Health & Safety Handbook

This handbook lays out the policies and procedures that Aidan Montessori School (the “School”) will use to reduce risks related to COVID-19 during the 2022-2023 school year. We believe these protocols represent an important step in living responsibly with this virus. While the information in this document describes the protocols that we have established to minimize exposure to our community, the School cannot guarantee that COVID-19 or other communicable diseases will not occur during participation in our programs. In addition, while our strategies employ policies and procedures that support current scientific and medical information, this Handbook and the School’s protocols are subject to change as the public health situation is fluid and our understanding of it may change. The Handbook will reside online and will be updated as the situation warrants. 

The policies in this Handbook are applicable to families who are enrolled at the School during the 2022-23 school year. These policies either supplement or supersede the School’s existing policies as listed in the Parent Handbook. If a policy in the Parent Handbook conflicts with a policy in the Health & Safety Handbook, then the policies in this Handbook will control and supersede the policies in the Parent Handbook.

Dear Aidan Community,

I hope that this message finds you all safe and well. The Administrative team has updated this Handbook so that families may be aware of  the School’s COVID-19 policies and procedures  for the coming school year. Please review the Handbook and let us know if you have any questions or feedback. Please also note that we will revise and update the Handbook as we continue to stay on top of guidance and recommendations.

At heart, the Montessori ethos is about taking care of each other. All of our students, even our youngest, are taught by our trained teachers that we are all part of a caring community. For example, when a student finishes a piece of work, they are encouraged to carefully put the work away back on its tray in the assigned place because another student may wish to use those materials next. The Montessori values we try to instill in our students through our curriculum reach up to the rest of our school. 

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 whirlwind, many parents have reached out to me with messages of support, constructive feedback, and offers to help. Many staff and volunteers have devoted countless hours—working cooperatively, creatively, and thoughtfully—all in service of doing the best we can for our strong Montessori community. I continue to be thankful for the Grace and Courtesy exhibited by our community—our staff, students, and parents—as we live through this incredibly unique and challenging time in history. 

Wishing you good health, love, and resilience,

Kevin Clark

Head of School

Dear Aidan Community,

I am thrilled to continue our work to keep Aidan healthy and safe. I strive to create and maintain positive and long-lasting relationships with the members of our community, both in person and online.

As the School Nurse, my central focus is the health and well-being of all the members of the Aidan community. My responsibilities include working with parents, teachers, administration, and our regulatory agencies to ensure that our children receive appropriate medical care while on campus. Under the circumstances presented by COVID-19, I am actively assisting with screening, managing, tracing, and reporting of information that is vital to maintaining the good health of everyone in our school. 

Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. While my full name is Alexandra, I go by Lexi, and I can be reached at l.omalley@aidanschool.org. I look forward to working with you all in our partnership to keep our Aidan community safe.

Sincerely,

Alexandra (Lexi) O'Malley, BSN, RN, CPN

School Nurse

We must take a collective approach when it comes to mitigating the risks involved with  COVID-19. Each family depends on the cooperation of the others to keep the entire community safe. Therefore, we ask our families to abide by the following practices:

