Health and Safety Guidelines

2022-2023

OVERVIEW

SILC is an educational and cultural school conducting classes once a week on Saturday mornings between the hours of 10:00 am and 12:30 pm during calendar school year 2022-2023 at Como Park High School in the City of St. Paul, Minnesota. We want to provide a safe learning environment and protect the health and well-being of our student body, teachers and community. To this end, SILC has created a Safety Committee to establish guidance and recommendations for use during the school year.  This committee, led by President Emeritus, Varsha Bhatia, will stay in place for the 2022-23 school year, and will periodically review and revise health and safety procedures as warranted. This document, developed by the Safety Committee, serves as guidance for the health and safety protocols to be followed at SILC during school hours for the current school year.

GOAL

Guidance set forth in this document shall apply to all SILC operations onsite at Como Park High School. The scope of this document includes and is limited to -

1. COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan

2. School Safety Plan for Emergencies

3. Onsite Student Security Best Practices

PART 1

COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan

COVID-19 has now moved into an endemic stage and thereby many of our mitigation strategies and protocols have shifted accordingly. Our community’s high vaccination rate, combined with our ongoing COVID safety practices are some of the most effective tools we have in protecting our students, teachers and community members onsite.

The following protocols will remain in effect and will be appropriately modified as the COVID landscape shifts:

Masking

Mask wearing is optional indoors and outdoors for adults and children. Those in high-risk groups for severe illness are encouraged to use a high-quality mask while indoors. Limited numbers of single-use disposable masks will be available to use indoors. Use of personal masks is encouraged.

Monitoring and Reporting of Illness

Contract tracing is no longer required. We will rely strongly on individuals and families to monitor and take responsibility for their own health and urge everyone to follow guidance from CDC and MDH in case of exposure or illness. If you were exposed or have any symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness, please stay home until you are recovered. If you are sick follow CDC recommendations.

Isolation and Quarantine

In case of a positive COVID test result, CDC and MDH recommendations for isolation and quarantine will apply.

Vaccination

All SILC community members are strongly urged to stay current with COVID vaccination and booster shots as per CDC recommendations. 

Sanitization and Hand washing

Frequent hand-washing is encouraged and/or the use of hand sanitization is recommended between classes and especially when handling food or beverages. Hand sanitizer will be available in the main assembly area.

Physical Distancing

Community spread levels are at presently low and do not warrant additional distancing requirements. This may be added on as a precautionary measure as needed.

Food and Beverage 

There are no restrictions presently on serving or consuming food and beverages in indoor settings. Reasonable precautions are to be maintained for food hygiene. Individual servings of snacks and beverages for children are recommended as needed.

Communication

SILC will continue to provide updates to all members on COVID-19 related matters via the weekly newsletter and SILC Google Site. Additionally, any urgent communication or reminders will be sent via WhatsApp Parents Group. 

SILC will continue to follow COVID-19 related health recommendations from:

CDC: Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools 

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines for Best Practice Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools for the 2021-22 School Year,

MDH’s Schools and Childcare: COVID-19.