Health And Safety Practices

Updated August 24, 2021

The Glen’s Health and Safety Practices for 2021 -2022 are based on the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines and are in accordance with those developed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for schools and child care centers. 

At The Glen, we are cognizant and mindful that there is no vaccine available for our student body (almost entirely under the age of 12).  Therefore, our mitigation efforts to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 remain stringent with few changes from the 2020-2021 school year. 

 

Mask Policy – no changes from May 27, 2021

The CDC recommends that all individuals mask in schools, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, and wear masks within the school building and activities. The Glen will continue to follow this advice.  Additionally, staff and faculty will be expected to model this behavior until students can be vaccinated.  Read more about Masks at The Glen here.  

 

 

 

Health Policy Attestation Forms, Daily Health Screenings 

The Glen’s strict Health Policy will remain in place for 2021-2022, and we will continue to conduct daily health screenings for all students and faculty along with the daily completion of Attestation Forms.  In addition to the need for increased student and faculty health monitoring, we have found the daily routine for attestation forms and daily health screenings to have improved communication between parents and teachers regarding student health.  As such, until our students have had ample opportunity to be vaccinated, we will continue using daily attestation forms and health screenings. 

 

 

Physical Distancing

In the final months of the 2020-2021 school year, the CDC and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania updated the classroom physical distancing recommendations to three feet. With this in mind, The Glen is returning our classrooms to the prepared physical make-up and environment that is the basis of Montessori education.

 

 

 

Podding

As we shared earlier this summer, vaccinated teachers have already begun to move between classrooms to ensure appropriate staffing – coverage for vacations, lunches, etc.  

Pods will be expanded in the fall to include up to three classrooms (maximum of approx 60 children).  Larger pods allow children from different classrooms to have recess together outside, participate in field trips, etc., which will follow the same classroom pod assignments as the typical school day with students from the same classrooms together for before- (7:15-8:15 and after-school (3:15-5:55)

— Please note:  The Glen will suspend the larger pods, and in particular before- and after-school, if the rate of community transmission moves into the high range for our area for a 7-day period.  Conversely, The Glen will re-start before- and after-school once the rate drops back into the Substantial range for a 7-day period.

Additionally, due to vaccinated teachers and a reduction of concern over the surface transmission of COVID-19, we will again be offering in-person experiences for Spanish, Art, Music, and Physical Education in the fall.  One pod (usually one classroom, occasionally two or three classrooms) will use the space with their specials teacher at a given time, and The Glen will implement Increased cleaning and sanitation of surfaces between classes. 

 

 

 

Increased Sanitation and Cleaning

Children and staff will continue to wash their hands after using the bathroom, before or after using a shared work, before lunch, after lunch, etc.     

The Glen has developed an increased schedule for cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects, including works, door handles, bathrooms, sink handles, handrails, etc., per CDC guidelines.

 

 

Vaccinations

According to the CDC, achieving high levels of COVID-19 vaccination among eligible students, teachers, staff, and household members is one of the most critical strategies to help schools safely resume full operations. Our COVID-19 Committee strongly agrees with this statement and feels vaccination is also the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Glen, however, is required to follow whatever vaccination guidance is set (or not set) by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and/ the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.  There is no policy or mandate at this time regarding COVID-19.  Until there are additional requirements from these governmental entities, families are welcome to share their child’s vaccination status with the school once they are eligible for the vaccine.  

We can not predict what quarantine requirements will look like as this pandemic evolves.  Currently, a vaccinated individual, who does not demonstrate symptoms, is not required to quarantine if they have a direct exposure or travel domestically.  Thus, a vaccine has the potential to provide your family with greater certainty and flexibility concerning in-person instruction, travel, and childcare.  But the school will not decide your child’s vaccination status for you.  

 

 

Illness and Pick-up Policy 

— If your child presents with illness symptoms that are consistent with a COVID-19 illness (see The Glen’s Health Policy, above),  you will be contacted.  

— Please answer your phone when we call. We typically email for things that can wait, so if we are calling it is important. If you do not pick up or return our call promptly,  we will move onto the Emergency Contact persons on your list.  We ask that your child is picked up within one hour of the first attempt to contact you. 

.– Please ensure your contact information, and your Emergency Contacts’ information, is complete and up to date with the school.

— You must have LOCAL emergency contacts on file with the school, so they are able to pick up your child if you are unable to do so.