• Please be on the alert for any signs of illness in your child. Symptoms of COVID-19 are described in this handbook. It is imperative that you keep your child at home if they are sick, even if you think it is unlikely they have COVID-19. We ask parents to err on the side of keeping their children home when considering whether to send their child to school should they show any signs of illness or discomfort. Students and staff that develop symptoms of COVID-19 should not attend school and should quarantine at home and consult with their healthcare providers and/or seek testing.
• Consistent with our Parent Handbook, it is even more critical that all students are up to date with their vaccinations. Parents are also strongly encouraged to get influenza (flu) shots for every member of their family. We will only permit medical exemptions to vaccinations, confirmed in writing by the child’s health care provider.
• Develop a plan to pick up your child from School within thirty (30) minutes should you be notified by the School that your child is being sent home due to any illness.
• Keep your contact information up to date with the School.
• Continue to send the following items in your child’s backpack: at least two (2) well-fitted and comfortable face coverings; water bottle; lunch; change of clothes; an individually-sized container of hand sanitizer; and outdoor gear appropriate for the weather (e.g. raincoat, rain pants, boots, hat, mittens, snow gear). Please label everything with your child’s name. Please make sure your child can open and close all containers. 
• Travel:  
  • For domestic travel, all persons, regardless of their vaccination status, who were involved in any situations with greater risk of exposure or begin to feel symptomatic after their return, should get tested . There is no quarantine necessary, unless symptomatic. Continue to monitor for any symptoms that arise and follow the appropriate protocols if there was an exposure to someone with COVID-19.
  • For international travel, all persons, regardless of vaccination status, should test 3-5 days after their return to the U.S. and monitor themselves for any symptoms, but do not need to quarantine unless symptoms arise. Please follow the appropriate protocols if there was an exposure to someone with COVID-19.
• If there is suspicion that you, someone in your family, or someone you were in close contact with, may have COVID-19, you should get tested 5 days after the exposure. You must immediately notify the School of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, using this form, in your family and of any exposure to COVID-19, erring on the side of notifying the School of any possible exposure so we can help you protect our community. 
  • For all persons, regardless of vaccination status, if there is exposure to someone with active COVID-19 whether in their household or not, they will be asked to test 5 full days after exposure (Day 6), wear a mask in all indoor public places for 10 days after the last exposure, and monitor symptoms for 10 days after their last exposure. If any symptoms arise, they should stay home from school and get tested again. If no symptoms arise, these persons will be allowed to attend school during this time.
  • Please follow this flowchart to determine if your child should stay home from school, and for how long: For Household Members of Someone Who Tested Positive for COVID-19
• Interpreting Test Results from the CDC 
  • Any positive COVID-19 test means that the virus was detected and you have an infection
    • Isolate and wear a well fitting mask,
    • Notify the school using this form
    • Monitor your symptoms, seek emergency treatment if necessary
    • Consider reaching out to a healthcare provider to determine if there are any treatment plans available for you
  • A negative COVID test means that the test did not detect the virus, but does not rule out that you could have an infection.
    • If you have symptoms -
      • You may have the virus but tested before it was detectable, or you may have another virus
      • Take precautions to prevent the spread of illness to others
      • Contact a healthcare provider if you have questions or your symptoms worsen
    • If you do not have symptoms -
      • I was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19:
        • Continue to take recommended steps after exposure
      • I have not been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19:
        • Resume normal activities
• If your child is high risk or particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 as defined by the Centers for Disease Control, you must notify the School immediately. 
• Please read communications from the School.
• Please follow re-entry guidelines as explained in this handbook.

As best as they are able, based on their developmental stage and level of skill, our children will be asked to do the following in-class:

• During times of LOW transmission in the Aidan community, or the greater DC community, students and staff will generally not be required to wear masks while indoors or outside of the building. There are reasons in which a person would be required to wear a mask at school, which are as follows: experiencing symptoms of COVID-19,, any members who are able to return from isolation on Day 6 after being diagnosed with COVID-19, after being exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19. We understand that this is a family decision as much as a school decision and we will support the inclusion and autonomy of each person's choice on whether to wear a mask or not while at school.
• During times of MODERATE transmission in the Aidan community, or the greater DC community, those members of the community who are immunocompromised or at high risk of severe disease should speak with their doctors to determine if they need to wear masks in the school building or implement any other precautions to protect themselves. Any person who fits the criteria listed under LOW transmission must wear a mask at school, as well.
• In HIGH transmission, students over the age of 2 and staff will be required to wear face coverings at all times in the building except when eating, drinking or otherwise permitted by the supervising adult(s). The school reserves the right to require masks be worn at recess and during ASP.  We will provide designated locations for “mask breaks” should an individual student require temporary respite. Based on previous guidance, students under the age of two in our Toddler program will not be required to wear face coverings. Additional information about face coverings appears below.  
• Parents of children with breathing problems such as asthma or other complications should discuss these with the School Nurse and their doctor to determine if accommodations are appropriate.
• During times of HIGH transmission, the school will enforce enhanced prevention measures to help maintain the safety within our community. These enhancements include: cohorting, prioritizing outdoor activities, and avoiding crowding within the facility (distancing, if necessary). 
• Close contacts are considered any person who is within 6 feet of distance, for 15 minutes, over a 24 hour period of time with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The exception to this rule (where a close contact is someone who is between 3-6 feet of distance, for 15 minutes, over a 24 hour period of time) is between any two students at school.
  • Students will be expected to wash hands often and to follow hygienic hand washing techniques, which will be taught and reinforced by our teachers and staff. 
  • Students will be asked to follow recommended protocols for safe sneezing and coughing—e.g. sneeze or cough into one’s elbow, also sometimes called the “batwing” technique.
  • Students will be encouraged to tell adults as soon as possible whenever they experience any symptoms of COVID-19 or otherwise feel unwell or uncomfortable.

