Updated August 28, 2020
Included in this update is additional information regarding Saddle River Day School's protocols for the opening of school. Included are the following:
- COVID-19 Protocols and Expectations
- Air Filtration and Ventilation Update
- Symptoms and Exposure Tracking Chart
- Lower School Exposure Flow Chart
- Middle & Upper Schools Exposure Flow Chart
- Middle & Upper Schools Classroom
These are meant to provide guidance regarding our expectations for our families, and what our families can expect from us. They also provide an outline of what will happen in the different divisions should there be an exposure to a COVID-19 positive student. As a reminder, much of our protocols come from the New Jersey Department of Health COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations for Local Health Departments for K-12 Schools, which was released on August 13.
If a child will be absent, in addition to notifying Nurse Ann Hanna (ahanna@saddleriverday.org and (201) 327-4050 x1111) they must also submit the following form online: www.saddleriverday.org/absencereportingform.
2020 Faculty/Staff Opening Meetings
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Guidelines, Policies and Procedures
- New - COVID-19 Protocols and Expectations
- New - Air Filtration and Ventilation Update
- New - Symptoms and Exposure Tracking Chart by Division
- Summary of Reopening Plans
- Guiding Principles and Key Elements
- Health & Safety: Reduce the Spread of COVID-19
- Health & Safety: Maintain A Healthy Environment
- Academic Experience: Schedule
- Academic Experience: Classroom Setup
- Technology
- Food Service - Revised 8/28
- Transportation
- A MESSAGE FROM THE NURSE, ANN HANNA, RN:
New - COVID-19 Protocols and Expectations
SADDLE RIVER DAY SCHOOL
COVID-19 COMMUNITY PROTOCOLS AND EXPECTATIONS
Based on information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) and state and local public health authorities, there is a significant risk of substantial harm posed to students, faculty, staff, family members, visitors and the community by having someone with COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19, present at the school at the current time.
Under the circumstances of a global pandemic, no school can absolutely eliminate the risk that COVID-19 will be introduced to or spread at the school. As a result of this ongoing threat of substantial harm, and in order to mitigate the potential introduction or spread of COVID-19 at SRDS, until such time as the CDC, state and local health authorities indicate that such a threat no longer exists, SRDS has, in accordance with state Executive Orders, CDC, New Jersey Department of Education and OSHA guidance, implemented certain mandatory protocols, policies and procedures described below.
Through the implementation and enforcement of these protocols, SRDS seeks to create as safe an environment as is reasonably feasible. Some of these steps will be the sole responsibility of SRDS but many, to be effective, will be dependent on the cooperation and adherence of the entire SRDS community.
SRDS expects the full cooperation of every member of the SRDS community in complying with the protocols. SRDS will strictly enforce them if necessary, for the benefit and protection of everyone. Failure to adhere to them may result in SRDS banning those not in compliance from campus or expulsion of students if necessary.
The following protocols must be complied with by parents/guardians, students, faculty, staff at SRDS effective August 1, 2020 and until further notice:
1. Each day, before the student leaves for school, the parents/guardians must carefully assess the student for any sign of illness, not otherwise explained by non-infectious conditions (e.g., allergies, asthma, autoimmune disease). Symptoms and signs include, but are not limited to the following*:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- New loss of taste or smell
- Congestion or runny nose
- Sore throat
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headache
When to seek emergency medical attention*:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Blush lips or face
*This list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC will continue to update this list as it learns more about COVID-19.
If the student exhibits any of the symptoms described in this paragraph 1, the parents/guardians may not send the student to school or school related activities and must promptly notify the school nurse, Ann Hanna, at (201) 327-4050 x1111 and ahanna@saddleriverday.org and advise her of the student’s condition. The nurse may have questions for the parents/guardians regarding the student’s health and steps the parents/guardians intend to take if medical attention is warranted. In addition, SRDS may require that the student receive COVID-19 diagnostic testing, the results of which must be provided to the school nurse as soon as available. Please see attached Symptoms and Exposure Tracking Chart.
2. Students who have tested positive and are exhibiting symptoms, will not be permitted to return to campus until (i) at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and (ii) at least 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever reducing medications and (iii) the other symptoms have ended and (iv) with two negative tests taken at least 24 hours apart. SRDS reserves the right to require any student to switch to remote learning for a period of time to be determined by the Head of School in consultation with the school nurse and/or be subject to COVID-19 diagnostic testing prior to returning to school.
