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Updated August 26, 2020

Cleaning and Disinfection

Cleaning below will be done with Virox 5 or Oxivir TB.

Additional Measures taken

• Water fountains will remain disabled and hydration station will be cleaned twice daily by contracted janitors.
• Learning carpets and fabric covered seating have been removed from
• Students to wash hands before and after computer use.
• Students to wash hands before and after gym equipment use.
• Portable sinks to be available for areas with no sinks.
• Blow dryers in washrooms will be disabled and paper towels available.
• All furnace filters changed on a regular basis which includes filter change before September.
• All in-town schools have heating monitored and adjusted remotely by the Director of Facilities for as much fresh air exchange as possible, depending on weather conditions.

ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES 

Physical Distancing and Minimizing Physical Contact

Please note: The Provincial Health Officer has advised to prioritize Physical Distancing, Hand Hygiene, and Respiratory Etiquette before Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in stopping the transmission of disease.

The following has/will be implemented:

• Plexiglass barrier and signage in office to allow for safe distance around administrative assistant’s desk area
• Adults have been instructed to avoid close greetings such as hugs or handshakes
• Explicitly teach and regularly remind students about keeping “hands to yourself”
• Each classroom teacher has carefully considered flow and Furniture has been rearranged and removed as necessary
• Instructional Release teachers, Student Services Resource Teachers, and other staff may provide service in classrooms or arrange areas for physical distancing to reduce student movement in hallways.
• Staff who work with different cohorts, will have masks, face shields, and plexiglass barriers.
• Staff who work between sites have been scheduled to reduce movement between sites as much as possible.
• Elementary students will be assigned to classes as usual but have been grouped into cohorts for outside time and for In Days.
• The Secondary School timetable has been switched to a Term system where courses will be 10 weeks long. There are three learning groups: Grades 8/9, Grade 10 and Grades 11/12. Grade 8/9 students are assigned to a classroom with assigned seating for academic courses and move to elective courses only with physical distancing. Grades 10 and 11/12 learning groups have been assigned classrooms designated for academic courses with assigned seating. There will be some student movement with physical distancing but this has been kept to a minimum. The majority of students are scheduled to receive the same courses they chose in June.
• Student Services will continue in all schools for students with diverse learning needs/disabilities including in-class support, Leveled Literacy Intervention, Great Leaps, Youth & Family support, Counseling, and Aboriginal support.
• Band/Music classes will have 2-meter physical distancing in place surrounding each student. No music stands will be shared.
• Bathroom use has been limited to two students at a time where possible or washrooms have been assigned to cohorts.
• Teachers have been asked to send only one student at a time to the
• Cohorts will be assigned to specific playground areas and supervised to avoid mingling with other cohort groups.
• Cohorts will be assigned to specific areas of the school during In Days to avoid mingling with other cohort groups.
• Students will be physically distanced entering and exiting school and in hallways.
• Front doors are locked, with a doorbell system for visitors.

Learning outside

Teachers are encouraged to plan learning activities outside including snack time, P.E., place-based learning and unstructured time.

Flow of people in common areas

Hallways to be divided with tape and arrows denoting flow of traffic. Emergency exit doors will be used. Assemblies and school-wide activities have been cancelled but may occur using Zoom. Cohort groups have been segregated into pods or wings of schools to minimize hallway flow.

Separate Entrances and Line Ups

Students are divided into cohorts with designated entrances being assigned. Adult supervision will be present at each entrance to ensure students physical distance, use hand sanitizer and do a wellness check (“How are you feeling today?”).

Students will enter the classroom upon arrival to school. (soft start) to avoid line ups.

Students will follow physical distancing when lining up.

