For a pdf copy, click here.

Daily Screening Procedure

To help prevent an outbreak of COVID-19 in our community, it is extremely important that students displaying signs of illness remain at home and not be permitted on campus. Parents are urged to monitor for symptoms daily, including taking their child(ren)’s temperature prior to departing for school.

All students and visitors will be screened for symptoms of illness prior to entering the school buildings.  All Country Day employees will be required to self-screen for symptoms before coming to campus.

Procedure for students and visitors

Screening procedures will take place at carline or at various entry points to the school buildings.  Parents of lower school students will be required to wait while a brief screening is conducted. Parents of middle and upper school students will be encouraged to wait, recognizing that—if they choose to leave—they may be required to return to campus if their student is found to be symptomatic.

Visitors and upper school students who drive to campus will be screened at a checkpoint before they can enter school buildings.

·        Touch-free, infrared, forehead thermometers will be used to screen students and visitors for elevated temperature. 

·        Visitors and students (or parent, in the case of lower school students) will be required to confirm that no fever-reducing medication has been taken.

·        Fever will be determined based on our communicable disease policy (a measured temperature of 100°F or greater using the auxiliary method). 

·        If no fever is present, visitors and students will be asked additional screening questions to determine if the visitor/student has been experiencing possible symptoms of COVID-19.  These symptoms include, but are not limited to:

-      Fever or chills
-      Cough
-      Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
-      Fatigue
-      Muscle or body aches
-      Headache
-      New loss of taste or smell
-      Sore throat
-      Congestion or runny nose
-      Nausea or vomiting
-      Diarrhea

·        Visitors and students (or parents of lower school students) will also be asked if:

-       They or their child(ren) have been in close proximity to any individual who has tested positive for COVID-19

-       They or their child(ren) have traveled internationally or out-of-state in the past 14 days. All students and visitors to campus will be required to adhere to the quarantine requirements outlined in our Travel Policy.

·        If fever is present, or the individual indicates any symptoms of illness, or has returned from an area requiring quarantine, the individual will not be allowed to enter the school buildings, will be sent home, and (in the case of symptoms) be encouraged to call his/her healthcare provider.

For a pdf, click here.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING & CLASSROOM SETUP

The CDC recommends physical distancing as an effective means of reducing exposure and slowing the transmission of contagious diseases. Practicing physical distancing helps protect everyone. 

All individuals on campus will be required to observe the following physical distancing protocols wherever possible:

·       Maintain at least a 6-foot distance between yourself and others.

·       Avoid shaking hands and close physical contact with others.

·       Do not share water bottles, food, towels, utensils, etc.

The school has conducted a thorough review of its spaces, including all classrooms and communal spaces, to confirm physical distancing can be maintained in accommodating students.  We are fortunate to be a small school, with large spaces.  In the majority of cases, six-foot separations are possible.  There are a small number of learning spaces where distancing may be limited to between four and six feet.  Additional protocols will be implemented in these spaces (e.g. plexiglass barriers), and students will be required to adhere to the direction of their teachers. 

Classrooms and other learning spaces will have assigned seating to facilitate contact tracing procedures in the event of a positive or suspected COVID-19 case.

Division-specific details:

Upper School

·       Students will be assigned to study halls and supervised areas during unscheduled bells to ensure physical distancing.

·       Classrooms and advisories will have assigned seats.

·       Teachers will be positioned in hallways during transitions to enforce mask and physical distancing policies.

·       Disposable aprons and gloves will be supplied in science labs for student use when handling chemicals, replacing the shared-use aprons previously worn.

·       Students will have access to personal supplies in art classes to prevent cross-contamination.

·       Performing arts classes will incorporate accommodations to minimize risk associated with singing and instrumental play. More details will follow, based on guidelines from the numerous performing arts associations.

Middle School

·       Directional hallways and stairways will be used, with teachers positioned in hallways during transitions to enforce mask and physical distancing policies.

·       Classrooms and advisories will have assigned seats.

·       Students will bring personal supplies to art classes to prevent cross-contamination.

·       Performing arts classes will incorporate accommodations to minimize risk associated with singing and instrumental play. More details will follow, based on guidelines from the numerous performing arts associations.

Lower School

·       The Lower School daily schedule has been created to keep students in their small classroom cohort throughout the day and limit any intermingling of students, staff and faculty across classrooms and grade levels.

·       Classrooms will have assigned seating and students will have individual learning bins and supplies.  Any shared supplies will be disinfected after each use.

·       Classroom set-ups have been re-designed to promote physical distancing.

