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 2021-2022 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 2021-22 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.pollack@aidanschool.org. I look forward to working with you all in our partnership to keep our Aidan community safe.

Sincerely,

Alexandra (Lexi) Pollack, BSN, RN, CPN

School Nurse

HEALTHY COMMUNITY 

• Establishing and reinforcing a culture of health, safety, and shared responsibility;
• Prioritizing staying home when sick; 
• Being supportive of testing; 
• Implementing procedures when there is a case; 
• Enhancing protection for high-risk members of our community.

HEALTHY SCHEDULES

• Managing transition times and locations; 
• Modifying attendance as necessary.

HEALTHY CLASSROOMS

• Wearing face coverings; 
• Washing hands frequently; 
• Making lunchtime safer; 
• Maximizing physical distancing to protect individuals; 
• Maximizing distancing between groups of students.

HEALTHY ACTIVITIES

• Providing recess; 
• Modifying physical education; 
• Reimagining music and theater classes; 
• Providing safe exercise routines for children; 
• Adding structure to outdoor activities.

HEALTHY BUILDING 

• Increasing fresh air ventilation; 
• Using Direct Outside Air HVAC system;
• Cleaning air with an infrared air cleaning system;
• Supplementing with portable air cleaners; 
• Using plexiglass as physical barriers; 
• Reducing infrastructure contact; 
• Keeping surfaces clean and enhancing cleaning protocols; 
• Focusing on bathroom hygiene; 
• Reducing density in the school building.

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 the health screening Magnus App. 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 isolate at home and consult with their healthcare providers or seek testing.
• Parents are required to conduct a pre-screening each day at home by subjectively monitoring for health and signs of sickness and taking their children’s temperature every morning. Parents will be responsible for entering this information via the Magnus App on their phone or tablet prior to arriving at Aidan.
• It is recommended by the DC Department of Health that students and staff should also stay home and get tested if anyone in their household is symptomatic, even if they themselves do not have symptoms. (Persons who are fully vaccinated should only get tested if they develop symptoms).
• 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.
• As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please keep your child at home when not at School. Families are encouraged to refrain from children gathering or socializing in groups, for example, an indoor playdate, a meal inside a restaurant, or a trip to an indoor shopping center. 
• Please help your child become accustomed to hand hygiene, wearing face coverings, disinfecting surfaces, safe protocol for sneezing/coughing (into one’s elbow), and resisting the urge to touch or hug others not in their family unit. These protocols will also be reviewed often at school; the best chance for compliance is lots of practice.
• We understand that some of the arrival procedures may be upsetting to children, especially students who are new to school. We will do our best to make the arrival process as smooth and non-disruptive as possible. We ask that parents please go over the arrival procedures with their children, including the symptoms check, so that it is not a surprise for them on day one.
• Please send the following items in your child’s backpack: two (2) well-fitted and comfortable face coverings; two (2) snacks; water bottle; lunch with placemat and necessary utensils; 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 lunch containers. 
• Families should follow the travel guidelines issued by the District of Columbia. These guidelines should also be followed by families who have visitors from outside of the DMV. For domestic and international travel, unvaccinated persons should get tested 3-5 days after returning home from their trip and self-quarantine for 7 days days, even if the test results are negative. If there is no COVID-19 test done, a self-quarantine of 10 days should be performed. For vaccinated persons or those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 90 days, there is no need for testing or quarantine post-domestic travel as long as they do not have any symptoms. For vaccinated persons or those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 90 days that travel internationally, they should get tested 3-5 days after their return home, but do not need to participate in a quarantine. 
• If you have any exposure to someone with active COVID-19, or suspect that you or someone in your family may have COVID-19, you should not attend school and get tested 5-7 days after the exposure. You must immediately notify the School of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis 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.
• If your child or a member of your family or household 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 (see "Health & Safety Protocols - Re-Entry Guidelines" under Healthy Community).

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:

• Primary and Elementary students 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). Masks will be required at recess and during ASP. If the students are in a situation where they are outside and distanced from their peers, they do not need to wear masks outside. We will provide designated locations for “mask breaks” should an individual student require temporary respite. Based on current guidance, students under the age of two in our Toddler program will not be required to wear face coverings. For additional information about face coverings see "Health & Safety Protocols - Face Coverings" under Healthy Community. Mask guidance may be subject to change depending on transmission rates and guidance from the CDC or DC Department of Health. (UPDATED 10/5)
• Parents of children with breathing problems such as asthma or other complications should discuss these with the School Nurse to determine if accommodations are appropriate.
• Per the DC Department of Health Childcare Guidelines and School Guidelines, there are different instances in which our community members should try to maintain a physical distance of six (6) feet and a physical distance of three (3) feet from one another. Six feet of distance should also be maintained between all children of different classroom cohorts when engaging in mask off activities such as eating indoors, while children are outside of their classroom, during PE, when one or both children are not wearing masks, and when interacting with students and staff members, students and visitors, and students and not fully vaccinated adults. All students should maintain three (3) feet of distance between them and other students in their classrooms regardless of vaccination status. (UPDATED 10/5)
• 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. (See "Health & Safety Protocols - Hand Washing & Hand Sanitizer" under Healthy Community). 
• 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. (See "Health & Safety Protocols - COVID-19 Symptoms" under Healthy Community). 