PERSONAL MEASURES

Stay Home When Sick

• Parents and caregivers will be instructed to assess their child daily for symptoms of common cold, influenza, COVID-19, or other infectious respiratory disease before sending them to A checklist will be sent home.
• School Administrator will ensure school staff is aware of their personal responsibility to assess themselves daily for symptoms of common cold, influenza, COVID-19, or other infectious respiratory disease before entering the school
• Staff will assess themselves daily for symptoms of common cold, influenza, COVID-19, or other infectious respiratory disease before entering the school
• Parents/Community Members will be asked to assess themselves for symptoms of common cold, influenza, COVID-19, or other infectious respiratory disease before entering the A health/wellness checklist will be displayed at front entrances and a written sign in sheet indicating that they have completed the wellness check will be at front entrances.
• School Administrator will: Clearly communicate through a letter to parents and caregivers their responsibility to assess their children daily before sending them to school or sending them on the bus.

Hand Hygiene

• Prior to entering the school students, each time, will be assisted with using an alcohol-based hand rub with a minimum of 60% alcohol or using soap and water. Students will use hand sanitizer or soap and water prior to exiting school.
• Staff will model and teachers will explicitly teach students hand washing
• procedures based on BCCD’S hand washing poster.
• Posters to promote the importance of appropriate hand hygiene will be displayed at entrance to school, washrooms and in classrooms.
• Classrooms equipped with a sink, soap dispenser and paper towels.
• School areas not equipped with sinks or not in an area close to a sink, will have portable sinks with soap and paper towels available or hand sanitizer.
• Students will be directed by teacher or support staff to wash hands as needed throughout the day but specifically: before eating, after eating, after using a tissue, after washroom use and before and after going outside.
• Students will be directed by teacher or support staff to wash hands before and after using in-class centres, math manipulatives, computers and tablets, and gym equipment.
• Staff will assist students will hand hygiene as needed.

Respiratory Etiquette

Students in Grades 5 to 12 are asked to wear non-medical masks when on the bus. Two re-useable non-medical masks will be provided to students and staff. All staff on buses will wear masks, plexiglass face shields, or be behind plexiglass barriers.

Staff working with more than one cohort or Learning Group will have a mask, plexiglass face shield, or a plexiglass barrier.

Staff will model and teachers will explicitly teach students to:

• Cough or sneeze into their elbow sleeve or a Throw away tissues and immediately perform hand hygiene
• Refrain from touching their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Refrain from sharing any food, drinks, and unwashed utensils
• How to put on and remove and store masks for grades 5 to12 or as necessary as on the BCCDC website and the Government of Canada 

Managing students/staff with possible COVID-19 (district protocol)

All students and staff who have symptoms of COVID-19, OR traveled outside Canda in the last 14 days, OR were identified by Public Health as a close contact of a confirmed case or outbreak must stay home and self-isolate.

If a student or staff member who is self-monitoring (i.e. has been directed by public health to self-monitor for symptoms but not self-isolate) or begins to experience symptoms of COVID-19 while attending school, it is recommended that:

• All staff be advised to let the Principal know if they are showing symptoms or if a student is showing
• Schools should promptly, but showing awareness for confidentiality concerns, separate the student or staff with symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, muscle aches). The student should be put in an area separate from others, with adequate supervision, until they can go The staff should leave the building and follow health procedures. Notify the Superintendent.
• To help prevent transmission, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene practices are recommended, as well as, to the extent possible, having the ill student or staff stay two meters away from The student should be placed in a separate room from other students with a closed or partially closed door. The person monitoring the student should wear gloves and a mask. Notify the Director of Facilities so that any rooms the student has been in while symptomatic can be cleaned and disinfected before others enter them.
• The student should be instructed to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or
• Schools should notify parents/guardians if their child begins to show symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, including the need for immediate pick They should not go home on the bus. Advise parents/guardians to phone 8-1-1.
• Advise parents/guardians to phone 8-1-1 if their child is self-monitoring for symptoms or who develop symptoms compatible with COVID-19 while at
• While awaiting test results of someone with symptoms of COVID-19, notify the Director of Facilities to have any rooms the student was symptomatic be cleaned and Public Health Officials will identify individuals who may have had contact with a COVID-19 infected person and alert school administrators to actions that need to be Close contacts of a confirmed case may be asked by public health officials to self-isolate.
• Students/Staff who test negative for COVID-19 will be advised individually about return to We will need guidance from Health Officials for this.
• Try to maintain familiar routines and listen to students and provide age-appropriate information to their questions.