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Update on January 9, 2022
 

If a student or employee has had close contact with someone who tests positive, please follow this protocol:

If unvaccinated and symptom free.
  1. They may return to school 10 days from the date of exposure if they remain symptom free. OR
  2. 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
  3. 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.
If fully vaccinated and exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
  1. They must quarantine for 10 days (from time of exposure). If they test positive, see guidelines below. OR
  2. 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.

If the student or employee has tested positive, they can return to school only after:
  1. 10 days have passed since the positive test and they are symptom free. OR
  2. They have a negative test on day 6 or 7 and are symptom-free for 24 hours. OR
  3. 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:
  • Parents/guardians are able to make their own decision whether or not to send their student to school with a face covering. 
  • ECA students and parents/spectators may be required to wear face coverings on another school’s campus for an athletic game or similar event.  
  • 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.  
  • 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.

  • Hand washing and sanitizing
  • Feasible physical distancing
  • Use of face coverings (face coverings are optional at this time, updated Aug 23, 2021)
  • Health monitoring measures (symptoms)
  • Revised attendance policies for students and employees
  • 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
Administration and staff will actively educate and enforce stay-at-home policies and return-to-school policies.
  • 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.
  • 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.
If the student or employee has tested positive (with or without symptoms) they can return to school only after:
  • 10 days have passed since the positive test OR
  • If re-tested on day 6 or 7, they can return to school after a negative test and 24 hours symptom-free.
If a student or employee is exposed or has close contact with someone with COVID-19, they can return to school after:
  • 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).
  • If fully vaccinated, 10 days (from time of exposure) if they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. 
  • 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.

SCHOOL OPERATION COVID-19 PLANS BY COLOR CODED PROTOCOLS

BLUE PROTOCOL

Blue protocol is characterized by minimal modifications to pre-COVID routines with additional cleaning and sanitization measures to avoid falling back to the Green protocol.

How does ECA achieve Blue?

The state government has lifted all orders related to COVID-19 and/or the ECA board and administration determine that transmission and severity within the local and Eden communities are negligible.

Blue protocols will characterize normal routines and procedures and pre-COVID cleaning measures.
 
Blue cleaning and sanitation routines include:
  • Additional disinfectant wiping of high touch surfaces throughout the day (door handles and push bars, sink handles, toilet and urinal flush valve handles, shared surfaces such as countertops and tables)
  • Hand sanitizer stations at entries, exits, beside heavily used doors and common areas such as cafeteria
  • Teach and reinforce hand washing with soap and water (at least 20 seconds); increase monitoring
  • Use 60% alcohol or higher hand sanitizer when washing isn’t possible
  • Teach and monitor coughing and sneezing hygiene (covering properly); throw used tissues in the trash immediately, followed by hand washing or sanitizing
Blue Attendance Policy

Sick students/staff must be fever and symptom free for 24 hours to return to school unless COVID-related; then follow COVID-19 attendance policy.

GREEN PROTOCOL

Green protocol is characterized by more significant changes to our daily routines to proactively prevent community spread and to avoid fall back to Yellow, Orange, and Red protocols. It presents moderate changes to our routines but allows us to largely carry on all programing with some modifications.

How does ECA achieve Green?

State government action and/or the ECA board and administration determine that transmission and severity within the local and Eden communities are sufficiently low.

How does ECA fall back to Green?

State government action or the ECA board and administration determine that transmission and severity within the local and Eden communities has moved from low to moderate.

Primary mitigation steps taken in Green protocol (see full details below)
  • Additional cleaning measures outlined below
  • Temperature and symptom check upon arrival to campus
  • Classroom furniture arrangements designed to minimize shared airspace
  • Multi-layered masks required at all times for adults and children in grades PS-12, except when eating and drinking or participating in outdoor recess and outdoor physical education class. Employees may work without face coverings when physically distanced in spaces where there are no students present.
  • Limited mixing of student groups/classes as much as is feasible
  • Large gatherings such as chapel redesigned but not eliminated

Masks will not be required for outdoor elementary recess.

Green protocol details
 
Green will characterize modest modification to operations.
 
A COVID-19 coordinator will be appointed for each campus.
 
Green cleaning and sanitation measures will include all Blue protocol routines plus enhanced cleaning measures:
  • Daily cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched shared surfaces such as countertops, tables, door handles, push bars and plates, sink handles, toilet handles, urinal flush valve handles, and water bottle fillers (use instead of water fountains)
  • Increase air circulation and ventilation as much as possible
  • Avoid shared classroom supplies as much as possible and clean shared supplies after use
  • Plexiglass installed in serving lines and at service counters
  • All food service is plated/individually wrapped; use of disposable dishes and utensils
  • Fully equip each classroom and communal space with cleaning supplies
  • Shared surfaces cleaned between classes/sessions
Green adjustments to programs and routines include Blue protocol intentional and regular hygiene and etiquette education plus:
  • Temperature and symptom check for all students, staff, parents, and visitors upon arrival to building
  • Utilization of sick room for isolation of symptomatic students and staff
  • Multi-layered masks required at all times for adults and children in grades PS-12, except when eating and drinking or participating in outdoor recess and outdoor physical education class. Employees may work without face coverings when physically distanced in spaces where there are no students present.
  • All guests on campus will wear a multi-layered mask as directed by school staff
  • Modeling and supervising of appropriate physical distancing and prominently posted educational posters to remind and reinforce physical distancing practices
  • Water fountains closed to drinking; only water bottle filling allowed at drinking fountains
  • Reduce class size as much as feasible
  • Implement feasible schedule adjustments to promote physical distancing
  • Modification of band, choir, and worship practices and performances to allow for physical distancing and ample ventilation
  • Smaller group chapels
  • Lunch room/cafeteria use for small, physically distanced groups only on a rotating schedule and combined with groups having lunch in classrooms as needed
  • Modified school events to control number of people on campus, and educate, post, and publish safety guidelines before and during events
  • Special seating and arrival/dismissal modifications for vulnerable students and families
  • Seating arrangements and classroom procedures designed to keep students appropriately spaced and facing in the same direction
  • Modified seating and scheduling for large group gatherings
Green Attendance Policy
 

Sick students and staff must be fever and symptom free for 24 hours and submit a doctor’s note or pass an interview with the campus COVID-19 coordinator in order to return to school unless COVID-related; then follow COVID-19 attendance policy.

