School Health&safety measures

While this policy remains in force, campus is only accessible to the following people for the following reasons:

● SIS staff and students

● SIS parents, but only when:

○ Picking up/dropping off students

○ Attending an essential pre-arranged meeting

○ Visitors by prior arrangement only, to conduct business essential to the operation of the school

Exceptions Due to Elevated Risks

Any student, staff member, parent or visitor who meets any of the conditions below is NOT permitted on campus for any reason:

● Someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19

● Someone who has a high fever (37.0 degrees or higher), a persistent cough or any cold/flu like symptoms

● Someone who has returned from any country within the past 14 days

● Someone who is staying in the same household of a family member (or close contact) who exhibits cold or flu like symptoms. In this case home isolation for 14 days from the first day of those symptoms should be observed. (The only exceptions to this rule are if (i) the symptoms do not last for more than 3 days OR (ii) the condition is diagnosed by a doctor and is proven NOT to be COVID-19)

SIS staff and families are reminded of the need for physical distancing for the entire family. This is for the safety of everyone. Physical distancing means avoiding close contact with others unless it is absolutely necessary. In the event of a family in which someone travels extensively throughout Japan, or is otherwise unable to effectively practice social distancing, we require that parents keep their child(ren) at home. If a member of the immediate household has travelled abroad for any purpose, the whole household in close contact (including children), must be kept at home for the Government's requirement of 14 days quarantine, unless isolation is taking place at a different residence. Please contact the school in these circumstances so teachers may put in place distance learning requirements for your child.

1.1 Temperature checks, on arrival to the building day, with a no-contact thermometer and sanitization of hands for all people entering the school.

1.2. Students showing cold/flu-like symptoms or have a fever will be sent home immediately.

1. 3. Students will wash hands, several times a day, on a regularly mandated schedule with supervision.

1.4. Students will be provided with paper hand towels. There will be no need for students to bring hand towels.

1.5. Students and teachers are REQUIRED to wear a mask. All students must bring one reusable mask in addition to a box of disposable masks if possible.

1. 6. Teachers will only open and close classroom doors to avoid contamination from high touch areas.

1.7. Students are NOT ALLOWED to share food or utensils with each other

1.8. Windows will be opened regularly on a daily basis.

1.9. Bathroom trips will follow a daily schedule. Students will have less free access to the toilet.

1.10. Classes will be separated so less students are in the gym at one time.

1.11. In Early Years, classrooms will be organized to maximize social distancing.

1.12. Common areas of the school campus, including classrooms, will be disinfected daily

1.13. The main common areas of the school including the school corridor, staircase handrails, lifts, toilets and other public areas will be disinfected every day.

1.14. The bathrooms will be disinfected many times each day, including when students are at school.

1.15. The school buses will be sanitized twice daily, after each journey to and from school.

1.16. The library will be open for small group or single class use. Books will be cleaned after use and before being replaced on shelves. Students will sanitize hands before use.

1.17. Any sharing of supplies will be minimized and cleaned regularly to avoid cross-contamination

1.18. ASPs will take place within recess groups

1.19. All field trips will be vetted through Admin with consideration for the space, crowds and length of time outside of school.

1.20. Assemblies will be conducted via Zoom so that classes remain separated

1.21. Recess at Samezu Park will take place in the enclosed field in order to minimize the mixing of students with the public.

2.1 Students traveling by school bus will have their temperature taken before boarding the bus.

2.2 Any student with a temperature over 37.0°C will not be allowed to take the bus to school.

2.3 Snacks will not be permitted on buses in order to minimize the removal of masks in an enclosed space.

2.4 Students from Preschool to Grade 5 must have a parent with them at the bus stop every morning just in case the student is not allowed to board the bus and needs to go home.

2.5 All students must arrive at the Ist floor door to enter the school and have their temperature taken.

2.6 Any student with a temperature over 37.0°C will not be allowed to enter the school.

2.7 Students from Preschool to Grade 2 should have a parent with them just in case the student is not allowed to enter school and needs to go home.

2.8 Any student not allowed to enter the school will be moved to a waiting area for parents to come to school and take their child home.

2.9 Parents are NOT ALLOWED to enter the school building and must drop-off their child and pick them up at the Level 1 Foyer.

2.10 Teachers, Teacher Assistants or supervisors will be at the Level 1 front foyer to help take younger students to class.

2.11 Parents are kindly asked to move away from the front door once they have dropped-off or picked-up their child(ren) to avoid overcrowding.