 

As guidance on physical distancing continues to evolve, we will monitor and amend these protocols as appropriate.  All members of the CCDS community are asked to help with these physical distancing efforts.

For a pdf copy, click here.

For a pdf copy, click here.

other protective equipment

Face Shields

Face shields may be worn by any individual while on campus.  This is not a requirement but optional for students, students’ parent(s), and faculty/staff member.  Shields will be worn in addition to face coverings required under the face covering policy. 

Plexiglass Barriers

Plexiglass barriers will be used in a number of locations, including rooms with shared tables, the dining terrace, and science laboratories (in certain circumstances).

Under normal circumstances, Country Day welcomes parents and visitors to campus since we value the many ways our community supports our students’ growth and development. However, as an additional step to help contain the spread of disease, we are strictly limiting visitors in the current environment.  Among other restrictions, parents will not be allowed to accompany their students into the buildings. 

Visitor Policy
All visitors to campus must adhere to the following guidelines as recommended and required by Country Day and the State of Ohio.

Questions: (513) 979-0210 or paffk@countryday.net.

	Mandatory	Recommended
General Visitors	• Completion of CCDS health check form before arrival: Admission Visitors All Other Visitors • Stay at home if symptomatic of any illness • Face coverings supplied by visitor; ages 2 and above • Limited to four family members only • Adhere to a 6-foot rule for social distancing between visitors and CCDS students and staff at all times • Check-in with building receptionist • Receive visitor’s badge and additional  instructions • Check-out with building receptionist	• No visitors under the age of 2 or over 65 • No visitors who have travelled abroad in the past 14 days
Time on Campus	• Mask should be worn whenever possible • Refrain from bringing food or drink into campus buildings; including personal water bottles • No eating or drinking outside of the Dining Terrace • Do not use inside or outside areas (play grounds, fields, courts etc.) for individual or group use without prior approval	• Refrain from opening doors other than restrooms • Refrain from handling or distributing materials • Refrain from using light switches, projectors, phones, copiers, and other school equipment • Limited personal items (bags) to one per person unless approved otherwise • Restrict number of adults or students within classroom or meeting spaces; no groups larger than 10
Suspected Cases of Illness	• Immediately notify the school nurse to isolate and seek medical care for any illness • Shutdown areas for immediate sanitation • Contact Jobs and Family Service and the Hamilton Country Board of Health with suspected cases of Covid-19	• School will work with local agencies to facilitate effective contact tracing • If testing is available, school will test all suspected exposures

Due to the nature of visits to campus, visitors may be asked to follow additional guidelines if meeting with students in a small group of less than 10 people, or in a specific area of a facility that is not a common space.

For a pdf copy, click here.

International

In accordance with CDC guidelines, students who travel internationally are required to stay home and will not be permitted on campus for 14 days from the time they return to the U.S.  Similarly, parents/visitors who travel internationally will not be permitted on campus for 14 days following their return to the U.S.

During this 14-day period, the CDC recommends physical distancing and monitoring your health:

·       Take your temperature two times a day and monitor for fever.

·       Watch for cough or trouble breathing.

·       Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to school or work.

·       Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares.

·       Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet).

Domestic

In undertaking our re-opening on August 19, CCDS will observe prevailing state and local mandates regarding quarantines for individuals returning home from out-of-state. 

The Ohio Department of Health advises those entering Ohio after travel to states reporting positive Covid-19 testing rates of 15% or higher to self-quarantine for 14 days.  The list of states will be updated on Wednesday of every week and is available on ODH’s website (Covid-19 Travel Advisory).

We ask you to observe this advisory.  Families returning from the states listed will be required to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days before returning to campus.  We recognize that this may cause inconvenience for families who booked holiday plans before the state of Ohio implemented a travel advisory.  Students will be able to participate in remote learning should this period of quarantine extend into the start of the academic year, returning to on-campus instruction once quarantine is completed.

For a pdf copy, click here.

Handwashing

Since handwashing is one of the best ways to protect our community against the spread of disease, students will be provided ample opportunities to wash their hands throughout the school day, including before and after meals.  Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms and in common spaces throughout campus.

Teachers will reinforce the importance of frequent handwashing and instruct students on the proper way to wash (using soap and warm water for 20 seconds) and use hand sanitizer (apply and rub hands together for 20 seconds to spread gel over all surfaces of the hands). 

Division-specific details:

·       Lower school students will wash/sanitize upon arrival, and before and after any transition, or every hour.

·       Upper and middle school students will wash their hands or use hand sanitizer during the 15-minute changeovers between classes. 