For an up-to-date listing of coronavirus resources, school communication, and information on the School’s policies and procedures, visit the “Coronavirus Information” page found on Aidan’s website.

We have established and will adhere to best practices as have been outlined by the CDC and our DC regulatory agencies, in consultation with our School Nurse, cleaning company, and  Assistant Head of School for Operations. The School will continue to monitor CDC and other guidance regarding safe practices relating to COVID-19 and will update or revise the handbook, including health and safety protocols, as the School deems necessary. 

Our School Nurse is also available to address questions and concerns.

Nurse’s Office

Location

First office to the right immediately upon entering the school lobby (former front office).

Contact Information

Lexi O'Malley - l.omalley@aidanschool.org

Visitors/Events 

• In LOW and MEDIUM transmission in our Aidan community, and the greater DC community, we will welcome visitors into the building. We will continue to ask parents to stay outside of the building for arrival and dismissal, unless there is an emergency. Parents, and any other visitors, will be asked not to enter the building unless approved by the School. Visitors must contact the School in advance and wait outside until granted entry. Based on the event, the school reserves the right to ask parents/visitors for proof of COVID-19 vaccination, to take a rapid/at-home test within 24 hours of their visit, to fill out a health questionnaire, and/or wear a mask as they see fit. 
• Visitors must confirm personal contact information to facilitate infection contact tracing, if needed. In addition to COVID-19 precautions, any visitors permitted in the building must also follow pre-COVID-19 School procedures for security by signing-in and wearing a visitor pass.
• Everyone who enters the School building will be required to sanitize their hands before entering. 
• The school continues to welcome in-person events. The school is at liberty to ask and require proof of COVID-19 vaccination, a rapid/at-home test to be taken within 24-48 hours of the event, fill out a COVID Event Questionnaire, and/or the use of masks for persons to attend certain in-person events. In the instance that a Event Questionnaire is required, one can expect that there will be questions about the attendee’s name, phone number, and email address that we will keep for 30 days in order to aid the DOH contact tracing team in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19.
  • If testing is required and an attendee has tested negative for COVID-19, but is still experiencing some COVID-like symptoms, they should wear a mask at all times during the event, unless actively eating or drinking, regardless of vaccination status. Aidan will provide disposable masks to anyone who comes to the event without one.
  • Perform frequent hygiene. There will be hand sanitizer stations around the premises.

Will students be required to wear face coverings?

Face coverings for school use are KN94, N95, disposable or 2-3 layer cotton/cloth reusable apparel that closely fit and cover the mouth and nose. The use of face coverings is intended to protect everybody in the classroom; face coverings reduce the risk of both transmitting and contracting a viral infection.  

