Dear Odyssey Students, Parents, and Guardians,
We look forward to our blended-learning students returning to their on-campus schedule beginning Monday, February 7, 2022. (Students in the online only format will stay online only). In preparation for our return, please review the prevention and safety measures outlined below. If you have any questions, please reach out to your principal right away. Thank you for all of your flexibility and your commitment to making Odyssey a safe place to learn.
Sincerely,
The Odyssey Administrative Team
Prevention and Mitigation of Virus Spread Within Odyssey Charter School
Student/Parent
2/1/2022
Social Distancing
Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. To practice social or physical distancing:
• Do not gather in large groups and avoid close contact with other people (close contact is being within six feet of another person for 15 cumulative minutes of exposure over a 24-hour period).
• Stay out of crowded places.
• In the classroom, all students will be separated from each other by at least three feet in all directions.
• Odyssey will utilize smaller class sizes
• Odyssey will minimize transitions from one classroom to another and minimize exposure to multiple teachers.
• Students will be admitted to the restrooms in limited numbers at any one time.
• Students exhibiting signs or symptoms of illness will be escorted to the health office and asked to return home.
Handwashing and Hand Sanitizing
https://www.cdc.gov/
Handwashing and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers help to prevent infections and reduce the number of viable pathogens on the hands. Access to handwashing supplies is essential. These supplies include soap, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol (for staff and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer), paper towels, tissues, and no-touch trash cans.
Handwashing is the single most effective infection control intervention (CDC).
Hand hygiene is performed by washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer with 60-95 percent alcohol content until the product dries. If hands are visibly soiled, use soap and water.
When handwashing stations are not readily available, the use of hand sanitizer should be encouraged. Students and staff will be encouraged to wash hands/use hand sanitizer often, such as:
• Upon entering their classroom.
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing nose.
• After using the restroom.
• Before eating or preparing food.
• Before and after touching face.
• After touching frequently touched areas (e.g., doorknobs, handrails, shared computers).
Face Coverings
General Rule
Except as otherwise set forth below, all Odyssey students and employees must wear an approved face covering that covers the face from the bridge of the nose to snugly under the chin at all times while inside the school, including inside restrooms, all buildings, and/or while engaged in OCS activities. Face coverings must be worn in all public areas, even if another person is not present. This would include walking in halls, front lobbies, break room/kitchen, restrooms, cubicles, etc. Compliance with these expectations is not optional.
The CDC says that well-fitting N95 masks offer “the highest level of protection” against COVID-19, providing much better coverage than cloth and standard surgical masks. Odyssey encourages you to wear N95 or KN95 masks rather than cloth masks. Face coverings must completely cover the nose and mouth.
For purposes of this protocol, approved face coverings include cloth face masks, surgical masks, N95 or KN95, or masks with filters that cover the face from the bridge of the nose to snugly under the chin. Face coverings with exhalation vents, those that are open at the top or bottom (such as bandanas, gaiters or clear plastic face shields without an approved face-covering underneath), or those that do not cover the face from the bridge of the nose to under the chin may not be worn.
Face coverings must comply with all applicable OCS policies, regulations, and dress codes pertaining to student and employee attire.
Exceptions
Face coverings may be removed in the following circumstances:
● Students who are eating or drinking, provided that appropriate social distancing protocols are followed. Face coverings must be replaced when finished eating or drinking.
Modifications or Accommodations to Face Coverings Requirement
The following individuals may qualify for an accommodation or modification to the face-covering requirement outlined above:
● Any student with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504, or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) whose disability prevents them from wearing an approved face covering. A licensed health care provider must provide written documentation as to the student not being able to wear a mask. The modification or accommodation must be documented in the student’s IEP, Section 504 Plan, or ADA accommodation plan. Students who do not meet the foregoing requirements will be required to continue with full-time distance education if they choose not to wear an approved face covering.
● Any employee who has a qualifying medical condition under the ADA warranting such modification. A licensed health care provider must provide written documentation as to the employee not being able to wear a mask.
To the extent possible, any student or employee who qualifies for an exemption to the face covering requirement will be required to wear a less restrictive alternative, such as a plastic face shield. Students and employees who do not qualify for an exemption are not permitted to wear a face shield without also wearing an approved face covering.
Cleaning Protocols
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After every class/testing period, staff will sanitize each computer, keyboard, mouse, counter space and chair. In addition, they will sanitize all common touch-points, such as computer printers and doorknobs.
