Tallulah Academy COVID-19 Response Plan
Our top priority will be providing a safe environment for our students and faculty/staff where learning can be continuous and uninterrupted. Our approach will follow guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Department of Education, and the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools (MAIS). As the published guidelines are ever-changing, these procedures will likely be modified or updated in the future. The intent of this plan is to minimize the risk of exposure, as much as possible, for our students, staff, faculty, and parents. We realize that some of these policies and procedures may be inconvenient at times, but we ask for your patience and cooperation.
Notice of Risk
We have taken enhanced health and safety measures for those who come to our campus- students, employees, and visitors. While on campus, you must follow all posted instructions. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. COVID-19 is a contagious disease. If infected, you may exhibit no symptoms or mild symptoms, or become severely ill, or die. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and persons with underlying health conditions are especially vulnerable. By visiting our campus, you voluntarily assume all risks related to the possible exposure to COVID-19.
Definition of Terms:
Physical distancing - maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet between people or at least 3 feet of physical distance is sufficient when indoor masking occurs.
Health/hygiene protocols - practices that promote health and reduce the exposure to disease from other human beings.
Sanitization protocols - practices that promote health and reduce exposure to disease from surface contact.
Essential personnel for school - faculty, staff, or others whose role is necessary for the school to function.
Essential workers (public workforce) - Those deemed essential as defined by state and federal guidelines.
Quarantine - mandatory requirement for students/ staff with confirmed COVID-19 contact to remove oneself from the community for a period of time
Close contact/Direct Exposure - physical contact (within 6 feet) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period
Examples: Riding in a vehicle together and one person tests positive the next day - everyone in the car has been directly exposed; Sleepover and two days later someone tests positive - everyone in the house was directly exposed; Outdoor Family BBQ where everyone remained 6 feet apart- this is not direct contact
Cohorting/ static groups - limiting the exposure of a class/group to other groups within the school.
Common Area - typically spaces that anyone can access and are available for simultaneous use such as the cafeteria, hallways, and bathrooms.
Fully Vaccinated - Two weeks AFTER the second dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or two weeks after the one-dose vaccine of Johnson & Johnson
Daily temperature checks and health screening responses are mandatory for all individuals on our campus. Please take each child’s temperature and check symptoms for all in your household every day, prior to coming to school. In doing so, you assure us you are performing these screening procedures every day, your child is symptom-free, and they have not been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 when they arrive on our campus each day.
Symptoms of COVID-19 for Screening:
- Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees
- Known direct contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19
- Congestion or runny nose
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills
- Muscle pain/Body Aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Loss of taste or smell
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
COVID-19 Student Attendance Policy
Student absences resulting from a positive COVID-19 test or necessary quarantine after a positive test result or exposure are not counted in the days of absence allowed under the Tallulah Academy and state of Louisiana student attendance policy.
- Any student who presents with COVID-19 symptoms or becomes sick during school will be sent to the isolation area where they will remain under supervision until a parent is notified or arrives. Parents will be encouraged to seek advice from their health care provider.
- Mrs. Finlayson and the classroom teacher must be notified if a student or any family member in their household (or with whom they have had close contact/direct exposure) tests positive for COVID-19.
- Any student, regardless of vaccination status, who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 5 calendar days. A student may return to school:
o 5 calendar days have passed since the first onset of symptoms and
o be fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and
o have improvement of symptoms
o A mask must be worn for an additional 5 days.
- Any student (who has been boosted OR has completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months, OR has completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last two months) who has been directly exposed (see definition on page 1) to someone who has COVID-19:
o will be required to wear a mask around others for 10 days
o If symptoms develop, stay home and seek medical advice
- Any student (who has completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted OR has completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted OR are unvaccinated) must:
o Stay home for 5 days. After that continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
o Test on day 5, if possible
o If symptoms develop, stay home and seek medical advice.
- Any student who has a family member who has COVID-19 will be required to follow the student exposure guidelines listed above.
COVID-19 Personnel Attendance Policy
- Any personnel who presents with COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to leave campus immediately.
- Any personnel who experience symptoms should notify Mrs. Finlayson immediately.
- Any personnel, regardless of vaccination status, who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 5 calendar days. Personnel may return to school:
o 5 calendar days have passed since the first onset of symptoms and
o be fever free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and
o have improvement of symptoms
o A mask must be worn for an additional 5 days.
- Any personnel (who has been boosted OR has completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months, OR has completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last two months) who has been directly exposed (see definition on page 1) to someone who has COVID-19:
o will be required to wear a mask around others for 10 days
o If symptoms develop, stay home and seek medical advice
- Any personnel (who has completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted OR has completed the primary series of J&J over 2 months ago and are not boosted OR are unvaccinated) must:
o Stay home for 5 days. After that, continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
o Test on day 5, if possible
o If symptoms develop, stay home and seek medical advice.
- Any personnel who experience any of the symptoms of COVID-19 (as listed in this document) should self-isolate and be tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible. If the test is negative, they can return to school.
Response to a Confirmed Case of COVID-19
- The school will identify any individuals who had close contact with the affected person and notify them as soon as possible.
- Clean and disinfect area used by individual with COVID-19.
o Wait 24 hours to clean if needed
o Open doors and windows
- Teachers, staff, or students who have tested positive will not be allowed to return to campus until they complete all protocols.
Campus Cleaning
- All buildings will be cleaned every evening with hospital-grade, EPA-approved products.
- Each classroom will have COVID effective cleaning products that may be used by staff or students to wipe down surfaces during the day.
- If a room is used by more than one group in a single day, high-touch surfaces contained in that room will be cleaned before and after use by each group.
Preventative Actions
- Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are encouraged to wear a mask at all times in common areas.
- Students will remain in static groups during the day, to the extent possible.
- Physical distancing will be encouraged whenever possible throughout the day.
- Students should refrain from sharing supplies with others.
- Water fountains will not be used. Students will have personal water containers.
- The school buildings will be closed to all except students, faculty, staff, and essential visitors. Parents who need to checkout their child should call the office and wait in their vehicle.
Exclusion/ Sick Room
There will be an exclusion space/sick room where a child who becomes ill or shows signs of illness will remain until they are picked up by a parent or other approved adult. The child must wear a mask while in this room. This room will be cleaned with EPA-approved products designed to kill the COVID-19 virus after use and every evening.
Elementary
- Students will be dropped off at the front door of the elementary.
- Elementary students who ride with high school students should enter through the elementary main entrance.
7th – 12th grades
- Students will enter through the front doors in the cafeteria.
- Students must practice social distancing.
Procedures During the School Day
Elementary-
- Students sanitize hands regularly throughout the day.
- If a student needs to be checked out, call the office and your child will be waiting at the elementary entrance.
- Social distancing and crowd flow directional paths should be used.
- A limited number of students will be allowed in the restroom at one time.
- If eating breakfast before school, elementary must eat in the designated area.
7th – 12th grades-
- All students enter through the main entrance into the cafeteria.
- Students who eat breakfast before school may eat in the cafeteria with social distancing.
- Upon entry or after breakfast, students should go directly to the classroom of their first-period class and remain in that room.
- Students sanitize hands regularly throughout the day.
- A limited number of students will be allowed in the restroom at one time.
- Class changes will be held at staggered times to allow for social distancing.
- Lunch will be served in shifts to allow for social distancing.
- Social distancing and crowd flow directional paths should be used.
- If a student needs to be checked out, call the office, and wait in your vehicle for them to exit from the main entrance to the cafeteria.
This policy will remain in effect and be re-evaluated every 2 weeks until restrictions are lifted. Parents will be notified via email when these restrictions have been altered or discontinued.