We will be limiting the number of students allowed in restrooms at one time.  Capacity will be determined based on the size and configuration of each restroom, and signs will be displayed to indicate maximum capacity.

By making handwashing part of our everyday routines we can set a good example for our students and help keep our community healthy.

Teachers will also remind students to:

·       avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth, especially with unwashed hands.

·       cough/sneeze into a tissue or sleeve.
 

Air Flow

We have taken steps to improve ventilation in our buildings, based on recommendations laid out by the CDC.  In particular:

·       We have also adjusted our HVAC systems to maximize the percentage of outdoor air that flows into our school buildings.

·       We are upgrading air filters from MERV-10 to MERV-13 to increase particle and droplet capture.   

·       Exterior windows will be kept open when conditions allow, to provide natural ventilation and increase outdoor air dilution of indoor air.

·       We will maximize use of our 62-acre campus, with classes held outside when practical.

 

Cleaning and Disinfecting the Buildings/Classrooms

The school’s facility team has taken several measures to enhance its daily cleaning protocols.  Abbreviated campus hours will allow additional time for more thorough and frequent cleaning, with an increased focus on high touch surfaces and objects (e.g., desks, chairs, door handles faucets, light switches, etc.). The school uses EPA approved disinfecting products that are effective against viruses.

Faculty and staff will also take lead in helping to sanitize their own work and learning spaces and directing students, as appropriate, to do the same.

Cleaning supplies (i.e., surface cleaner spray, paper towels, and hand sanitizer that is 60% alcohol based) are available throughout common areas of the buildings.

 

Click here for a pdf copy.

Students, faculty, and staff will adhere to the school’s Communicable Disease Policy and remain off campus if they display symptoms of Covid-19 or any other communicable disease.
 

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE POLICY

The administration and teachers are routinely trained in recognizing communicable diseases. The Ohio Department of Health “Communicable Disease Chart” is posted in the Nurse’s Office, Lower School and at the Early Childhood House. Notes will be sent home to all families when any child or teacher has become ill with a contagious disease while in attendance. A child with signs of a communicable disease will be discharged to their parents within one hour. If both parents are unavailable, the persons designated on the emergency form will be called. Until the parents arrive, the child will be kept in isolation from the rest of the group, but within sight of the teacher, administrator or nurse. A form will be sent home with the child detailing his/her symptoms and information regarding his/her return to school.

A child with the following symptoms will be dismissed from school. The child will be readmitted when the symptoms have ceased for at least 24 hours without use of medications.
 

1. An oral temperature of 100 degrees or above (99 degrees using the auxiliary method) when in combination with other signs of illness
2. Diarrhea – (defined as: more watery, less formed, more frequent stools than typical for the child) more than one within a 24 hour period
3. Vomiting
4. Lice or other parasitic infestation – the school nurse must clear the child before the child returns to the school
5. Rashes of undetermined origin
6. Lethargy affecting the child’s ability to learn
7. Difficulty breathing, wheezing or rapid breathing, not associated with a pre- diagnosed medical condition
8. Unexplained blood in stools, unusually dark urine and/or grey or white stool
9. Discharge, itchiness or redness in the eyes
10. Severe coughing, causing the child to become red or blue in the face or to make a whooping sound
11. Sore throat or difficulty in swallowing
12. Symptoms that are thought to be infectious as listed on the Ohio Department of Health “Communicable Disease Chart”

Click here for  a pdf.

SCHOOL GROUP TRANSPORTATION PROTOCOLS
DURING COVID-19

Please adhere to these guidelines when transporting student groups to and from campus, athletic practices/games, and other school-related events. This includes bus, van, Suburban, and car transportation. All adults including drivers, coaches, parents, chaperones, and Country Day personnel are responsible for monitoring and enforcing the following:

1.    All students and adults in a school vehicle should be masked at all times.
2.    Students should sit as a far away as possible from others in a vehicle. Alternate seating (every other seat) should be practiced, and family members should sit together.  Half of maximum capacity should be maintained whenever possible.
3.    Windows should be down to allow for maximum air flow during warmer months.  Windows should be cracked during inclement and colder weather.
4.    Avoid using the recycled air option when a vehicle is in motion.
5.    All school vehicles should be loaded back-to-front and unloaded front-to-back.
6.    Eating and/or drinking inside of a school vehicle is not permitted.
7.    All school vehicles should be properly disinfected and cleaned after each use.  
8.    All other guidelines set forth by the school or driver must followed including adherence to the Country Day character virtues.

These guidelines should also be followed as closely as possible when carpooling among families to and from school-related events. We ask families who carpool to set expectations and guidelines in advance of transporting non-family members.