BY NEAL A. Johnson

UD Editor

thor65018@yahoo.com

Holy Family School at Freeburg and Sacred Heart School at Rich Fountain, both under the direction of Principal Debbie Reinkemeyer, have prepared for in-person instruction this fall, with classes to begin Aug. 18 at both locations.

A plan for both schools separates learning into two groups: in-person and alternative classes.

“The global coronavirus pandemic has introduced a new level of risk for in-person instruction and in-person gatherings,” said Reinkemeyer. “Schools are designed to educate students through social, face-to-face interactions, in relatively close spaces and in large groups. As we plan for the 2020-2021 school year, it is predicted that our school year will continuously be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We must be prepared to the best of our ability for all possible scenarios. Student safety will be our highest priority.”

Attendance remains important for students; however, perfect attendance certificates will not be used this year. “It is important to stay home when sick to prevent disease transmission,” said Reinkemeyer.

For both in-person and alternative classes, the plan notes that students and staff who have a fever (100 or higher without fever-reducing medication) and/or cough will be asked to stay home and report the absence to the school office or supervisor.

Faculty, staff, and/or families traveling to locations determined to be “hotspots” will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days from the point of their return.

The schools will be closed when it is not prudent to keep the school open due to an extremely high student or staff absenteeism due to illness. To protect the public health and safety of students and staff, Holy Family and Sacred Heart will close when advised to do so by the governor, state and local health authorities or the Bishop.

In preparation for opening for in-person instruction, the schools have posted signage to help stop the spread, noting COVID-19 symptoms, preventive measures, and good hygiene practices. Staff will teach and reinforce good hygiene measures such as handwashing, covering coughs, and face coverings, and both schools will provide hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and no-touch trash cans in all bathrooms and classrooms.

Staff will clean/disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily and shared objects after each use.

Students and staff in grades 3-8 will be required to bring hand sanitizer and face masks/coverings from home, along with water bottles, as water fountains will not be available for use.

Social-distancing of six feet will be observed, students will sit in assigned seats, and have line-order assignments.

Faculty and students (grades 3-8) may wear a mask during in-person classes and will be asked to wear one when working in small groups when social-distancing is not possible. During alternative classes, faculty and students will be strongly encouraged to wear a mask at certain points in the day.

TRANSPORTATION

Both Holy Family and Sacred Heart will follow the protocols for bus riders as outlined by Fatima R-3 in conjunction with its bus-service providers as follows.

* Students are encouraged to drive, walk, or get dropped off when arriving and leaving school, but for those taking the bus, social distancing will be implemented to the extent possible.

* Drivers will assign seats for all students, with families grouped.

* Students will only be allowed to ride on one bus route and must ride the same bus to and from school, and may not ride the bus home with someone else unless it is their normal bus.

* There will be no eating or drinking on the bus and students will use hand sanitizer when loading and unloading. Seats will be cleaned after each route.

* Drivers will self-check their temperature before each route.

* Students are encouraged to wear masks on the bus.

BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL

With regular in-person instruction, activities will promote distancing to the extent possible, and students will have assigned seating. Parents/guardians will wait at the door for their children. If alternative classes are held, parents/guardians will have to call the school to have their children walked outside.

ENTERING THE BUILDING

According to the plan outlined by Reinkemeyer, temperatures should be checked at home or before entering buildings, and anyone with a temperature over 100.4 degrees will be sent home.

* Students will sit with their siblings before the start of the school day as well as at the end of the school day.

* Schools will keep a log of all parents and visitors.

* Virtual tools and platforms will be used wherever possible to conduct essential business and keep in-person reporting to an absolute minimum during school closures.

FOOD SERVICE

* Staff will wear a mask and follow food prep guidelines, and tables will be cleaned after each shift.

* Lunch will be served in the cafeteria with social distancing as possible. Students will be appropriately spaced at cafeteria tables to the extent possible.

* No sharing of utensils, food, napkin holders, etc., and students will not be allowed to use self-serve items, salad bars, etc., or have access to coolers.

RECESS/PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

* Recess and physical activity will be incorporated, with playground equipment routinely cleaned.

* Each grade level will have their own balls, jump ropes, and other items to use, and will not share those supplies. Materials will be cleaned after use, and activities will promote distancing as much as possible, with assigned areas of play.

* In the event of an alternative class schedule, smaller groups will have recess at staggered times.

CLASSROOMS

* Desks and chairs will be spaced six apart, or as close to that distance as possible.

* Students will not share supplies, computers, equipment, etc., all of which will be cleaned daily, along with classrooms.

* Frequent hand-washing and sanitizing will be incorporated.

RESTROOMS

* Restroom breaks will allow students in one class to go at a time at the elementary campus.

* Proper hand-washing will be emphasized.

TRANSITIONS

When students during in-person and alternative classes are moving from one class to another, students will be allowed to wear a mask/face covering when in large groups, with limited exchanges in the halls and common areas, and social distancing will be observed. During alternative classes, students (grades 3-8) and faculty will be required to wear a mask/face covering when in large groups.

CHURCH

During both in-person and alternative classes, students will be able to attend Mass and sit with their siblings. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students will not attend Mass, while students in grades 3-8 must wear a mask to receive Communion. At all times, both schools will follow the directives of the Bishop.

SYMPTOMS/TESTING

* Students and employees exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 without other obvious explanations should not come to school, and if they do come to school, they will be sent home immediately.

* Symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, a new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

* Temperature checks and screening will be completed for students/staff who display symptoms.

* Siblings and other household members of a student or staff who exhibit the above symptoms may also be excluded from school.

* A separate space will be available to assess students or staff members who may be exhibiting symptoms of a communicable disease. Only essential staff will be allowed to enter the room and must wear a mask.

* Students and staff who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, without other obvious explanations, will be sent home. The criteria for returning will be based on CDC guidelines.

Once a student or employee is excluded from the school environment, they may return if they satisfy the recommendations of the CDC.

* Symptom-based strategy for persons with COVID-19 who have symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation under the following conditions: at least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and, at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

* A test-based strategy is contingent on the availability of ample testing supplies and laboratory capacity as well as convenient access to testing.

Persons who experience symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19 and have and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation following the resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath), and negative results of an FDA Emergency Use Authorized COVID-19 molecular assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected.

* Those with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who have not had any symptoms and were directed to care for themselves at home may discontinue isolation if at least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test, assuming they have not subsequently developed symptoms since a positive test. If an individual develops symptoms, then the symptom-based or test-based strategy should be used.

* Students and staff may also return if they are approved to do so in writing by their healthcare provider.

For more information, updates and to offer input into these protocols, visit https://school.holyfamilyfreeburg.com or https://www.schoolsacredheartrf.com.