Students who have tested positive and exhibit no symptoms, may return to school (i) ten (10) days after the positive test, provided that no symptoms occur and (ii) with two negative tests taken at least 24 hours apart.
The parents/guardians must provide the school nurse with a copy of the test results prior to the student’s return.
3. Upon entry to their respective school building, each student, parent/guardian, faculty and staff member and visitor will be subject to a thermal temperature scan. Anyone with a body temperature above 100 Fahrenheit will not be permitted in the building and will be instructed to leave campus.
4. All, students, parents/guardians, faculty and staff members and visitors will be required to wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth while on campus, throughout the day, under the following circumstances:
(i) When walking around campus;
(ii) While in and walking through common areas inside buildings;
(iii) Inside classrooms, gyms, auditoriums, libraries, cafeterias and bathrooms occupied by more than one person;
(iv) While in offices occupied by more than one person.
During meal periods, face coverings do not have to be worn provided that nobody may be closer than six (6) feet of any other individual while face coverings are off. Teachers may allow students to take a brief “mask break” provided that it is of short duration and that nobody is closer than six (6) feet of anyone else.
Although disposable masks will be available on campus, parents/guardians must send their students to school with their own face coverings. In addition, parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that student face coverings, if not disposable, are properly washed on a regular basis. Face coverings should conform to the specifications listed below.
Make sure the cloth face covering:
- fits snugly but comfortably against the side of the face;
- completely covers the nose and mouth;
- is secured with ties or ear loops;
- includes multiple layers of fabric;
- allows for breathing without restriction; and
- can be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.
5. While anywhere on campus, whether inside or outside of buildings, including in classrooms, everyone at SRDS must make every reasonable effort to socially distance themselves from others, meaning that they should remain no closer than six (6) feet from anyone else, to the extent possible.
6. To the extent feasible, SRDS intends to keep windows in classrooms and other rooms open during the school day to increase air circulation. Parents/guardians are encouraged to send students to school with an extra layer (such as a sweater) by the time fall weather begins.
7. Throughout the day, students, faculty, staff, parents/guardians and visitors on campus are expected to engage in proper hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing and/or using hand sanitizer. Although SRDS has made hand sanitizer available throughout the school buildings, SRDS encourages parents/guardians to send students to school with their own hand sanitizer with at least a 60% alcohol content.
8. Parents/guardians must remind and encourage students to keep their face coverings on in school, socially distance from others whenever possible, frequently wash their hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer.
9. Everyone on campus must abide by any one-way directional signage for foot traffic, social distancing signs on the floor to denote spacing for those waiting in lines and room capacity limitation requirements, also indicted by signs outside relevant spaces.
10. SRDS has upgraded its cleaning processes to comply with CDC and Department of Education guidance. Cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted throughout the day on all frequently touched surfaces. A thorough cleaning of all school buildings will occur each evening using Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) recommended products that kill the SARS virus. For the protection of themselves and others, students, faculty and staff are expected clean their workspaces by wiping down desktops, keyboards, laptops and copy machines with cleaning materials supplied by SRDS, which include EPA registered disposable wipes.
11. All parents/guardians are required to report if they, their SRDS student or anyone living with them have been exposed to anyone with a known or suspected case of the COVID-19 virus as soon as possible to the school nurse so that determinations can be made regarding whether any precautions need to be implemented. Specifically, parents/guardians must report any COVID-19 positive test results of anyone with whom an SRDS student is living or has had close contact (closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes) during the preceding 14 days and take all appropriate steps to isolate the student from the infected individual. SRDS reserves the right to require any such exposed student to switch to remote learning for a period of time to be determined by the Head of School in consultation with the school nurse and/or be subject to COVID-19 diagnostic testing prior to returning to school.
12. SRDS expects all members of the SRDS community to follow these safety protocols outside of school as well, including the Interim Travel Policy so that the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in school is minimized.
13. In the event of COVID positive cases among student(s), faculty or staff, SRDS administration will, together with the school nurses and local health officials, assess the level of risk, and at a minimum take the following steps:
- Immediately close down any indoor areas used by the individual for a period of 24 hours, if feasible;
- After 24 hours, those areas will be cleaned following CDC cleaning and disinfecting protocols using EPA approved products;
- As soon as practical, notify all those potentially exposed (or their parents/guardians) to the infected individual of the potential exposure, maintaining the anonymity of the infected individual, including anyone who may have had close contact (closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes starting 2 days before illness onset or sample collection) within the 14 days preceding the diagnosis;
- Notify local health officials and follow appropriate guidance/recommendations from those officials;
- See attached Symptoms and Exposure Tracking Chart.
