Classroom Management
Classroom Mitigation Strategies
Hand Hygiene
Hand washing with soap, water, and disposable paper towels is readily accessible to all students and staff. Hand washing is the first line of defense for infection control and should be used over hand sanitizer whenever possible
Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be used at times when hand-washing is not available. Students may use hand sanitizer only with written parent permission. The nurse will inform you of students who do not have permission to use hand sanitizer.
Hand sanitizer stations are available in every classroom and are strategically placed throughout all the buildings.
When to Wash Hands
Upon entering and exiting the building
Before and after eating
After sneezing, coughing or nose blowing
Before and after recess
After using the toilet or helping a student use the bathroom
Before and after handling food
After touching or cleaning surfaces that may be contaminated
After using any shared equipment like toys, computer keyboards, etc
After contact with face mask or cloth face covering
Face Masks & Coverings / Face Shields
As of March 7th, 2022, Wellesley Public Schools will be mask-optional. We ask that all mask decisions are respected.
Face coverings are key to reducing the spread of COVID-19, and are effective, especially when used in combination with physical distancing and proper hand washing. Some people are infected with COVID-19 and don’t have symptoms (asymptomatic); face coverings help reduce the spread by containing the infected person’s respiratory droplets from traveling to other people. View the CDC Guidelines
When to Use Gloves
Gloves will be available in all classrooms. Gloves do not need to be worn for routine daily work and interaction in the classroom. All of the gloves available within the district are latex free.
It should be noted that the wearing of gloves can give a false sense of protection as once the gloves have touched a surface, they are just as contaminated as hands. Gloves should be used at the appropriate times and then discarded.
After removing gloves for any reason, hand hygiene will be performed with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer.
Appropriate times to wear gloves are:
When providing services that require “hands on” with a student
When using Standard Precautions protocol to assist students with managing bodily fluids such as nose blowing, bloody nose, etc
Diapering/toileting students
Cleaning
Protective Gowns
Protective gowns are available to staff when working in close contact with students or when there is the potential for contact with body fluids.
When to send a student to the Nurse’s Office
General Guidelines:
If a student does not look well to you or indicates that they need to go to the Nurse’s Office, call your school nurse for direction.
Depending on the issue, the nurse may direct you to have the student come to the Nurse’s Office, wait and come later, or the nurse may come and escort the student to the Nurse’s Office.
Teachers have gloves, gauze and band-aids so that minor issues can be handled in the classroom.
The nurses recognize that many students use the Nurse’s Office for a variety of reasons: bathroom, short break, emotional support etc. and alternative locations may need to be found.
The nurses are always available to consult with regarding individual student issues.