As of March 10, 2022, we have adopted the following procedures relating to face coverings:

• During times of LOW transmission in the Aidan community, or the greater DC community, students and staff will generally not be required to wear masks while indoors or outside of the building. There are reasons in which a person would be required to wear a mask at school, which are as follows: experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, any members who are able to return from isolation on Day 6 after being diagnosed with COVID-19, after being exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19. We understand that this is a family decision as much as a school decision and we will support the inclusion and autonomy of each person's choice on whether to wear a mask or not while at school.
• During times of MODERATE transmission in the Aidan community, or the greater DC community, those members of the community who are immunocompromised or at high risk of severe disease should wear masks in the school building to protect themselves. Any person who fits the criteria previously listed under being required to wear a mask during LOW transmission must wear a mask at school, as well.
• In HIGH transmission, students over the age of 2 and staff will be required to wear face coverings at all times in the building except when eating, drinking or otherwise permitted by the supervising adult(s). The school reserves the right to enforce masking as they see fit.
  • Every member of the Aidan community will supply their own face coverings. The School will have disposable face coverings available only as back-up should a community member forget theirs, run out, or face other complications. Students will be expected to continue to bring at least two (2) new/clean/laundered face coverings to school every day.
  • We recommend that parents experiment and find a style of face covering for their child that is well-fitted (minimal gaps and slippage) and comfortable so that their child does not frequently touch their face to adjust their face covering. See CDC guidance such as this video that you can view with your child. For recommendations on safe and comfortable mask brands, please reach out to Nurse Lexi or a fellow Aidan parent.

How will we monitor students for symptoms of COVID-19? 

Children’s temperatures may be checked throughout the day at the discretion of the School Nurse or Teachers. Families are also asked to monitor their children’s temperature and keep them home if they show signs of illness. See “Family Roles and Responsibilities” section above. 

Members of our community will be denied entry to the school building, or asked to be picked up from school, if any of the following symptoms are present:

• Temperature over 100.4°F 
• Any of the following symptoms that are new or unexplained: 
  • Any one (1) of the following Red Flag Symptoms:
    • New or worsening cough
    • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Fever of 100.4°F or higher (measured or subjective)
  • OR at least two (2) of the following symptoms:
    • Chills
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Headache
    • Sore throat
    • An unusual amount of tiredness
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Runny nose or congestion
    • Diarrhea
• The school is at liberty to deny the entry or ask for students to be picked up from school based on their own judgment, and may feel the need to send children home for any one symptom.
• A student who has had a close contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and has not followed the proper return-to-school guidelines.
• Has not completed their post-travel testing and/or quarantine per Aidan’s guidelines listed above.

What if there is a suspected COVID-19 case in our community?

Quarantine is no longer recommended by the CDC in the school setting for those who have been exposed to a case of COVID-19. Those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 will still need to isolate, but the staff/students older than 2 years of age who they were in contact with will be able to return to school without quarantining.

If a child or staff member has been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in their classroom, they will be asked to:

• Wear a mask indoors for 10 days after the exposure (the date of the last exposure is Day 0, the next full day afterwards is Day 1)
  • For those students in the toddler (YCC) community who are unable or unwilling to wear a mask, they will be asked to quarantine at least until Day 6, when they are required to take a COVID test.
    • If the test results are negative, and they are not experiencing any additional symptoms, they may return to school without wearing a mask
    • Any students who do not wear a mask from Day 6 to Day 11 will be required to test again on Day 10 after exposure before coming to school that day
    • There will be masked personnel available to monitor these childrens’ activities and symptoms throughout the day
    • In this situation, the classroom will have a more layered approach to preventing the spread, including: cohorting, prioritizing outdoor activities, avoiding crowding within the facility (distancing, if necessary), etc.
    • For more information, please see the community notification here.
  • Watch for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.
    • If you begin to develop symptoms
    • Isolate immediately
    • Get tested
    • Stay home until you know the results of the test
  • All persons, regardless of vaccination status and the presence of symptoms, must test on Day 6 after exposure.
    • If you test negative, continue to wear a mask through Day 10
    • If you test positive, isolate immediately
    • If you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, please see below ‘Choosing a COVID-19 Test’ for those individuals.

I Have Been Exposed to Someone Who Tested Positive for COVID-19

Quarantine is no longer recommended by the CDC in the school setting for those who have been exposed to a case of COVID-19. Those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 will still need to isolate, but the staff/students older than 2 years of age who they were in contact with will be able to return to school without quarantining.

