HEALTH & SAFETY RE-ENTRY PLAN - Roycemore School...Safety Re-Entry Plan before any other plan, as...

HEALTH & SAFETY RE-ENTRY PLAN

v.3 Published July 23, 2020 (v.1 published 6.3.20)

CONTENTS

Process & Contact Information

Roycemore School’s

Health & Safety Task Force

Roycemore Community Health & Safety Pledge

Guiding Principles

Essential Questions

Re-Entry Planning

Flexible Options for Families

Health and Safety Procedures

Protect.

Mask Guidance

Distance.

Disinfect.

Roycemore School’s Mission:

To inspire and nurture excellence and prepare each student for success in higher education and in a dynamic and complex world.

If you have questions, concerns or suggestions related to this Health & Safety Plan, email [email protected].

2020-2021 Roycemore School Health & Safety Re-Entry Plan v. 3 published July, 23 2020

Process & Contact Information Roycemore’s Administration and Board of Trustees have been actively and strategically working

together in our responses to COVID-19, including work of the specially created Health and

Safety Task Force and the COVID-19 Strategy Team.

This Health and Safety Re-Entry Plan is designed to protect the health and safety of the entire

Roycemore community -- students, families, faculty, staff and visitors. It was developed with

the guidance of Roycemore’s Health and Safety Task Force and aligns with guidance issued by

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO),

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Evanston Department of Health. In addition,

Roycemore has received guidance from professional organizations, peer schools, the National

Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Independent School Association of Central

States (ISACS), the National Business Officers Association (NBOA), and the Lake Michigan

Association of Independent Schools (LMAIS).

The goal of this plan is to guide a safe reopening of campus. This plan reflects our current knowledge and will be updated as new information is made available. Roycemore will send out communications twice per month related to health and safety updates and/or re-opening plans to keep the community informed.

As we continue our work together to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we thank you for your

partnership in support of your children. The Health & Safety Task Force continues to meet

weekly to assess changes in the environment and additional considerations that must be taken

into account to ensure a safe return to school. We appreciate the trust you have shown

Roycemore in the education of your children. We invite you to reach out if you have questions,

concerns or suggestions about this Health & Safety Plan. Please send your thoughts to

[email protected].

You have our continued commitment to strive to serve you and your children in extraordinary

ways in the year ahead.

With Appreciation,

Thomas J. Ellis Adrianne Finley Odell

Chair, Health & Safety Task Force President and Head of School Life Trustee, Board of Trustees


Roycemore School’s Health & Safety Task Force

Tim Costello Head of School, Science & Arts Academy Roycemore School Trustee Tom Ellis Director of Litigation, Nolan Law Group Task Force Chair Life Trustee, Roycemore Board of Trustees Mahalakshmi K. Halasyamani, M.D. Board Certified Internal Medicine North Shore University Health System Chief Quality and Transformation Officer Stephen Jackson Grants Manager, Howard Brown Health Retired Attorney Roycemore School Grandparent & Trustee Adrianne Finley Odell Head of School Deborah Pergament ‘87 Attorney, Children’s Law Group, LLC Roycemore School Alumna & Trustee Vicky Pickett Director of Finance & Operations Anita Shah, DO, FCCP Board Certified Pulmonary Medicine Board Certified Critical Care Medicine Northwest Pulmonary Associates Roycemore parent


Roycemore Community Health & Safety Pledge A successful return to campus will require all members of our community to work together to

achieve a common goal. That’s why we will be asking everyone to sign a return to school

agreement to commit to do their part to keep our community healthy and safe. Your

commitment reinforces our shared responsibility to each other that extends from our campus

to our homes. Your participation will have a major impact on preventing the spread of

COVID-19 in the Roycemore community. Therefore we ask that all students, faculty and

families agree to the following, whether on or off campus:

● Social distancing (maintaining six feet of space) when in a public space

● Wearing a mask when in a public space

● Staying home when sick

● Washing hands frequently

● Quarantining for 14 days if entering or returning to the Chicago area from international

locations or states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases, or identified as a COVID

“hot spot” by federal, state or local authorities

● Informing Roycemore School administration if a member of the family has been in close

contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19

While Roycemore cannot eliminate the possibility of someone contracting COVID-19, adherence to the above steps can go a long way to help reduce risk and mitigate spread.


https://cookcountypublichealth.org/communicable-diseases/covid-19/covid-19-travel-guidance/


Guiding Principles The Roycemore Health & Safety Task Force, first convened on May 5, 2020, to develop guidelines to allow for a safe start of the 2020-2021 school year for in-person, on-campus teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan was first published on June 3, 2020. The Task Force continues to meet weekly to ascertain any updates that need to be made to the plan. The guiding principles that have informed our work have been:

● Safety First! This is why the school focused on creating our Health & Safety Re-Entry Plan before any other plan, as safety is our highest priority. Providing a safe and healthy learning environment for the Roycemore community. Roycemore is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that is guided by our mission and not by profit.

