Wickenburg Christian Academy is committed to:

• Meeting the Physical Needs. Providing safe learning and working environments for our students, employees, and community.
• Meeting the Academic Needs.  Demonstrating educational value for every student to be challenged and successful.
• Meeting the Spiritual Needs. Assisting student growth in the knowledge and understanding of what God has done and is still doing by encouraging students to ask questions about God and the world.
• Meeting the Emotional Needs. Fostering supportive relationships providing activities, experiences, and counseling that help students develop healthy emotions
• Meeting the Financial Needs. Maintaining fiscal solvency through wise stewardship of our resources.

From the minute our students moved to distance learning in March, we have anticipated their return. It is clear how important schools are to keeping our community productive. WCA is where students receive not only an education and faith formation but also where parents and students receive hope and help to see wonder in life.
 
The strategies, processes, policies and facility updates have been put in place and continue to be reviewed to allow for a safe return to school. We know this is not comprehensive nor conclusive and is subject to change as the situation is constantly changing. We will update to comply with official mandates as appropriate and necessary. This is not a final document, nor is it a guarantee for an illness-free environment.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• Wellness Checks at Home. All students and staff will go through a mandatory health screening at home before coming to school. This should include:
  • Temperature check.
  • Response to symptom related questions.

 

• Temperature Checks at School. All persons entering the school campus will have their temperature scanned with contactless thermal imaging. Anyone presenting a temperature of 100.4◦F or above will be isolated and rescanned in 10 minutes. If their temperature has not lowered, they are not permitted to remain on campus.

 

• Illness/Symptoms at School. Students exhibiting COVID-19 related symptoms while at school will be cared for in an isolated setting, and the family will be required to pick up the child immediately.

 

• Physical Distancing. Physical distancing is observed whenever possible. Desks/tables are arranged to create maximum space between them. Student desks are arranged to face in one direction, with no sharing of supplies.
  • K-6 Morning Opening:  Morning “opening” for primary grades is done in the classroom through videoconferencing.
  • Drop-off and Pick-up: Each family will be assigned to drop-off and pick-up their students at either the “front” gate (Yavapai St.) or the “side” gate (Madison St.). Temperatures are scanned at the gate during drop-off.
  • Recess: Recess breaks are observed daily. Playground games and equipment that are contactless are available.

 

• Hand Washing. Proper hand-washing/sanitizing procedures are implemented upon arrival and throughout the day, including but not limited to before and after recess, snack time, lunch, and restroom use. Hand sanitizer is also available.

 

• Face Masks. Face masks/coverings are optional for students and staff.

 

• Cleaning Protocols. Classroom furniture and high-touch areas, i.e., door handles, are disinfected periodically throughout the day. Playground equipment is sprayed with properly diluted disinfectant after each recess period. As more information is made available on the effects of sunlight on COVID-19 and/or the survivability on surfaces, access to equipment may be relaxed.

 

• Lunch/Snacks/Water. Students will continue to bring their snacks and lunches to school. Students are not permitted to share food and/or drink. Snacks are eaten either in the classroom or outside. Lunch may be eaten in the classroom, in the Lion’s Den, or outside, practicing social distancing as is practical. Water bottle filling stations will be available on the campus.

 

• Student Materials. Students will have their own instructional materials to limit student sharing of items when feasible, i.e., pencils, crayons, markers, books.

 

• Visitors. Limited visitors are permitted on the school campus.

 

• School Events. Scheduling of events, school-wide assemblies, and field trips will be evaluated on a regular basis to determine the date events may resume. Virtual events may be hosted during the school day.

 

• Athletics. Athletic practice and participation in meets/games are determined by league/association mandates and required safety measures.

 

• Extracurricular. Groups and clubs, such as worship team, chess club, etc., will practice social distancing as much as practicable and/or may be temporarily postponed.

CONTINGENCY PLAN

• WCA will implement distance learning when the need arises for classroom or school-wide closure due to COVID-19.
• Classroom teachers will provide teacher-led instruction using blended learning resources (digital and print).
• The administration and board of directors will make decisions regarding classroom or school-wide closure in consideration of mandates by local officials and executive orders by the Governor of Arizona.

MODEL SUMMARIES

• If WCA is open for in-person on-site instruction, then students are expected to be in class. However, if a student is ill, is practicing quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19, and/or has received administrative permission, then they may attend school through the Distance Learning model.

• If WCA is required to close, then families may participate in modified distance learning.

​ *Limited devices available on an as-needed basis.