If a child or staff member has been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in their classroom, they will be asked to:

• Wear a mask indoors for 10 days after the exposure (the date of the last exposure is Day 0, the next full day afterwards is Day 1)
  • For those students who are younger than 2 years old, they will be asked to quarantine at least until Day 6, when they are required to take a COVID test.
    • If the test results are negative, and they are not experiencing any additional symptoms, they may return to school without wearing a mask
    • There will be masked personnel available to monitor these childrens’ activities and symptoms throughout the day
    • In this situation, the classroom will have a more layered approach to preventing the spread, including: cohorting, prioritizing outdoor activities, avoiding crowding within the facility (distancing, if necessary), etc.
• Watch for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.
  • If you begin to develop symptoms:
    • Isolate immediately
    • Get tested
    • Stay home until you know the results of the test
• All persons, regardless of vaccination status and the presence of symptoms, must test on Day 6 after exposure.
  • If you test negative, continue to wear a mask through Day 10
  • If you test positive, isolate immediately
  • If you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, please see below ‘Choosing a COVID-19 Test’ for those individuals.

Test-to-Stay

Test-to-Stay is no longer necessary with the lack of quarantine needed after a COVID-19 exposure.

If TTS becomes recommended again, we are ready and able to reinforce these guidelines.

Choosing a COVID-19 Test

I have found myself in an instance where I need to get tested for COVID-19

• I have not had COVID-19 and/or I have not tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days
  • A PCR (or other NAAT tests) OR an at-home/antigen test is acceptable
  • Multiple antigen tests may be necessary
• I have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days
  • My first positive test result was within the past 30 days
    • I have symptoms - use an at-home/antigen test; if negative, multiple tests may be necessary
    • I do not have symptoms - testing is not recommended at this time
  • My first positive test result with within 31-90 days
    • Whether you have symptoms or not, you should use an at-home/antigen test; if negative, multiple tests may be necessary

Per the CDC, “After a positive test result, you may continue to test positive for some time after. You may continue to test positive on antigen tests for a few weeks after your initial positive. You may continue to test positive on NAATs for up to 90 days. Reinfections can occur within 90 days, which can make it hard to know if a positive test indicates a new infection.  Consider consulting a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your individual circumstances.”

Community COVID-19 Testing

The School may decide, during times of MEDIUM or HIGH transmission, to periodically require community COVID-19 testing, baseline or otherwise, or testing of subsets of our community. We will notify our community as soon as possible should we require testing.

The school will have at-home/rapid antigen COVID-19 tests on hand for students and staff to use if they become symptomatic during the school day. A consent form will need to be filled out by all parents, via Magnus, before any tests will be administered to your child. The school nurse will be the person administering these tests. These tests will only be used for symptomatic persons and will not be used for community members who need to be tested post-exposure.

How will the School communicate news of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in our community? 

The School is required to report cases of COVID-19 to the District of Columbia’s Department of Health when there have been 25 or more cases stemming from one school-related event. We will inform the entire community via email if a child or employee has tested positive for COVID-19. Families directly affected by the case will be made aware of possible exposures to infection, masking requirements, and timelines, but the identity of infected persons will be kept confidential. 

We will communicate via phone call, email, and/or Remind: 

• with families, if their child has been in close contact with someone at School who has tested positive for COVID-19. 
• with staff, if they have been in close contact with someone at School who has tested positive for COVID-19. 
• with the entire School community if there are any cases or closures within the school.

All parents should make sure that they are signed up to receive notifications from the School through our text-based system, Remind. Click here to join the Aidan Community on Remind. This system was procured by the School for use in emergency situations and has been used for important and/or emergency communications only, such as mid-day snow day releases. Given that some situations related to COVID-19 may be time-sensitive, it is possible that the School will expand the use of the Remind app in the coming year should circumstances warrant it. Additionally, the School usually replicates communications of this sort by email and as a banner on its website. 

When can a child return to School following their illness?

