HEALTH & SAFETY

These guidelines are dynamic and may be updated as deemed necessary by the School based on current advice and guidelines. 

Families are asked to partner with the school to ensure strict adherence to our health and safety procedures and policies.

A child will be considered well and allowed to attend school if they meet all of the following daily health observations:

• They have a temperature reading of 99° or lower.
• They have not had a fever of 100° or higher within the past 24 hours
• No cough.
• No shortness of breath.
• No body rashes or eye discharge.

 

24-HOUR EXCLUSION POLICY

If a student is identified with the following symptoms, they will be excluded from the program for 24 hours starting the next day of exclusion:

• Fever of 100.0° or higher (during the school day).
• Continuous cough.
• Shortness of breath.

Students will be able to return to school once:

• Fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.
• Absence of continuous cough for 24 hours without cough suppressants.
• Absence of shortness of breath for 24 hours.
• The day the child is sent home from school is day 0.
• The day the child is free of symptoms (full day) without the use of medication is day 1 and the child can return on day 2 without symptoms or fever-reducing medication.
• COVID -19 regulations are different. Please see the information for COVID protocols below.

Students will be excluded from the program for 24 hours starting the next day of exclusions if they have any of these symptoms:

• Vomiting (without known cause).
• Diarrhea (loose stools 2-3 times during the day).

Students will be able to return to school once:

• Vomit-free for 24 hours.
• Diarrhea-free for 24 hours.

In addition, the following practices will be followed:

• An unvaccinated student cannot be on campus if they have a pending COVID-19 test due to exposure or symptoms
• A vaccinated student cannot be on campus if they have a pending COVID-19 test due to symptoms
• An unvaccinated student cannot be on campus if anyone in their household has a pending COVID-19 test due to exposure or symptoms.
• A vaccinated student can be on campus if someone in their household is getting tested for whatever reason
• A student can be on campus if anyone in their household has a pending COVID-19 test but has no known exposure and does not have symptoms (i.e. test for travel, or work)

If a parent is called to come to pick up their child due to illness, they must be at school within one hour. No exceptions.

If a student is sent home, they MUST remain home for 24 hours (2 days) following the date they were excused. Doctor's notes will not shorten the exclusion policy for any reason. COVID -19 regulations are different. Please see the information for COVID protocols.

Two Nurses will be on campus, one primarily dedicated to the Big School and one primarily dedicated to the Little School.  

If a child presents with any symptoms that would exclude them from the program, the nurse will immediately take the child into quarantine and notify the parent in writing and/or by phone.

 

ISOLATION FOR SICKNESS

If a child falls ill while on campus they will be removed from the classroom and their parent/guardian will be notified. The child will remain with the school nurse, or other appointed school personnel until the parent/guardian arrives on campus. Parents must arrive on campus within one hour of notification.

 

CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 IN SCHOOL

Upon receiving notification that a child or staff member has received a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, the following actions will take place: 

• School personnel will notify all families of students enrolled in the specified grade or classroom.
• If there are three or more cases in a class, school personnel will contact the Fairfax County Health Department.

COVID-19 QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS

Isolation and Quarantine Guidance:

Symptomatic persons (regardless of vaccination status) should begin isolation at home and undergo testing as recommended by their healthcare providers. The day symptoms began should be counted as day 0. 

Persons who test positive (regardless of vaccination status) should isolate themselves at home for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours, they may return to school after Day 5, provided: 

• If the individual is able to mask, they should do so through Day 10. 
• If the individual is unable or unwilling to mask during this time (including children under age 2), a negative test on or after Day 6 in order to return to school OR the person should remain home through day 10. 

For exposed but asymptomatic persons (regardless of vaccination status), quarantine is no longer recommended for the above settings. These individuals may continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic. 

• Masks: Students/staff that attend programming during this time are strongly encouraged to consider wearing a mask around others indoors until Day 10. 
• If a student or staff person in this group has ongoing household exposure to a person with COVID-19, recommended that students, families, and staff consider frequent testing