fbpx

Educating and Nurturing Since 1953

Admission of students without regard to race, religion, or color

518 283 0333

42 Dana Ave

Wynantskill, NY 12198

7:30am - 5:30pm

Monday - Friday

St Jude School

123 456 789

[email protected]

Goldsmith Hall

New York, NY 90210

07:30 - 19:00

Monday to Friday

Health Hygiene Practices

St. Jude the Apostle School will emphasize healthy hygiene practices for students and staff by providing initial and refresher education in hand and respiratory hygiene, along with providing adequate supplies and time for frequent hand hygiene. Signs will be posted throughout the school (e.g., entrances, restrooms, cafeteria, classrooms, administrative offices, auditorium, custodial staff areas) and regular messaging will be shared with the school community. Signage will be used to remind individuals to:

  1. Stay home if they feel sick.
  2. Cover their nose and mouth with an acceptable face covering when unable to maintain social distance from others or in accordance with any stricter policy implemented by the school.
  3. Properly store and, when necessary, discard PPE.
  4. Adhere to social distancing instructions.
  5. Report symptoms of, or exposure to, COVID-19.
  6. Follow hand hygiene, and cleaning and disinfection guidelines.
  7. Follow respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.

Hand Hygiene

Students and staff must carry out the following hand hygiene practices.

  • Wash hands routinely with soap (any kind) and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Dry hands completely after washing. Use paper towels to dry hands if available instead of a hand dryer if they are available.
  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizer should be rubbed on the hands until it is completely absorbed. DO NOT dry hands if sanitizer is used.

Hand washing should occur:

  • Before and after eating (e.g. snacks and lunch).
  • After going to the restroom or after assisting a student with toileting.
  • After using a tissue.
  • Before and after using shared materials.
  • Before and after putting on or taking off face masks.
  • After coming in from the outdoors.
  • Anytime hands are visibly soiled.

Respiratory Hygiene

The COVID-19 virus spreads from person to person in droplets produced by coughs and sneezes. Therefore, the school will emphasize the importance of respiratory hygiene.

Students and staff must carry out the following respiratory hygiene practices.

  • Cover a cough or sneeze using a tissue. If a tissue is used, it should be thrown away immediately.
  • If you don’t have a tissue when sneezing or coughing, sneeze or cough into your elbow.
  • Wash your hands after sneezing or coughing.
  • Face coverings are protective. Wearing a face covering will keep the respiratory droplets and aerosols from being widely dispersed into the air.

For more information about how hygiene information will be communicated to students, families and staff members, visit the Communication/Family and Community Engagement section [www.stjudetheapostleschool.org/re-opening-plan/communication-family-and-community-engagement/] of our reopening plan.

Social Distancing

St. Jude the Apostle School has developed a plan with policies and procedures for maintaining social distancing of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors when on school facilities, grounds and transportation.

  • All students, faculty, staff and visitors will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing while entering the building.
  • Signage will be displayed, and floor/ground markers will be installed, at all entrance points and within the school building reinforcing the social distancing guidelines.
  • All K-6 classroom populations will be limited to ensure the 6 ft distancing guideline.
  • All students in Preschool through sixth grade will maintain classroom cohorts to limit exposure risk.
  • 12 foot distancing will be maintained in the gymnasium when Physical Education and Music (singing) instruction is occurring. Socially distant spacing will be marked on floor (maximum of 30 students possible).
  • Social distancing and PPE will be maintained during dismissal routines for both bus riding and pick-up students.

If social distancing of 6 feet cannot be maintained, proper face coverings must be worn in common areas such as hallways or school buses. For those medically unable to wear face coverings, individuals will be required to provide a medical note and efforts will be made to find best alternatives (a face shield will be recommended) and/or allow for better social distancing of that individual whenever possible.

The availability of safe transportation and local hospital capacity in consultation with local department of health officials were considered in the development of this reopening plan.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Face Covering

Students, staff and visitors to our school will be expected to wear face coverings indoors and outside, including on the school bus, when six-foot physical distancing is not possible. Students will be allowed to remove face coverings during meals, instruction, and for short breaks so long as they maintain appropriate social distance. Students who are unable to medically tolerate a face covering will not be required to wear one.

Because students and staff will need to be prepared to wear a face covering if another person unexpectedly cannot socially distance, they will be required to wear a face covering in all common areas (e.g., entrances and exits) and when traveling around the school.

Face coverings will be provided to students and staff, if needed, at no cost. Acceptable face coverings for COVID-19 include, but are not limited to, cloth-based coverings and surgical masks that cover both the mouth and nose.

An employee is allowed to wear their own acceptable face covering if they choose. Employees with healthcare provider documentation stating they are not medically able to tolerate face covering will not be required to do so.

Face coverings may be challenging for students (especially younger students) to wear in all-day settings such as school, so there may be periods of time when masks are not worn.

Face coverings should not be placed on:

  • Children younger than 2 years old
  • Students where such covering would impair their health or mental health, or where such covering would present a challenge, distraction, or obstruction to education services and instruction
  • Anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious
  • Anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance

The school will instruct students, parents/guardians and staff, contractors and vendors on:

  • The proper way to wear face coverings
  • Washing hands before putting on and after removing their face covering
  • Proper way to discard disposable face coverings

Training will be provided to all staff and students, within the first two weeks of school and on an ongoing basis throughout the school year, on proper social distancing and use of face coverings. The school will provide replacement cloth face coverings to all staff and students when needed. Proper PPE will be provided to all staff members required to complete temperature checks and health screenings.