3.1i All students must follow and abide by the hygiene procedures

3.1 ii All classes will receive a demonstration on how to wash their hands and how to wear a face mask.

Wash your hands with running water, use soap or hand sanitizer, dry hands with a disposable paper tissue or clean towel. There are seven steps to washing hands correctly:

Step 1: Rub two palms together

Step 2: Rub hands and palms together, left and right cross scrubbing

Step 3: Rub hands and fingers together

Step 4: Hold fingers together, bend joints of fingers, and rub hands together

Step 5: Hold thumbs, rotate and rub hands

Step 6: Rotate and rub the fingertips of one hand in the other palm and switch for the other hand

Step 7: Hold the other wrist in one hand and rotate it for rubbing and switch for the other hand.

3.2 Hand washing is required in the following situations: after coughing or sneezing; and after eating; before and after drinking, after break; after using the toilet; when hands are dirty; after sports; after physical contact with others; after coming back in from outside the classroom; before and after delivering items.

3.3 The school will also provide hand sanitizer in all classrooms and entrances.

● White Unscented Lotion for dry hands

● Masks for teachers

● Hand soap

● Paper towel

● Hand sanitizer for in school use

4.1 Students will have a specific lunchtime to prevent overcrowding in the bathroom.

4.2 Students will have specific recess times to minimize mixing (based on Grade)

4.3 Students are NOT PERMITTED to share any food

5.1 It is every parent’s right to keep their kids as safe as they wish. If you keep your child(ren) home, teachers will post tasks online and determine the most appropriate way to keep in contact with the student (depending on age/availability). Parents may send their child(ren) to school at any point, provided that the household has practiced social distancing, and no one in the household has cold/flu like symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19.

5.2 If a family is stuck in another country and is unable to schedule a flight back to Japan, they should remain in that country until the travel restrictions have been lifted. Teachers will provide emails to parents about what their child(ren)’s peers are learning in school. Some online work may be available on Seesaw or Google Classroom. It is not mandatory for students to complete the work. Upon return to Japan, please follow the 14 day quarantine as described above.

5.3 Absence Caused by Quarantine (without any symptoms)

Students or Staff in self isolation/quarantine, may return to school the day following the conclusion of the 14th day of quarantine, provided they are symptom-free. In calculating quarantine, the first full day of quarantine should be counted as day 1. This means that the quarantine is considered complete on day 14, and return to school is possible on day 15.

5.4 Absence Caused by Illness that display symptoms of COVID-19

In the case that student is ill but was NOT recommended for testing of COVID-19, return to school is possible only after all THREE of the below criteria are met:

● You have been free of fever for a day without the use of fever-reducing medication

● Any other symptoms (for example, cough or shortness of breath) have improved

● No other family member has displayed the same symptoms

5.5 Absence Caused by Illness when COVID-19 Testing has been Recommended/Undertaken

In the case that a symptomatic student or staff member was tested for COVID-19 it is possible to return to school only after three of the below criteria are met:

● You are free of fever without the use of fever reducing medication

● Any other symptoms (for example, cough or shortness of breath) have improved

● You can provide a negative COVID-19 test result AND written confirmation from the doctor that you are able to return to school (the cost to be paid by the patient)

5.6 Student or Staff Member with COVID-19 Diagnosis

If a student or staff member who has attended school campus within the past 14 days is diagnosed with COVID-19 the school will consult with local public health authorities to determine the appropriate course of action for the school, including any contact tracing obligations, testing guidance, quarantine measures or temporary closure of the campus or specific school sections. Although we are obliged to utilize information about infected SIS community members to consult with public health authorities and determine appropriate countermeasures to protect the health of the school community, please be assured that any identifiable personal health information that you share with us will be treated in strict confidence.

5.7 Close Contact of an SIS Staff or Student with COVID-19 Diagnosis

If there is a case of COVID-19 in the extended community (e.g. a household member or a close contact of a student or staff member) then:

● The student/staff member will quarantine at home as described above.

● The School will alert other parents within the division - Primary/Secondary (but school will continue as normal)

● Parents who wish to keep their child at home are welcome to do so

5.8 In the Case that a Student Exhibits Symptoms while in School

If a student starts presenting symptoms while at school, they will be immediately placed into isolation while parents are contacted to arrange for the immediate collection from school. In this case parents must collect their child by private car (public transportation CANNOT be used in this scenario, including taxis.)

● Only if it is deemed a medical emergency will a student be taken to a fever clinic. Parents will be informed immediately.

● If a student has a fever and must go home, a medical certificate must be provided to the school secretary in order for a student to return to school