14. A positive COVID case within the SRDS community will also trigger SRDS’ contact tracing protocols. This means that anyone in the SRDS community who has tested positive or been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to identify to the SRDS contact tracers and/or public health officials, those other members of the community with whom they have had close contact (closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes) within 14 days of the onset of symptoms. All members of the SRDS community are expected to cooperate with the internal and external contact tracers.
15. These protocols are subject to change based on the latest guidance, laws, regulations and/or orders from federal, state and local public health officials. SRDS will notify all members of the community if and when such changes occur.
The health and safety of the entire SRDS community is dependent on the cooperation of all of its members. SRDS will strictly enforce these protocols and expects each member of the community not only to comply with these protocols but to notify SRDS administration if they become aware of non-compliance by others.
New - Air Filtration and Ventilation Update
Air filtering and other indoor air quality measures for coronavirus are intended as a complement to the guidelines provided by health authorities: social distancing, hand washing, personal protective equipment (PPE), etc. These measures cannot be overlooked, even if your building has the best air filtering and disinfection systems in the market. Consider that a filter is only effective when air is moving through. For this reason, the CDC recommends increasing the operating schedules of ventilation systems, up to 24/7 if possible. More pollutants and germs can be captured simply because more air is moving through the filter.
At SRDS we have many types of HVAC systems and each building-system is unique. To improve indoor air quality and help prevent coronavirus infections, we started with a complete assessment of our current HVAC systems in place. We used Delta Mechanical Systems Inc., to assess and recommend changes to our current air filtration and ventilation systems, as well as to make recommendations for added protection. We also consulted with Environmental Health and Engineering, Inc., for expert guidance and further recommendations regarding our (IEQ) Indoor Environmental Quality. We used both companies’ recommendations for portable air purification systems, which have been added to every single room on campus.
Improvements and Additions
#1. We have replaced all of the various a/c systems in place with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters. HEPA filters capture 99.97% of particles with a size of 0.3 microns. The filtering efficiency is even higher for particles larger or smaller than 0.3 microns. HEPA filters can capture many airborne germs, and also nonliving pollutants such as fine particulate matter. All of our HVAC Systems now have MERV 13 air filters in place (MERV-Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value).
Mini-Split Ductless A/C Heat Systems
Many of our classrooms have Fujitsu and Mitsubishi new wall a/c units in place. These are called mini-split room systems. These are very efficient systems with built-in filter screens that are rated at the very top of the ductless systems in the market.
Built-In Filtration: Long-life + Ion Particle and Deodorization Filter
The filter deodorizes and filters the air by powerfully decomposing absorbed particles and odors using the oxidizing and reducing effects of ions generated by the ultra-fine particle ceramic. The filter can be used for approximately 3 years if it is washed with water when dirty to restore it's surface action. Dust, mold spores and micro-organisms are absorbed onto the filter by static electricity and growth is inhibited and deactivated. Filters last 9-12 months. All of these systems have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and are ready to go.
#2: We have installed Portable Air Purifier Systems (PAPS) in all of the various classrooms, offices and work areas on campus.
- BlueAir Model #411 Air Purifier: Offers unique technology for superior results *Highly Recommended
- Winix #5500-2 Air Purifier with True HEPA, PlasmaWave and Odor Reducing Washable AOC Carbon Filter.
- NuWave OxyPure Smart Air Purifier: The Most Advanced Air Purifier on the Market Today!
Conclusion
Filtering is a mechanical air purification method, which means it works with living and non-living particles. HEPA filters are the most efficient for residential or commercial use, followed by MERV 13-17 filters.
SRDS has many types of HVAC systems and each is unique. We have doubled down to improve our indoor air quality and help prevent coronavirus infections. Where a HEPA Filter could not be added to the ventilation system we added the highest quality portable air purifier in the market. Areas that have a MERV filtration filter system in place were complemented with a (PAPS) Portable Air Purifier System that will upgrade each room to a MERV setting of 13 or better.
(HEPA) High Efficiency Particulate Air
(MERV) Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values
(IEQ) Indoor Environmental Quality
New - Symptoms and Exposure Tracking Chart by Division
Summary of Reopening Plans
We plan to begin on-campus instruction on Wednesday, September 2. Classes will be held Monday through Friday with a full-day schedule for all of our students. We plan to offer a blended learning solution that includes both “live feed” instruction for students who prefer to continue remote learning and traditional classroom instruction on campus. SRDS families will have the opportunity to choose which option (remote vs. on campus) is best for their child(ren) and families. Parents will receive a survey during the week of August 10 and will select one option (remote vs on-campus) for the first three weeks of the school year.
