2021-22 MCS Health Protocols

Introduction

Mariners Christian School is committed to providing a safe environment for all community members. This Return to School Plan outlines the health protocols, procedures, and requirements specific to factors that will mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. The plan will be followed for the duration of the 2021-22 school year. However, school administration reserves the sole authority to revise this plan as necessary.

All community members, students, parents, and staff, are required to follow and support this plan in its entirety, as well as any necessary changes made, at all times. By enrolling your child at Mariners Christian School, and keeping your child enrolled at MCS, you are accepting this plan and indicating full support and adherence. Families or students that do not comply or support may lose the privilege of enrollment. Prior to the start of school, parents were required to sign a Return to School Agreement accepting the responsibility to fully support the MCS 2021-22 Return to School Plan. No student was permitted to begin the school year without this agreement in place.

Questions and concerns regarding all COVID health protocols can be addressed to the COVID Task Force at covidtaskforce@marinerscs.org.

✓ Face Coverings 

• Indoors

• • Face coverings will be required for all students when indoors unless an allowable exemption applies. Parents should review the updated Quarantine Requirements and Types of Quarantine to best understand allowable exemptions.

• Outdoors

• • Face coverings will not be required outdoors

• Additional

• • Disposable masks will be provided if/as necessary
  • Based upon significant health concerns including, but not limited to community
    transmission rates, MCS reserves the right to change face covering policies at any time If this occurs, compliance and support from all community members is required
  • The school will have zero tolerance of harassment toward any individual's choice in regards to face coverings. All community members are expected to respect and honor choices made by the school, individuals, or families
  • Harassment or disrespect of any kind may result in dismissal from the school whether instigated by parent or student

✓ Cohorting

• Elementary
  • Elementary students will be cohorted by individual class
  • Physical distancing and/or other exposure mitigation procedures will be implemented for any indoor activities (i.e. chapel, assemblies, reading buddies, etc) where cohorts may intermix
  • Cohorting will not be required outdoors. The usual staggered recess/lunch schedule for TK, K-2, and 3-5 will be followed
• Middle School
  • Whether indoors or outdoors, middle school will not implement cohorting requirements, but will utilize contact tracing procedures based upon direct exposure
  • Middle school teachers will utilize strict seating charts and tracking of work groups to assist in identifying those at risk of direct exposure to a COVID-19 positive case
  • Middle school administration will collaborate with the student who has contracted COVID-19 to determine any additional individuals who may have had direct exposure indoors or outdoors
• After School Program (ASP)
  • ASP, both before and after school, will be open to all students
  • Students attending ASP will be cohorted by grade level
  • Any cohort group that consists of multiple grade levels will implement physical distancing indoors to mitigate exposure across grade levels
  • Contact tracing will be implemented in the event of exposure during ASP
  • ASP staff will utilize outdoor spaces as much as possible

✓ Identification of Positive Case and Contact Tracing

• The Health Office, in collaboration with school administration, is responsible for COVID-19 contact tracing. This plan follows laws as required by FERPA and state law related to privacy of educational records and other privacy laws. This team will be responsible for communicating to exposed individuals as outlined in the cohorting and quarantine procedures
• All MCS community members are required to notify the Health Office if they, or a member of their household, or a person with whom they have had close contact, tests positive for COVID-19
• If a community member develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or is self-isolating due to suspected or known exposure to COVID-19, he/she is required to notify the Health Office
• Direct exposure is defined as a person within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Any individual directly exposed to COVID-19 while at school may be required to quarantine as outlined in the cohorting and quarantine procedures and types of quarantine requirements. 

