COVID-19 Safety Plan - Wornick School 2020-2021 Academic Year

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COVID-19 Safety Plan Wornick School 2020-2021 Academic Year Updated Health and Safety Framework based on the State Safe for All Schools reopening guidance issued January 14, 2021. Posted as of February 1, 2021. Updated February 8, 2021)

Wornickjds.org :: 800 Foster City Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404 :: 650.378.2600 A beneficiary of the Jewish Community Federation. Accredited by CAIS and WASC.

Table of Contents Quick Resources for Parents ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3 School Reopening Guidance �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5 A. Layers of Safety: Mitigation Strategies ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 B. General Measures ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 6 C. Face Coverings ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 D. Staff ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7 E. Stable Group Guidance Considerations by Grade Level ������������������������������������������������������������ 8 F. Implementing Distancing Inside and Outside the Classroom ������������������������������������������������������ 9 D. Arrival and Departure ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 9 D. Classroom Space ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 9 D. Non Classroom Spaces ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 10 D. Ventilation ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10 D. Promote Healthy Hand Hygiene Practices �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 11 D. Cleaning and Disinfection ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 11 D. Check for Signs, Symptoms and Exposures ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 13 D. Symptoms and Exposures Screening ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 D. Symptoms at School ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 14 D. Staff-to-Staff Interactions ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 15 D. Limit Sharing ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 15 D. Train All Staff and Educate Families ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 15 D. Maintain Healthy Operations ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 16

What to Do if there is a Confirmed or Suspected Case of COVID-19 in School �������������17 A. Confirmed COVID-19 Case ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 18 B. Measures When Outbreak is Being Investigated at School (LHD and School Actions) ������������ 19

School Closure Determinations ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������20 K-12 School Testing �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������21 A. Overview and Definitions ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21 B. Testing Strategy Approach �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 22

Vaccines for K-12 Schools ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22 Appendix �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������21 A. Sample Communications ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21

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Quick Resource for Parents and Community Below are a list of FAQs for families and the Wornick community: Can my child be a remote learner or hybrid learner?

If your family wishes to continue to shelter in place, there is a hybrid distance learning option.

Your student will be provided with login information to access the classroom via Zoom that will be the same link used during remote learning. Teachers will arrange for materials to be available for pickup on the Thursday before the following week when the materials will be needed. Please keep in mind that learning environments are fluid and classes may not use the materials in the exact order they are provided as the teacher adjusts for the needs of the students.

Importantly, if a child who is attending in person learning exhibits any symptoms of illness and is required to stay at home, said student can stay home and can continue learning via this hybrid option.

What is the protocol if someone in our household experiences COVID-19 symptoms?

Any student who has a household member experiencing these symptoms will be required to stay home and learn via distance learning. They may not return to school until they are symptom-free for 72 hours and receive clearance from Wornick. Students who are asymptomatic may return if their household member has a negative COVID-19 test.

Families must notify health@wornickjds.org as soon as a household member is sick or experiencing symptoms if one of the household members plans to come on-campus within 14 days.

What is the protocol if we have a positive test result in our household?

Should a member of the household test positive for COVID-19 or be exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19, all members of the household must self-isolate for 14 days, and may not return to Wornick until they meet the CDC criteria to end self-isolation and receive clearance from Wornick.

What is the protocol if we travel?

If you or any member of your household has traveled by airplane or you have a guest visiting who traveled by airplane, you must keep your students at home for ten days. Please advise us at health@wornickjds.org. Any member of your household who travelled must produce a negative test between 3-7 days after the return flight. You will require clearance from school prior to having your student return to in person learning.

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How will I know if any other students at school test positive or if there is an outbreak in the school?

In such an event where cases of COVID-19 require us to close our physical building (as determined in consultation with the county health department), or county orders require building closure, families will be notified via the One Call Now system and/or email that we will need to return to remote learning.

If there is a confirmed positive case: • The Head of School will communicate with the Office of the County Superintendent, who can then contact San Mateo County Health department.

• Work with the infected individual to confirm they are under medical care and have a plan to self isolate according to the CDC’s protocol.

• Confirm that other members of the household who are also part of the school community remain at home in self-quarantine per County Health guidelines.

• Take immediate measures to sanitize and disinfect the school property impacted by the case.

• Determine whether disinfecting measures can be implemented without temporarily closing the school campus or if temporary closure is necessary. Continue to consult with the County Superintendent and County Health officials as needed.

• Communicate with the school community that a confirmed case has been identified and outline the actions being taken to ensure a safe return to school.

• Maintain privacy of health and medical information for all individuals at all times per the ADA and FERPA laws.

• Once steps of the protocol are completed, resume school operations.

• Wornick will connect affected individuals with nearby testing resources.

• If a student, teacher, or staff member is confirmed to have been in close contact with someone who is confirmed positive for COVID-19: • Confirm that the person in close contact and other members of the household who are also part of the school community remain at home in self-quarantine per County Health guidelines.

• Take immediate measures to sanitize and disinfect the school property impacted by the Close Contact.