YELLOW PROTOCOL

Yellow protocol is designed to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak on ECA campuses. Yellow requires that all feasible physical distancing is implemented on campus and that frequent deep cleaning and sanitizing are necessary. Daily routines in the Yellow protocol are significantly impacted, but programs largely go on in alternative formats.

How does ECA achieve Yellow?

State government action. If Allegheny County is already Yellow but Eden has multiple COVID-19 cases in a critical number of classes or cohorts of students, Eden will move to Yellow after two weeks in self-imposed Red and decontamination of building. Affected families and staff may only return to campus according to the COVID-19 attendance policy.

How does ECA fall back to Yellow?

State government action or the ECA board and administration determine that there is significant risk for spread of COVID-19 among Eden students and staff.

Primary additional mitigation steps taken in Yellow protocol (see full details below)
  • Additional efforts to eliminate mixing of groups of students to the fullest extent possible.
  • Additional efforts to make groups smaller for lunch and for non-contact play at recess.
Yellow protocol details
 
Yellow results in significant modifications to operations.
 
A COVID-19 coordinator will be appointed for each campus.
 
Yellow cleaning and sanitation measures include Blue and Green protocols plus enhanced cleaning measures:
  • Commonly touched surfaces such as handles and knobs wiped down four times per school day 
Yellow adjustments to programs and routines include Blue and Green protocols plus:
  • Remote learning for vulnerable students and families
  • Small groups utilized to the fullest extent possible (mixing of groups avoided as much as possible)
  • Smaller and closed circuit chapel in classrooms
  • Lunch room/cafeteria use for small, physically distanced groups only on a rotating schedule and combined with groups having lunch in classrooms
  • Non-contact play at recess
  • Modification of schedule to eliminate mixing of student cohorts as much as possible
  • Modifications to or cancellation of extracurriculars that do not permit adequate physical distancing
  • Classroom routines modified to eliminate activities that do not keep students physically distanced
  • Faculty, parent, and student preparation for Orange protocol and hybrid learning
Yellow Attendance Policy
 

Sick students and staff must be fever and symptom free for 24 hours and submit a doctor’s note or pass an interview with the campus COVID-19 coordinator in order to return to school unless COVID-related; then follow COVID-19 attendance policy.

ORANGE PROTOCOL

Orange protocol is designed to prevent an uncontrolled COVID-19 outbreak on ECA campuses. Orange implements a hybrid learning model in which fewer students attend school each day and combines both online and on-campus delivery of education. It preserves the best aspects of on-campus socialization and learning experiences while providing maximum mitigation efforts and protection so that fully remote learning can remain unnecessary.

How does ECA achieve Orange?

State government action. Eden will move back to Orange or Yellow from Red after at least two weeks in fully-remote learning and decontamination of building if conditions in Allegheny County permit. Affected families and staff may only return to campus according to the COVID-19 attendance policy.

How does ECA fall back to Orange?

ECA board and administration determine that there is significant risk for spread of COVID-19 among Eden students and staff measured by state government action, high rate of infection in Allegheny County, or Eden has COVID-19 cases in multiple cohorts of students.

Orange results in all MITIGATION measures taken in Yellow plus the implementation of hybrid learning to reduce the number of people on campus and to maximize physical distancing while retaining the benefits of on-campus education and socialization. (see full details below)

 

ORANGE protocol details
 
Orange results in a hybrid model of education.
 
A COVID-19 coordinator will be appointed for each campus.
 
Orange cleaning and sanitation measures are identical to Yellow.
 
Orange adjustments to programs and routines include those in Yellow plus:
  • On-campus learning will be at 50% or lower capacity class sizes
  • Educational programming will still be offered five (5) days per week, but only 50% of students will be in attendance each day, while the other 50% will participate remotely
  • Fully remote learning for vulnerable students and families
  • Extracurriculars will be highly modified or canceled
  • Teachers and students will prepare for the potential of fully remote learning
Orange Attendance Policy
 

Sick students and staff must be fever and symptom free for 24 hours and submit a doctor’s note or pass an interview with the campus COVID-19 coordinator in order to return to school unless COVID-related; then follow COVID-19 attendance policy.

RED PROTOCOL

Red protocol is designed to flatten the curve of COVID-19 spread in our community. It is characterized by remote learning and remote participation in school life and extracurriculars.

How does ECA fall back to Red?
 

State government action, multiple COVID-19 cases in a critical number of classes or cohorts of students on ECA's campuses, or the ECA board and administration determine that there is significant risk for spread of COVID-19 among Eden students and staff.

Red results in extreme modifications to school operations.
  • Campuses closed to all but essential staff
  • Campuses decontaminated
  • Full-time remote learning begins in preschool, elementary, and upper school. The remote learning handbook is implemented to guide remote learning.
  • For preschool students, credits will be posted to parent accounts for campus closures in excess of two weeks.