Unless mandated by the State, advised by health officials, or deemed in the best interest of the school community by the Health & Safety Task Force, Roycemore will remain open for on-campus instruction.

● Adherence to leading, evidence-based practices. Our plan not only meets CDC and IDPH guidelines, but exceeds them. Roycemore will follow all CDC and Health Department protocols to send infected or exposed individuals home and close and sanitize any at-risk areas of the school. The Health Department will guide decisions regarding closure of a classroom, an office or the school.

● Fostering a sense of community- one of our core values. Belonging to a community is

essential for social and emotional well-being. Even though the way we gather, share, and celebrate may change, Roycemore is dedicated to ensuring our values of scholarship, integrity, community, respect, and compassion endure. Just as we were able to celebrate year-end accomplishments of our students in all divisions of the school and have fun drive-through celebrations of our 8th graders and seniors, all returning and new students will continue to enjoy Roycemore’s traditions next year -- in a safe and responsible way.


Essential Questions

What conditions would allow Roycemore to open in-person, on-campus? Roycemore School will follow all CDC and IDPH guidelines for opening in-person, on-campus for

the 2020-2021 school year. According to the latest guidelines as of July 23, 2020, the Health &

Safety Task Force, Board of Trustees, and Administration have determined that Roycemore

meets those conditions and that it is permissible to open.

What conditions would cause Roycemore to close facilities and move to all-school remote

learning?

Roycemore will transition to 100% remote learning if mandated by the Governor or

recommended by the CDC or IDPH, or if, in the view of the Health and Safety Task Force, it is

advisable to do so. There may be scenarios that call for one class or division to move to remote

learning while allowing the rest of the school to remain open in accordance with all applicable

health and safety guidelines.

What happens if/when there is a confirmed COVID-19 case within the school community?

According to the medical professionals on the Health & Safety Task Force, if or when there is a

confirmed case of COVID-19 within our school community (including faculty, staff, students, or

individuals’ household members), the school will be notified by the Evanston Department of

Health. If we are notified of a positive case of COVID-19 by a parent or staff member, our first

call will be to the Evanston Department of Health for direction. Roycemore will follow all CDC

and Health Department protocols to send infected or exposed individuals home.

What will be Roycemore’s response if my child has been exposed to someone at Roycemore

who tests positive for COVID-19?

If your child is part of a cohort that included a COVID positive individual, that cohort will

transition to remote learning for a quarantine period. The CDC recommends 14 days of

quarantine after exposure based on the time it takes to develop illness if infected. A short-term

dismissal of 2-5 days may also be required for the whole school so that local health officials can

gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation. Roycemore will follow all CDC and

Health Department protocols to sanitize or temporarily close any at-risk areas of the school.

The Health Department will guide decisions regarding closure of a classroom, an office or the

school. Prior to any individual who has received a positive COVID diagnosis returning to school,

the individual must present a written clearance following an in-person examination by a

certified healthcare professional.


Re-Entry Planning Roycemore is preparing for waves of interruption to on-campus learning. If our local

community experiences a spike in COVID-19 cases and an interruption of physical operations

occurs, a shift to Remote Learning will happen immediately.

If the physical campus closes and Roycemore transitions to remote learning for an

extended period of time, families will be extended financial credit toward fees

coinciding with being on campus (lunch, extended day program, etc.)

Students will be equipped with a remote-learning kit if on-campus learning

transitions to the remote model. While this will vary by division of the school, books

and supplies will be readily accessible if an interruption occurs.

We recognize the needs of young children include the requirement of supervision

and care in addition to their learning. If the Governor moves the state from Phase IV

to Phase III, in effect closing schools, we will prioritize efforts to provide on-campus

opportunities for our youngest students, under the Restore Illinois Guidelines for

Phase III.

To view the overall Academic Re-Entry Plan CLICK HERE

Early Childhood Re-Entry Plan Lower School Re-Entry Plan Middle School Re-Entry Plan Upper School Re-Entry Plan


https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W62ue_h3b4hfqBLMyyIwOrYLTtx-DJgL6fSGWuHPM80/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qv0Amt9jTTzp9H0Dh5ljLixFzk_-v-6gFAwXcnPURGM/edit#heading=h.lsklviltc4dv

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Sawbl-0C86N5XYDNEl36NnMm-AU5skU1FDbT0WDMvP0/edit#

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J4-lTcS4nkAYlXvTNNBT-_-kHMOKGbmPOiUCMS_bd6I/edit#

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Swpe2s9E3ot9LcQ6y7lZ1p6FNTBkA3umdplKr1tVeQ/edit#

Flexible Options for Families Extraordinary times require extraordinary responses. Roycemore is responding to these

uncertain times by offering families flexibility to choose On-Campus Learning or Off-Campus

Learning for their children for the 2020-2021 school year.

