Response to COVID-19

Upper Campus (Grades 7-12)

100% Remote Only Option Offered for Families

• Remote instruction 4 days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
• Optional on-campus and remote activities, conferencing with teachers, etc. on WISCR Wednesdays
• Lessons may be synchronous and/or asynchronous, at the discretion of the teacher

Hybrid On-Campus Option (Beginning October 26, 2020)

• On-campus instruction 2 days a week (Monday-Tuesday or Thursday-Friday)
• On-campus and remote activities, conferencing with teachers, etc. on WISCR Wednesdays
• For each class, there is one remote lesson and one on-campus lesson each week
• Remote lessons may be synchronous or asynchronous (or a combination of the two), at the discretion of the teacher

 

Lower and Middle Campus (Grades K-6)

100% Remote Only Option Offered for Families

• This option is offered to any family who needs or prefers this option.
• This option mirrors the on-campus schedule with instruction happening through zoom and other asynchronous activities.
• The same teachers are teaching for both on-campus and remote learning options. The curriculum is the same for both options.
• This 100% remote option is only available to those who can commit for an entire semester since it will require dedicated faculty and resources to facilitate it.
• Each grade has one dedicated remote cohort.

In-Person Instruction

• There are three sections in each grade with an average class size of 10-14 students.
• Enrichment classrooms have been converted to regular classrooms for the coming school year to accommodate the increased class sections.
• Students remain in a homeroom classroom throughout the entire day and the teachers come to the students’ homeroom.
• Outdoor classroom spaces have been created for teachers to use as needed.
• Remote Learning, one consistent designated day each Friday, allows the teachers to use this day for additional preparation, collaboration, and professional development due to the increased number of class sections they will be teaching.
• One day of remote learning each week allows the students to regularly experience this type of learning and be better prepared should we be required to switch to this model at some point during the school year for a period of time due to an outbreak within the county, campus, or individual class section.
• Math, Language Arts, and PE are offered daily every week.
• All other subjects (Music, Art, Science, Spanish, History, Creative Expression) rotate during the year with each grade having three of these subjects daily for the entire month, and then rotating to a different set of classes the following month.

 

 

• Pinewood employs a third-party vendor to provide cleaning, disinfecting, and janitorial service following CDC guidance, as referenced in the above requirements. This cleaning vendor performs campus-wide and classroom cleaning, disinfecting, and janitorial service. The third-party cleaning service supplies personnel to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and student interfaces while school is in session (restrooms, stair rails, seating areas, break rooms, sinks, lunch areas, etc.).
• Pinewood faculty and staff assist with cleaning and disinfecting frequently-touched surfaces and objects in the classroom between student use, including, but not limited to, desks and tables, chairs and other seating, computers and keyboards, doorknobs, light switches, and any other surface or object in the classroom touched or used by students.
• Cleaning products used are approved for use against COVID-19 on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved list “N” and follow product instructions.
• Cleaning and disinfecting schedules have been established to avoid both under- and over-use of cleaning products.
• Pinewood staff and faculty have been trained on cleaning methods and manufacturers’ directions.
• Proper ventilation is provided during cleaning and disinfecting. Fresh outdoor air is introduced as much as possible, for example, by opening windows and doors where practicable. Classroom and campus spaces are aired out before students arrive.
• Pinewood maintains the school ventilation systems, air filters, and HVAC systems and maximizes the central air filtration for HVAC systems with a targeted filter rating of at least MERV 13. The circulation of outdoor air is increased by opening windows and doors to the extent possible and safe. For each room without windows, there is an air purifier provided for that space.
• Items that are difficult to clean and sanitize have been removed from use.
• In the event of a student, staff, or faculty illness, access will be limited to the area(s) used by the sick person (e.g., a student’s desk or a staff member’s office) until cleaned and disinfected.

K-6 children remain in physically distanced stable classroom cohorts of no more than 14 students by keeping the same students together for the entire school day. Arrival, dismissal, recess, breaks, and lunch have been staggered so that students will not mix with other stable classroom cohorts.

