COVID 19 Info for the Heritage Community
Heritage "Be Prepared" COVID 19 Plan -- Spring 2021

Because the Center for Disease Control (and our local Boone County Health Department) has created new options for quarantine standards as of December 2, 2020, Heritage Academy is updating school protocols for spring semester 2021.  Going forward, we want to continue to promote the following priorities: (1) honor God by following local ordinances and guidelines, (2) keep students and families safe and healthy, (3) conduct school in-person, and (4) protect the emotional and mental health of our students. We will continue to take steps that our protocols promote these priorities. *** This plan will be updated as needed. ***
 
General Hygiene and Disinfection Plan

1. Temperature checks will be required for entry into the building until future notice.  Parents are asked to familiarize themselves with the CDC check list for self-screening for COVID related symptoms.  An example of the CDC check list can be found here.
2. The building will be cleaned every week on Sunday evening (by the church) and Friday evening (by the school).  School will be in session on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  Extra cleaning measures will be taken during school days and at the end of each school day.
3. Hand sanitizer will be made available in the foyer and the fellowship hall.  Students will be asked to clean hands as they enter the building.  Hand washing with soap will also be encouraged in the morning and throughout the day.
4. Classrooms will be equipped with Clorox wipes (provided by the school).  Rooms will be wiped down by students at the end of each class period.  Parents are encouraged to send the “wipes” of your choice with your student as well.
5. The fellowship hall will be wiped down following lunch on each school day by students and staff.
6. In order to protect the school from unnecessary risk of exposure to COVID-19, parents and guests should only enter the building by appointment (until further notice). A phone call, email or text will notify office staff that you desire to enter the building.  When entering the building through the sanctuary doors, parents and teachers should check in at the medical table to check temperature and ensure mask wearing in the building.  A staff member will issue you a mask, if you enter without a mask.
7. The water fountains will be labelled “For Hydration only”.  Students are encouraged to bring personal water bottles and bottles of water will be available at the school as needed.

 
Primary Program (K-2 Grade)

1. Students nine-years-old or younger will not be required to wear a mask or social distance. 
2. Primary students will remain a “stable group” throughout the semester.
3. Parents should wear masks when they enter the building by appoint, In general, we ask that parents drop off their student(s) and pick up their students at the door. 

Elementary Program (3-6 Grade)

1. Students ten-years-old and older are required to wear a mask and social distance.
2. Elementary students will be required to wear masks while in common areas unless six-feet apart or participating in outside activities.
3. Classrooms will be situated so that students can sit six-feet apart and remove masks during instruction time.  Students should wear masks until seated in the classroom.
4. Lunch and community life will be situated so that elementary students can sit together in their “stable group” throughout the semester.  Masks should be worn in the lunch room unless sitting six feet apart.  If the weather allows, lunch outside with supervision is encouraged.

Secondary Program (7-12 Grade)

1. Students ten-years-old and older are required to wear a mask and social distance.
2. Secondary students will be required to wear masks while in common areas unless six-feet apart or participating in outside activities.
3. Students will sit in assigned seating for the spring semester.

1. Classrooms will be situated so that students can sit six-feet apart and remove masks during instruction time. Students should wear masks until seated in the classroom.

1. Lunch and community life will be situated so that the 7th and 8th grades can sit together and the 9th – 12th grades can sit together.  Masks should be worn in the lunch room unless sitting six feet apart.  If the weather allows, lunch outside with supervision is encouraged.
2. Secondary students will remain a “stable group” throughout the semester.

Athletic Program

1. Coaches, parents, and players will wear masks when entering and exiting buildings.  Masks will be removed when practice begins.  
2. The Athletic Director and coaches are responsible to communicate COVID-19 expectations for home and away games.
3. Parents should expect some form of mask wearing and/or social distancing to be required at home games by parents and spectators.  

 
Protocol for Sick Student or Teacher at School
If a student becomes ill at school, the appropriate protocol is . . . (1) Student notifies the teacher; (2) Teacher sends student to the office; (3) Office staff (wearing a mask) checks the student’s temperature and calls parents to arrange pick-up; (4) A Doctor must certify that the child does not have COVID-19 related symptoms for 24 hours prior to student returning to school.

Protocol for Students or Teachers who test positive with COVID-19
If a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19, the school will issue guidance for quarantining in line with CDC and Boone County Health Department guidelines.  If it is determined that a class, group, or cohort was exposed while on campus, the school will issue  guidance for quarantining in line with CDC and Boone County Health Department guidelines.  For any teacher or student(s) quarantined, school will continue online utilizing Microsoft TEAMS.  If a student or teacher has been exposed to someone testing positive (but not a student at Heritage), then the appropriate protocol is for the student or teacher to self-quarantine and notify the school office.

 Heritage Academy Quarantine Guidelines

1. A document from a doctor or the Boone County Health Department will be required for a student or teacher to return to school for any student, teacher, or family who is exposed and/or tests positive.
2. 10 day quarantine is suggested for students, teachers, or group who remain asymptomatic.  Students would be required to wear a mask for the four additional days.
3. 7 day quarantine is suggested for students, teachers, or group who remain asymptomatic and receive a negative COVID-19 Test.  Students would be required to wear a mask for seven additional days.

 
Helpful Links
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/scientific-brief-options-to-reduce-quarantine.html
City of Columbia Ordinance No. 024284
https://www.como.gov/health/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html
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