Our facilities will be altered in large and small ways to accommodate the needs of our community and the requirements set forth by the New Jersey Department of Education, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and CDC guidelines for the safe reopening of schools. Our plan will rely heavily on the support and participation of SRDS families, faculty and staff. Families will be asked to assist with monitoring the health of our population and adhere to all new guidelines and procedures. Our success relies on our ongoing communication and assessment of the effectiveness of all new practices.
We plan to schedule and manage the size of all classes to allow the opportunity for social distancing and safe instruction on campus. Although we plan to maintain the essence of the Saddle River Day School experience, we must acknowledge that the day-to-day implementation of that experience will change significantly. Cloth face coverings will be required in some capacity for all students, staff and visitors when on campus. Plexi-glass tri-fold desk shields will be provided for all student desks/seating areas.
Technology will be upgraded to provide blended learning to our students who decide to learn from home. We will be investing in a new, dedicated broadband service line that will result in a faster, more robust connection and an upgraded firewall to enhance online security. Webcams and speakers will be installed in each classroom. Teachers will be provided with a headset equipped with a microphone so that live streaming is available for students learning from home. We will provide each classroom with a supplemental monitor, in addition to the interactive whiteboard, so instructors can better see and interact with remote learners.
Lunch will be provided while maintaining social distancing/safety guidelines.
Transportation will be provided for our students who require bus transportation.
We will clean & disinfect frequently touched areas throughout the day. SRDS will be working with an outside cleaning company to disinfect the campus every night. SRDS will install touchless sinks and toilets in most bathrooms (contingent upon availability) and install touchless hand sanitizer stations throughout the campus.
If it is determined that the school must return to full-time Remote Learning, school hours will be adjusted to 9:00 am to 2:45 pm to reflect the results of the parent survey.
Guiding Principles and Key Elements
Our fundamental priority is the health and safety of our extended SRDS family. In planning for the fall, we also kept these principles in mind:
- We will maintain the level of academic rigor and excellence that are SRDS hallmarks.
- We will continue to innovate in the ways we deliver instruction to our students in order to meet the demands of a changing world.
- We will be prepared to pivot nimbly and seamlessly to alternative methods of instruction if and when COVID-19 appears in our community or the community at large.
The following key elements are outlined in our plan:
- Health & Safety
- Academic Experience
- Technology
- Food Service
- Transportation
Health & Safety: Reduce the Spread of COVID-19
- Clearly define the role and obligation of parents/guardians and students in maintaining the health and safety of our community.
- Require students and staff to remain at home when appropriate.
- Require self-reporting if any member of the community has tested positive for or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- Conduct daily morning temperature screenings prior to entry into buildings.
- Promote frequent hand washing with soap and water.
- Require cloth face covering in some capacity for all students, staff and visitors when on campus.
- Provide plexi-glass tri-fold desk shields for all student desks/seating areas.
- Limit non-essential visitors, volunteers and activities involving outside groups.
- Limit the use of shared supplies, tools and other objects that are difficult to clean or disinfect.
Health & Safety: Maintain A Healthy Environment
- Designate the newly-hired Facilities Manager to act as the COVID-19 supervisor.
- Modify the Nurse’s office to create a COVID-19 treatment/holding room to isolate persons displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
- Maintain abundant supplies of hand sanitizer, soap, paper towels, tissues, disinfectant wipes, masks and gloves.
- Clean & disinfect frequently touched areas throughout the day.
- SRDS will be working with an outside cleaning company to disinfect the campus every night.
- Increase the circulation of outdoor air to enhance ventilation by opening windows wherever possible.
- Deactivate drinking fountains and eliminate the use of gym and hallway lockers to discourage unnecessary contamination and minimize hallway crowding.
- Install touchless sinks and toilets in most bathrooms.
- Install touchless hand sanitizer stations throughout the campus.
- Post signage with reminders to wash hands, wear face coverings in communal areas and maintain recommended social distance.
- Separate student belongings.
- Create one-way hallways where possible. When not possible, utilize dividers and signs to separate and direct two-way traffic.
Academic Experience: Schedule
- The school day will run from 8:15 am until 2:55 pm each day.
- Students will arrive at school between 8:00 and 8:15 each day.
- Parents and guardians will be required to drop off and pick up students according to designated procedures that will be outlined in detail in a follow up communication. Parents and guardians will not be permitted to walk children into the buildings or get out of their cars during drop off or pick up.
