HEALTH and SAFETY considerations always come first in every decision made and every action taken by GCHS.
We understand that we cannot eliminate risk altogether but, we can take significant steps to minimize it, to protect the learning environment, and to address health concerns quickly as they arise. Our protective measures are based on 2 overall strategies:
Reduce the likelihood of an infected individual coming into the learning environment (by requiring daily temperature taking, and screening for high-risk factors like symptoms or travel to areas experiencing outbreaks).
Create a system of redundant physical protections within the school environment (by employing social distance, mask wearing, and plastic barriers; using any/all of these measures simultaneously whenever possible).
Mitigation is accomplished by:
Temperature Checks and Health Screening Attestations
Healthy Hygiene Practices
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use district provided sanitizer.
Follow respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.
Social Distancing;
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Masks/Face Coverings (see Before Arrival);
Management of Ill Persons; and
Cleaning and Disinfection.
We will provide instructions to students, faculty and staff on how to follow the new protocols safely and correctly, including but not limited to hand hygiene, proper face covering wearing, social distancing, respiratory hygiene and students use of hallways and stairs. Additionally, schools will post signs throughout the buildings and will regularly share messages with the school community promoting proper hand and respiratory hygiene and social distancing.
All students, faculty and staff are reminded that they must report symptoms of, or exposure to, COVID-19 to the designated school nurse.
All students, faculty, staff and visitors will be reminded through signage to adhere to CDC and DOE guidance regarding the use of PPE, specifically acceptable face coverings, when a social distance cannot be maintained.
Social Distancing
Social Distancing also called “physical distancing” means keeping a six foot space between yourself and others. This will include:
All classrooms have been measured to determine the capacity of each room based on social distance guidelines.
All instructional spaces have been redesigned so that students can maintain a social distance of six feet from one another. Furniture placement in the classrooms has been adjusted accordingly.
Changes to foot-traffic flow through building have been identified to limit the amount of close contact between students in high-traffic situations.
Signage, floor markings and visual aids (e.g., painter’s tape, stickers, posters, cones etc.) will be used to illustrate traffic flow and appropriate spacing to support social distancing indoors and outdoors.
Size of groups/cohorts of students will be determined by the number of students who can be in each classroom while maintaining 6 feet of social distancing.
In classroom settings where social distancing is not possible, employees working with students with disabilities will be provided additional personal protective equipment.
student desks facing in the same direction rather than facing each other to reduce transmission caused by virus-containing droplets (e.g., from talking, coughing, sneezing);
staggering the use of restrooms. Restrooms will be monitored by staff to ensure social distancing and cleanliness. Students will be reminded that they must wash hands after use.
Hand Hygiene
Students and staff must practice good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Hand hygiene includes:
Traditional hand washing (with soap and warm water, lathering for a minimum of 20 seconds), which is the preferred method.
School will provide hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available, and hands are not visibly dirty.
School provided hand sanitizer will be available throughout common areas, and near high touch surfaces.
Respiratory Hygiene
The COVID-19 virus spreads from person to person in droplets produced by coughs and sneezes. Therefore, it is important that:
Students and staff cover their mouths or noses with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and dispose of the tissue appropriately.
A supply of tissues be available in each room when feasible. If no tissue is available, using the inside of the elbow (or shirtsleeve) to cover the mouth or nose is preferable to using the hands.
Always perform hand hygiene after sneezing, coughing and handling dirty tissues or other soiled material.
Windows are open to improve ventilation when possible.