• A child who develops symptoms of COVID-19 should be evaluated by a medical professional and/or get tested before returning to school. If the results come back negative, please continue to keep the child home while they are not feeling well or they are unable to participate in the life of the classroom. Once they return, if they continue to have symptoms, they will need to wear a mask while around others at school and/or ASP/Discovery. 
• Despite the changes that the CDC has made about isolation, Aidan has decided to take a more stringent approach to returning to school post-COVID. The school may make changes to these guidelines as the year progresses.
• If a child is diagnosed with COVID-19, they can return to school once they meet the criteria below: 
  • Being fever-free without antipyretic medication for 24 hours
  • Any symptoms the person experienced, if they experienced any, must be improving.
  • Take a rapid/at home test 5 days after initially testing positive or the onset of symptoms, whichever came first. If the test is negative, they may return to school on Day 6. If the test is positive, they can continue to test daily and return when they become negative. If no test is done, or they continue to test positive, they must stay home and can return to school on Day 11.
    • If a student is cleared to return to school between Day 6 and Day 10, they must wear a mask while at school until Day 11.
    • Children under the age of 2 years old, who are not advised to wear a mask, must stay home until Day 11.
• Individuals who are higher-risk or immunocompromised may require longer isolation at home after a COVID-19 illness and should consult with their medical professional prior to returning to school.
• Our School Nurse will help monitor all symptoms associated with COVID-19 in children. For children who have recovered from COVID-19, the School Nurse will also help monitor for symptoms of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

What if my family member is in a vulnerable or high-risk group?

High-risk individuals should communicate their risk and preferred accommodations to the School as identified and recommended by a physician. The School will accommodate them to the extent that it is able. Families are encouraged to coordinate decision-making around the child’s care with the family health care provider if there are specific health concerns, chronic disease, or complex social or emotional dynamics in the home. The School will  support at-risk community members to the extent that it is reasonably possible in the judgment of the School. Our School Nurse is also available for consultation and guidance.

The DOH and CDC continue to express that vaccination is the most important thing one can do to prevent severe illness that can accompany COVID-19. Aidan supports and strongly encourages vaccines for all age-eligible children. 

Vaccine Requirements

For the 2022-2023 school year, Aidan requires that all faculty and staff be fully up-to-date on their COVID vaccines per DC Mayor Order 2021-109. 

At this time, the District of Columbia requires the COVID-19 vaccine for all students of an age for which there is a COVID-19 vaccination fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). At this time, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is fully FDA approved for individuals 16 and older, so only students 16 and older must receive the COVID-19 vaccine before the start of school or submit a medical or religious exemption from COVID-19 immunization (§ 38–506). A student turning 16 has 70 days to come into compliance from their birthday, and when the FDA grants full authorization of a COVID vaccine for younger students, they also will have 70 days to come into compliance.

If you are planning on your child having a medical or religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine, you must reach out to your local Department of Health (DC if you live in DC, MD if you live in MD, or VA if you live in VA). The school and public do not have access to the required forms. Once you have attained and completed the form, you must upload it with your child’s Universal Health Certificate to the Magnus Health app and submit it to DC DOH at doh.immunization@dc.gov. For more information, please see our notice to the community here.

As of August 2022, who is considered “up-to-date” on their COVID-19 vaccine?

• Persons who have received all doses of their initial series of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine within the past 5 months, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the past 2 months.
• Children between the ages of 6 months to 17 years old who have received two doses of the Moderna vaccine, and 14 days have passed.
• Children between the ages of 6 months to 4 years old who have received three doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and 14 days have passed.
• Persons between the ages of 5-49 years who have received one booster dose after 5 months have passed since their initial two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
• Persons 50 years and older who have received a fourth dose of Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson after 4 months have passed since their initial booster shot (3rd dose).
• Persons 18-49 years old who have received one booster dose after 2 months have passed since their initial one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Uploading Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination to Magnus

If your child is up-to-date on their COVID vaccination and/or recently received the last dose of their vaccination series or a booster shot, then please be sure to upload any documentation to the Magnus Health App. 

