Wickenburg Christian Academy is committed to:
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.
- 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.
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.
COVID POLICIES UPDATE, 12/7/2020
Thank you for your continued support and partnership with Wickenburg Christian Academy as we work to keep our campus open during this pandemic. As the COVID pandemic continues, we seek to be proactive. WCA has established quarantine protocols for those faculty, staff, and/or students who are either exposed to COVID or have received a positive test result for COVID. Hopefully, this notice will clarify and answer some questions you might have on our COVID protocols as a school.
Update to quarantine timeline protocol
Last week, the CDC announced an update to its quarantine recommendations to shorten the time required for some to quarantine after an exposure. As a result, WCA updated our quarantine protocol to match the CDC’s guidelines. The update reduces the time of a quarantine for those exposed from 14 days to either 7 days with a negative COVID test or 10 days without a COVID test from last exposure. The CDC recommends you continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days, therefore, WCA recommends the same.
What is an “exposure” or “close contact”?
To help understand the quarantine protocol, it is best to start with defining an exposure to COVID, or as the CDC calls it, a close contact with a COVID positive individual. The CDC states that an exposure happens when one or more of the following criteria are met:
Any person who has had close contact (exposure) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will need to quarantine for 7 days (if they have a negative COVID test) or 10 days (with no test) from last exposure. Families are asked to continue to monitor for COVID symptoms through day 14 from last exposure. CDC defines close contact (exposure) as:
“An exposure to an exposure is not an exposure.”
With this definition in mind, it is important to note that if a person spends time with someone who had an exposure to COVID, then that person has not had an exposure. A phrase the administrative team has grown to love is “an exposure to an exposure is not an exposure.” In other words, if a student or staff at WCA is exposed to COVID outside of WCA, then all the people he/she spends time with during the school day are not exposed to COVID. This is why, when a person is quarantined for an exposure, we do not quarantine anyone else with whom he/she did not have close contact. If the person quarantined for an exposure later has a positive COVID test, WCA will then begin contact tracing with that individual and contact all those who were exposed and have them quarantine at home.
Timelines for exposure explained
Another factor to consider when determining if someone has had an exposure or not is that the CDC states that a person is contagious “two days prior to onset of symptoms.” In other words, if you had lunch with someone on Sunday and on Thursday that person developed COVID symptoms, then you were not exposed because it was more than two days prior to onset of symptoms. This is another reason that quarantines can be helpful in stopping the spread. If someone begins a quarantine on Monday, then develops symptoms on Friday no one at school was exposed because their last day at school was more than two days prior to the onset of symptoms.
Our Communication Commitment
In terms of communication, we desire to be open with you and communicate to you when there are quarantines or COVID cases that directly affect your family. If there is a positive COVID case, then the WCA administrative team will conduct a contact tracing session with the COVID positive individual and contact those who were exposed and need to quarantine. Please know, if you or your student are affected by a quarantine or positive COVID case, you will be contacted by a member of the administrative team. If you are not contacted, then the quarantine and/or case did not have a direct effect on your family. With that said, if you hear something or have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time. We are happy to talk with you about the policy, possible exposures, or even something other than COVID :-)
We appreciate your prayers and support as we seek God’s wisdom and strength together as a community in this time. As of right now, we are praising the Lord that WCA is still open, and we are making every effort to remain open. We feel these policies will help make that possible. We also want to say thank you to all the families who are being cautious and proactive and keeping your children home when they are not feeling well.
Please be sure to keep communicating with us about any positive cases in your home or any other possible exposures that will impact our school.
Update to quarantine timeline protocol
Last week, the CDC announced an update to its quarantine recommendations to shorten the time required for some to quarantine after an exposure. As a result, WCA updated our quarantine protocol to match the CDC’s guidelines. The update reduces the time of a quarantine for those exposed from 14 days to either 7 days with a negative COVID test or 10 days without a COVID test from last exposure. The CDC recommends you continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days, therefore, WCA recommends the same.
What is an “exposure” or “close contact”?
To help understand the quarantine protocol, it is best to start with defining an exposure to COVID, or as the CDC calls it, a close contact with a COVID positive individual. The CDC states that an exposure happens when one or more of the following criteria are met:
Any person who has had close contact (exposure) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will need to quarantine for 7 days (if they have a negative COVID test) or 10 days (with no test) from last exposure. Families are asked to continue to monitor for COVID symptoms through day 14 from last exposure. CDC defines close contact (exposure) as:
- You were within 6 feet of someone who has received a positive test result for COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more, OR
- You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19, OR
- You had direct physical contact with someone who has COVID-19 (hugged or kissed them), OR
- You shared eating or drinking utensils with someone who has COVID-19, OR
- Someone who has COVID-19 sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.
“An exposure to an exposure is not an exposure.”
With this definition in mind, it is important to note that if a person spends time with someone who had an exposure to COVID, then that person has not had an exposure. A phrase the administrative team has grown to love is “an exposure to an exposure is not an exposure.” In other words, if a student or staff at WCA is exposed to COVID outside of WCA, then all the people he/she spends time with during the school day are not exposed to COVID. This is why, when a person is quarantined for an exposure, we do not quarantine anyone else with whom he/she did not have close contact. If the person quarantined for an exposure later has a positive COVID test, WCA will then begin contact tracing with that individual and contact all those who were exposed and have them quarantine at home.
Timelines for exposure explained
Another factor to consider when determining if someone has had an exposure or not is that the CDC states that a person is contagious “two days prior to onset of symptoms.” In other words, if you had lunch with someone on Sunday and on Thursday that person developed COVID symptoms, then you were not exposed because it was more than two days prior to onset of symptoms. This is another reason that quarantines can be helpful in stopping the spread. If someone begins a quarantine on Monday, then develops symptoms on Friday no one at school was exposed because their last day at school was more than two days prior to the onset of symptoms.
