Chrysalis School Covid-19 Policies and Procedures 2022-2023
Chrysalis follows the requirements and recommendations published by the Washington Department of Health for K-12 Schools and Childcare. The guidelines were last updated on August 5th, and links can be found at the bottom of the page.
Some highlights that should answer the most frequently asked questions are:
Requirements:
1. All staff must be fully vaccinated or have a medical or religious exemption.
2. Students, children, and staff who have symptoms of COVID-19 are required to stay home and should get tested and/or see a health care provider and follow the return to work/care/school guidance accordingly. Follow the DOH What to do if a person is Symptomatic flowchart. And the “Staying Home When Sick” guideline (taken directly from the DOH publication:
“Preventing exposure to COVID-19 is the first line of defense against transmission. Students, children, and staff who have symptoms of COVID-19 are required to stay home and should get tested. Follow the DOH What to do if a Person is Symptomatic flowchart.
Any student, child, or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at home following At-Home Isolation Protocol as outlined here:
Individuals should continue to wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days (day 6 through day 10) if they return to school after the end of their 5-day isolation period. If an individual is unable to wear a well-fitting mask, they should continue to isolate for a full 10 days.
To further protect their school or child care community, individuals who test positive using antigen or at-home tests towards the end of the full 5 days of isolation, and/or on days 6-10, are required to complete the full 10 days of isolation. Testing after day 10 is not recommended.”
3. Schools and child care providers are required to have a process in place to inform students, children, and their families when there are cases and outbreaks in the school or child care. Chrysalis will have an online dashboard that updates families weekly about cases on campus. In addition, families can opt-in for a personal email if their student has been identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for Covid. Email sarahs@chrysalis-school.com to opt in.
Recommendations:
1. Schools and child care providers are encouraged to promote staying up to date on all vaccinations for eligible students, children, staff, and families – including COVID-19 vaccination.
2. While masks are no longer required universally in schools or child care settings, there may be situations when a school, child care provider, LHJ, or DOH temporarily recommends or requires wearing well-fitting masks. Chrysalis may implement temporary masking requirements, especially indoors, when community transmission is high, or during outbreaks amongst core groups. Chrysalis supports those students and staff who choose to wear a mask.
3. DOH no longer requires exposed students, children, and staff to quarantine. To protect their school or child care community, students, children and staff, regardless of vaccination status, who are potentially exposed to COVID-19 should:
-Monitor for symptoms, AND
-Test as soon as possible after exposure and then repeat testing every 24-48 hours through at least the first 5 days after exposure AND
-Students, children, and staff who spend time indoors with individuals at risk for getting very sick with COVID-19 should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after exposure
Additional health and safety measures that Chrysalis continues to utilize:
1. Outdoor spaces and indoor spaces with physical distance options are provided for lunch and other break times. Teachers may choose to conduct certain classes outdoors, weather permitting.
2. Disinfecting high touch surfaces such as door knobs, faucets, handrails, etc. on a daily basis.
3. Providing hand sanitizer in all offices and classrooms and encouraging frequent handwashing.
4. Providing opportunities for individual class sessions to be conducted virtually for students when they need to stay home due to illness.
5. Providing rapid/antigen tests for staff and students to self administer and/or take home.
6. Communicating with our local health department regarding best practices during outbreaks.
Covid-19 Resources
