COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

All Saints School is committed to the safety and wellness of its community. In preparation for the start of 2020-21 school year, our administrative staff and school board have worked tirelessly with community healthcare consultants, church and Diocesan leadership, and local and national preschools to determine and implement the most thorough and safe policies and procedures to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 on campus. We sincerely appreciate your continued support and prayers over our Little Saints, staff, and school families.

We are closely monitoring guidelines and updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and please know we will adjust our practices as seen fit.

During these unprecedented times, the safety of our community and cleanliness of our facility is a responsibility we all must share. We are asking everyone to commit to keeping our community healthy and safe by embracing general COVID-19 safety measures. Failure to comply with our new procedures will result in disciplinary action and possible termination of services. 

It is imperative that our school families and staff acknowledge and abide by protocols to ensure our people and our spaces remain safe. In your fall packet arriving by mail later this month, there will be an acknowledgment document, which families and staff are required to sign.

What safety upgrades are being made to campus?

• Campus will be closed to visitors and parents/caregivers during the school day. 
• Delivery persons will be instructed to coordinate deliveries with Beth Davis, parish administrator, to limit external personnel on school property. Other necessary service workers such as grounds, maintenance, and housekeeping will be held to the same standards as staff and families and they will visit campus outside of school hours when possible.
• We have added an outdoor play space, Imagination Playground, adjacent to Outdoor Classroom to ensure that all classes have ample time outside with their class only. The space will include large umbrella coverings, AstroTurf, large building blocks, and gross motor materials such as trampolines, a balance beam and pop-up tents.
• Plexiglass is being installed on the playground perimeter fencing to create a barrier between the class on the playground and those who might be walking by or playing on their classroom porch. Neighboring classrooms will coordinate porch play times to avoid socialization among students in separate classes.
• Plastic barriers are being installed in areas that are commonly visited by staff members during the day (office, resource room, library) to minimize physical contact among staff members. 
• Portable sinks have been added to all outdoor play spaces to increase opportunities for hand washing.
• Ten no-touch hand sanitizer stations have been installed around campus.
• Should a student arrive late to school or need to leave early, parents/caregivers are to call the office upon arrival to the school parking lot for further instruction. 

 What type of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required for staff and students as well as parents/caregivers? 

• Staff members are required to wear a mask and/or face shield at all times.
• Parents/caregivers are required to wear a mask during drop-off and pick-up times and any school appointments.
• Threes, Pre-K, and Kindergarten students must wear a mask during arrival and dismissal. Masks are optional for those children during the school day. With social and emotional development at the core of our curriculum, we fully understand the importance of children needing to see their peers’ facial expressions during day-to-day interactions and socialization. Teachers will make every effort to encourage the use of a mask for students whose parents prefer they wear one during school hours.
• While children two years of age are deemed appropriate to wear masks by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we want to ensure our Young Twos and Older Twos students can successfully express themselves in the classroom. Teachers will make every effort to encourage the use of a mask for students whose parents prefer they wear one during school hours.

 What additional cleaning and sanitation measures are being put in place? 

• All air filters will be changed once a month (previously this occurred once every three months).
• School staff will thoroughly sanitize common areas between groups using alcohol-based cleaning wipes or a lawn sprayer filled with a diluted bleach water solution.
• Classroom tables and counters will be cleaned multiple times a day using both diluted soap water and bleach water solutions. 
• Classroom toys, chairs, cubbies, and other high-touch surfaces will be thoroughly sanitized each afternoon using a bleach water solution or Lysol disinfectant spray.
• Fabric-based toys and other similar play materials such as dress up clothing and pillows will be washed at least weekly in our on-site laundry facilities. Teachers will limit these types of items in the classroom as much as possible.
• Teachers will make every effort to encourage physical space among students. Examples include limiting the number of students who congregate near the bathroom or sinks and in classroom centers, and mealtime might include half the class eating picnic style.
• Rugby Commercial Cleaning will continue to clean the classrooms and office nightly while wearing appropriate PPE. They have implemented new and more thorough cleaning measures such as disinfecting all high-touch surfaces using Virex II 256 for all manual disinfecting and Bioesque Botanical Disinfectant for all spray applications; both products have been proven effective against COVID-19 bacteria. 

 What changes have been made to the school’s health and safety protocols? Has the sick policy been updated? 

