Health Measures and Protocols

The Following Health Measure Protocols are intended to create a safe and healthy environment for our school to reopen in compliance with State and Accreditation/Licensing body guidelines that are in place due to COVID-19. Although this is a different picture of life on campus than we are accustomed to, these measures will support our goal of remaining open as much as possible in the coming school year. It is our hope that this time of COVID-19 will offer us an opportunity to come together and unify us as a school community to meet this challenge together. We will need to actively work together and consciously practice the values that we hold dearly and strive to imbue to our students: patience, compassion, and a mutual understanding of respect. We are striving for a collective aim to uphold all measures and protocols at all times. While subject to revision as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves and more scientific evidence becomes available, these requirements will serve as an initial planning blueprint for the in-person return of students and staff this fall.

Cleanliness

Students:

Hand washing stations will be provided and designated for students.

Clear instructions for proper hand washing will be provided.

Routine hand-washing breaks will be provided.

Students (Upper School) are expected to:

Clean their learning space before leaving a classroom.
Clean their space in the student center (table and chair) and dispose of trash in marked containers.

Students will be reminded to:

Wash hands before and after meals and after using the restroom.

Use proper sneezing/cough etiquette and health practices.

Avoid touching hands to face.

Only sit in assigned seats.

School building and materials:

A daily, deep cleaning protocol will be implemented each day after school.

Shared materials will be limited and will be cleaned and sanitized after use.

The student center (Upper School) will be sanitized between lunch groups.

The school’s high-touch areas will be sanitized through the school day.

High touch areas include desks, tables, work surfaces, doorknobs and light switches, toilet seats and faucet handles, outdoor surfaces and playground equipment.

Restrooms will be cleaned and sanitized at least 3 times per day with special attention to high-touch areas (door knobs, switches, toilet seats and bowls, flushers, paper towel dispensers & faucet handles)

Physical Distancing

Physical distancing measures in classrooms

Larger spaces will be used as classrooms

Students utilize their designated classrooms. (Special subject teachers will come to the classrooms- increased safety protocol for these teachers).

Open air classroom spaces will be utilized as much as possible

Staggered schedules for arrival, departure and outdoor recess times. We recognize this may pose a challenge and ask that you do your best to honor times, understanding it may not be possible.

Last Names ending in A-M: Arrival 8:00-8:15, Departure 3:00-3:15
Last Names ending in N-Z: Arrival 8:00-8:15, Departure 3:15-3:30

Minimizing the Chance of Infection

A health questionnaire is required daily before students and staff enter school.

Until further notice, to be allowed entry onto any Sparhawk property or facility, all members of a family who have travelled outside of their home state for reasons beyond essential travel (as listed in the MA travel order) must declare in writing that they have either quarantined for 14 days and have no symptoms, or show documentation of a negative molecular Covid-19 test (not a rapid test) taken within 72 hours of their ARRIVAL home. Sparhawk is taking a more precautionary stance regarding testing after travel. Reports such as https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/which-test-is-best-for-covid-19-2020081020734 have stated that the reliability of the rapid test is not as accurate as the molecular test. Therefore, Sparhawk has created the recently released update to our travel protocols.

If a household member tests positive for COVID-19, the student(s) in the household will need to engage in online learning for 14 days and provide proof of a recent (within 72 hours) negative COVID-19 test before being permitted to return to school.

Students who are absent from school or become ill at school need a doctor’s note and proof of a recent (within 72 hours) negative COVID-19 test or alternative diagnosis before being permitted to return to school. If a student is on antibiotics, s/he may return to school after a full 24hrs after first dose if fever-free.

Parents should not send students to school who have exhibited a fever at home and who have been given OTC or prescription medication to reduce the fever.

If any student has a body temperature over 98.6, vomiting, diarrhea, cough or shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell during the school day, they must be picked up from school within 1 hour of contact by a parent, caregiver or a person designated as emergency contact by the students parent or guardian.

Students and/or staff will not be allowed at school within 14 days of being in close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or is being tested for COVID-19. In order to return students and staff must provide proof of a negative COVID test within 72 Hours.

Students who test positive for COVID-19, will not be allowed to come to school until they have proof of a negative COVID-19 test (within 72 hours of return) and a doctor’s note.

No person will be allowed into the building while students are present except enrolled students, faculty and staff all of whom will wear masks in the building.

Students will not be allowed to leave campus once they enter the building in the morning or after they exit the building.

Students will not have food delivered to the building.

Mask and face shield are the optimal combination.

Students will utilize individual Learning Kits across the grades to minimize shared resources.

Masks

Students and staff must wear a mask from the time they leave their vehicle on Sparhawk property until they reenter their vehicle to leave Sparhawk property unless directed to remove the mask by staff for mask breaks.

Masks must be worn so they cover the nose and mouth and must stay in place.

Bandanas are not acceptable substitutes for masks.

Dress code policies will apply to masks (students may not wear masks that have provocative, offensive, or distracting language or images).

Staff will supervise mask breaks for students outside the building with 6’ minimum distance between students. Students are only allowed to remove masks when directed and put them on again when directed by staff.

Parents, guardians, and approved visitors must wear a mask in the school building, parking lot, fields and property of Sparhawk School.

If a student does not have a mask, the school will provide a disposable mask for that day (up to five for the school year). Families will be billed $10 for the 6th and subsequent masks provided by the school.

Students are not allowed to borrow or share masks with other students or staff.