Face Coverings

Cloth face coverings are an important additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with every day preventive actions and social distancing in public settings. Face coverings should be worn by staff and students (particularly students older than 2) as feasible, and are most essential in times when physical distancing is difficult. California has now mandated that masks will be required in indoor settings for all children over age two. This is part of a statewide effort to enforce the importance of wearing masks to help stop the spread of Coronavirus. There will be exemptions for students with medical concerns.

A face covering means: 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. Halloween or plastic masks, ski masks with holes for the nose or mouth, bandanas, or masks that have a one-way valve designed for easier breathing (the valves are often a raised plastic disk about the size of a quarter, on the front or side of the mask) are NOT considered an acceptable face covering.

• • Wearing face coverings correctly:

    • Wash your hands before putting on your face covering

    • Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin

    • Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face

    • Make sure you can breathe easily

    • Avoid touching the face-covering while it is on. If you do need to touch or adjust the face covering, wash your hands right away.

  • Removing face coverings correctly:

    • Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops

    • Handle only by the ear loops or ties

    • Fold outside corners together

    • Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing.

    • Wash hands immediately after removing.

  • Place covering in the washing machine. If disposable place in trash containers

  • Face coverings worn by students must be appropriate and meet district dress code requirements ( e.g. no inappropriate fabric patterns, no Halloween masks, no hate symbols, etc. )

Hand Hygiene

• • Frequent hand hygiene is one of the most important preventative practices to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and will be encouraged at school.

  • Hand hygiene stations will be accessible on campus.

  • Five steps to proper hand-washing:

    • Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

    • Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

    • Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

    • Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

    • Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

  • How to use hand sanitizer:

    • Apply the hand sanitizer to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).

    • Rub your hands together.

    • Rub the sanitizer over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

Cough Etiquette and Other Important Health and Hygiene Practices

• • • Please help us teach your child(ren) these important preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses.

      • Cough and sneeze into a tissue or into the crook of the elbow, throw the tissue into the trash right away and wash hands.

      • Avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

      • Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick.

      • Encourage your child to ask questions and express their feelings with you and their teachers. Remember that your child may have different reactions to stress; be patient and understanding.

      • Prevent stigma by using facts and reminding students to be considerate of one another.

Protocol for students that do not feel well during the school day

• Staff members must immediately notify the main school office (by means of phones or radios).

• Parents will be contacted and instructed to pick up student right away

• Staff members will be instructed on where to place the student until the parents arrive.

  • School sites will identify “isolation” areas for this situation

    • Reduce the movement of students as much as possible

  • School sites will be identifying “supervision” of students in “isolation areas"