NEW HARVEST
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

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RE-OPENING PLAN

COVID-19 Containment, Response, and Control Plan

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NHCS COVID-19 Compliance Team

Richard Salazar – Senior Pastor

Cathy Garcia – Principal

George Gaxiola – Vice-Principal

Denise Silva – Office Staff

Traci Salazar – School Staff

 

 

Student and Staff safety is imperative at New Harvest Christian School.  The Compliance Team is closely monitoring updates from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) as we prepare to return to in-class learning.  We have developed numerous health and safety protocols to ensure that we are providing a safe and sanitary environment for our school.

 

STAFF TRAINING

Staff has been educated and provided with a written copy of safety procedures, guidelines and practices to follow. Staff meetings will provide continued staff training and review of procedures implemented to promote a healthy environment on campus

 

HEALTHY HYGIENE

Staff will teach, model, and reinforce healthy hygiene skills.  Handwashing is essential. It is critical that students, and staff members wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, frequently throughout the day, and avoid touching their face unless absolutely necessary.  Hand sanitizer stations will be available in all classrooms and throughout the facility.

 

FACE COVERINGS

In accordance with Health Department regulations, face coverings must be worn on campus, except where exempted by a medical professional for specific health reasons.  This must be a well-secured cloth or mask that fits snugly against the face and covers an individual’s nose and mouth. It must be made of a material that prevents the discharge and release of respiratory droplets from a person's nose or mouth. According to the CDC, “cloth face coverings are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the cloth.” Additional disposable face coverings will be available for any student that forgets, misplaces or soils their mask throughout the school day.  Masks may only be removed while eating and maintaining a 6 ft. distance from other persons.

 

PHYSICAL DISTANCING

Physical distancing is critical and will be facilitated in all possible locations across the campus. The CDC reports: People can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from others when possible, even if you—or they—do not have any symptoms.  Distancing requirements will be in place for students and staff members to comply with the CDC’s recommendation.

 

To accommodate physical distancing, markings have been added to outside entrance area, hallways, and classrooms to help maintain the 6-feet recommendation. In classrooms, students will maintain distance by sitting in desks that have been spread out to maintain a 6 foot distance between students or by not using every desk in the classroom. 

 

COHORTS

Cohorts are groups of students and staff who stay together throughout the school day to minimize exposure for students and staff. These cohorts will stay together for all activities and will avoid contact with people outside of their group.  Each student will be required to have their own supplies and no items will be shared.  Classroom furniture is set up to ensure a 6 feet distance is maintained between students at their desks.  Physical barriers will be utilized to minimize close contacts. A cohort may have up to 14 students and 2 staff members. Classes will be set up under these guidelines and will not exceed this number.

 

HEALTH SCREENING

All staff and students will be required to conduct a self- health screening prior to entering the campus.  If exhibiting any of the following symptoms, they must remain at home.  Symptoms:  cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever, or chills.  If a student/staff member has had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, they must remain home and self-isolate as required by Health Officer Order. (See July 1 Isolation HOO.pdf). Temperatures of all persons will be checked prior to entering the campus.  Temperature must be under 100.4 before being allowed to enter.  NHCS will also conduct visual wellness checks of children upon arrival.  Parents are reminded to keep children home when they are sick.  Students who have been ill should be fever-free for 24 hours without using any fever-reducing medications before returning to school. 

 

EXPOSURE MANAGEMENT         

If a student or staff member displays symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness, he/she must remain at home and notify the school office. It is expected that everyone complies with CDC recommendations for staying home when sick and follows isolation/quarantine criteria before returning to school.

 

Staff members who may develop any COVID-19 symptoms while at school will be sent home immediately.

 

Students who develop any COVID-19 symptoms while at school will be isolated and a parent will be immediately notified.  They will be instructed to pick up their child within 60 minutes of notification.  COVID-19 testing will be recommended. These students will be sent to the main office to await pickup.  No other person will be allowed to enter the office and the office must be sanitized after their departure. The office will be closed to staff and visitors until the sanitation process is complete.

 

If test is negative after symptoms, Staff/Student may return to school 3 days after symptoms resolve.  School/classroom remain open.