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Students will be asked to sanitize their hands and to wipe their own computer, keyboard, mouse, counter space, and chair (second time sanitized) with provided sanitizing wipes at the beginning of class.
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After every class, student restrooms will be fully sanitized.
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If a student or staff member has symptoms of illness, the classroom will have enhanced sanitization protocols.
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Students will not share materials, pencils, or headphones.
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If calculators or science equipment are required, staff will sanitize the items prior to use by any other student.
Improved Air Quality
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All thermostats for air/heat must be set with the Fan ON at all times instead of being set to Auto. The Fan ON increases air circulation in the building and is important for respiratory health.
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All air filters have been upgraded to Merv 8 and are changed on the recommended schedule.
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HEPA air filters have been added to every classroom, office, and common area.
What will Employees do to Monitor Health and Safely Perform Job Duties?
• A Health Check and other health screening procedures have been developed and required for all employees to complete at the start of their work shift.
• Staff will properly wear an approved face covering at all times, including in restrooms.
• Staff will wash or sanitize their hands regularly, especially before and after check-in procedures, between classes or activities, and when working with children or supplies.
• Staff will stay home when they are feeling sick or have been exposed to others who tested positive for COVID-19.
• At the beginning of each class, staff will ask students to use a sanitizing wipe to clean their keyboard, mouse, chair, and countertop.
• After students have left the classroom, staff will sanitize each keyboard, mouse, chair, countertops, calculators, and any heavy touchpoints (printer, doorknob)
• Staff will escort any student in their classroom to the sick health office in the event a student is exhibiting signs or symptoms of illness during class time (ie. coughing in class, visible stuffy nose/congestion).
What will Students do to Monitor Health and Safely Come to School?
• Parents/guardians will check students at home to rule out fever and/or signs or symptoms of illness prior to departure from home. Odyssey will provide screening questions for parents.
• Outside, before entering the building, staff will ensure students have approved face coverings.
• Odyssey will emphasize to parents they must be available and prepared to pick their child up from Odyssey’s campus if needed.
• If students have been exposed to a person who has COVID-19, the parent/guardian must call Odyssey’s Health Office to discuss when the student can return to campus.
• If a student has tested positive for COVID-19, the parent/guardian must call Odyssey’s Health Office to discuss when the student can return to campus.
• Students will not share personal supplies. Students will bring their own pencils and headphones.
• Students will properly wear an approved face covering at all times. Bandanas are NOT permitted. Odyssey will provide a disposable face covering to students as needed.
• Students will be encouraged to wash or sanitize hands regularly.
• Students will be escorted to the restrooms to ensure there are not too many students in the restroom at any one time.
• Chairs will be removed in the classrooms to ensure social distancing.
Well Health Office and Sick Health Office
To ensure the health and safety of all students and staff, the following protocols will be adhered to:
1. Only persons who are qualified and trained by the school nurse or staff members assisting with direct student care (e.g., agency nurses or classroom aides) should be permitted in the health office or sick room.
2. Parents/guardians, siblings not in school, and visitors will not come into the health office to minimize the risk of possible exposure to illness and disease.
3. Physical distancing procedures will be followed in the well health office and sick health office.
4. Students who need to leave the classroom to go to a health office must be accompanied by a staff member. Students who have any signs or symptoms of illness will be escorted to the Sick Health Office. Students who require other care (ie. diabetic, medication, or injury) will be escorted to the Well Health Office.
5. As the student arrives at either the Well Health Office or the Sick Health Office, the FASA or school nurse will review the reason for seeking health services and ensure the student is at the correct location for either health office or sick room care.
6. Students will be required to wash hands upon entering the health office or sick room with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. They will be instructed to use tissues to cover the mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing and are expected to dispose of paper tissues in a trash can immediately after use. Students will be required to wear a clean cloth face covering or they will be provided with a fresh surgical mask. Maintain physical distance by staying at least six feet away.
7. Students in the Sick Health Office will be picked up by their parents/guardians as soon as possible.
What happens if someone in my child’s class or at the school gets sick?
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For any staff or student who is positively diagnosed with COVID-19, systematic contact tracing will occur. Any person found to have been exposed will be notified. The notification will include instructions for quarantine and the date students can return to campus.
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Parents/guardians will be notified if any person in your child’s school or classroom has a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The notification will include instructions if quarantine is necessary and the date students can return to campus.