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  Chief of 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 Pollack - l.pollack@aidanschool.org

Who will be permitted in the building? 

• The presence of visitors on campus will be minimized. As a general rule, visitors, including parents, will not be permitted in the building. “Essential” visitors will be permitted, but only in the rarest of cases, as determined by the administrative team (Nurse, Head, Chief of Operations, Director of Education).
• Parents will be asked not to enter the building unless approved by the School. They must contact the School in advance and wait outside until granted entry. Any parent/visitor will be health screened, including temperature-taking and entry questions, and they must wear a face covering and practice physical distancing in accordance with School policy. Due to COVID-19, regular parent observations are suspended until further notice. 
• 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--faculty, staff, students (except children under two years of age), and anyone else on campus or in the building, fully vaccinated or not--is required to wear a face covering. Everyone who enters the School building will be required to sanitize their hands before entering. 
• We all look forward to the potential return to in-person events. At the same time, some online events last year proved successful so we will maintain some of these. If an event is held in person, we will be following the DC DOH guidance. All attendees should fill out a form, provided by the school, either online or in-person before the event. In this form, 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.
  • Every party at the event will be separated from others by at least 6 feet
  • Any eating or drinking should be done distanced from other attendees that do not live in your household.
  • All attendees 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.
  • When possible, please verbally greet others.
  • In the event that you wish to plan a school-related event that is not run by Aidan, the school has put together suggested guidelines for families.
  • Perform frequent hygiene. There will be multiple hand sanitizer stations around the premises. Key times to perform hand hygiene include: 
    • When arriving at the venue;
    • Before and after eating or drinking;
    • Before and after putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings;
    • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

How will we keep items clean and disinfected? 

• Hand washing is one of the best defenses against spread of the virus and it will be required often during the day.  See protocols for proper hand washing in "Health & Safety Protocols (Hand Washing & Hand Sanitizer).
• All persons in the building and on campus should sanitize their hands before entering a classroom. Multiple sanitizing stations have been installed at key positions throughout the building. Protocol for proper hand sanitizer use is described below. 
• All students will be directed to clean the tops of their tables before leaving class. The classrooms will also be cleaned by our professional cleaning crew as described below.
• While current evidence suggests that COVID-19 is not transmitted by touching everyday objects, we are exercising an abundance of caution in keeping Montessori materials clean. Objects touched by a student, such as Montessori materials, will not be used by another student until the material has been appropriately cleaned, sanitized, and/or disinfected by staff.
• Further details about cleaning/disinfecting protocols appear below.
• Further details about cleaning/disinfecting protocols appear in "Health & Safety Protocols (Hand Washing & Hand Sanitizer)".

How will we keep our hands clean at School?

Healthy Hand Hygiene

Washing hands helps to prevent the spread of infections from one person to the next. All children and staff will engage in healthy hand hygiene at the following times: 

• Arrival to the classroom and after breaks;
• Before and after each work period;
• Before and after eating or handling food;
• After using the toilet or helping a child use the bathroom;
• After coming in contact with body fluids;
• After playing outdoors;
• After handling garbage;
• Before and after touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.

Six Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way 

1. Wet your hands with clean, warm running water and apply liquid soap. 
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, palms, between your fingers, and under your nails. 
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. 
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. Continuing to rub them together.
5. Dry your hands using a clean paper towel or air dry them. 
6. Turn the water off by using the paper towel.

After assisting children with handwashing, staff will wash their own hands. Please practice this protocol at home with your child(ren) often.

Hand Sanitizer

Use hand sanitizer when you cannot use soap and water. Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. There will be hand sanitizer stations conveniently located throughout the building. 

Three Steps to Properly Use Hand Sanitizer

1. Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand. Please read the label to learn the correct amount. 
2. Rub your hands together vigorously.  
3. Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

Will students be required to wear face coverings?

Face coverings for school use are not surgical masks, respirators, or other medical personal protective equipment. They are simple, 2-3 layer cotton/cloth 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.  

