COVID-19 Mitigation Plans for 2022

This information will be updated for the 2022-2023 school year in summer 2022 based on current information.
*Last Updated January 11, 2022

COVID-19 Safety Plan

The purpose of this plan is to ensure the safety of all students, staff and families at St. John Neumann Catholic Preschool. With the spread of COVID-19, we will remain vigilant in mitigating the outbreak with the objective of protecting the health of everyone concerned. All state guidelines will be adhered to. This plan will be subject to updates on a bi-weekly basis depending on the community spread of COVID-19 in Fairfax County. Any change of plans will be communicated via e-mail to parents by the Director of the Preschool.

St. John Neumann will continuously monitor three sources of data to make necessary adjustments to the guidelines and protocols used throughout the school year. It is possible that as the data changes, specific requirements could be loosened or removed. However, at this time we will require all teachers, staff and students in all classes to wear face coverings while inside the building due to our high population of unvaccinated students.

The three sources of data are as follows:

  1. School Metrics – School Metrics is located on the Virginia Department of Health website, and evaluates the level of community disease transmission in our community. The Metrics categories include low, moderate, substantial, and high. Two measures are used to establish each category: the total number of cases in the past seven days and the percentage of nucleic acid amplification tests that are positive in the past seven days. Categories of Substantial (where Fairfax County is currently) and High Transmission level in our community will require mandatory face coverings for most students and social distancing.  
Indicator Low Transmission Moderate Transmission Substantial Transmission High Transmission
Total new cases per 100,000 persons in past 7 days

0-9

 10-49

50-99

>=100
Percentage of NAATs that are positive in past 7 days  

<5.0%

  

5.0%-7.9%

  

8.0%-9.9%

>10.0%

 

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/key-measures/pandemic-metrics/school-metrics/
 

  1. Vaccine Data Dashboard – Vaccine data on the Virginia Department of Health website helps us understand community and locality level vaccination coverage. Age-group vaccination coverage at the local level will provide important data regarding estimated vaccination coverage of our families at St. John Neumann Preschool. .

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-demographics/
 

  • 3. School Impact Data – Just as important as the local data, information specific to St. John Neumann Preschool will help monitor the effectiveness of our protocols. Criteria we will consider is transmission within the school, student absenteeism, and staff capacity. We will regularly evaluate the impact that COVID-19 transmission is having on our school community and adjust protocols accordingly. For example, if the level of school impact is low and other local data mentioned above is at or below the moderate level, school protocols may be loosened. For example, the face covering requirement may be removed. On the contrary, if the level of school impact is worsening, protocols will be adjusted to provide a higher level of protection (i.e. increased social distancing and time outside).

 

Level of School Impact
Criteria Low Medium High
Transmission Within School Zero or sporadic cases with no evidence of transmission in school Two breakouts within a short time period or sporadic outbreaks in school. Size of outbreaks remains small. Several outbreaks in school within short time period; size of outbreaks is large or scope of outbreaks is significant (i.e. multiple classrooms or grade levels impacted)
Student Absenteeism At baseline/low Slightly above baseline High
Staff Capacity* Normal Strained Critical

*The school’s ability to maintain adequate staff for facility operation, teaching, and administrative functions.   www.vdh.virginia.gov


Preschool Mitigation Protocols

Staff :

  • Temperature check and health questions when report for work
  • Wear cloth face mask while inside the building
  • Frequent hand washing/hand sanitizer use

 

Student :

  • Temperature check for students and health questions asked to parents upon arrival daily
  • Face masks must be worn by all children during the school day while inside the building
  • Masks may be removed when outside
  • Frequent hand washing/hand sanitizer use

Substitutes and Custodians:

  • Must adhere to all guidelines of staff while in the downstairs level of the building working in the Preschool.

Parents:

  • May come to Parish office (wearing a mask) to pick up child. The Parish office will call down to the Preschool office and we will bring child up to the parent.

Everyone:

  • If any person, staff or student becomes ill during the school day with any symptom of COVID-19, including, but not limited to coughing, runny nose, or fever over 100.4 they will need to leave as soon as possible. Children will be isolated in room B3 with the Director or Assistant Director until the parent or Emergency Contact can arrive at school to pick up child. The Health Department will be called to determine if the rest of the class or program needs to be sent home.

 If an individual in the program (including Preschool and Facilities Management staff) tests positive:

  • Inform the Preschool Director immediately
  • Preschool Director must inform Fairfax County Health Department and the Department of Education to determine exact course of action
  • Due to rapidly changing guidelines, return to school information will be determined by the Fairfax County Health Department at the time of the incident.

 Health Guidelines for Reopening

 These guidelines have been determined by working with the Fairfax County Health Department. It is impossible to outline every scenario that could happen with every family, but the most likely scenarios are discussed below. The following are symptoms of COVID-19 as defined by the CDC..