Steps for Uploading Proof of Vaccination

1. Log in to Magnus through either the web portal or Magnus app.
2. Click on your child’s name and then upload a picture of your child’s vaccination card under the ‘Covid 19 Vaccination Card’ requirement under the "To Do List". You can also find this requirement by visiting the "Student Health Tracker" from the mobile dashboard. 
3. Submit your child’s proof of COVID-19 vaccination to Magnus on the website or app by using scanned versions or photos of the vaccination card. Please be sure the image you are uploading is a  PDF, PNG, JPG, JPEG, BMP, or GIF file.
4. Once submitted, the school nurse will go through and either ‘approve’ or ‘reject’ your card. Please periodically check back to make sure it has been approved. If your paperwork has been rejected, an explanation will be provided.

Vaccine Resources & Information

• https://coronavirus.dc.gov/vaccine
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/your-vaccination.html
• https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-vaccine/art-20484859
• https://eua.modernatx.com/covid19vaccine-eua/
• https://www.pfizer.com/products/product-detail/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine

Primary and Elementary students will safely merge their ASP programs back together for this coming year. Students in the ASP program will wear face coverings if they are experiencing symptoms, have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, or have decided they would like to wear one. ASP will involve combined classrooms and levels, which elevates the risk of exposure and potential for infection. 

Gap care will be provided for our Primary and Toddler students. Please contact the School for further details should you require gap care.

Per CDC  guidance, during high levels of transmission, the school may implement screening testing and/or the use of masks in high-risk extracurricular activities such as theater, music, Discovery, in which increased exhalation occurs. The school reserves the right to temporarily stop such activities to control a school- or program-associated outbreaks. 

Arrival

Arrival and class start times have been amended for best flow, given safe practices. Arrival window will be different for each level of our school.

• 8:00 AM: Upper and Lower Elementary Arrival
• 8:00-8:15: Toddler Arrival
• 8:15-8:30: Primary Arrival

Parents/caregivers will see School personnel outside the building, directing traffic, helping with myriad logistics. No parents/caregivers will be allowed into the building or on the playground during arrival or dismissal.

Elementary students may be dropped off via the carpool line in front of the school and they will be ushered to the proper entrance. Elementary students do not need a parent to escort them to the door. Walk up elementary student drop off is also allowed, although we ask that parents not stay on the sidewalk in front of the school in order to reduce congestion. Sweet Gum Upper Elementary students will enter through the main gate on the black top, while Lower Elementary students will enter using the main school entrance. 

Parents and caregivers of Primary and Toddler students must legally park (they may do so in the drop off lane in front of the building) and escort their child(ren) to their designated drop-off areas. All Toddlers will enter through the small gate on the black top. All Primary students will enter the building through the main school entrance doors.

Late Arrival 

If you arrive after 8:30 AM, please ring the doorbell at the main entrance and wait with your child until a staff person comes to the door. You must stay with your child until they have been  permitted to enter. No parents/caregivers will be allowed in the building during arrival, unless there is an emergency. 

Dismissal

Please take note of the dismissal times below:

• Half-Day Toddler Students: 11:15 AM
• Full-Day Toddler & Primary Students: 2:45 - 3:00 PM
• Elementary Students: 3:45 - 4:00 PM

Students will stay in their classrooms and be dismissed by two-way radios. Parents or guardians will arrive in a predetermined window of time and let an administrative official know which child to call. 

Primary and Toddler parents/caregivers should retrieve their child from their designated dismissal point and should plan to park their car if driving. Elementary students will be brought to the front of the school and parents/caregivers may remain in their cars as their children are dismissed. 

Early Pick-Up

If for any reason you must pick your child up early, please let your child’s teacher know in advance AND you must also let the office (202-387-2700) know that day. Then, call the office when you arrive at the front of the School. Remain outside the building and School personnel will bring your child and dismiss them to you at the front door. 