Accordingly, we have adopted the following procedures this year relating to face coverings:

• Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face coverings while in public spaces (hallways, lobby, multiple-occupied offices) when arriving or leaving campus. Face coverings are  not required while individuals are alone in non-shared office spaces. Reminder: bathrooms are shared spaces, and face coverings need to be used in bathrooms. Teachers and other personnel may also use face shields in addition to face coverings.
• Primary and Elementary students must wear face coverings while in the school building and at ASP. Face coverings during PE or at recess, while surrounded by only their own class, is dependent on the activities they are engaging in. If they are able to maintain the proper 6 feet of distance, face coverings may not be needed. (UPDATED 10/5)
• Per current recommendations, our Toddler students under the age of 2 will not be required to wear face coverings. Use of face coverings by students in classrooms will be carefully evaluated, with room for exemptions, particularly for our youngest students. All children will be reminded to keep face coverings on properly. 
• A clearly delineated “mask break” space will be provided in each classroom for children (one at a time) to take temporary respite from masks when necessary. Teachers and staff will be responsible for the safe use and cleaning of that space. Other times when students are not required to wear masks include: eating, drinking, and napping.
• 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 bring at least two (2) new/clean/laundered face coverings to school every day and take them both home every day. 
• Parents should have their children practice putting on, wearing, and removing a face covering before the school year starts. 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? 

Please see details for checks upon arrival below. 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 if any of the following symptoms are present:

• Temperature over 100.4°F 
• Replying “yes” when asked if medications were used to lower an individual’s temperature.
• Any of the following symptoms that are new or unexplained: 
  • Any one of the following Red Flag Symptoms
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
    • New or worsening cough
    • Fever of 100.4°F or higher (measured or subjective) (UPDATED 10/5)
  • 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 judgement, and may feel the need to send children home for any one symptom.
• Please note that children with COVID-19 infection often present with non-specific symptoms, such as only breathing or stomach symptoms, with the most common being cough and/or fever.
• A student who has had a close contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in the previous 10 days and has not chosen to test on day 5 to be dismissed from quarantine on day ten (10) and is, therefore, a person under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19. (UPDATED 10/5)
• Has not completed their post-travel testing and/or quarantine per DC guidelines . 
• We have adopted the policy presented by the DC DOH in the August 6, 2021 release of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19): Guidance for Schools that students and staff should get COVID tested at the same time if anyone in their household is symptomatic, even if they themselves do not have symptoms. (Persons who are fully vaccinated should only get tested if they develop symptoms).
  • If testing is not done, it is recommended that the staff/student not attend school while the symptomatic household member’s test result is pending.
    • If the result is negative, the student can return to school. If the result is positive, the student should quarantine at home and expect outreach from the DC Health Contract Tracing team.

Monitoring with the Magnus App

We use the COVID-19 Screening within the Magnus Health App to monitor the symptoms of all students and staff members. Families will be responsible for completing a health survey for their child each morning prior to arriving at the school, preferably by 7:45 AM. If the app is filled after 7:45 AM, then please expect to show your Magnus "Go" message to the staff member at your child's designated drop-off entrance. 

Please review these instructions for information on how to login to Magnus, to download the Magnus Health App, and to access the COVID-19 Screening.

If you have any difficulty accessing Magnus Health through Aidan’s Parent Portal, then please contact Nicole Goodman. If you have any difficulty completing the screening or other Magnus-related questions, please contact Nurse Lexi Pollack. 

How to Set Up & Access Your Magnus Health Account & Magnus Mobile App:

1. Log in to Aidan’s Parent Portal. On the Parent Portal homepage, click the green button, “Magnus Health Login” located on the right side of the page. 
2. After clicking the green “Magnus Health Login” button, parents will be taken to the Magnus Health web browser where they will be prompted to set up a password.
3. Parents will also need to update their login credentials for the mobile app and may do so by hovering over their name in the Magnus web portal and selecting “Change Credentials”. 
4. After updating your credentials, you will need to download the Magnus mobile app. Download the “Magnus Health” app from the Google Play Store or Download the “Magnus Mobile V2” app from the Apple Store and login using your newly created username/password combination. If your device allows it, you can also set up the biometric login for easier access.

How to Complete Daily COVID-19 Screening (Video Tutorial):

1. Log in to the Magnus mobile app each morning (Note: The only way to access the COVID-19 survey is through the mobile app. It cannot be accessed through a web browser.)
2. Click on your child’s name and then select the “Covid-19” icon located at the middle-bottom of the menu.
3. Click on “COVID 19 Screening” and please fill out the questionnaire with the most honest and up-to-date information.
4. Press “Save” and follow the instructions that come up on the next page. Parents will receive either a “GO” or “STOP” message. If you have any questions on your results, please contact Nurse Lexi.
5. If you have multiple children who attend Aidan, please complete the screening process for each child. In addition, if one of your children gets a "STOP" page after their test, please go back and edit your response to question 12 on your other child(ren)’'s questionnaires.
6. Be ready to show your child’s “GO” message when you escort your child to their designated entrance point once you arrive at Aidan.

