Everything You Need to Know Regarding St. John’s Lutheran School COVID-19 Preparedness

The state of North Carolina is currently in Phase 2 for opening in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the guidelines for St. John’s Lutheran School operating safely and in compliance for in-school instruction are below. The complete list of what you need to know, including the waiver we must have signed and turned in the office prior to your child coming to school, can be found here.

Daily School Schedule & Check-In Procedures
This school year will include special precautions and procedures, according to the state guidelines, to ensure the utmost safety. Below is a new schedule for this year.

7:30–8:15 am

• Preschool Transitional Kindergarten (TK) children will enter through their classroom’s back door, which is on the front sidewalk.
• Kindergarten and 1st grade arrive at the front door and after screening will go directly to their classrooms where they will remain all day. These two classes will be isolated from the other classes/grades to allow for a more normal classroom interaction during the instructional day.
• Grades 2-5 will be screened into the cafeteria at the side door with social distancing and waiting in chairs and then will be escorted by their teacher to their classrooms.

2:45 – 6 pm

• 2:45 pm Kindergarten dismissal from exterior door to cars
• 3 pm Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten (TK) dismiss from the same door they entered.
• 3 pm First Grade to dismiss from their exterior door to cars for pick up.
• 3 pm Grades 2-5 social distance in the cafeteria for dismissal out the back door to cars.
• 3 pm K -5th Grade Extended Care will gather in Room 100 to be re-screened for our Extended Care Program.
• 3:15–6 pm K-5th Grade Extended Care Program is downstairs in Classroom 20, which will exit to the front parking lot for dismissal and pickup.

This is the schedule to date. We will continue fine-tuning the details over the next few weeks.

Cloth Face Coverings

• All students and staff are expected to wear a cloth face-covering properly, so that it is effective, when feasible in public areas: hallways, bathrooms, and classrooms per teacher’s guidelines, etc. Some masks will be provided; however, teachers have requested on their supply lists for students to bring some masks from home as well. Cloth face coverings should be as plain as possible and not contain any symbols or messaging which could be considered offensive.
• “No Face Covering Zones” will be available in some areas of the school, playgrounds, and in the Family Life Center for individuals to safely, but temporarily, remove their mask. There will be no outside activities which require physical contact to ensure social distancing. When feasible, teachers will allow students have face-covering breaks while social distancing 6 feet apart inside throughout the day and outside breaks both in the morning and in the afternoon.

Hands

• Hand washing breaks will take place several times during the school day on a regular schedule with each classroom where students will be required to wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds, especially before meals, after restroom breaks, and after sneezes/coughs. All staff will be encouraged to wash frequently according to the same guidelines.
• Hand sanitizer will be available in each classroom and all public areas. Students and staff are also encouraged to bring hand sanitizer from home.

Enhanced Cleaning

• Classrooms will develop a schedule for increased cleaning and disinfection during the day by both the custodial staff and the classroom teacher. If an individual, student, or staff, tests positive for COVID-19, in-depth sanitation of that classroom will take place.
• Ventilation systems will be monitored on a regular basis to ensure proper operation and the increased circulation of outdoor air as much as possible.
• Traditional water fountains will be closed; water fill stations will be open. Classroom teachers will have a clean water source to fill water bottles. Students and staff are encouraged to bring water from home.

Classrooms will be isolated from each other during the day. There will be no assemblies while we are in Phase 2. When the state allows us to go to Phase 3, the staff and administration will determine a plan for social distancing protocols to assemble, such as chapel, and parents will be given a period of time to give input to this before implementing this change.

Health

• The school secretary, principal, and Pre-School director will be the school’s main COVID-19 point of contact.
• Staff and families are asked to do daily temperature checks prior to leaving for school/work. All students and staff will be screened in prior to entry to the school building each morning for CDC questions and temperature checks.
• All students and staff will be reminded to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and to place the tissue in the trash and immediately wash their hands.
• Periodic health screenings of students and staff may be conducted throughout the school day for temperature checks if anyone is not feeling well.

Students not feeling well before arriving to school need to stay home and be monitored for fever and symptoms of COVID-19.

• Students and employees with COVID-19 symptoms or a temperature of 100.4 and above will be immediately isolated and sent home. The school office will have additional PPE (personal protective equipment).
• If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the Department of Public Health will be notified immediately for guidance on next steps, including closures. Letters will be sent home to notify parents/guardians of positive COVID-19 cases in the classroom and suspected cases, as appropriate.

Any person who has been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 must be quarantined for at least 14 days and have shown no sign of fever for 72 hours.

• All students and staff associated with that classroom must stay at home until that child or staff are tested for COVID-19, then if that student or staff is tested positive for COVID-19, this will be reported to the school, and The Department of Public Health will advise us on our next course of action for that classroom. Those students and staff will be advised as to when they may return to the building for in-school instruction.
• The Department of Public Health will inform parents/guardians directly if their student has been in close contact with a person that has tested positive COVID-19 and will advise them how long to quarantine.
• Quarantined and isolated students will have access to their education through Remote Learning as we did last spring with some interactive online student work and weekly packets of work to be completed at home and to be returned on Fridays with an exchange for a new packet of work.

It is requested that all families take prudent steps, outside of school hours, to ensure their child and family members are staying healthy and free from COVID-19 with masking and social distancing in large groups while school is in session.

School Logistics

• Based upon classroom configuration and to the extent possible, student desks will face in the same direction, and students seated at tables will sit on the same side.
• Students are encouraged to bring their own supplies from home and to not share school supplies. The sharing of items that are difficult to clean or disinfect will be discouraged.
• While ensuring the safety of children, to the extent possible, students will eat in classrooms or practice physical distancing.
• Non-essential student movement throughout the school day will be limited. Outdoor recess will be continued but the number of students gathered in one area will be limited. No contact sports or activities will be allowed during recess at this time. Some playground equipment may be prohibited for student use.
• All payment of fees should be done by a check in an envelope or through a credit card over the phone.
• Nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations will be limited. *Masks and temperature checks will be required for any guest entering the school/building.
• In lieu of field trips, assemblies, special performances, and Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) meetings, virtual activities will be pursued. School-wide events like the Fall Carnival will be canceled or postponed until the Spring.

Parent/guardian and teacher conferences will be held virtually, if possible, and after school hours.

Most common COVID 19 symptoms include, but not limited to:

• Fever – Over 100.4 (Note: All students will have their temperature taken daily upon entering the school. Any child with an elevated temperature reading will be sent home immediately)
• Dry cough
• Tiredness

Less common symptoms:

• Aches and pains
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Conjunctivitis
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• A rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes

Serious symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Chest pain or pressure
• Loss of speech of movement

To learn about all current COVID-19 guidelines, click here.

Here is a list of additional guidelines and direction you may want to know:

• NCDHHS: North Carolina COVID-19
• CDC: Considerations for Schools
• CDC: Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
• CDC: Reopening Guidance
• CDC: Coping with Stress

Please know that your child’s educational experience, safety, and emotional well-being are our highest priorities. Please do your part in helping us adhere to these rules and guidelines, and return to this page often, as it will be updated frequently as new information becomes available.