• Determine whether cleaning measures can be implemented without temporarily closing the school campus or if temporary closure is necessary.

• Continue to consult with County Health officials as needed.

• Communicate with the school community that a confirmed Close Contact has been identified and outline the actions being taken to ensure a safe return to school.

• Maintain privacy of health and medical information for all individuals at all times per the ADA and FERPA laws.

• Prevent discrimination against students who (or whose families) were or are diagnosed with COVID-19.

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• Once steps of the protocol are completed, resume school operations.

• Wornick will connect affected individuals with nearby testing resources.

If the community has individuals who suspect they may have been in contact with someone who has been exposed: • The school will gather enough information from the individual to confirm their status.

• Advise said individual to continue practicing hygiene protocols and to closely monitor their health, staying alert to onset of fever or flu-like symptoms.

• If the person is not feeling well or is experiencing cold, flu, or other symptoms, they should stay home from school or work and contact their primary care provider.

• Wornick will connect affected individuals with nearby testing resources.

School Reopening Guidance

Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School implemented a staggered reopening for on-campus learners in September 2020 for TK - 8th grade. In accordance with the San Mateo County Department of Health, the original health and safety protocol was approved and implemented.

As of February 1, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) requires an updated framework including the development of a COVID-19 Safety Plan (CSP) outlined in this document for schools that are already reopened to remain open for on-campus instruction.

Layers of Safety: Infection Mitigation Strategies Our key goal for Wornick is to reduce or eliminate in-school transmission. Our mitigation strategies will work towards this goal. Though no layer is 100% effective, the combination of layers have been shown to decrease transmissions.

At this time, evidence suggests the most effective layers are face coverings, stable groups, and physical distancing. Additional layers are adequate ventilation, symptom and close contact exposure screening, surveillance and screening testing, frequent disinfection, and hand hygiene. We have implemented requirements within our school as well as other layers to mitigate transmission.

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General Measures It is imperative that we continue to be vigilant and follow recommended health and safety guidelines set forth by the CDC, the State of California, and the County of San Mateo.

In determining our protocols for this school year, we are guided by the State Safe for All School Reopening Guidelines issued January 14, 2021, CDC’s Guidelines for Schools, the California Department of Public Health’s COVID-10 Industry Guidance: Schools and SchoolBased Program, the California Department of Education’s Guidebook for the Safe Reopening of Public Schools, the San Mateo County of Education and Coalition for Safe School and Communities Pandemic Recovery Framework, state and county health orders and statements, NAIS and CAIS best practices and guidelines, and consultation with independent schools in the Peninsula and across California.

Additionally, per Cal/OSHA requirements, we have established a written COVID-19 Prevention Program (CPP) at our facility, performed a comprehensive risk assessment of all work areas and work tasks, and designated a person at the school to implement the plan.

Face Coverings The State of California and County of San Mateo currently require the wearing of face coverings for persons above the age of 2. Cloth masks are required of all students and staff. There are no exceptions. “There is widely accepted research that wearing a face covering is highly effective in reducing community spread of COVID-19.” See, SMCOE, Pandemic Recovery Framework, page 27.

San Mateo County Health Officer, Scott Morrow, defines a face covering as a covering made of cloth, fabric, or other soft or permeable material, without holes, that covers only the nose and mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face.

Face coverings must be used in accordance with CDPH guidelines unless a person is exempt as explained in the guidelines.

• Information contained in the CDPH Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings can be accessed here. The guidance discusses the circumstances in which face coverings must be worn and the exemptions, as well as any policies, work rules, and practices employers have adopted to ensure the use of face coverings.

• Students and staff are taught and reinforced use of face coverings.

• Students and staff are frequently reminded not to touch the face covering and to wash their hands frequently.

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Wornick requires that face coverings be 3-ply, cotton, and laundered and clean for the students, teachers, and staff to wear each day. The only exception is language teachers who may wear face-shields while instructing class.

• Students in all grade levels TK-8 are required to wear face coverings at all times, while at school, unless exempted.

• A cloth face covering or face shield should be removed for meals, snacks, or when it needs to be replaced.

• All members of the Wornick community will take particular care to remain distanced while masks are off for meals and snacks.

• When a cloth face covering is temporarily removed, it should be placed in a clean, safe area, clearly marked with the student’s name and date, until it needs to be put on again.

Information on the proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings can be accessed here. It is advisable for students to have enough face coverings to last as long as is necessary until the next time they will be laundered. All students must keep 3 extra face coverings in their backpack or at school. Wornick will maintain a supply of disposable adult and pediatric masks, but this supply is not meant to be abused. It is the responsibility of every family to come to school prepared and wearing a face covering every day.

Persons exempted from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition, as confirmed by school health team and therapists, must wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits it.

Wornick will provide and ensure staff use face coverings and all other required personal protective equipment in accordance with CDPH guidelines.

Wornick teachers use the microphone “Redcat” systems in the classroom to assist them in projecting their voices while teaching.

Staff

All staff must use face coverings in accordance with CDPH guidelines.

• For staff who come into routine contact with others, CDPH recommends the use of disposable 3-ply surgical masks, which are more effective than cloth face coverings.