Important Things to Note About Magnus:

1. The only way to access the COVID-19 survey is through the mobile app. It cannot be accessed through a web browser. 
2. If the app does not allow you to fill out the questionnaire one morning, please try deleting and re-downloading the app before emailing the school.
3. There will always be paper copies available at the school in the instance you are unable to fill out the questionnaire or show that it has been filled out.

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

The measures we adopt around COVID-19 are designed to help keep our entire community safe and to minimize spread. To that end:

• If a student has COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival at School, the School reserves the right to deny entry to the student
• Community members who are experiencing symptoms of any communicable illness, such as strep throat, hand/foot/mouth disease, or the flu, also will be expected to stay at home, per existing policies in the Parent Handbook.
• The School requests that all families and staff notify the School immediately of any exposure to COVID-19, so that the School may be aware of potential exposure and make appropriate assessments. After exposure or in the event of a suspected case, a mandatory quarantine of 7-10 days, dependent on testing status, is required prior to returning to school.
  • Students that have had a close contact with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 are able to test on day 5 or later after exposure and be dismissed from their quarantine after 7 days (can come back to school on day 8 after exposure). (UPDATED 10/5)
  • In an effort to stop the transmission of COVID-19 in its tracks, and keep as many classrooms open as possible, we will require that all siblings of exposed students, and children of exposed teachers maintain the same quarantine as their exposed sibling or parent. (UPDATED 10/5)
• The decision to exclude any community member from entry or to send someone home will be at the discretion of the School administration, which includes the School Nurse. 

If a child becomes ill at school, they will be sent home as soon as possible. Classroom staff will follow the following isolation procedures for children: 

1. The classroom staff will inform the School Nurse immediately of observed symptoms, and the child will be moved to isolation in the nurse’s office. 
2. The child will be offered a disposable face covering if the child is not wearing one (Toddler). 
3. The child will be kept separate from well children in the nurse’s office and staff contact will be limited as much as reasonably possible, while ensuring the safety and supervision of the child until they leave. 
4. The child will rest in the isolation area in the nurse’s office.
5. The nurse or a staff member will contact parents to come to School to pick up the child in a timely manner, within 30 minutes.
6. If the sick child has a sibling at school, the sibling will also be sent home at the same time to be evaluated. The sibling may return when the symptomatic child has received negative COVID-19 test results and they have been sent to the school nurse.
7. Once a parent has left with the symptomatic child, the isolation area will be cleaned and disinfected. Materials, surfaces, and furniture touched by the child who is sent home will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized by staff and/or our contracted cleaners according to CDC guidelines.
8. Notification of the community will be in accordance with our policies listed below.

A School community member who tests positive for COVID-19 or who lives in the same household as an individual who tests positive must share this information with the School Nurse. The School Nurse will report this information to public health authorities as required by applicable law if this has not already been done. 

In the event of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in our community, the School will assist the DC Department of Health in contact tracing by providing lists of people with whom each student or staff member has had close contact in the 48 hours before symptoms appeared or positive test results, whichever comes first. Contact tracing is a strategy used to determine who has been exposed to a disease to help stop spread. Finding people who are close contacts of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 can help prevent further spread of the virus. At this point in time, a close contact for students is anyone within three feet for at least fifteen minutes. (UPDATED 10/5)

The School is depending on families to continue transparent communication about students’ health in order to ensure a trusting and supportive environment. In addition to relying on families to self-monitor and report using the Magnus App, the School will monitor absenteeism among children using our standard procedures. Absenteeism due to symptoms will not be penalized. Absences and the reason therefore will be recorded by classroom personnel daily and reported as required. Any unusual patterns of illness in any pod will be considered when evaluating the need for temporary or long-term classroom or building closures. Decisions about temporary or extended closures will be made in consultation with the District of Columbia’s Department of Health.

The School will follow recommendations from local health authorities in regard to contact tracing, suspension of on-campus operations, and/or notifications to the community. The building or areas thereof may be temporarily closed for deep cleaning if a COVID-19 diagnosed individual has been present at School. The School may also need to close a classroom, a floor, or the entire building in the case of COVID-19 presenting in the community.

Community COVID-19 Testing

The School may decide 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.

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 and to our licensing agency, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). We will inform all community members via email if a child or employee has tested positive for COVID-19 similarly to the way families are informed of other potentially contagious conditions at School. Families will be made aware of possible exposures to infection, 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 a classroom community/cohort has been closed temporarily due to COVID-19 exposure.