Preparation in class of snacks, lunch, and water:

• Toddler and Primary families are asked to contribute food for their child’s class and the children will enjoy snacks sent in by families on a rotating basis. If your child is enrolled in ASP, you may be asked to provide snack foods for the group. Elementary students will bring their own snacks.
• Children will serve themselves snacks and may assist with food preparation when appropriate.
• Each child will bring their own lunch from home. Usual food allergy plans will remain in place, and families will be made aware of their classroom’s guidelines.
• Children must also bring their own water bottles to school. Cups will be available if needed. 
• Staff will assist children as they wash their hands prior to and after eating. 
• Children or teaching assistants will clean the areas where they ate to the best of their abilities, with staff following up as needed.
• Food serving and preparation equipment, including those items used in individual practical life lessons for children, will be used in a modified manner in order to safely bring food preparation back into the curriculum.

For nap time, children’s mats will be spaced out with alternating head to toe arrangements to maximize the distance between them. As recommended by the DC Department of Health, children who choose to wear masks will remove them while they are napping. 

• Parents should send at least two (2) freshly laundered, well-fitted, and comfortable face coverings every day in case they need or decide to put one on during the day.
• We intend to make use of outdoor spaces as frequently as we can and as is allowed by the weather. We ask parents to send their children appropriately dressed for the weather, as they should assume that the day will include an outdoor learning component. Appropriate gear may include raincoats, boots, warm coats, hats, and gloves or mittens. Per existing school policy, umbrellas are not permitted.
• The use of face coverings will be determined by the current status of the Aidan and greater DC transmission. The school reserves the right to reinstate the mask policy as they see fit.
• The building recently had a new HVAC system installed. This system is a Direct Outside Air System (DOAS) supplemented with an infrared air cleaning system. Air flow is a key mitigation procedure, and our new system will enhance this greatly. 

Field trips and Elementary going-outs will be modified to be up to our standards of safety. Children may be brought off campus in staff-supervised outings to approved locations, such as the Marriott lawn and Tregaron Conservancy, for a walk around the block, or for walks to local parks or areas.

Being outdoors is an acceptable and preferred option for learning. Access to various recess spaces operate on a rotating schedule to ensure that groups of students can be kept separated from each other as much as possible. Students will bring their water bottles to recess since the outside fountain will be turned off for safety purposes. They will be able to refill their water bottles at the existing filling stations. Teachers will encourage students to refrain from sharing water bottles.

It is our intention to make use of outdoor spaces as frequently as we can and as is allowed by the weather. It is imperative that children come dressed properly to participate. These items may include raincoats, boots, warm coats, hats, and mittens or gloves. Umbrellas are not permitted.

The ventilation and air quality in the School building has been upgraded through the installation of a new HVAC system which includes the use of direct outside air and an infrared air cleaning system. We will continue to use HEPA grade air filters in classrooms and throughout the School.

The School follows the national standards for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting of educational facilities for children. These efforts include the following: 

• Staff will routinely clean surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, including Montessori materials. Safe, approved products will be available in classrooms for use by an adult. 
• Materials that children have placed in their mouths or that are otherwise contaminated by body fluids will be set aside until they may be appropriately cleaned prior to being used by the next person. 
• Machine washable, cloth materials will be laundered as necessary. There is an adequate supply of many of these items, like towels, dusting and polishing mitts, such that these activities will not be compromised. 
• All high touch areas, listed below, within the classrooms will be cleaned, and disinfected if necessary, at least once per day.
• Deep cleans of the classroom will be done by our cleaning company in any classroom where there has been a positive COVID case within the past 24 hours. Any other spaces that have been occupied by this individual will also be deep cleaned.  

The entire building will be cleaned daily and disinfected by our contracted cleaners. High touch areas will receive more frequent cleaning and/or disinfecting. Such areas include tables, doorknobs, light switches, counter tops, toilets, faucets, sinks, water bottle filling stations, elevator buttons, railings, etc.

Hand sanitizer will be available at classroom doors and at the entrances and exits of buildings and individuals entering and exiting will be expected to use the sanitizer. We will remind all members of our community about the proper procedures for wiping noses, mouths and eyes, when coughing or sneezing, and after using the toilet. Frequent hand washing will be encouraged, with direct oversight and supervision of our youngest students.