• In limited situations where a face covering cannot be used for pedagogical or developmental reasons, (e.g., communicating, language class or assisting young children or those with special needs) a face shield with a drape (per CDPH guidelines) can be used instead of a face covering while in the classroom as long as the wearer maintains physical distance from others. Staff must return to wearing a face covering outside of the classroom.

• On site, workers or other persons handling or serving food must wear gloves in addition to face coverings.

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Stable Group Guidance Considerations by Grade Level Stable groups provide a key mitigation layer in schools. A stable group is a group with fixed membership that stays together without mixing with any other groups for any activities. Guidance from other agencies, including the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sometimes refers to them as “cohorts” or “pods.” The CDC’s use of the term “cohorts” is different from the use of “cohort” within California’s guidance. “Cohort” is specifically defined in the Cohort Guidance as a group no larger than 16 individuals. To avoid any confusion, this guidance uses “stable group” instead of “cohort” for this concept.

Implementing stable groups of students and staff reduces the numbers of exposed individuals if COVID-19 is introduced into the group, decreases opportunities for exposure to or transmission of the virus; facilitates more efficient contact tracing in the event of a positive case; and allows for targeted testing and quarantine of a small group instead of potential school wide closures in the event of a positive case or cluster of cases.

Stable Groups in Elementary Grades (TK - 5) • Students are placed into stable groups that stay together all day with their core teacher (and any aide or student teacher who is present). The exceptions are Leveled Math and Hebrew which take place within outdoor classrooms.

• Due to the nature of a Jewish independent school, some instruction requires one teacher to instruct multiple grades, such as Hebrew or Jewish Studies. In this case, the teacher instructs within the stable group’s classroom or virtually.

• Students eat lunch and go to recess with their group at times that are staggered and separated from other groups.

• Additionally, most class sizes range from 9 - 12 students. When class size exceeds 14 students, accommodations have been made to ensure a minimum of 6 feet of space between desks. These measures included removal of a wall to double classroom size and restructuring locations of classes such as moving a first grade class to the previous library space.

Stable Groups in Middle School Grades (6-8) • Students are placed into groups that remain together all day during in-person instruction.

When possible, every effort is taken to minimize crossover of staff across stable groups of students.

• The CDC guidance notes that schools may keep a single group together in one classroom and have educators rotate between groups, or have smaller groups move together in staggered passing schedules to other rooms they need to use (e.g., science labs) without allowing students or staff to mix with others from distinctive groups.

Select electives are offered virtually or organized so that no group of students takes more than one elective in a term.

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• Stable groups switch schedules after 6-weeks of instruction for electives.

• To reduce the use of shared spaces for Middle School students (e.g., hallways), additional outdoor tents were constructed for outdoor classrooms.

Please note: when inclement weather is forecasted, outdoor covered space will be limited.

Middle School may be allocated to remote learning in this event. Parents will be notified in advance to accommodate their students’ work from home.

Implementing Distancing Inside and Outside the Classroom Every effort has been made to accommodate on-campus learning while enforcing strict social distancing guidelines across all grade levels.

Arrival and Departure • Arrival and departure is now a staggered schedule at two different locations for each time frame. Families are given a specific time within a one-hour window to allow drop off and pick up of their student(s). Floor and sidewalk designated spots reinforce adequate social distancing.

• Contact is minimized at school between students, staff, families and the community at the beginning and end of the school day. We prioritized limited contact between adults at all times.

• No parent or external community member is allowed within the school for this academic year.

• Students have designated routes for entry and exit, utilizing both ends of the school as entry points and exit points. Protocols limit direct contact between people as much as practicable.

• School is equipped with additional new disposable face coverings for any student who does not have one.

• Hand sanitizing is required upon entrance to school and before departure from school.

Temperatures are taken upon arrival.

Classroom Space • Within the classroom, space is maximized between desks. A minimum of 6 feet is enforced and measured throughout every classroom. Teacher and staff desks are 6 feet from student and other staff desks.

• Short-term exposures of less than 6 feet between students and staff are permitted in limited circumstances (e.g., a teacher assisting a student one-on-one), but the duration is minimized and masks must be worn.

• Staff are trained to maximize space within their classroom, the hallways, outdoors, and common areas.

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• We prioritized maximizing outdoor space. All snacks and lunch are required outdoors.

• Activities where an increased likelihood of transmission from aerosols exists, such as singing and sports activities, are currently prohibited.

Non-Classroom Spaces • Non-essential visitors, volunteers and activities involving other groups at the same time are currently prohibited.

• School tours are conducted virtually.

• Communal activities are limited and shared spaces (such as lunch tables) are disinfected and cleaned between uses.

• Formally non-classroom space, such as the outdoor Koret and Shalom soccer fields, have been re-purposed for outdoor instruction in tents as well as snack time, lunchtime and recess.

• Teachers are instructed to minimize congregation and movement throughout the hallways.

• Teachers are given specific routes to take their students to snack and lunch. Additionally, students are instructed to enter and exit one way in the morning and after that students can follow to enable physical distancing while passing and waiting in line.