If the State of Illinois moves back into Phase III or if a cohort of the school needs to be

quarantined due to a positive case of COVID-19, students will transition into Remote Learning.

On-Campus Learning

Off-Campus Learning

Remote Learning

Families that have re-enrolled have been sent sign-up forms to indicate their choice of On-Campus or Off-Campus learning. As On-Campus class sizes will be tightly limited, we encourage families who are unsure whether their child might want to return to the classroom to secure their seat by selecting the On-Campus Learning option, and then indicate that they might still choose Off-Campus to begin the year. Customized Learning Plans are being developed for each student that will include transition plans for the student’s next grade. These will be sent to enrolled families in early August.


Health and Safety Procedures

The guidelines below have been carefully considered to address and promote the safety, health

and welfare of our entire school community. The community health guidelines and policies are

subject to change as new information becomes available. Procedures to protect the health and

safety of the Roycemore community fall into three main categories:

Protect.

Distance.

Disinfect.


Protect. Anyone coming to campus is attesting that they are illness/symptom free before entering

campus each day by answering NO to all of the following:

Do you have a fever (temperature equal to or greater than 100.4 without taking fever reducing medication)?

Are you experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?

Do you have a cough? Do you have the chills?

Have you lost your sense of smell or taste? Do you have a headache?

Do you have a sore throat? Do you have muscle aches?

Have you experienced any GI symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or loss of appetite?

Do you have a bacterial infection such as pink eye or strep throat for which you have not been on an antibiotic for 24 hours?

Have you been asked to self-isolate or instructed to quarantine by a medical professional or local health department official?

Have you been in close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or been placed on quarantine for possible contact with COVID-19?

Within the last 14 days, have you returned to the Chicago area from an international location

or a state experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases, or identified as a COVID “hot spot” by

federal, state or local authorities?




Protect. All staff/faculty and students are expected to follow the sick policy and stay home if

they are exhibiting any signs of illness. If symptoms arise during the school day, the individual will be sent home promptly. Symptoms of illness include:

❏ Active vomiting or diarrhea in last 24 hours ❏ Chills/generalized body aches

❏ Fever greater than or equal to 100.4 in the past 24 hours without fever reducing medication ❏ Any signs or symptoms of a respiratory illness (cough, runny nose, respiratory secretions) with

or without fever ❏ Undiagnosed rash or new and/or untreated rash or skin condition i.e. hives, wound with

purulent drainage ❏ If diagnosed with pink eye or strep throat must be on antibiotic treatment for 24 hours

Individuals experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, new loss of taste and/or smell, sore throat, headache) MUST follow up with a medical provider & provide a return to school note to the school/

camp administrator.

● Licensed health professionals will advise families on appropriate next steps and evaluate if COVID-19 testing is warranted.

● If we are notified of a positive case of COVID-19 by a parent or staff member, our first call will be to the Evanston Health Department for direction.

● Students/staff may not return to school until they are illness/symptom free for 72 hours; in the case of a COVID-19 diagnosis, they must follow CDC guidelines.

● If someone in our community has tested positive for COVID-19, they will be advised by the IDPH and instructed as to when they will be released from isolation.

● Families will be notified via email of any known COVID-19 exposures.


Protect.

All individuals who enter the school building must complete a daily attestation that they are illness/symptom free before arriving to campus and temperatures will be taken upon arrival. The School Wellness Screener app, developed for our school by Roycemore senior, Effie Zimmerman, will be utilized for this purpose. This app is now being adopted by schools nationwide!

All Roycemore employees will wear a facemask* (specifics detailed below) while in shared spaces on campus. Students must wear facemasks while inside, and while they are outside if they are unable to maintain social distancing. Windows will be opened as much as possible to enhance air circulation in the building.

Students must have individual supplies. Any items that must be shared will be disinfected between use.

Teach and reinforce proper handwashing techniques and covering of coughs and sneezes among students and staff.

The School will monitor absenteeism to identify any illness trends amongst the students and staff.

Signage regarding signs and symptoms of COVID-19, proper handwashing, respiratory etiquette and how to properly wear a facemask will be placed around the School.