Our Communication Commitment
In terms of communication, we desire to be open with you and communicate to you when there are quarantines or COVID cases that directly affect your family. If there is a positive COVID case, then the WCA administrative team will conduct a contact tracing session with the COVID positive individual and contact those who were exposed and need to quarantine. Please know, if you or your student are affected by a quarantine or positive COVID case, you will be contacted by a member of the administrative team. If you are not contacted, then the quarantine and/or case did not have a direct effect on your family. With that said, if you hear something or have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time. We are happy to talk with you about the policy, possible exposures, or even something other than COVID :-)
We appreciate your prayers and support as we seek God’s wisdom and strength together as a community in this time. As of right now, we are praising the Lord that WCA is still open, and we are making every effort to remain open. We feel these policies will help make that possible. We also want to say thank you to all the families who are being cautious and proactive and keeping your children home when they are not feeling well.
Please be sure to keep communicating with us about any positive cases in your home or any other possible exposures that will impact our school.
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. Each student will have a desk shield to be used when and where physical distancing is not possible, i.e., small group work and in the tech lab.
- 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. Students waiting for pick-up will be required to maintain physical distancing as is possible.
- 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 coverings on campus are recommended and not mandated by the school. Students and staff are supported in wearing masks if they desire to do so. Although the school will support students in wearing masks, for a number of reasons, teachers cannot be charged with enforcing student compliance. The school will make face coverings available to students and staff free of charge, but it does not warrant any additional measure of safety or any reduction of risk based upon wearing the school-provided coverings. The expectation is that any mask that is worn on campus will not be a source of distraction and will be free of any words, messages, or images.
Confidentiality protocols. In every instance of parental notification of communicable disease, every effort is made by school administration to maintain student confidentiality broadly within the community. However, due to the infectious nature of some of these diseases, the school considers it responsible to notify classroom teachers so that they can engage cleaning protocols. It is also understood by the school that for reasons of health, certain students and staff cannot be required to wear face coverings. Due to confidentiality around the issue of health, the school’s faculty and staff will not engage a student as to the reason that they are not wearing a face covering.
- 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. Lunch may be eaten in the classroom, in the Lion’s Den, or outside, practicing physical distancing as is practical.
- 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. All visitors are temperature checked prior to entering 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.
INDIVIDUALS CONFIRMED OR EXPOSED TO COVID-1
In accordance with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, any individuals including teachers, staff, students, or other campus visitors who (a) are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 must remain at home throughout the infection period. These individuals cannot return to campus until school screening determines that any of the below conditions for campus reentry have been met:
In the case of an individual who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school only when all three of the following criteria have been met:
o At least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);
o The individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
o At least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared. In the case of an individual who has a fever and additional symptoms that could be COVID-19, and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual must be fever-free for 48 hours before returning to campus.
If a student, teacher, or staff member comes into close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, then the student, teacher, or staff member will quarantine/stay home until 14 days after the last exposure. Close contact is defined as within 6 ft., irrespective of whether the person with COVID-19 or the contact was wearing a face covering or whether the contact was wearing respiratory personal protective equipment. The person should self-monitor for symptoms (check temperature daily, watch for fever, cough, or shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19). If the student, teacher, or staff member exhibits no symptoms within the 14 days, they may return to WCA.
o Students who are required to quarantine/stay home are expected to attend school remotely, unless too ill to do so. Teachers will contact parents and students with specific instructions and expectations. Laptops are available for check-out.
o Teachers who are required to quarantine/stay home may be able to teach remotely. Specific arrangements will be made with the head of school and/or school counselor on a case-by-case situation.
In the case of an individual who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school only when all three of the following criteria have been met:
o At least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);
o The individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
o At least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared. In the case of an individual who has a fever and additional symptoms that could be COVID-19, and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual must be fever-free for 48 hours before returning to campus.
If a student, teacher, or staff member comes into close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, then the student, teacher, or staff member will quarantine/stay home until 14 days after the last exposure. Close contact is defined as within 6 ft., irrespective of whether the person with COVID-19 or the contact was wearing a face covering or whether the contact was wearing respiratory personal protective equipment. The person should self-monitor for symptoms (check temperature daily, watch for fever, cough, or shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19). If the student, teacher, or staff member exhibits no symptoms within the 14 days, they may return to WCA.
o Students who are required to quarantine/stay home are expected to attend school remotely, unless too ill to do so. Teachers will contact parents and students with specific instructions and expectations. Laptops are available for check-out.
o Teachers who are required to quarantine/stay home may be able to teach remotely. Specific arrangements will be made with the head of school and/or school counselor on a case-by-case situation.
SCHOOL COMMUNICATION AND CLOSURE PROTOCOLS
If a student or staff member is confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, WCA will inform parents and staff members of possible exposure and the grade level(s) where the exposure has occurred. Confidentiality, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), will be maintained unless written permission is given by parents of the infected student or infected staff member to release the name of the infected person.
In most cases, the class where exposure to a verified COVID-19 case has occurred will move to emergency distance learning protocols on Zoom and Google Classroom.
Class and school closure protocols are subject to change based on consultations with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and other appropriate health agencies.
In most cases, the class where exposure to a verified COVID-19 case has occurred will move to emergency distance learning protocols on Zoom and Google Classroom.
Class and school closure protocols are subject to change based on consultations with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and other appropriate health agencies.
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.