• We eliminated use of lockers for this academic year to reduce congregating in the hallways.

• Hot lunch is available for students. This is served in individual closed boxes and delivered directly to students once they are outside and seated 6 feet apart.

• Hand hygiene is required before and after eating. Additional outdoor hand-washing stations have been installed.

• Use of playground equipment has been suspended for the academic year.

• Recess activities are in separated areas designated by group and staggered throughout the late morning and early afternoon.

• School sports are on hold for this year.

Ventilation

Our Health and Safety team has ensured that sufficient ventilation in all school classrooms and shared workspaces per American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guidance on ventilation.

• HEPA air filters have been installed in all rooms including classrooms, common rooms, hallways, and all offices.

• Windows remain open during the day within classrooms to ensure maximum ventilation.

• When hazards such as wildfire smoke are present, school learning is conducted remotely.

• Ventilation system is maintained and operated throughout the school. Every classroom, common space such as copy room, and office has BreathSmart 45i HEPA filters dedicated to the space.

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• Merv 13 filters installed in all units that could accommodate the increased filtration.

• Modified HVAC systems to accommodate more air exchanges with exterior air.

• During the school day, all windows to classrooms are open.

• Outdoor classrooms are utilized for grade 3 and Middle School.

Promote Healthy Hand Hygiene Practices Students and staff are taught to wash hands frequently, avoiding contact with one’s eyes, nose, and mouth, and covering coughs and sneezes. This is reinforced by teachers, especially in the lower grades.

• Students and staff should wash their hands frequently throughout the day, including before and after eating; after coughing or sneezing; after classes where they handle shared items, such as outside recreation, art, or shop; and before and after using the restroom.

• Students and staff are encouraged to wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap, rubbing thoroughly after application. Reminders are posted within bathrooms for students.

• Hand sanitizer is available throughout the school in every classroom and common area, though this is considered an extra layer of precaution and is not used as a substitute for hand washing before and after eating.

• Isopropyl alcohol-based hand sanitizers are more toxic and not the primary supplier of the hand sanitizer at school. Methanol sanitizers are not used at school.

• Portable handwashing stations have been installed outside.

• Our Health and Safety team has developed routine guidelines enabling students and staff to regularly wash their hands at staggered intervals.

Cleaning and Disinfection The Health and Safety team was provided consultation and feedback on masks, room setup, student storage, daily cleaning. Wornick hired additional staff to perform cleaning throughout the school day, as well as deep cleaning at night. Staff are using CDC approved cleaners. Wornick has purchased additional supplies including face coverings, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and cleaners, gloves for specific activities, face shields, and electrostatic cleaners.

“Cleaning” involves water and soap or a detergent, does not use disinfecting agents, and significantly decreases germs on surfaces and decreases infectious risks. “Disinfection” kills germs on surfaces using specific agents.

If a case has been identified, internal protocol states that the spaces where the case spent a large proportion of their time (e.g., classroom, or administrator’s office if an administrator) should be disinfected.

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Additional cleaning and disinfecting measures are below: • During the day, frequently touched surfaces in the school such as doorknobs and sink handles are disinfected.

• Lunch tables are cleaned and disinfected between stable groups.

• Desks are only occupied by one student throughout the semester.

• Shared technology and supplies are disinfected between use.

•To reduce the risk of asthma and other health effects related to disinfection, disinfectant products on list N with asthma-safer ingredients (hydrogen peroxide, citric acid or lactic acid) as recommended by the US EPA Design for Environment program have been purchased.

• Cleaners are CDC approved and have received training on the chemical hazards, manufacturer’s directions, Cal/OSHA requirements for safe use, and as applicable and as required by the Healthy Schools Act. • Custodial staff and any other workers who clean and disinfect the school site are equipped with proper personal protective equipment, including gloves and other appropriate protective equipment as required by the product instructions.

• All products are kept out of the reach of children and stored in a space with restricted access.

• A daily cleaning schedule is in effect.

• To ensure proper ventilation during cleaning and disinfecting, HEPA filters remain on and windows are opened.

• Drinking fountains are only used for contactless water bottle refill reducing the need for multiple cleanings per day for water fountains.

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Check for Signs, Symptoms and Exposures Staff and students are required to complete a daily health screening prior to entering campus.

Additionally, temperature checks are administered and the use of hand sanitizer is required prior to entering campus. If staff or students have had close contact with an active case, are experiencing symptoms, or have participated in a gathering that is not compliant with the Bay Area health guidelines, they are required to report this to the school, on their daily health screening form, and must quarantine or produce a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus. Staff will not have the fear of reprisal and will have the option to instruct remotely if they feel well-enough during quarantine.

Below are policies implemented this academic year: • Daily health screening for staff and students prior to entering campus.

• Any symptoms screened during the day require either isolation of the student until they are picked up by their parent.

• Any symptoms experienced by staff members while on campus is required to be reported to the main office and the staff member evacuates campus.

• Temperatures are checked and required to be less than 100.4 degrees F prior to entering campus.

• Students who quarantine or miss class due to COVID-19 symptoms will not be penalized.