✓ Quarantine Procedures

• In the event of a positive COVID case, students/staff directly exposed (defined as a person within six feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) will be required to quarantine as follows:
  • In an Elementary cohort (class), individuals directly exposed will be notified and provided quarantine instructions following guidance outlined in “Types of Quarantine and Requirements”. Those quarantined at home will transition to remote learning
  • In Middle School, individuals identified as having direct exposure through contact tracing procedures will be required to quarantine following the guidance outlined in “Types of Quarantine and Requirements” and will transition to remote learning
• Quarantine guidelines must be followed by individuals and/or families when exposure occurs outside of the school or a family member tests positive for COVID-19
• The school will not require quarantine after travel provided all members of the family are asymptomatic and no known exposure has occurred
• Should a family be required (due to exposure outside of school or a positive case within the family) or choose (due to travel) to self quarantine, remote learning (asynchronous or synchronous) will not be provided. In these instances, the school will only provide independent absent work in accordance with the school’s Planned Absence Policy; teachers will have 48 hours advance notice before providing absent work

✓ Types of Quarantine and Quarantine Requirements

• In adherence with CDPH guidelines dated January 2, 2022, quarantine requirements for students directly exposed at school will be determined as follows:
  • Quarantine for vaccinated who have been directly exposed and are asymptomatic may continue attending school in person provided the following:
    • Negative test on day 5 or after
    • Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially indoors
    • Monitor for symptoms 14 days past exposure
    • If symptoms develop, test and isolate
    • Extracurricular activities may be restricted as determined appropriate by administration and school nurse
  • Quarantine for individuals directly exposed but have a documented case of COVID within 90 days may continue attending school provided the following:
    • Documented case of COVID is evidenced by the parent providing proof of positive test result of student’s COVID case to Health Office and/or administration dated within 90 days of exposure
    • Negative test on day 5 or after
    • Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially indoors
    • Monitor for symptoms 14 days past exposure
    • If symptoms develop, test and isolate
    • Extracurricular activities may be restricted as determined appropriate by administration and school nurse
  • Modified Quarantine for students who are not vaccinated but were correctly wearing a mask at the time of exposure may continue attending school provided the following:
    • Remain asymptomatic
    • Continue wearing a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially indoors
    • Negative test on day 5 or after
    • Monitor for symptoms 14 days past exposure
    • If symptoms develop, test and isolate
    • Extracurricular activities may be restricted as determined appropriate by administration and school nurse based on level of exposure
  • Standard Quarantine for students not vaccinated and not wearing a mask at the time of exposure must:
    • Stay at home for at least 5 days, after your last contact with a person who has COVID
    • Negative test on day 5 or after
    • Quarantine may end after day 5 IF symptoms are not present and negative test results on day 5 or later are provided to health office
    • Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings
    • Quarantine may end after day 10 without testing (return on day 11)
    • Monitor for symptoms for 14 days
    • If testing positive, follow isolation recommendations 
    • If symptoms develop, test and stay home
    • Extracurricular activities are suspended for duration of quarantine
• Students who have a medical/attestation face covering exemption and were not wearing a mask at the time of exposure will be required to quarantine
• In the event an elementary teacher contracts COVID, the entire cohort (class) will transition to remote learning and quarantine at home until the teacher is able to return and if the student is without symptoms
• In the event a middle school teacher contracts COVID, students directly exposed will be notified and provided quarantine instructions based on the types of quarantine listed above
• Remote learning will only be provided in the event of a school initiated quarantine (whether by cohort or through contact tracing procedures) for the students directly exposed at school

✓ Communication Plan

• Appropriate individuals will receive communication of confirmed exposure, while maintaining Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws to protect the person’s identity
• Should exposure occur on campus, communication protocols will be as follows:
  • Elementary
    • Impacted cohort notified. Notification to include quarantine instructions and type of quarantine required
    • Impacted cohort’s grade level will be notified
    • It is the parent’s responsibility to notify any individuals that may have been exposed outside of school. Please allow the school the opportunity to communicate to exposed students before notifying others
  • Middle School
    • Parents of students directly exposed will be notified. Notification to include quarantine instructions and type of quarantine required
    • Impacted grade level will be notified
    • Following the school’s notification, it is the parent’s responsibility to notify any
      individuals that may have been exposed outside of school. Others
    • Please allow the school the opportunity to communicate to exposed students before notifying

