Update on January 9, 2022
If a student or employee has had close contact with someone who tests positive, please follow this protocol:
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They may return to school 10 days from the date of exposure if they remain symptom free. OR
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If they have a negative test on day 6 or day 7 (from time of exposure) and have remained symptom free. If symptoms develop or if they test positive, see guidelines below. OR
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They may return to school 5 days from the date of exposure if they remain symptom free AND are required to be masked for 5 days upon return to school. If symptoms develop or if they test positive, see guidelines below.
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They must quarantine for 10 days (from time of exposure). If they test positive, see guidelines below. OR
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If fully vaccinated and exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, they must quarantine for 5 days (from time of exposure) AND are required to be masked for 5 days upon return to school.
If fully vaccinated and no COVID-19 symptoms are exhibited, quarantine is not required.
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10 days have passed since the positive test and they are symptom free. OR
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They have a negative test on day 6 or 7 and are symptom-free for 24 hours. OR
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5 days have passed, and they are symptom free, they may return to school but are required to be masked for an additional 5 days.
Update on December 13, 2021
On December 10, 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacated the school face covering mandate, effective immediately.
Eden Christian Academy will not require face coverings on our school campuses. ECA faculty, staff, and parents have been notified of the following:
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Parents/guardians are able to make their own decision whether or not to send their student to school with a face covering.
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ECA students and parents/spectators may be required to wear face coverings on another school’s campus for an athletic game or similar event.
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Parents will need to check with their local school district for specific face-covering requirements while their child is being transported to and from ECA.
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ECA may modify face covering requirements for reasons such as, but not limited to, community spread of illness in classrooms, individual campuses, or changes in community transmission levels throughout our region.
Update on September 10, 2021
Throughout the 2020-2021 school year, ECA remained open for five-day-a-week on-campus instruction.
We began the 2021-2022 school year on August 24 with face coverings optional. We recognized the varied opinions on this topic within our community and asked that everyone respect the right of other parents to make the best decision for their own family.
On August 31, 2021, Governor Wolf announced an Order of the Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Directing Face Coverings in School Entities (the “Order") effective September 7, 2021. The Order applies to all K-12 schools, including private schools like ECA, and can be viewed HERE.
In accordance with the Order, beginning on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, all ECA students, faculty, staff, and visitors on our campuses will be required to wear a mask indoors unless a signed Face Covering Exception Form is provided to the school office at the respective campus.
Pursuant to the Order, ECA students, faculty, staff, and visitors who provide the Face Covering Exception Form will not be required to wear a mask. By signing the Face Covering Exception Form, you state, on behalf of yourself or as a parent or guardian of a student, that you and/or your student are fully exempt from the requirements in Section 2 of the Order because at least one of the exceptions apply in Section 3: Exception to Covering Requirement.
On receipt of a completed form, ECA, in accordance with Section 4 of the Order, will not enforce the covering requirement for each person for whom a Face Covering Exception Form is submitted.
Our Board of Directors and Leadership will continue to closely monitor enforceable government orders as well as risks and health effects on children and will reexamine policies as appropriate. As such, ECA may modify protocol throughout the year.
Every 2 weeks, we will report positive cases by campus to parents, faculty, and staff.
COVID-19 MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL
THIS PAGE INCLUDES:
ECA's PRIMARY STEPS TO MITIGATE SPREAD OF COVID-19
COVID-19 ATTENDANCE POLICY
COVID-19 RELATED POLICIES
COVID-19 SCHOOL OPERATION CONTINGENCY PLANS BY COLOR CODED PROTOCOLS
ECA PRIMARY STEPS TO MITIGATE SPREAD OF COVID-19
These are standard measures taken.
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Hand washing and sanitizing
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Feasible physical distancing
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Use of face coverings (face coverings are optional at this time, updated Aug 23, 2021)
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Health monitoring measures (symptoms)
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Revised attendance policies for students and employees
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Enhanced cleaning protocols
REGULAR ATTENDANCE PROTOCOL AND COVID-19 SYMPTOMS DEFINED, DEFINITION OF COVID-19 EXPOSURE, AND COVID-19 ATTENDANCE POLICY
REGULAR ATTENDANCE PROTOCOL AND COVID-19 SYMPTOMS DEFINED
Regular attendance protocols regarding health and school attendance are still in effect. Students with a fever (100.4 or higher), vomiting, diarrhea, or diagnosed contagious illnesses must stay home and will be sent home if symptoms present during the school day.
Additionally, students and staff will be placed under the COVID-19 attendance policy if they exhibit one (1) or more of the symptoms in group A OR two (2) or more of the symptoms in group B.
Group A symptoms (1 or more):
- Persistent, dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of or limited sense of smell
- Loss of or modified sense of taste
Group B symptoms (2 or more):
- Fever defined as 100.4 or higher (measured or subjective)
- Chills
- Rigors
- Muscle aches/soreness
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Congestion or runny nose
Isolation on Campus
Students in attendance on campus who exhibit one or more symptoms in Group A above OR two or more symptoms from Group B will be placed under care in a designated isolation room on campus until a parent or guardian can come to school to pick them up. The space will be disinfected following use.
DEFINITION OF COVID-19 EXPOSURE
Any student or employee who:
- was within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
- provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
- had direct close physical contact with a person with COVID-19 (such as hugging or kissing)
- shared eating or drinking utensils with a person with COVID-19
- was sneezed upon, coughed upon, or somehow got respiratory droplets on them from a person with COVID-19
COVID-19 ATTENDANCE POLICY
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ECA will provide additional paid leave to employees who experience extended COVID-19 absences due to required self-isolation or contraction of COVID-19 until such time as extended absences are no longer necessary.
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If a student needs to quarantine, parents should contact the school office to pick up school books. Also, each student should contact their teacher(s) and receive the work that they miss.
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10 days have passed since the positive test OR
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If re-tested on day 6 or 7, they can return to school after a negative test and 24 hours symptom-free.
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If unvaccinated, 10 days (from time of exposure) if they remain asymptomatic OR if they are asymptomatic and have had a negative COVID-19 test on either day 6 or 7 (from time of exposure).
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If fully vaccinated, 10 days (from time of exposure) if they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19.
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If fully vaccinated with no symptoms, quarantine is not required. If symptoms develop or if they test positive, see guidelines above.
Visitors to campus and parents are held to the same attendance policy as students and employees.
COVID-19 RELATED POLICIES
Multi-layered Masks
Each student will need their own multi-layered mask for bus transportation.
Creating a Healthy Environment
If COVID-19 symptoms present themselves in a person while on campus, any space and surfaces used by that person should be off-limits until it can be disinfected. When feasible, staff should wait 24 hours before cleaning or as close to 24 hours as is possible.
Notifications When Cases Arise
Parents must notify their campus school office to report positive COVID-19 cases or COVID-19 close contact exposure.
Extracurricular Policies
Policies for athletics are governed by both PIAA and ECA and are posted on the athletics webpage.