Symptom and Exposure Screening

Daily screening for COVID-19 symptoms and for exposure to someone with COVID-19 prior to leaving for school can prevent some people with COVID-19 from coming to school while infectious, thus preventing in-school transmission. The daily health form is a requirement for all students and staff prior to entering school to identify symptomatic cases.

Within the screening document: • Parents are provided with the list of COVID-19 symptoms and instructed to keep their child at home if the child is feeling ill or has symptoms of COVID-19, even if symptoms are very mild, and to get their ill child tested for SARS-CoV2.

• Staff members are provided with a list of symptoms and are instructed to call in sick and stay home if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and to get tested for SARS-CoV2.

• The screening document is added to all parents’ calendars and provides a daily reminder during the school week.

Note: If a student or staff member has chronic allergic or asthmatic symptoms (e.g., cough or runny nose), then a change in their symptoms from baseline is considered a positive symptom.

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Symptoms at School Administrators and teachers are trained to identify symptoms within the classroom and for themselves. An isolation area is available for anyone who exhibits one or more symptoms of COVID-19 while at school.

• Staff and students self-monitor throughout the day for signs of illness; staff observe students for signs or symptoms of illness to support students who are less able to self-monitor or less likely to self- report.

• Any student or staff member exhibiting 1 or more symptoms is required to wait in the previously identified isolation area until they can be transported home or to a healthcare facility, as soon as practicable.

• If a student is exhibiting 1 or more symptoms of COVID-19, main office staff immediately communicates with the parent/caregiver and notifies health@wornickjds.org, and maintains communication with the family.

• Unless the LHD recommends otherwise, there is no need to exclude asymptomatic contacts (students or staff) of the symptomatic individual from school until test results for the symptomatic individual are known.

Return to school after exclusion for symptoms at home or in school: • In the current hybrid model, students, including students with disabilities, have access to instruction when out of class, as required by federal and state law.

• Testing of symptomatic students and staff can be conducted through local health care delivery systems or other testing resources. Parents and staff are provided free local testing center resources.

• Staff and students with symptoms of COVID-19 infection are not permitted to return for inperson instruction until they have met CDPH criteria to discontinue home isolation for those with symptoms: • At least 72 hours have passed and symptoms have subsided without the use of fever-reducing medication.

• Symptoms have improved and they produce a negative test for SARS-CoV-2, OR a healthcare provider has provided documentation that the symptoms are typical of their underlying chronic condition (e.g., allergies or asthma) OR a healthcare provider has confirmed an alternative named diagnosis (e.g., Streptococcal pharyngitis, Coxsackie virus), OR at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset.

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Staff-to-Staff Interactions Ensuring staff maintain physical distancing of six feet from each other is critical to reducing transmission between adults. The following protocols are in place: • All staff are required to use face coverings in accordance with CDPH guidelines and Cal/ OSHA standards.

• Support staff who are at higher risk for severe illness or who cannot safely distance from household contacts at higher risk are provided options for telework or teaching in a distance learning context.

• All staff meetings, professional development training and education, are conducted online.

Staff get togethers are conducted outdoors at socially distanced tables and face masks are required.

• Congregation of adults in faculty rooms is discouraged.

• Cleaning supplies are provided in spaces where there is shared equipment (i.e. copiers).

Limit Sharing

Site resources that necessitate sharing or touching items are reduced or suspended. For example, water fountains are no longer permitted. Instead contactless water bottle filling is used.

• There is limited use and sharing of objects and equipment, items such as electronic devices, clothing, toys, games, and art supplies to the extent practicable, or limit use of supplies and equipment to one group of children at a time and clean between uses.

• Shared objects are cleaned between uses.

• Each student’s individual belongings are separated and individually labeled in storage containers.

Train All Staff and Educate Families Staff is regularly trained, provided a COVID-19 handbook, and materials are provided to families as well as listed on the website. Regular communication is provided to families regarding health and safety protocol and reminders. All updates can be found on our school website for reference.

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Information and reminders include: • Proper use, removal, and washing of face coverings instructions.

• Physical distancing guidelines and their importance.

• Symptoms Screening Practices.

• COVID-19 specific symptom identification.

• How COVID-19 is spread.

• Enhanced sanitation practices to be done at home and ones done at school.

• The importance of staff and students not coming to campus they have symptoms, or if they or someone they live with or they have had close contact with has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

• For staff, COVID-19 specific symptom identification and when to seek medical attention.

• The employer’s plan and procedures to follow when staff or students become sick at school, including emailing health@wornickjds.org as soon as symptoms arise.

• The employer’s plan and procedures to protect staff from COVID-19 illness.

Training was conducted at the beginning of the academic year prior to the return to campus and weekly meetings are held by staff to include reminders on health and safety protocols and best practices.

Maintain Healthy Operations • Unexpected staff absenteeism is monitored and a roster of trained back-up staff is always available.

• Symptoms among your students and staff on school site are monitored to help isolate people with symptoms as soon as possible.

• A staff liaison is identified to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns and is accessible during the week, evenings, and weekends.