      • 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

 

  • If a student at home shows any COVID-19 symptoms that are new to the child (for example, not prior diagnosed seasonal allergies, etc.), the parent must check in with the child’s pediatrician. The doctor will determine whether or not the child needs a COVID-19 test.  We will need a note from the doctor clearing the child to come back to school. A negative COVID-19 test after on-set of symptoms will also suffice.

 

  • If a member of the child’s family shows any COVID-19 symptoms that are new to that family member, no matter that family member’s vaccination status, they must check in with their doctor. When they are approved to go back to school or work, your child may come back to school.

 

  • In any of these scenarios, please let the Preschool Director know the status so we can determine, with the help of the Fairfax County Health Department the best course of action. This is all to help keep everyone safe.

Class Opening Plans for September 2022

 The first day of classes will be Monday, August 29, 2022. Classes will be kept as separated as possible in order to limit any potential spread of COVID-19.

Classes:

  1. Rainbow 5 morning a week 4 year old class (14 children enrolled)

  • 14 children + 2 teachers
  • Arrival time: 9:15  Dismissal time:  12:15
  • Class held in B2

 

  1. Honeybee 3 morning a week 3 year old class (14 children enrolled)

  • 14 children + 2 teachers
  • Arrival time: 9:30 Dismissal time: 12:30
  • Class held in B1

 

  1. Lamb 2 morning a week 2 ½ year old class (10 children enrolled)

  • Meet in person only 1 morning a week thru September. In October and going forward we will meet in the classroom two mornings a week.
  • In September, meet on playground with mom or dad or caregiver for one hour on Thursdays: time 10 – 11
  • Have snack, read a story, other learning activities, free play
  • Tuition adjusted for month of September
  • Classes held in B1

 

  1. Bluebird 4 afternoons a week combination 3-4 year old class (10 children enrolled)

  • 10 children + 2 teachers
  • Arrival time: 12:45 Dismissal time: 3:45
  • Class held in B2

 

  1. Drop off:

  • Director approaches each car and takes temperature of child with forehead thermometer while wearing face mask, smock and disposable gloves. Ask parent health questions. Hand sanitizer between each car.
  • If all is well, take child out of car and LT brings child into hallway.
  • LT will use hand sanitizer immediately
  • All Children are wearing masks upon entry to building
  • Hallway has tape on the floor to keep children separated 3 feet apart
  • Each class has separate wait area in hallway

 

  1. Pick up:

  • Lamb class puts masks back on when they leave classroom
  • Stand on tape (3’ spacing) while waiting for pick up
  • Director leads child outside, teacher puts child in the car. Hand sanitizer between children.

  1. Before Care/Lunch Bunch

  • Rainbow class only in order to keep classes separate

  1. Classroom routines:

  • Outside on playground/grassy area for 1.5 hours daily
  • All snacks outside either on benches or mats
  • No indoor circle time longer than 10 minutes
  • Small group learning activities/center time inside
  • Frequent handwashing/hand sanitizer (arrival downstairs, before and after snack, after return from outside, after toilet use)
  • Each class will use a separate bathroom

 

  1. Social Distancing in the classroom

  • 2-3 children per table for work, eating
  • Line up on distanced markers/tape, “windmill arms”
  • Set up centers -kitchen, dolls, library, science, art x 2, table toy x 2, for individual play;  Also will have 2-3 in small group with distancing with teacher during center time.

 

  1. Outside activities in addition to playground

  • Garden (outside of playground)
  • Art center (4 plexiglass sheets zip-tied to the fence)
  • Ball run zip-tied to the fence
  • Outdoor kitchen
  • Sandbox
  • Play areas outside of playground fence
  • No classes will be in same space at the same time.

 

  1. Ventilation

  • Classroom windows will be opened to allow increased air flow in each space.
  • The HVAC system will be adjusted to allow more fresh air into the classrooms.
  • Classroom doors will be kept open, and fans used to promote air circulation.

These measures will allow as much fresh air as possible into each classroom. 

 

Cleaning Procedures

Because we are sharing classroom space with the Faith Formation program who will use classrooms on weekends and some evenings the teachers will follow the following procedures.

 Before School

  • GS Neutral (wipe after spraying): tables, all chairs (backs and seats), toy cabinets (tops and touch areas), other cabinets (tops and touch areas), door handles, trash can rims
  • RE Hallway doors to car line before arrival – Spray with GS Neutral and wipe
  • Wipe stair hand-rails with GS Neutral

After School

  • GS Neutral (wipe after spraying): tables, all chairs (backs and seats), toy cabinets (tops and touch areas), other cabinets (tops and touch areas), door handles, trash can rims, individual bins for backpacks
  • All art supplies that were used – GS Neutral spray and wipe
  • All toys used that day will be cleaned (sprayed with soapy water), sanitized (sprayed with GS Neutral) Toys will be left out on tables to dry for at least 10 minutes
  • Sweep floors

All cleaners must be put in locked cabinets when not in use during the day

Cleaning staff: (Before and after the morning class)

  • Empty trash
  • Clean bathrooms
  • Sanitize Stair handrails
  • Vacuum carpets
  • Mop floors as necessary