ECA reopened on August 31 for five-day-a-week on campus instruction for the 2020-2021 school year.
2020 CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR SCHOOL REOPEN
THIS PAGE INCLUDES:
ECA POSITION REGARDING COVID-19
ECA PRIMARY STEPS TO MITIGATE SPREAD OF COVID-19
COVID-19 SCHOOL OPERATION CONTINGENCY PLANS BY COLOR CODED PROTOCOLS
COVID-19 ATTENDANCE POLICY
COVID-19 RELATED POLICIES
ECA POSITION REGARDING COVID-19
Eden Christian Academy will comply with all local and state regulatory agency policies that have jurisdiction over ECA.
ECA reserves the right to make decisions about moving between protocols independent of government entities that do not have jurisdiction over non-public schools in Pennsylvania, but for consistency ECA's color coded protocols have been designed to correspond with the state system of colored 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 multi-layered masks in green, yellow, and orange protocols
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Elimination of large gatherings that do not provide adequate physical distancing
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Health monitoring measures (temperature and symptoms)
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Revised attendance policies for students and employees
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Enhanced cleaning protocols
REGULAR ATTENDANCE PROTOCOL, COVID-19 SYMPTOMS, 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 isolated student and the care giver will both wear both a mask and a shield during care and the space will be disinfected following care.
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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ECA will implement remote educational services to students who experience extended absences due to self-isolation/quarantine of students sick with or exposed to COVID-19.
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3 days with no fever AND
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Symptoms improve AND
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10 days since symptoms first appeared OR if an MD or DO provides a note confirming an alternative diagnosis of the symptoms and clearance to return to school OR if tested, when they have no fever for 24 hours, symptoms improve, and they have a negative test.
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10 days have passed since the test OR
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If tested, they can return to school after a negative test and 24 hours without fever.
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10 days (from time of exposure) if they remain asymptomatic or after 7 days if they are asymptomatic and have had a negative COVID-19 test on either Day 6 or Day 7.
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If symptoms develop or if they test positive, see guidelines above.
In Green, Yellow, and Orange Protocol, visitors to campus and parents must be held to the same attendance policy as students and employees.
COVID-19 RELATED POLICIES
Multi-layered Masks
Wearing multi-layered masks is a key part of Eden’s mitigation efforts and education regarding washing and disposal of masks will be important.
Each student will need their own multi-layered mask for bus transportation, arrival, and dismissal. ECA will keep extra masks in stock at all times.
Mask Breaks
Mask breaks will be provided throughout the day. Mask breaks will under 5 minutes in duration when taken indoors, and all individuals taking the break must be 6 feet or more from others. Mask breaks when socially distanced outdoors have no time limits.
Mask Exemptions
Any employee or student who has medical issues that prevent them from wearing a mask as directed must provide a doctor’s note stating that mask wearing is detrimental to his/her health. Face shields that extend below the chin and around to the ears on both sides will be required for those with documented medical exemptions. Employees with exemptions may be reassigned to other duties if deemed necessary by the administration.
Essential Mask Hygiene
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Disposable masks should only be used once and then discarded properly.
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Cloth masks must be washed daily in a washing machine and dried on the highest dryer setting (or in direct sunlight) or soaked at least 5 minutes in a bleach designed to disinfect. (4 tsp per quart of room temperature water or 1/3 cup per gallon).
While students, faculty, and staff will be encouraged to provide their own PPE, the school will also keep PPE in stock for anyone on campus.
Arrival Screenings in Green, Yellow, and Orange
- Temperature screenings will be utilized. Employees and students with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will be sent home.
- Staff, parents, students, and visitors will be asked about symptoms: fever, shortness of breath, or cough since yesterday.
- Designated screening personnel will ask about signs of potential illness in the child, parent, visitor, or employee such as flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent exertion), fatigue, or extreme fussiness (in children).
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 (to let any vaporized particles settle).
Notifications When Cases Arise
The principal at each campus will notify Mr. Fisher and Mr. Smullin whenever a COVID-19 case is confirmed. The principal will notify families and the head of school immediately while maintaining confidentiality to the fullest extent possible.
The COVID-19 coordinator at each campus will inform those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms and to follow Eden’s attendance policies for COVID-19 as outlined in this document. The coordinator should confirm with the campus principal in writing which individuals were in close contact and that the notifications have been completed.
Extracurricular Policies
Policies for athletics are governed by both PIAA and ECA and are posted on the athletics webpage.