 

If test is positive as a confirmed COVID-19 case infection, the following steps will be followed:

• Public Health Department notified.

• Isolate case and exclude from school for 10 days from symptom onset or test date.

• Identify contacts*, quarantine and exclude exposed contacts for 14 days after the last date the case was present at school while infectious.  (This will likely be the entire cohort/class)

• Student/Staff must be tested and provide proof of a negative test before returning to school campus.

• Recommend testing of contacts.

• Disinfect and clean classroom and primary spaces where case spent significant time.

• Send notification letter of an exposure to school community.

• School will remain open.

*A contact is defined as a person who is less than 6 feet from a case for 15 minutes or longer.

 

If a student/staff member comes in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, (likely someone in their home), send/stay home.  Quarantine for 14 days from last exposure.  Proof of a negative test is required before returning to the campus.

 

If the school identifies a cluster of 3 or more laboratory confirmed cases (students and/or staff) within a 14-day period, the school should proceed with the following steps:

• Report the cluster to the DPH Acute Communicable Disease Control (ACDC) within 1 business day via email at:  ACDC-Education@ph.lacounty.gov or by calling (888)397-3993.

• Complete the Line List for Cases and Contacts and submit it to the ACDC.

• The ACDC Team will review to determine whether the outbreak criteria have been met and will notify school within 1 business day on next steps.

• SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED for 14 days pursuant to the Temporary Targeted Safer at Home Health Officer Order for Control of COVID-19.

 

RETURNING TO SCHOOL (After testing positive)

Staff/Student must be able to answer YES to the following questions:

• Has it been at least 10 days since the individual first had symptoms?

• Has it been at least 3 days since the individual had a fever (without the use of fever reducing medications)?

• Has it been at least 3 days since the individual’s symptoms have improved? (Cough/Shortness of breath)

• Has a negative test result or doctor’s note been provided to the school?

Staff and student’s returning must be able to answer YES to all the above questions before returning to the Campus.

 

REPORTING/COMMUNICATION

NHCS Staff and parents are asked to promptly notify the School Office when experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or they have been exposed.  The School Compliance team will generate a list of students and/or staff that are affiliated with the school who have laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection and a list of students and/or staff that have been exposed to the infected person while they were infectious. Students/Staff who have been exposed will be notified through A School Exposure Notification letter or through the school messaging system. 

 

WAIVER OF LIABILITY

All parents must sign a Waiver of Liability and Health Screening Agreement.  This waiver creates an agreement between the school and the parent(s)/guardians.  It provides information on protocols in place for student safety.  Parents agree not to send a child or enter the campus themselves if they are exhibiting flu-like symptoms.  The waiver also releases NHCS of any liability in regard to COVID-19.

 

SCHOOL CLOSURE

In accordance with LA County Health Department guidelines, New Harvest Christian School will transition to distance learning should an outbreak occur on campus.  Students will be issued work and will continue doing their studies from home.

 

FACILITIES CLEANING AND DISINFECTING

School facilities will receive increased levels of cleaning and sanitizing. Classrooms will be cleaned throughout the day and after school to disinfect commonly used surfaces.  High touch areas such as bathroom surfaces, stair rails, door handles, light switches, sink handles and student desks will be cleaned regularly.  School office, café, and kitchen will be cleaned frequently throughout the day.  Water fountains are shut down and individual water bottles will be used.  EPA-approved disinfectants that are effective for coronaviruses

 

SCHEDULE MODIFICATIONS

Class schedules have been modified so that the cohorts do not have recess, nutrition, lunch, or restroom breaks at the same time.  Markings will be placed on the floor to assure a 6-foot distance between any two students.

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS

P.E. Classes will continue and will take place outside.  Social distancing will be enforced and students will be able to remove their masks.  Schedule will be modified allow students to remain with their cohorts. be held outside.

 

VISITORS

Visits to the school by individuals other than staff and students will be avoided whenever possible.  Visitors will not be allowed to enter the classrooms.  Visitors who need to conduct business in the school office will be screened have their temperature checked, and required to be masked before being allowed to enter the building.  The office will send letters and other correspondence down to the Security Booth for pickup.  These measures will help to limit the number of visitors allowed into the building.