• All staff members and students will undergo temperature checks upon arrival and again midday. 
• At drop off, all parents/guardians will be asked disclosure questions regarding student and household member symptoms, exposure, and travel.
• Each class will act as a cohort and not interact or intermingle with other groups.
• Staff members and students will participate in frequent hand washing.
• Students who become ill during school hours will be placed in the Get Well Room located in the office and must be picked up from school within 30 minutes of the first contact (phone or email) made to their parent/caregiver. 
• The sick policy was most recently updated on July 30, 2020. While we understand that many COVID-19 symptoms can also be related to other illnesses or health conditions, we must proceed with an abundance of caution during the current public health emergency. 

 What changes have been made to drop-off and pick-up procedures? 

• Parents/caregivers are required to wear a mask during drop-off and pick-up.
• Threes, Pre-K, and Kindergarten students are required to wear a mask during drop-off and pick-up.
• Carline, located off of Lyman Avenue, will be utilized by Young/Older Twos, Pre-K, and Kindergarten families for drop-off and pick-up during the following times:

                 Pre-K & Kindergarten                  

                Drop-off: 8:35-8:45 a.m. | Pick-up: 1:50-2:00 p.m.

                Young/Older Twos         

                Drop-off: 8:50-9:10 a.m. | Pick-up: 2:05-2:15 p.m.

• Drop-off and pick-up for Threes will occur in the church parking lot, which can be accessed by driving through carline or off of Interlachen Avenue.

               Drop-off: 8:50-9:10 a.m. | Pick-up: 2:05-2:15 p.m.

• Parents/caregivers of an Infants and Young/Older Ones student can walk in for drop-off and pick-up, but they may not enter the classroom, must come alone, and will undergo a temperature check upon arrival. A teacher from those classrooms will meet the parent/caregiver in the designated area of the outside hallway. Parents/caregivers must exit campus through to side door on Lyman Avenue to return to their car in the school parking lot. Please call the front office if you have other children in your vehicle and a staff member will escort your child from/to the school parking lot.

               Drop-off: 8:50-9:10 a.m. | Pick-up: 2:05-2:15 p.m.

• We will work with families who have children in multiple classes, likely following the drop-off schedule and routine of the oldest child. This will be handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of school staff.
• Should a student arrive late to school or need to leave early, parents/caregivers are to call the office upon arrival to the school parking lot for further instruction.

Are there any travel restrictions for staff and school families?

Parents and staff are required to notify the office as soon as they know of any travel plans for themselves, their child, or anyone who lives in the household. A quarantine period may be required depending on any hot spots at the time of travel.

Please be aware that failure to comply with any health and safety protocols will result in disciplinary action and possible termination of services. It is the responsibility of each family to educate those who are approved to drop off and/or pick up their child(ren) of these policies.

What upgrades or changes are being implemented in the classroom? 

• There will continue to be two teachers per classroom. We anticipate a slight reduction in class sizes, which has the potential to look like:

               Infants: no more than 6 students per day

               Young Ones: no more than 8 students per day

               Older Ones: no more than 10 students per day

               Young Twos, Older Twos & Threes: no more than 12 students per day

               Pre-K: around 12 students

               Kindergarten: no more than 12 students

• Threes, Pre-K and Kindergarten children will have individual crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, glue and play dough. 
• In napping classrooms (Infants-Older Twos):

              Children will be placed more than six feet apart during nap time.

              Cribs and cots will be thoroughly sanitized each day.

              Linens will be stored separately in bags and washed weekly in our on-site laundry facilities or at home at the request of the teacher.

What if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 or is exposed to a positive case outside of school? 

• Parents/caregivers and staff, including specials teachers and those who work in the office, are required to immediately notify school administration if he/she or anyone living in the household came in physical contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Administration will then contact the Florida Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families, and other school counsel for guidance and requirements.
•  If a teacher or student tests positive for COVID-19, he/she must: 1) stay home for a total of 10 days with day one being the onset of symptoms; 2) be fever free for 24 without fever reducing medications; 3) have overall improvement of symptoms; and 4) have a negative test result OR a doctor's note in order to be cleared to return to school.  If a teacher or student tests positive for COVID-19 and is asymptomatic, he/she must stay home for 10 days after the date of their first positive test. A doctor’s note or negative test result is required before reentry to the school. That classroom will be closed for a minimum of 72 hours for contact tracing, monitoring, and deep cleaning; the Florida Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families, and other school counsel will be contacted for guidance and requirements. 
• Nightly cleaning crew, Rugby Commercial Cleaning, will do a routine cleaning of the space(s) and surface(s) the staff member or student who tested positive for COVID-19 came in contact with. Electrostatic spraying, which is intended for COVID-19 outbreaks, will also occur.