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 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 before returning to school. The medical professional should determine whether a test for COVID-19 is needed. A note from the medical professional that includes the alternate diagnosis or negative COVID test results is required and must be presented to the School Nurse before the child can return to school. If one decides to get tested without seeing a medical professional, then please just send in the results to Nurse Lexi before your child is allowed to return to school. (UPDATED 10/5)
• If a child is diagnosed with COVID-19, they can return to school once they meet the CDC criteria for returning to school after a COVID-19 infection. As of the writing of this handbook the criteria are: 1) The person is fever-free without antipyretic medication for 24 hours, and 2) at least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms, and 3) the symptoms have improved. If the child did not have symptoms, then they are cleared to return to school 10 days after the positive test.
• A release form from a doctor or the Department of Health should be sent to the School Nurse before the child who tested positive for COVID-19 can return to school. This release form should state that the child has fulfilled their required quarantine period and is free to return to school.
• 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.
• If a child has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and is not evaluated by a medical professional, they can return to school when they meet the return-to-school criteria for a person who has recovered from COVID-19.
• If a child had significant exposure to an individual infected with COVID-19 they should quarantine and be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 for 7-10 days, depending on testing, following the exposure prior to returning to school.
  • Persons who have been identified as a close contact of a person with COVID-19 are NOT required to quarantine if:
    • They have had COVID-19 (symptomatic or asymptomatic) within the last 90 days; AND
    • do not have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection.
• 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).
• Fully vaccinated people who are close contacts of someone with COVID-19 do not need to quarantine, but they should:
  • Get a COVID-19 test 3-5 days after the date they were exposed. Isolate if the test is positive.
  • Wear a mask in all public indoor settings for 14 days after the date they were exposed.
  • Consider wearing a mask at home for 14 days if they live with someone who is immunocompromised.
  • Monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days from their exposure, and isolate if they develop symptoms.

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 School anticipates that Discovery programs will not resume this year. ASP will take place this year. Primary and Elementary students will have separate ASP programs. Students in the ASP program will wear face coverings regardless of whether they are in the building or outside. ASP will involve combined cohorts, which elevates the level of risk, the potential for quarantine, and the potential of infection, which is mitigated by face coverings and distancing. Regardless, parents need to be aware of both the mitigation and risk involved when enrolling in ASP.

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

Please be aware that we adopt these procedures in order to mitigate health risks in our community  and please bear with us--especially in the beginning--as we all adjust to the new routines.

Arrival

Arrival and class start times have been amended for best flow, given safe practices. Arrival window will be 8:00-8:30 AM for all classrooms. 

• Before you arrive at school, by 7:45 AM, the COVID-19 Screening in the Magnus App must be completed for each child. If the screening is completed after 7:45 AM, be prepared to show the app to your child's teacher at drop-off. 
• Parents/caregivers will see School personnel outside the building, directing traffic, helping with myriad logistics, but the Arrival Team will no longer assist children from cars. 
• 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 and keep density to a minimum.
• Parents/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 door(s) (see below for entry points). If parents have more than one child, they will have to go to each separate entrance. Please maintain an acceptable physical distance when maneuvering around others. 
• Adults must wear face coverings when dropping off and picking up children and while on the sidewalk around the campus, regardless of vaccination status.
• At each entrance, parents may be asked a series of questions pertaining to COVID-19 symptoms, and asked to show the results screen from the morning’s COVID-19 Screening in Magnus.
• Parents/caregivers of primary and toddler students are asked to wait for those results and the “all clear” signal before leaving the premises. If there is any uncertainty, the School Nurse will make the final decision about whether or not a child may attend. Parents of elementary students will be contacted via phone by the school nurse if there are any questions or issues.
• No parents/caregivers will be allowed into the building or on the playground.
• Siblings will need to be walked to their respective doorways/entry points as stated in the section below. 

Designated Entry Points

The entrances below detail the path that the students will take to their respective classrooms. Parents/caregivers will not be allowed into the school building and should escort their children to the classroom assistants waiting outside each entry point. 

Mulberry, Dogwood (Purple #1)

Students will come up the main front steps, enter through the lobby and turn left to their respective classrooms.

Sweet Gum (Green #2)

Students will enter through the main gate on the black top and use the corner door at the southeast end of their room.

Sassafras, Mountain Silverbell (Red #3)

Students will enter through the small gate on the black top and enter Toddler rooms through the outside doors in the overhang. 

Redbud, Persimmon (Yellow #4)

Students will enter through the side gate on Woodley Road, and into the south blue door, up the yellow stairway to their classrooms.

Magnolia, Red Oak (Blue #5)

Students will enter through the top of the back stairs in the alley behind the school building. Students will go directly to their classrooms on the third floor up the blue stairwell.

 

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 screened and permitted to enter. No parents/caregivers will be allowed in the building. 