✓ Daily Health Screenings for Students

• Before School
  • Parents are responsible for the daily health screening of their child(ren), ensuring no
    child attends school with any symptoms or with any illness whether COVID-19, common cold, flu, etc. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:
    • Headache
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Fever (greater than 100.0o F) or chills
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Sore throat
    • Nausea or vomiting
  • Parents are responsible for determining if their child(ren) has had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 and/or is displaying symptoms of the virus. If this occurs, parents may not allow their child to attend school and must follow procedures indicated in the self quarantine protocols (Quarantine Procedures section).
  • To mitigate risk of transmission, if other family members are exhibiting symptoms, it is recommended that the student remain home until confirmation of negative test
• During School
  • Teachers are required to send any student exhibiting illness symptoms to the school nurse for screening
  • School nurse will determine whether or not the child should be sent home. All parents must comply with the decisions made by the school nurse
  • Students with symptoms will be required to wear a mask and will be isolated in the Health Office to avoid any additional exposure

• Additional Requirements
  • Students with positive COVID-19 diagnosis will follow school quarantine procedures
  • For all other illnesses, the student must be symptom and fever free for a minimum of 24 hours (without fever reducing medication) before returning to school. Any earlier return must be cleared by the school nurse through documentation of a medical clearance
  • All illness related absences will be recorded as excused. A doctor’s note will not be required unless requested by the school nurse

✓ Healthy Hygiene Practices

• Hand sanitizing stations will be provided in each classroom, hallway, office, and outdoors

• MCS teachers will conduct hand sanitizing and/or hand washing procedures throughout the
  school day, including before and after all breaks, before entering a classroom, after coughing
  and sneezing, after students have shared supplies, when using the restroom, etc.

• Teachers will remind students to use a tissue to wipe their nose and to cough/sneeze inside a
  tissue or elbow
• Drinking fountains will be turned off. However, no-touch bottle filling stations will be provided.
  Students are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottle
• Custodial personnel will frequently clean high-touch surfaces
• Custodians, aides, and teachers will have cleaning duties throughout the day

✓ Visitors on Campus

• Volunteer Opportunities
  • Parents will be able to volunteer on campus provided the following requirements are adhered to at all times. Any individual who refuses to comply with these requirements will not be permitted to volunteer
    • Face covering will be required indoors regardless of vaccination status or physical contact with staff or students
    • Subject to temperature and health screening check upon signing in
    • Use of hand sanitizer
• School Events
  • Face coverings are required indoors only. Parents that do not comply, will not be permitted to enter the building. We ask that no parent places the staff in this difficult and unnecessary position
  • Additional individual situations may require face coverings to be worn if deemed necessary
  • It is expected that all community members comply with any request by school administration, faculty, and/or staff member to wear a face covering while on campus
  • MCS will have zero tolerance if this requirement or any request to wear a mask is disregarded

✓ School Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures

• Morning Drop Off
  • Parents must perform a health screening prior to dropping their child(ren) at school
  • Students may arrive at school beginning at 7:30. Any student arriving prior to that time must report to morning ASP
  • Students arrive by vehicle only (no walking gate) at the designated grade-specific times
  • Students remain outdoors until the beginning of the school day (Middle School 7:45, Elementary 8:10)
• Afternoon Pick-up
  • Students are picked up by vehicles only (no walking gate) at the designated grade-specific times
  • Parents must stay in the vehicle during pick-up
  • Parents are prohibited from walking to pick students up at the carpool gate

✓ COVID Vaccine Protocols

• The school will not require the COVID-19 vaccine for either students or staff
• The school will have zero tolerance of harassment toward any individual's choice in regards to vaccination. All community members are expected to respect and honor choices made by individuals or families

✓ Triggers for Transition to Remote Learning

To mitigate community transmission and outbreak, if >5% of the total elementary or total middle school population (students, faculty and staff) tests positive within a consecutive 14 day period, the entire division will transition to remote learning. School administration reserves the right to modify this at any time based on the best interest of the community

Please contact the COVID Task Force with any questions.