• The liaison is trained to coordinate the documentation and tracking of possible exposures, in order to notify local health officials, staff, and families in a prompt and responsible manner.

• Communication systems are maintained to allow staff and families to self-report symptoms and receive prompt notifications of exposures, exclusions, and closures, while maintaining confidentiality, as required by FERPA and state law related to privacy of educational records. In full transparency to our community, should any member of our Wornick community test positive, we notify the community of a case even if that anonymous member is a remote learner. Parents and staff are encouraged to be supportive of their community and maintain confidentiality should they be informed of the positive case.

• Routine testing on-site is required by on-campus teachers and staff either every week or every other week. Time is allotted for testing.

• Routine testing on-site is available for students. Additional resources for free testing centers are provided to parents. Students are required to produce a negative test and send to info@wornickjds.org every two weeks.

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• Support students who are at higher risk for severe illness or who cannot safely distance from household contacts at higher risk, are provided distance learning options.

What to do if there is a Confirmed or Suspected Case of COVID-19 in a School Actions to take if there is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in a school

Student or Staff with: COVID 19 Symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing) Symptom screening: per CDC Symptom of COVID-19.

Close contact (†) with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Confirmed COVID-19 case infection.

Symptomatic person tests negative or a healthcare provider has provided documentation that the symptoms are typical of their underlying chronic condition.

Action • Send home if at school.

• Recommend testing (If positive, see #3, if negative, see #4).

• School/classroom remain open.

• Send home if at school.

• Exclude from school for 10 days from last exposure, per CDPH quarantine recommendations.

• Recommend testing 5-7 days from last exposure (but will not shorten 10-day exclusion if negative).

• School/classroom remain open.

Communication with School Community No action needed

No action needed if exposure did not happen in school setting.

• Notify the LHD. • Exclude from school for 10 days from symptom onset date or, if asymptomatic, for 10 days from specimen collection date.

• Identify school contacts (†), inform the LHD of identified contacts, and exclude contacts (possibly the entire stable group (††)) and siblings from school for 10 days after the last date the case was present at school while infectious.

• Recommend testing asymptomatic contacts 5-7 days from last exposure and immediate testing of symptomatic contacts (negative test results will not shorten 10-day exclusion).

• Disinfection and cleaning of classroom and primary spaces where case spent significant time.

• School remains open.

School community notification of a known case.

Notification of persons with potential exposure if case was present in school while infectious

• May return to school after 72 hours have passed without fever and symptoms have started improving.

• School/classroom remain open.

Consider school community notification if prior awareness of testing.

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(†) A contact is defined as a person who is within 6 feet from a case for more than 15 minutes cumulative within a 72-hour period, regardless of face coverings. In some school situations, it may be difficult to determine whether individuals have met this criterion and an entire stable group, classroom, or other group may need to be considered exposed, particularly if people have spent time together indoors. (††) See Stable Group Guidance for definition of a stable group. In some situations, (e.g., when seating charts are used, face covering is well adhered to, and teachers or staff have observed students adequately throughout the day), contact tracing and investigation may be able to determine more precisely whether each stable group member has been exposed. In this situation, those who were not close contacts could continue with in-person instruction.

Confirmed COVID-19 Case

Although the LHD may know of a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 in a student or staff member before the school does, our designated administrator may be made aware of a case before the LHD via a parent or staff member report. For this reason, for every positive case in our community where we are notified, we commit to notifying the LHD. School Actions 1. School will notify the LHD of any reported case of COVID-19 in a student or staff member if the LHD has not yet contacted them about the case.

2. If the case is present at school at the time the schools notified, the case must go home and be excluded from school for at least 10 days from symptom onset date or, if asymptomatic, 10 days from the date the specimen was collected for the positive test.

Additionally, the stable group will be required to go home, as well as the siblings from the grade.

3. Send notice to LHD, parents and staff to inform them that a case of COVID-19 in a student or staff member has been reported and that the school will work with the LHD to notify exposed people.

4. Arrange for cleaning and disinfection of the classroom and primary spaces where cases spent significant time (see Cleaning and Disinfection above for recommendations). This does not need to be done until students and staff in the area have left for the day.

5. Implement Online/distance learning for student cases if they are well enough to participate.

School closure determinations should be made in consultation with the LHO according to the section “School Closure Determinations.” A school with confirmed cases and even a small cluster of COVID-19 cases can remain open for in-person education as long as contact tracing identifies all school contacts for exclusion and testing in a timely manner, any small cluster is investigated and controlled rapidly, and the LHO agrees that the school can remain open.

Measures for When a Cluster or Outbreak is Being Investigated at School

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When either a school or LHD is aware that an outbreak may be underway, the LHD should investigate, in collaboration with the school, to determine whether these cases had a common exposure at school (e.g., a common class or staff member, or other common exposures outside of school).

CDPH defines a school outbreak as 3 or more confirmed or probable cases of staff or students occurring within a 14-day period who are epidemiologically- linked in the school, are from different households and are not contacts of each other in any other investigation cases (e.g., transmission likely occurred in the school setting).

