will considerately support any infected or exposed individuals with kindness. 

• SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES AGREEMENT: Family Partnership at Home

  • Family partnership in ensuring the safety of our community is critical. We ask that efforts at home mirror efforts at school, including regular handwashing, daily monitoring of symptoms, wearing masks outside of the home, and following local guidance on social distancing in the community.
  • Families are asked to comply with our Community Shared Responsibility Agreement

• RESPONDING TO MISREPRESENTATIONS OF FACT THROUGH THE RUVNA DAILY HEALTH SCREENING TOOL

  Responding to Perceived or Actual Misrepresentations of Fact Through the Ruvna App

  Families and employees are expected to present truthful and accurate information through the Ruvna Daily Health Screening tool.  Individuals accused of misrepresenting information will be subject to an investigation outlined in the attached “COVID-19 Safety Violation Investigation Protocol.”  Consequences for violations may include a formal request for compliance, suspension from in-school learning, or exclusion from in school learning.

• RESPONDING TO IN-SCHOOL VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY STANDARDS

  Responding to In-School Violations of COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Standards

  St. Edmund’s Academy believes that self-control and self-discipline are fundamentally important to each child’s success in life at school and beyond. We seek to provide students with the opportunity to make outstanding choices. When a student’s choice violates our Core Values, we use restorative practices for the benefit of the community and the education of the individual.

   

  Specifically, school personnel’s response to disregard for COVID-19 safety standards will align with responses to other types of inappropriate behavior.  To that end, personnel will:

  1. Provide an approach that encourages the development of self-discipline.
  2. Use constructive methods of intervention that resonate with the individual(s)involved.
  3. Help students understand the underlying conditions giving rise to their poor choice.
  4. Guide students in conceptualizing alternative courses of action.
  5. Discuss each student's behavioral infractions only with the families directly involved in the incident.
  6. Provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate awareness of the personal and social consequences of inappropriate behavior.
  7. Guide students through the process of making appropriate restitution to all who may have been harmed by a poor choice.
  8. Work in partnership with faculty, parents, administrators and fellow students to serve as a resource for the student and to facilitate a supportive process of growth and encouragement.
     
     

  The most important part of our response is the conversation that occurs between adults and the involved student(s) about what happened and about why the choice was an inappropriate one.

• DIRECTION INFORMING OUR PLANNING

  All school activities are informed by Governor Wolf’s Process to Reopen Pennsylvania. The administration has categorized reopening into three broad phases: red, yellow, or green. These designations signal how counties and/or regions may begin easing some restrictions on school, work, congregate settings, and social interactions:

  • The Red Phase: Schools remain closed for in-person instruction and all instruction must be provided via remote learning, whether using digital or non-digital platforms. Provisions for student services such as school meal programs should continue. Large gatherings are prohibited.
  • The Yellow Phase and Green Phase: Schools may provide in-person instruction after developing a written Health and Safety Plan, to be approved by the local governing body (e.g. board of directors/trustees) and posted on the school entity’s publicly available website.

  Depending upon the public health conditions in any county within the Commonwealth, there could be additional actions, orders, or guidance provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and/or the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) designating the county as being in the red, yellow, or green phase. Counties may not experience a straight path from a red designation, to a yellow, and then a green designation. Instead, cycling back and forth between less restrictive to more restrictive designations may occur as public health indicators improve or worsen. The Health and Safety Plan accounts for changing conditions to support a fluid transition from more to less restrictive conditions in each of the phase requirements as needed.

    

  PDE guidance draws on a resources created by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) that is based on official guidance from multiple sources to include: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the White House, American Academy of Pediatrics, Learning Policy Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Rutgers Graduate School of Education, the World Health Organization, the Office of the Prime Minister of Norway as well as the departments of education/health and/or offices of the governor for Idaho, Montana, New York, Texas and Washington, DC.