Dismissal

Dismissal Times

Please take note of the dismissal times below:

• Half-Day Toddler: 11:15-11:30 AM
• Full-Day Toddler & Primary:  2:45 - 3:00 PM
• Elementary: 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 present their name placard in the driver’s side window or let an administrative official know which child to call. Primary and Toddler parents/caregivers should retrieve their child from their designated entrance 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. 

Physical distancing must be maintained on the sidewalk. Students will use the same applicable hallway, stairwell, door, and gate as they used in the morning during arrival in reverse order. Students will then walk to their parents at their designated entry and either walk to their car, load, and drive away, or depart on foot/bike/scooter.

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 lunch, snacks, and water:

• For the coming year, we are re-instituting group snacks, sent in by families, on a rotating basis. Teachers will serve group snacks rather than children serving themselves. Toddler and Primary families are asked to contribute food for their child’s class; and will usually be asked once in the fall and once in the spring. Toddler families are usually asked to provide food three times a year. If your child is enrolled in ASP, you will be asked to provide snack foods for the group, usually twice a year. Elementary students will bring their own snacks.
• Each child will bring their own lunch from home. Parents should send a cloth placemat with children to put under their food and eating items. Usual food allergy plans will remain in place, and families will be made aware of their classroom’s guidelines from information found on the classroom portal page.
• Children must also bring their own water bottles to school. Students will no longer be able to drink directly from a water fountain, but the quick-fill (touch-less) component of our two (2) water fountains will be available to students to refill their bottles. They are located in the lobby and on the ground floor outside the rear of the Toddler rooms. 
• To minimize contact, children should be able to open and close all containers and bottles independently, to the greatest extent possible.
• Staff will assist children as they wash their hands prior to and immediately after eating. Staff will wash their hands before assisting children and/or after helping them eat. 
• Children 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. The School will provide disposable dining/drinking utensils in emergencies when items are forgotten at home. Please see your class portal page for specific guidance.

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 are napping will remove their face coverings while sleeping.

• As noted above, all students with the exception of Toddlers under the age of 2 will wear face coverings while at school. Parents should send at least two (2) freshly laundered, well-fitted, and comfortable face coverings every day.
• Every student should have both freshly laundered clothing and face coverings for each new school day. We have adopted this measure in order to mitigate the risks of virus transmission for our entire community. 
• 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 outdoors will be determined by the current status of recommendations and guidance from DC and other public health authorities. At this time, all staff, students, and parents should maintain a face covering while in the building. For outside activities, masks will be optional while distancing is in place. Students in ASP will wear face coverings whether they are indoors or out.
• 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.

• All students will clean the tops of their tables before leaving class. Objects touched by a student, such as Montessori materials, will not be used by another student until the material has been appropriately cleaned or sanitized by staff. 
• Staff will routinely clean and disinfect, if necessary, surfaces and Montessori materials between use. Materials that cannot be cleaned and sanitized will not be available for use. Cloth materials will be laundered before the next usage.

Each Elementary student should have their own case that contains the supplies they might need throughout the day. The School will provide most of these and you will be informed when replacements are needed. These include 4-5 pencils, a pair of scissors, a glue stick, a roll of tape, crayons, and a set of colored pencils. Extras will be available in each room for emergency use only. See your class portal for specific information.

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 where physical distancing can be safely practiced. Masks will be worn at all times on the School’s bus.

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 engage in physically distanced activities and remind 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.

Because our teachers are vaccinated, PE, Music, Art, and Foreign Languages will return to normal schedules and in person instruction.

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 provided by the CDC, along with the DC Department of Health guidelines, 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. They will be cleaned at least once a day. 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 used by one individual at a time and will be laundered before being used by another child. There is an adequate supply of many of these items, like towels, dusting and polishing mitts, such that these activities will not be compromised. 
• Each class will establish and post easy-to-follow guides to indicate the ebb and flow of materials as they are used, cleaned and can be reintroduced to a shelf.
• All high touch areas, listed below, within the classrooms will be cleaned, and disinfected if necessary, at least once per day.
• High touch areas, listed below, throughout the shared space of the school will be cleaned and disinfected midway through the day.
• Electrostatic Spraying Technology will be used to disinfect our environments at the end of each day. The charge extends to even the hard to reach places and coats them evenly and effectively. 

The entire building will be cleaned daily and disinfected by our contracted cleaners according to CDC standards. They will also be implementing a midday cleaning of shared spaces. These processes and products have been enhanced to help counter possible transmission of the virus, per public health guidelines. 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.

Students will be allowed to visit the library at designated times during the day, as to not come across another cohort of students.  Children may bring books home. When they are returned, books will be disinfected by the librarian before being made available again. An online library system has been acquired so that students may access online reading resources. (UPDATED 10/5)

Signage will be posted throughout buildings as a reminder of proper hygiene procedures. 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.