 Will students still participate in Specials? Will my child play every day outdoors? 

 All classes will have Music and Outdoor Classroom. 

• Ms. Jennifer will travel to the classrooms, wear a mask, and practice thorough hand washing. She has two sets of instruments to allow for proper sanitation between each group. When possible, Music class will be held outside.
• Ms. Carol will wear a mask, practice hand washing, and will thoroughly sanitize the Outdoor Classroom space and manipulatives in between classes. 

Older Twos through Kindergarten will participate in Chapel. 

• Chapel will be held in the gym or main sanctuary to maintain a safe distance among classes. The number of staff in attendance will be reduced, and Family Chapel will be discontinued for the time being.

Threes through Kindergarten will have Art. 

• Ms. Kim will travel to the classrooms, wear a mask, and practice thorough hand washing. She will transport separate supplies via cart, which will not enter the classroom to limit the transfer of bacteria. When possible, Art class will be held outside.

Pre-K and Kindergarten will have Yoga and Spanish. 

• Ms. Karen will travel to the classrooms, wear a mask, and practice thorough hand washing. She has two sets of yoga mats to allow for proper sanitation between each group. When possible, Yoga class will be held outside.
• Ms. Carol will travel to the classrooms, wear a mask, and practice thorough hand washing. When possible, Spanish class will be held outside.

Outdoor play is incredibly important for children and an essential component of our curriculum. 

The addition of the Imagination Playground, which will be located adjacent to Outdoor Classroom, will provide yet another designated outdoor space (other areas are main playground, class porches, and Outdoor Classroom) for classes to enjoy fresh air and play exploration in a socially-distanced environment. Every classroom will play outside every day. Classes may also use the Thomas Center (gym) weekly for gross motor play. 

Will Early Bird or After Care be available? After school enrichments? 

• Early Bird and After Care will not be offered for the first nine weeks of school. In October, this adjustment will be revisited and reevaluated by administration, the school board, and other counsel. We are hopeful to be able to offer both options to families soon. Please email Rosie Johnson, assistant director, at rosie@allsaintswinterpark.org if Early Bird and/or After Care is essential for you to continue working.
• After school enrichments will not be offered for the first semester of school. In January, this adjustment will be revisited and reevaluated by administration, the school board, and other counsel. We are hopeful to be able to offer both options to families soon. 

Will fire and other safety drills still be practiced during school hours?

Yes, however, exit and safety strategies will be modified to maintain social distancing among cohorts. 

Are field trips permitted?

• Classes will not have any off-campus or in-house field trips for the first semester. In January, this adjustment will be revisited and reevaluated by administration, the school board, and other counsel. We are hopeful to be able to add both to our schedule in the spring.
• Campus nature walks and Bye-Bye Buggy rides are permitted and encouraged.

Will speech and occupational therapists continue to hold individual sessions on campus?

• Currently, Ms. Joanna (speech) will be working with individual students in the library. She will wear a mask when appropriate and use a plexiglass barrier during sessions. Her workstation will be thoroughly sanitized in between sessions.
• Occupational therapists who work with students on campus will be held to the same standards as staff and families.
• When possible, therapy sessions will be held outside.

Is the school offering any virtual learning options?

Kindergarteners and Pre-K students whose families may not be comfortable starting the school year in person at this time will have access to some limited virtual learning opportunities. Please contact the office for more information.

Will my child’s spot be held if my family is not yet comfortable with him/her returning to school?

• Tuition payment is required to a hold a student’s spot in a class.
• Children registered for VPK must participate in face-to-face classroom learning to receive state funding. If you are a family receiving VPK funding and would like to hold your spot, you must pay tuition to cover the funding that we will not receive from the state. Please contact the office to inquire about your monthly rate.

If I choose to withdraw my child, is my deposit refundable?

Deposits are non-refundable as stated in the Financial Agreement that was signed at the time of registration. However, due to these extenuating circumstances, we will make every effort to fill your spot and offer a refund if possible.

How do we make tuition payments this year?

All payments will be made contactless through HeadMaster Online.