The objectives of a school outbreak investigation are to identify and isolate all cases and to identify, quarantine, and test contacts to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 at the school. In addition, the investigation will attempt to ascertain whether the cases had a common exposure at school (e.g., a common class or teacher, bus ride, or other common exposures in the school setting). The investigation may also reveal common exposures outside of the school setting.

As noted above, an outbreak investigation is also an opportunity to understand the circumstances that may have allowed for transmission in the school setting. Investigations will determine whether there is adherence to key mitigation strategies to prevent school transmission. If gaps are identified, the Health and Safety team will take steps to strengthen strategies to prevent future outbreaks.

School Actions 1. Notify parents/guardians and school staff of a cluster/outbreak investigation related to the school and encourage them to follow public health recommendations 2. Designated school staff member who can liaise with the LHD regarding the cluster/outbreak investigation by confirming which classes and stable groups included confirmed cases or symptomatic students and staff members, and if recent events or gatherings involved any cases or symptomatic persons.

3. Identify absenteeism among those in affected classes or stable groups, and coordinate with the LHD to contact these absentees to screen for symptoms of COVID-19 if they were exposed to a case during the case’s infectious period.

4. Coordinate with the LHD to share a line list of cases and contacts with dates present at or absent from school.

5. Arrange for cleaning and disinfection of classrooms or other areas where cases or symptomatic students or staff members spend significant time.

6. Coordinate with the LHD on notifications to the school community, including specific notifications of stable groups or classrooms regarding their exclusion status and instructions.

7. Coordinate with the LHD on whether and when the school should be closed and reopen 19

8. Notify the school community of closures within the school and if the school will be closed for 14 days due to widespread and or ongoing transmission of SARS-CoV2 at the school or in the general community, and repeat recommendations for prevention and control measures.

9. Implement total remote learning during school closure.

10. Arrange for cleaning and disinfection of the entire school before reopening in the case of closure.

School Closure Determinations Criteria for closing a school to in-person learning: Individual school closure, in which all students and staff are not on campus, is recommended based on the number of cases and stable groups impacted, which suggest that active in-school transmission is occurring. Closure will be done in consultation with the LHO. Situations that may indicate the need for school closure: • Within a 14-day period, an outbreak has occurred in 25% or more stable groups in the school.

• Within a 14-day period, at least three outbreaks have occurred in the school AND more than 5% of the school population is infected.

• The LHO may also determine school closure is warranted for other reasons, including results from public health investigation or other local epidemiological data.

Length of closure: 14 days, or according to a decision made in consultation with the LHO. The State Safe Schools for All Technical Assistance teams (TA teams), comprised of experts across multiple state agencies, will be available to assist schools with disease investigation for those with outbreaks that cannot find resources to investigate the outbreaks. The TA teams will also be available to help schools that close in order to identify and address any remediable safety issues.

Schools may typically reopen after 14 days and if the following have occurred: • Cleaning and disinfection • Public health investigation • Consultation with the LHD What are the criteria for closing/opening a LEA? • A school district should close if 25% or more of schools in a district have closed due to COVID-19 within a 14-day period and in consultation with the LHD. • LEAs may typically reopen after 14 days, in consultation with the LHD.

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TK-8 School Testing Used in conjunction with other mitigation strategies, testing for SARS-CoV-2 provides an additional tool to support safe and successful in-person instruction. Testing can allow for early identification of cases and exclusion from school to prevent transmission. However, it should not be used as a stand-alone approach to prevent in-school transmission. A negative test provides information only for the moment in time when the sample is collected. Individuals can become infectious shortly after having a negative test, so it is important to maintain all other mitigation strategies even if a recent negative test has been documented.

Below, we outline these circumstances and considerations for testing implementation in K-12 schools.

Symptomatic testing: This testing is used for individuals with symptoms of COVID-19, either at home or at school. In this situation, the school guidance requires that these individuals stay home and isolate in case they are infectious. The Guidance includes the possibility of return to school in the case of a negative test for SARS-CoV-2 and 72 hours after fever is resolved and symptoms are improving.

Response testing: This testing is used to identify positive individuals once a case has been identified in a given stable group. Response-based testing can be provided for symptomatic individuals or for asymptomatic individuals with known or suspected exposure to an individual infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Asymptomatic testing: This testing can be used for surveillance, usually at a cadence of every 2 weeks or less frequently, to understand whether schools have higher or lower rates of COVID19 rates than the community, to guide decisions about safety for schools and school administrators, and to inform LHDs about district level in-school rates. Asymptomatic testing can also be used for screening, surveillance testing, to identify asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic cases, in order to exclude cases that might otherwise contribute to in-school transmission.

Screening testing is indicated for situations associated with higher risk (higher community transmission, individuals at higher risk of transmission (e.g., adults and high school students transmit more effectively than elementary aged students).

While the county remains in the purple tier, students are required to produce negative COVID-19 tests two times per month. Testing is provided on-campus following the school day for Kaiser Permanente insured students or for an additional cost. Free testing resources are provided to parents for additional testing resources.

