Health Checks

St. Jude the Apostle School has developed resources to educate parents/guardians and staff members regarding the careful observation of symptoms of COVID-19 and health screening measures that must be conducted each morning before coming to school. The resources include the requirement for any student or staff member with a fever of 100°F or greater and/or symptoms of possible COVID-19 virus infection to not come to school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list of Coronavirus symptoms was used to develop these resources.

St. Jude the Apostle School will implement the following practices to conduct mandated health screening.

1. Daily temperature checks (at school) and completion of the screening questionnaire provided in the New York Forward Pre-K to Grade 12 School Guidelines for staff, contractors, vendors, and visitors upon arrival at school.
2. Daily temperature check and completion of the screening questionnaire (mentioned above) for students upon arrival at school.
   1. Families will be provided with the screening questionnaire via email, on the school website or with paper copies sent home (upon request). They will be strongly encouraged to complete the questionnaire prior to their child’s arrival at school to aide in the daily screening and admittance process.
   2. If a child arrives at school without a completed screening questionnaire, that student will be taken aside (out of earshot of others) and a staff member will assist the child in completing the questionnaire.
3. The screening data will be collected and maintained in binders in the heath office. The data maintained will consist of a cleared/not cleared for admission checklist and the daily screening questionnaire and will be retained for the duration of the 2020/2021 school year unless otherwise directed by the Department of Health.
4. Individuals found to have a temperature of 100°F or greater or having a positive response to a screening question will be denied admittance to the building when possible. In the event that immediate denial of admittance is not possible (students arriving at school via bus and/or without a parent/guardian), that individual will be escorted to and remain in the isolation room (connected to the health office) and parents/guardians will be contacted for immediate pick-up.
5. Students/Families and staff that develop symptoms or if their answers to the questionnaire change during or outside school hours will be required to immediately notify the school nurse ([email protected], (518) 283-0333, or in person if symptoms change during the school day) or the school office ([email protected], (518) 283-0333, or in person if symptoms change during the school day).
6. The school nurse will review the incoming reports of screening by staff and parent/guardians and attest that they are completed.
7. The school nurse will be notified in the event that staff or students experience COVID-19 symptoms after being granted admission to the school building.
8. The health screening policy will be made available to all stake holders via email, and the school website. Reminders will be sent weekly via email containing the school news notes.

In-school temperature screening protocols will include:

• Social distancing markers at all entrance points.
• Staff members performing temperature checks and at-school screening will be trained by the school nurse.
• One no-touch infrared forehead thermometer will be purchased and utilized at all entrance points and in health office. Back-up devices will be stored in health office in case of breakage or malfunction.
• All staff members performing temperature checks and screening will be provided with proper PPE by the school.