Various types of signage are in use such as identification of new entrance procedures and water fountain usage. We use a variety of posters with words and/or pictures for the convenience of all our students, those who can read and those who are pre-readers. These signs will include reminders emphasizing safe practices such as hand washing, wearing face coverings, and physical distancing. Signs also indicate which areas have been cleaned, sanitized, disinfected or need to be cleaned.

Q: Who will be responsible for overseeing all of the enhanced health and safety practices at school?  

A: All Faculty, Staff, and Administrators will be responsible for overseeing and guiding the observance of these procedures.

Q: What will arrival and dismissal look like?

A: The School has altered the arrival and departure protocols to address the COVID-19 era. Arrival will no longer include administrators receiving children from cars. Parents will now need to park in the neighborhood (including the school zone) and walk children to their designated entry door. Each entry door is now exclusively used by one or two classroom communities. Please check the "Arrival & Dismissal" section under Healthy Schedules for information about your classroom’s entry door. At the entry door upon arrival, children will be received/screened by an Aidan staff person before proceeding into the building and to their classrooms. 

Dismissal will take place as follows: 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 present their name placard in the driver’s side window or let an administrative official know which child to call. Primary and Toddler parents should retrieve their child from their designated entrance point and should plan to park their car if driving. Elementary students will be brought to the front of the school and will be dismissed to their cars as their parent and caregivers arrive. 

Physical distancing must be maintained on the sidewalk. Students will use the same applicable hallway, stairwell, door, and gate as they used in the morning during arrival in reverse order. Students will then walk to their parents at their designated entry and either walk to their car, load, and drive away, or depart on foot/bike/scooter.

Q: Will my child have to wear a face covering at school?

A: Yes, children in Primary and Elementary will be required to wear face coverings. Toddler children under the age of 2 will not be required to wear a face covering per current guidance. While standing protocols will call for all students, except those under the age of 2, to wear face coverings, there may be accommodations made for certain health conditions as per CDC guidelines and documented by a doctor’s note, and at the approval of the School and/or designated safe spaces created for children to have temporary relief from wearing a mask. Students will need to wear face coverings while outside, including during ASP and recess. There may be exceptions to this rule depending on the activities the class is doing, and if they are able to maintain the proper distance. (UPDATED 10/5)

Q: How often will hands be washed?

A: At a minimum, all children will wash their hands according to best practices: 

• upon arrival in the morning; 
• whenever they use the bathroom; 
• before and after eating lunch or snack; 
• any time they’ve handled anything dirty such as trash, food waste, etc. 
• as part of the dismissal routine. 

The School has also installed additional hand sanitizing stations throughout the building.

Q: How will you keep the building and Montessori materials safe?

A: The entire building will be routinely cleaned and disinfected by our contracted cleaning staff, following CDC guidelines. All bathrooms will be disinfected at least once per day. Electrostatic Spraying Technology will be used to disinfect our environments at the end of each day. The charge extends to even the hard to reach places and coats them evenly and effectively. Our staff will also clean and disinfect Montessori materials between use. Materials that cannot be easily cleaned and sanitized will not be available for use. 

The school has also installed signage providing hygiene and safety reminders, additional hand sanitizer stations, updated soap and paper towel dispensers in the bathrooms, turned off the water fountains (leaving only the water bottle-filling stations), and installed plexiglass barriers at strategic points throughout the building. 

Q: What should I send in my child’s backpack every day? 

A: Your child’s backpack should include the following items:

• 2 face coverings--well-fitted, comfortable, freshly laundered;
• Water bottle;
• Change of clothes;
• An individual size container of hand sanitizer;
• Lunch with placemat and necessary utensils (please make sure your child can open and close all containers);
• Clothing and outdoor gear appropriate for the weather (please label everything with your child’s name).

Q: What is the plan for keeping things safely physically distanced during lunch, when the children won’t be wearing masks?

A: Any time a student needs to get up and move about the room they will be required to wear a mask. Whenever possible, we will try to provide an individual space for children to work at both tables and on the floor.

Q: How much will be done outside in terms of lessons, lunches, specials, etc.?

A: Working outside in the fresh air is ideal, weather permitting. That said, this involves tight coordination between all classrooms in order to arrange and reserve adequate space and ample time. Opportunities to work outside will certainly be considered as much as possible during the times they are not in lessons. 

Q: How will the teachers support the children’s needs for socialization and yet keep them physically safe?

A: We are bound by the requirements of our regulatory agencies to take measures to keep the members of each classroom community physically distant and have put protocols in place to comply. We are fully committed to our responsibility to provide children with appropriate manners in which to interact with others, stretch their social muscles, and to feel welcome, safe and respected while at Aidan. This dual task demands a flexible balance. 