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Testing Strategy Approach The science regarding the extent to which asymptomatic testing will achieve the goal of safe and successful schools is still under development. Empirically, schools that have successfully implemented the core mitigation strategies outlined in the School Guidance - much like Wornick - are operating safely, with limited or no in- school transmission, under a range of asymptomatic testing approaches.

Modeling studies show that masking alone and cohorting alone can decrease symptomatic infections more than weekly testing of students and school staff. Taken together, these data suggest that a range of potential testing approaches can be considered for implementation as part of a comprehensive safety strategy.

As part of the recommendation from the state, while the county remains in the purple tier, students are required to produce negative COVID-19 tests two times per month. Testing is provided on-campus following the school day for Kaiser Permanente insured students or for an additional cost. Free testing resources are provided to parents for additional testing resources.

When the county receives the red tier designation, a determination will be made whether students may test less than two times per month. Parents and staff will be notified.

Until COVID-19 has been eradicated, we intend to require testing for students and staff while on campus.

Vaccines for K-12 Schools CDPH strongly recommends that all persons eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines receive them at the first opportunity. Currently, people under 16 are not eligible for the vaccine since trials for that group are still underway.

In addition to vaccines required for school entry, CDPH strongly recommends that all students and staff be immunized each autumn against influenza unless contraindicated by personal medical conditions, to help: • Protect the school community. • Reduce demands on health care facilities. • Decrease illnesses that cannot be readily distinguished from COVID-19 and would therefore trigger extensive measures from the school and public health authorities.

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Appendix A - Sample Communications Please note that every situation is unique. These samples are being provided as examples only and will be adapted to individual scenarios, as well as to the community conditions present at the time.

Message to School Community When a Student or Staff Member is confirmed to have been in close contact with someone who is confirmed positive for COVID-19 (This letter goes to the whole school community)

Dear Wornick Parents/Guardians and Professional Community:

The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. This letter is to inform you that a member of your child’s [class/cohort] has been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Consistent with the California Department of Public Health’s and our protocols, the community member is in quarantine, monitoring symptoms, and working with their healthcare provider to identify additional steps, including testing if advised. We have also conducted a thorough cleaning of the classroom and school. Wornick will be open on [date] as planned.

As part of its contact tracing, you should be notified by Public Health. In the meantime, San Mateo County Health advises that [you/your child] immediately quarantine to the greatest extent possible, even if [you/they] are asymptomatic. In addition, please work with your healthcare provider to schedule testing as soon as possible. Be sure to let the provider know that [you/your child] has had a direct exposure through this cohort. Information and links to testing sites are available from the County of San Mateo.

At this point in time, there is no laboratory-confirmed case in your child’s [class/cohort]. We will update you with any additional pertinent information when we receive it. Please continue to monitor [your self/child] for symptoms and keep them home if they or someone in your household is experiencing symptoms. Please contact your healthcare provider if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Please notify Wornick at health@wornickjds.org if you or anyone in your household experiences any symptoms.

Consistent with privacy laws and our own policies, we are not able to share more specific information concerning the community member. As members of a compassionate and caring community, I ask everyone to respect each other’s privacy, especially around health information.

Finally, there are concrete things we all can do to keep ourselves and families healthy and safe: practice good hygiene, wear face coverings, and practice social distancing when outside of your home, and avoid public gatherings.

Thank you for your continued support.

In partnership, Adam Eilath

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Message to School Community When a Student or Staff Member is confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19 (This letter goes to the whole school community)

Dear Wornick Parents/Guardians and Professional Community:

The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. This letter is to inform you that a member of our school community has tested positive for COVID-19, therefore we are transitioning to remote learning until we have more information.

Consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health, and our protocols, the community member is self-quarantining, monitoring symptoms, and working with their healthcare provider to identify additional steps.

We will also reach out to staff members and families who might be considered a close contact. (Close contacts are individuals who were in proximity to the person who tested positive, less than 6 feet, for more than 15 minutes). If you do not receive a separate notice, you can consider your [self/ child] an indirect contact, and no further action is required on your part.

We will update you within 48 hours on our school’s health situation and with any additional pertinent information when we receive it. Please continue to monitor yourself and child for symptoms and keep them home if they or someone in your household is experiencing symptoms. Please contact your healthcare provider if you have any additional questions or concerns. Please notify Wornick at health@ wornickjds.org if you or anyone in your household experiences any symptoms.

Consistent with privacy laws and our own policies, we are not able to share more specific information concerning the community member. As members of a compassionate and caring community, I ask everyone to respect each other’s privacy, especially around health information.

Finally, there are concrete things we all can do to keep ourselves and families healthy and safe: practice good hygiene, wear face coverings, practice physical distancing when outside of the home, and avoid public gatherings.

Thank you for your continued support. In partnership, Adam Eilath

[The recommendation is to send the following resources to families.]

COVID-19 Resources: • San Mateo County Health’s website includes information about COVID-19 • Testing sites in San Mateo County • CDC Exposure Risk • CDC Symptoms

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Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School develops students who are socially and academically prepared to meet their full potential as engaged leaders committed to a life steeped in Jewish ethics and values.