Lower Campus

• Students remain in stable classroom cohorts by keeping the same students together for the entire school day. Students are not allowed to mix with other stable classroom cohorts.
• Backpacks or personal belongings remain with the student in their classroom.

Middle Campus

• Students remain in stable classroom cohorts by keeping the same students together for the entire school day. Students are not allowed to mix with other stable classroom cohorts.
• Backpacks or personal belongings remain with the student in their classroom
• Faculty, staff and students are required to sanitize in and out of the classroom.

Upper Campus

• Physical distancing of six feet will be maintained between all students’ desks to reduce student-to-student disease transmission, as practicable.
• Backpacks or personal belongings will remain with the student, lockers will be unavailable for use.
• Faculty, staff and students will be required to sanitize their hands in and out of the classroom.
• Students will be assigned stable seating arrangements to ensure that close contacts within the classrooms are minimized and easily identifiable.

All school

• Teacher and staff desks are at least six feet away from any students to reduce adult-to-student disease transmission.
• Seating is assigned for students to ensure that close contacts within classrooms are minimized and easily identifiable.

 

 

Entrances + Movement Within the School

• All hallways and classroom entrances are outside. We have opened more access points to the school so that no congregating occurs.

Physical Distancing

• Physical distancing requirements have been communicated through school correspondence and training.
• Pinewood faculty, staff and students have received protocols and physical distancing training for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Signage is posted in prominent locations throughout the campus to remind students about physical distancing.
• Faculty/Staff will continue to reinforce physical distancing.
• Only necessary students and staff are allowed on campus.
• Parents and necessary visitors are required to wear a face-mask upon exiting their vehicle, maintain physical distance and report to the campus office for symptom screening and temperature check using a kiosk in the office. This will limit the number of students and staff with whom they come in contact.
• Use of outdoor space and classrooms have been maximized.

Face Coverings

• Teachers and staff
  • All adults must always wear a cloth face covering, that covers the nose AND mouth, while on campus, except while eating, drinking or when their face mask needs to be replaced.
  • Faculty members may wear face shields in addition to face coverings to provide added protection.
  • Faculty members may remove their face covering under their face shield to help facilitate phonological instruction, enabling students to see the teacher’s mouth in settings where a cloth face covering poses a barrier to communications.
  • Staff and faculty excluded from this requirement are those that require respiratory protection according to Cal/OSHA standards.
• Students
  • All students (kindergarten through 12th grade) are required to wear cloth face coverings that cover the nose AND mouth:
  • • while arriving and departing from school campus;
  • • In all classrooms and school buildings
  • • in any area outside of the classroom (except when eating, drinking, or engaging in physical activity);
  • Students exempt from face covering requirements include:
    • (1) anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the covering without assistance and
  • • (2) K-2 grade students with special needs who are unable to tolerate a face covering.
• Cloth face coverings are the responsibility of each family; Pinewood will not be providing student masks.
• Signage has been posted in high visibility areas to remind students and staff of (1) when and where face coverings are required and (2) appropriate use of face coverings.
• Communications have been provided to staff and families regarding expectations for face coverings at school and how to wash face coverings.
• Training has been provided to students and staff on the rationale and proper use of face coverings.

Health Screenings

• We have purchased UST global smart bands (which will be referred to as “PantherBands” from here on out) that provide real-time feedback regarding important symptoms, including temperature, oxygen saturation levels and heart rate. These PantherBands will also provide valuable contact tracing information about other community members with whom a symptomatic person has been in direct contact which will allow for earlier isolation and treatment. Each member of the community, faculty/staff and students, will be required to wear the PantherBands at all times while on campus.
• The device will be paired with the users’ phones providing an integrated questionnaire that allows for initial self-screening prior to arrival on campus.
  • Students with the assistance of parents/guardians, faculty, and staff, are expected to conduct symptom screening at home before arrival each day via PantherBand app.
• Students exhibiting one or more symptoms associated with COVID-19 will be sent home as soon as possible. The school will separate the student from others in a designated isolation room/area, direct the student to wear a face covering or medical mask if feasible, and notify the student’s parent or guardian who will be required to pick up the student as soon as possible.

