Return to Campus

The most important thing that we can do to prevent virus transmission among our school community is to not bring it onto campus in the first place.

Students and educators will be expected and asked to stay home in the following situations: 

•    When exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19. Everyone should become familiar with these symptoms, and we will establish a daily self-screening protocol for every student and employee in line with state requirements and medical guidance.
•    After close contact with persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are symptomatic.
•    After returning from travel to certain locations, as guided by CDC or local public health officials.

COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS

•    Cloth Face Masks. Educators, students, and visitors will be required to wear face masks when in the building as well as anytime they are on campus when social distancing cannot be maintained. Students should come to school with a face mask every day they are attending on-campus classes. Teach your student how to properly use and remove a face mask.
•    Hygiene. Students will be required to use good hygiene practices while on campus. Practice and reinforce good hygiene practices at home, in particular, the importance of frequent handwashing.
•    Students’ Personal Items. Limit the items your student brings onto campus each day and reinforce policies around the sharing of food, supplies, and other items with other students.
•    Medical Forms. Parents must complete and submit all required student medical forms prior to the first day of school. Parents must provide at least three (3) emergency contacts who are able to pick up your student from the school within one (1) hour of receiving a call from the school if your child presents with a temperature or becomes ill during the school day, and they are unable to drive themselves home.

SCREENING

All students and employees will be required to complete a daily self-screening protocol before they enter the building using technology that we will provide to all community members. Students must complete this before leaving the house each morning. Our screening tool will provide guiding questions which give daily reminders of symptoms to be looking for, and other situations in which students should stay home. More information about the screening tool will come in subsequent communication.

In addition to home self-screening, we will establish processes for students to receive basic screenings at school. The school will regularly check temperatures of students upon arrival at school. If your student presents with a temperature that is higher than 100.0 F, they will be sent home. We will have non-contact thermometers and other screening tools in the building for in-school screening. 

When students or employees who are already at school report symptoms of COVID-19, we have a nurse trained to respond.

PARTICIPATION IN CLASS

When students need to stay home for any reason, but are feeling well enough to continue to participate in class, Cardinal Gibbons has established a distance learning platform which will allow them to keep pace with the learning activities and assignments of their classes. In most cases, our goal will be for students to remain fully enrolled in all of their classes, and keep up with their classwork throughout the time they need to be at home, as long as they are well enough to do so. They will still participate along with their classmates and teachers who are in the building, through the home learning platform. 

It is important that we provide every incentive we can for students to stay home when needed, whether they are feeling sick, are self-monitoring due to possible exposure, or simply don’t feel comfortable with the risk of being in a group setting. As one example, there will not be class incentives for in-person attendance such as bonuses for perfect attendance, or points that are only available if a student is present that day.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL

Students who need to stay home for any of the reasons listed above, and their families, will receive guidance on what they need to do in order to return to school and when. 

MASKS AND OTHER PPE/UPDATE 

All students and educators must wear masks that cover their mouth and nose at all times when on campus. Cardinal Gibbons allows the wearing of cloth masks, medical surgical masks (those with no respirator), as well as gaiters but only if the gaiters are worn with a mask underneath. If a student’s mask does not meet the proper safety standard, we will issue them a mask to keep them and others safe.

*Please note that this policy is subject to change as more studies about mask effectiveness are completed.

Masks may be removed for eating while in designated spaces. Students should plan to bring their own masks every day, to keep them clean, and to follow other proper use guidelines throughout the day. Extra masks will be available for students who arrive at school and have forgotten them. 

When students and employees are on campus but outside the building, masks are optional, not required, as long as physical distance from others is able to be maintained. Students may be outdoors, for example, when outside for a PE class or athletic practice, for a class utilizing outdoor space, when eating at a designated outdoor eating space, or when waiting outside for pickup. We will continue to ask students to maintain physical distance while outside, but the reduced risk of virus transmission outdoors means that masks will not be required.

VISITORS

All school visitors will be required to check in at the main lobby desk, as usual. Visitors will be met and guided by an employee and will need to follow all building procedures such as wearing a mask.