Any individual exhibiting signs of illness during the day will be isolated and sent home. Students/staff may not return to school until they are illness/symptom free for 72 hours; in the case of a COVID-19 diagnosis, they must follow CDC guidelines.


https://schoolwellnessscreener.com/

Protect.

Mask Guidance Below is Roycemore School’s guidance as it pertains to face masks:

1. Face masks will be required for anyone entering the parking structure/building

2. Not all masks are created equal.. We recommend looking for masks made with at least 2 layers of fabric. This also allows for a placement of a filter between the two layers if desired.

3. Masks should cover the nose and mouth without large gaps.

4. Please ensure the face mask (to include any spare face masks sent with your child) has been tested for good fit prior to its use at school.

5. The mask should have ear loops or ties so it can be adjusted to ensure a good fit.

6. For people who wear glasses, look for a mask with a bendable border at the top so it can mold the mask to fit the bridge of the nose and prevent glasses from fogging.

7. Face masks that have a pop-off valve, exhalation port or voice box will NOT be permitted on school grounds. While these masks provide protection to the individual wearing the mask, the valve allows for exhalation of air into the atmosphere and does not provide protection to people in the surrounding environment.


Distance. All staff and students will practice feasible modified social distancing.

Visitors will be restricted to those that are essential and will be asked to wear a mask, complete a health screening attestation through the School Wellness Screener app to indicate that they are illness/symptom free. Temperatures will also be taken upon arrival.

No field trips until it is deemed safe for the students to travel into the community.

Cross-divisional student interactions will be restricted. Early Childhood students will not mix with Lower School. Lower School will not mix with Middle School and Middle School will not mix with Upper School. Further restrictions within divisions will limit the total number of students that any one student will mix with during the day, creating student “cohort” groupings.

Zones will be defined for recess to limit intermixing of “cohort” groupings.

Desks will be spaced six feet apart to allow for social distancing in the classroom. Circulation up and down stairwells will be one-way up and one-way down.

Community spaces in the building will be modified to serve as either additional classroom space or break-out space for classes.

Outdoor space will be utilized to its full potential for instructional and social purposes. Designated spaces around the building have been assigned for each division (cohort) of the school. Students will be asked to bring camp chairs to school to facilitate the movement of classes outdoors as much as possible.

Large community gatherings are being reimagined. Breaks and other gathering times will have proper procedures and protocols.


https://schoolwellnessscreener.com/

Hand Cut Foods will offer “contactless food” service with individual boxed lunches to minimize contact among community members and the food. Lunches will be eaten in individual classrooms or outdoors.

Disinfect.

High touch areas of the building will be wiped down periodically throughout the day and deep cleaned each evening.

Adequate supplies will be provided for proper hand hygiene (soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and spray).

Hand sanitizer stations will be placed at all building entrances as well as in the middle of hallways in the MS and US.

All desks/tables/chairs in the MS and US classrooms will be wiped down with disinfecting wipes by the students at the end of each class. All disinfectant is approved by the CDC for fighting COVID, and meets EPA standards for child safety and as a green solution.

Early Childhood tables will be wiped down after each use by the teacher using a CDC-approved cleaning solution provided by our contract cleaning company.

Lower School desks/tables/chairs will be wiped down by students with disinfecting wipes each time students leave the classroom (with teacher supervision). All disinfectant is approved by the CDC for fighting COVID, and meets EPA standards for child safety and as a green solution.

Pump hand sanitizer will be in every classroom and work area to be used by staff/faculty and students.


Disinfect.

Hand hygiene education will be provided.

● On the first morning that school resumes, all students will be taught proper hand washing techniques Every morning for the remainder of the first week, all students will be shown a hand washing video to emphasize the importance. Ongoing hygiene will be consistently reinforced.

● Hand hygiene (hand washing for 20 seconds with soap and water if available or use of hand sanitizer) will be expected when entering a building, changing your environment, after using the bathroom, and before and after eating.

● Early Childhood and Lower School teachers will build time into their class schedule to teach and enforce proper hand hygiene.

Respiratory etiquette education will be provided.

● Practices include, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

● Use tissues and throw them away after one use.

● Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer every time you touch your mouth or nose.

THIS PLAN IS BASED ON THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION AS OF JULY 23, 2020. ANY UPDATES OR CHANGES WILL BE PUBLISHED AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THE HEALTH & SAFETY PLAN AND RE-ENTRY PLANS WILL BE SENT TO FAMILIES TWICE PER MONTH, TO INCLUDE THE

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

UPDATES ARE SENT VIA EMAIL AND POSTED TO THE ROYCEMORE WEBSITE.


HEALTH & SAFETY RE-ENTRY PLAN - Roycemore School...Safety Re-Entry Plan before any other plan, as...

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