San Juan del Sur Day SchoolSan Juan Del Sur Day School
Health Response Plan 2022-2023
Created by the Health Response Committee
Updated: June 15, 2022
Who We Are
The Health Response Committee (HRC) is a group of parents covering a range of perspectives on how to mitigate the impacts infection diseases while offering our kids a great education. T Our decision-making process is informed by debate, discussions of available data and science, and considerations about what is best for all school families and the community at large.
Health Questions? The HRC invites and encourages the sharing of questions and concerns about how the Day School is responds to any infectious disease outbreak. Please submit them to SJDSHealthResponse@gmail.com, we will honor your confidentiality.
Why We Created this Document
The challenges of running a school in Nicaragua for international and national students were brought to the fore by COVID-19.
These are challenging times. We are more than two years into a pandemic unlike any of us have ever experienced and we are all trying to do what makes sense for our families.
The purpose of this Health Response Plan (Plan) is to provide guidance to parents and the school community on how we can mitigate the effects of any contagious disease that might be present at the school or the local community.
This is a plan that will be reviewed as and when needed so that we can all adapt and be safe in these changing times.
The original Health Response Committee (HRC), which formed on October 1, 2021, specifically to address the issues of COVID-19. Specifically it aimed to::
- Support parents and the school while navigating the pandemic;
- Provide a safe space for parents to communicate their questions and concerns,Covid-19;
- Offer a central point of contact for health-related inquiries, questions and comments.
The committee still conducts these roles.
Protecting Our Community
How lucky are we to live in this town and send our kids to this school? We benefit from a lifestyle that is predominantly outdoors and open-air, and our kids go to a school with well-ventilated classrooms and smaller than average class sizes.
How We Can Help
We aim to keep our community, both school and town, safe and we also aim to provide support and compassion when an individual or family is affected by communicable disease. This community is here to help.
Through the Committee, should the need arise, we will coordinate resources related to medical care, translation, sourcing tests, meal support, transport support and childcare support.
The following Health and Safety Measures will be reviewed regularly and updated as periodically as the need arises.
Health and Safety Measures
| Daily Screening | Remember to do a health screen each morning to determine if your child is exhibiting signs of illness:If your child is sick, please keep them home. What qualifies as sick? Symptoms that are viral and contagious including cough, fever, runny nose. Teachers will also keep an eye on students throughout the day to make sure they are feeling good. |
| Vaccination | Vaccinations for children, teachers and parents are not required. Major global health authorities recommend getting vaccinated for many childhood diseases and more recently recommended vaccinations for Covid-19. |
| Masking | Mask wearing for teachers in any grade or any subject is at the teachers discretion. Masks are not required for children while on school campus; mask wearing is at the discretion of each family. If a family prefers that their child wears a mask while at school, teachers will support and encourage mask-wearing for that particular student. |
| Sickness | All community members stay home when sick. Anyone with a fever or symptoms of a communicable disease should, when possible, self-isolate and are encouraged to seek medical attention and get the support of the community. Students and employees who develop symptoms or appear sick during the day will be separated and asked to be picked up early. |
| Teachers as Guides | Each division of the school (Early Childhood, Primary School, Middle and Upper School) will work with students in age-appropriate and positive ways to help them understand the importance of good hygiene and social distance. |
| Hygiene | Students and employees wash and sanitize their hands throughout the day, especially before and after eating, and after bathroom use.Teachers encourage and guide proper hygiene. Hand sanitizer is available throughout campus. |
| Snack and Meal-time | Going into the 2022-23 academic year there is no lunch service. Students are asked to bring lunches, snacks and water bottles. Teachers encourage good hygiene practices (hand washing before and after eating). Food sharing is not permitted. |
| Cleaning | The Day School has hired additional custodial staff to clean and disinfect the school throughout the day.Cleaning materials will be available in all classrooms. Classrooms, high-touch areas (doorknobs, light switches, chair backs, desks, and table tops), and restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected every day. |
| Ventilation | The location of the school allows the classrooms to have natural airflow and they are well ventilated. They do not have air conditioning. |
| Transportation | Bus service is required for all children, exceptions will be reviewed on an individual bases. |
The following communicable disease policy supports and is in addition to, the Parent Handbook:
Communicable Disease Policy
We will inform the school community when a teacher or child has become ill with a contagious disease while in attendance, this includes COVID. A child with signs of a communicable disease will be discharged to their parent/guardian within one hour. If both parents/guardian are unavailable the person designated as the emergency medical contact will be called. Until the parent/guardian arrives, the child will be kept in isolation from the rest of the group, but within sight of a teacher or staff member.
A child with the following symptoms may be dismissed from school. The child can be readmitted when the symptoms have ceased for at least 24 hours without use of medication.
● An oral temperature of 100 degrees or above (99 degrees using the auxiliary method) when in combination with other signs of illness
● Diarrhea- (defined as: more watery, less formed, more frequent stools than typical for the child) more than one within a 24 hour period
● Vomiting
● Lice or other parasitic infestation-the school administrator or a teacher must clear the child before they return to school
● Rashes of undetermined origin
● Lethargy affecting the child’s ability to learn
● Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or rapid breathing, not associated with a pre-diagnosed medical condition
● Unexplained blood in stools, unusually dark urine and/or grey or white stool
● Discharge, itchiness, or redness in the eyes
Severe coughing, causing the child to become red or blue in the face or to make a whooping sound
● Sore throat or difficulty in swallowing
COVID Specific Guidelines
Guidance when a student is sick or has a positive test:
- ○ If the student has a viral, possibly contagious symptom like runny nose, fever, sore throat or cough–whether you think it’s Covid or not–please keep your child home and wait until they are symptom-free or provide the school a note from a doctor indicating that the symptoms are not contagious.
If a student has a positive test, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, the student should isolate for 5 days from the test or onset of symptoms. Day 1 starts the day after symptoms began or the day after the positive test. If a child has no symptoms after day 5, the child can return to school.
● Guidance for when a parent or sibling is sick:
- The Committee recommends that children in the family where a parent or sibling has suspected Covid be monitored for symptoms daily for 5 days.
With a confirmed case of COVID, either via a test or doctor, the committee recommends the children isolate for 5 days and return to school if symptom free.
Guidance for when a teacher/administrator is sick:
- ○ If a teacher has a confirmed case, the teacher will isolate for 5 days. If he/she is asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), he/she can return to the classroom.
- ○ The teacher’s class will continue with a substitute teacher.
- ● In the unlikely event of a class outbreak:
○ In the unlikely event that 50% of the students in any class have Covid, the class will utilize Seesaw for 5 days (the teacher and all students in the class isolate).
If the school or the HRC is informed of a contagious disease:
If there is a confirmed case of infectious diseases like chickenpox, lice or Covid, the class will be informed. Class will continue. Parents have the option to keep their child home or send their child to school and follow any risk-reducing strategy they wish.
If a student or parent is sick with a communicable disease, including COVID-19, and you have questions about what to do, need support from the community, or need help determining if your child should go to school, email SJDSHealthResponse@gmail.com.
If a student or parent/guardian OR a member of their household suspects they may have COVID or tests positive for COVID-19, please contact SJDSHealthResponse@gmail.com.
1 Note: This document is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of content contained in this document. Direct questions about this plan to SJDSHealthResponse@gmail.com
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