Healthy Hygiene Practices

• Adequate supplies have been provided to support healthy hygiene behaviors, including soap, tissues, no-touch trash cans, hand sanitizer (with at least 60 percent ethyl alcohol) for staff and students who can safely use sanitizer.
• Touchless hand sanitizers are placed at every entrance, classroom, and building.
• Signage is placed throughout the campus to remind individuals to wash and sanitize their hands. Teachers will also continue to educate students on best hand washing practices.

Training

Theresa Maksim, Pinewood's Health and Safety Coordinator, has been designated to train and educate all staff and families. She has trained teachers during back to school meetings and she will be a resource throughout the year. She will also be the number one contact for any symptomatic students, staff, or faculty, and will oversee protocol if someone tests positive for COVID-19 or is in direct contact with a positive individual.

Testing of Students + Staff

Routine Testing of Faculty, Staff, and Students

Our K-12 faculty + staff are routinely tested for COVID-19 every two weeks. Our 7-12 grade students will also be routinely tested every two weeks starting October 13/14 to ensure that we are providing a safe environment for our community.

Symptomatic Individuals

Students and staff must get tested as soon as possible if they develop one or more COVID-19 symptoms. They will not be permitted back on campus until they have either:

• Proof of a negative test
• His or her healthcare provider provides the school with a note certifying that he or she is free from COVID-19

Students and staff have to be free from fever without the use of fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours AND symptoms have improved.

Exposure to Someone with COVID-19

If one of their household members or non-household close contacts tests positive for COVID-19, this individual must:

• Get tested at least 7 days after exposure
• Test negative for COVID-19
• Remain asymptomatic
• Isolate for 14 days after the date of the last exposure or for same household members, 14 days after their quarantine ends.

Confirmed COVID-19 Case

• Symptomatic individuals who test positive for COVID-19 can return 10 days after symptom onset AND at least 24 hours with no fever AND improvement in other symptoms.
• Asymptomatic individuals who test positive for COVID-19 can return 10 days after their positive test results.
• If they test positive, close contacts to confirmed COVID-19 cases can return after completing the required isolation period described above.

All faculty and staff will be tested periodically by their primary care provider, referral to a community testing site, or on school campus through a licensed testing agency. Frequency includes all faculty/staff being tested at a minimum over 2 months, where 50% of staff are tested every month to rotate which staff members are tested over time. Ultimately, frequency of testing will be determined as testing capacity permits.

Communication Plans + Contact Tracing

• Pinewood School administrators will notify the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department immediately of any positive COVID-19 case. Notify all faculty/staff and families in the cohort or close contact of any positive COVID-19 case while maintaining confidentiality required by state and federal laws.
• For Lower and Middle Campuses where stable classroom cohorts have been maintained: All students and staff in the cohort with the confirmed case should be instructed to contact their health care provider regarding COVID-19 testing and remain quarantined at home for 14 days.
• For Upper Campus where stable classroom cohorts have NOT been maintained: Utilize class seating rosters, consultation with teachers/staff and PantherBands to identify close contacts to the confirmed COVID-19 case in all classrooms and on-campus activities. A close contact is someone who has been within six feet of the case for a prolonged period (at least 10-15 minutes) regardless of face covering use. Close contacts should be instructed to contact their healthcare providers regarding COVID-19 testing and should remain quarantined at home for 14 days.
• PantherBands (as described above) will also provide valuable contact tracing information about other community members with whom a symptomatic person has been in direct contact which will allow for earlier isolation and treatment.
• Theresa Maksim, our Health + Safety Coordinator is the county’s contact person for anything COVID-19 related.

 

Triggers to Switching to Distant Learning

We will follow the guidance of Santa Clara County to determine when we must physically close the school and prohibit in-person instruction.

Individual school closure is recommended based on the number of cases, the percentage of the teacher/students/staff that are positive for COVID-19, and following consultation with the Local Health Officer. Individual school closure may be appropriate when there are multiple cases in multiple cohorts at a school or when at least 5 percent of the total number of teachers/student/staff are positive cases within a 14-day period, depending on the size and physical layout of the school.The Local Health Officer may also determine school closure is warranted for other reasons, including results from public health investigation or other local epidemiological data.