First, we must acknowledge that each individual child has their own unique capacity for social interaction and that varies in different situations around different people. Observation is the key for us to determine what each child needs and we plan to be even more diligent in our interpretations: who needs reassurance, who needs encouragement, who needs more touch points. 

In a Montessori community, there are frequent opportunities to engage in Grace & Courtesy lessons. We are going to teach how to wait patiently in line at a distance, to listen even more closely and carefully to each other, and to read body language and signals, especially eyes. Each child will be encouraged to do their work at their own place and will be able to politely watch a peer’s work, too. They will be free to roam around, choose their own work, complete that cycle, take breaks, read quietly, laugh together, daydream, and ponder the beauty of their world.  

Aidan Montessori children will continue to joyfully engage with each other and the adults will do their best to facilitate safe boundaries for that exuberance to be realized each day.

Q: How will Aidan deal with other groups using the Marriott Lawn during time outside?

A: We recognize that there may be high demand for shared public spaces and we will try to stake out some space on the Marriott Lawn mid-morning to use for PE and Recess as appropriate. If the Marriott lawn is deemed unsafe due to congestion and overuse, we will plan for a nature walk around the neighborhood, visit Tregaron Park, or follow an alternate plan for use of the playground in collaboration with other classes.

Q: What if my child is feeling unwell?

A: Please err on the safe side and keep your child home from school. Please also contact your child’s pediatrician for advice. We require a note from your child’s pediatrician explaining that their symptoms are related to something other than COVID, or if they are unable to differentiate, negative COVID results are required to return to school. Our School Nurse is also available to answer questions.

Q: What if my child starts feeling unwell during the school day?

A: This year the School is taking a conservative approach to signs of illness and is asking everyone--staff and students--to stay home if they do not feel well. Should a student begin to feel unwell during the school day, the student will be isolated in the nurse’s office and their parents will be called.  Parents will be asked to pick up their child within 30 minutes. If your child goes home for symptoms that are synonymous with COVID-19, we require a note from your child’s pediatrician explaining that their symptoms are related to something other than COVID, or if they are unable to differentiate, negative COVID results are required to return to school. If a family prefers to skip the step of talking to their pediatrician and chooses to get the COVID test done, that is acceptable as well. Parents should plan for this before the School year begins.

Q: If my child is sent home, will my other children be able to remain at school?

A: Out of an abundance of caution, if a child is sent home from school due to symptoms that could be synonymous with COVID-19, then siblings of the sick child will be sent home as well. Sick children should be picked up from the School within 30-minutes of receiving notification that their child is ill. The siblings may return when a doctor has deemed that the symptoms are not related to COVID, or the negative COVID results come back and are submitted to the school nurse.

If a child is picked up from the School early due to injury, an appointment, in response to a disciplinary matter or because they are unable to fully participate in the life of the classroom, then the siblings of the child may remain at School.

Q: What will happen if someone in our community tests positive?

A: The School will act in consultation with the DC Department of Health and communicate any actions being taken by the School such as additional cleaning/disinfection measures and/or closing of classrooms, halls or the building. A child who tests positive for COVID-19 will be permitted to return to school when they are cleared to return by their doctor and the Department of Health Contact Tracing Team in accordance with CDC clearance criteria: If someone is confirmed infected with COVID-19, they are considered “cleared” when: 1) They are fever-free without antipyretic medication for 24 hours, and 2) at least 10 days have passed since the onset of symptoms, and 3) the symptoms have improved. If they do not have symptoms, then they are cleared 10 days after the positive test. 

Please note that the CDC clinical clearance criteria may change over time. A release form from their doctor or the Department of Health will be required for return to campus.

Q: How will I be notified of a positive COVID-19 case in our community?

A: A positive test of any community member (student, parent, employee or parent) will be announced similarly to the way other infectious disease announcements are made, while preserving the anonymity of the infected individual: the School will send an email describing the community/classroom involved. In addition to the usual communications, you may receive information about a positive COVID-19 case by way of our Remind system. 

Q: What is needed in order to return to school after quarantining due to COVID-19?

A: We require that any member of the Aidan community returning to campus after quarantine due to COVID-19 provide the School Nurse with the quarantine release notification emailed from the DC Department of Health Contract Trace Task Force (it may be different if you live in MD or VA, but still required from your states DOH), or a note from their doctor stating when they are able to return to school. This notification indicates that the returning community member has “completed the recommended isolation period after testing positive for Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes the respiratory illness COVID-19.”  

Ask your DC Department of Health contact, or your doctor,  to email a copy of this release, which should be subsequently forwarded to Nurse Lexi before the community member may return to campus. For children returning to classroom communities following quarantine, we recommend that parents print a copy of the release form to share with your child’s teacher.