- Students will be met at their cars by staff members who will take their temperatures and clear them for entry into the building.
- Once cleared, students will be required to report directly to their first period class.
Academic Experience: Classroom Setup
- Students in the lower school will remain in Main Hall all day. Students in MS and US will travel between North and Alford halls.
- Class size for middle and upper school classes will not exceed 14 students for most classes.
- Any class that is larger than 14 students will be held in a larger space such as the Senior Commons.
- Each middle and upper school class will be assigned to a classroom based on the enrollment of the class so that desks may be properly distanced.
- Upper School study halls will be held in the library.
- Middle School study halls will be held in the Green Room.
- Band and Chorus classes will be held in the PAC (or other space) in order to properly distance.
- Pre-K through 6th Grade students will eat lunch in their classrooms.
- 7th – 12th Grade students will either eat in their classrooms or in the Commons, following a rotating daily schedule.
- During their study halls, MS and US students will report to a designated space.
- US students will remain on campus for the duration of the school day.
- Signage throughout the school will direct traffic flow and remind students to remain socially distanced.
- Student desks will be spaced according to NJ state recommendations. As an additional safety measure, Plexi-dividers will also be used at each student desk.
Technology
To support students who have chosen to remain home and learn remotely and to facilitate the seamless transition if it becomes necessary to move back to remote learning for the entire student body, the Technology department has:
- Upgraded broadband service to include a new dedicated line to campus resulting in faster, more robust connection and an upgraded firewall to enhance online security. Upgrades should be completed before the start of the school year.
- Installed webcams and speakers in each classroom, and provided each teacher with a headset with microphone so that live streaming is available for kids learning from home.
- Added new interactive boards/speakers/microphones in newly created academic spaces (Commons, Library, etc.).
- Added additional document cameras throughout campus in classrooms for teachers to present work in class and remotely, particularly essential for remote learners to have access to the detailed instructions required for Science labs and Art projects.
- Allocated an iPad to each student PreK – 1st Grade.
- Allocated a Chromebook to each student in 2nd - 5th Grade.
- Maintained the Bring Your Own Device policy for 6th - 12th Grade.
- Provided each classroom with a supplementary monitor, in addition to the interactive whiteboard, so instructors can better see and interact with remote learners while simultaneously presenting lesson content on the interactive whiteboard.
- Streamlined content delivery for remote learners to Google Apps for Education for PreK – 6th Grade and a combination of Google Apps and Zoom (to accommodate international students) for 7th - 12th Grade.
- The Tech Department maintains its commitment to providing tech support to faculty, staff, students & parents for hardware and software needs on and off campus.
- Conducted extensive teacher training on hardware and software to prepare for all scenarios. This training will be ongoing.
Food Service - Revised 8/28
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As the new school year approaches, there will be many changes for our students. I wanted to share with you and your student what you can expect from the kitchen.
Pursuant to CDC and local health department guidelines, we will be serving lunch to the students in a manner that will provide the best practices for minimal contact and exposure. All stations will have enhanced barrier protection. Hot lunches will be prepared following the strictest health regulations. Our team in the kitchen will wear masks and gloves at all times. There will be additional hand sanitizing stations throughout the kitchen, prep and serving areas. As food prep professionals, we are accustomed to frequent hand washing and we will ensure to change our face masks and our gloves between each lunch services or whenever we walk away from a station, regardless of whether we touched food or not.
All plates and utensils will be kept away from the open area and will be behind the meal serving line. Only the kitchen staff will handle these items and give them directly to the students. Regrettably, we will have to revert to disposable plates and now have pre-wrapped utensils for the foreseeable future. While this is a disappointment for my team and me after all the hard work by the Parents Guild to create our dishwashing station, it is the only way we can ensure a greater level of reduced exposure. We are looking into biodegradable options, but are limited by what our vendors have available for us.
Salads and sandwiches will be pre-wrapped in grab and go packaging. There will no longer be condiments available to the student in squeeze bottles; my staff will hand the students individual serve packets. For the time being, we will not be offering any soup options. Frankly, lunch service will look and feel different and there will be fewer choices as we want to make sure that anything we implement is as effective as possible. We will continue to expand the dining options as our experience develops. Please be assured, if your student has any dietary restrictions or allergies, my team and I will continue to provide the appropriate options that cater to the child’s needs; that will not change. Safety in my kitchen includes all aspects of the word, and your child’s allergies remain a priority for us.
There will be a limited number of students allowed in the serving and dining areas. Lower School students will have lunch delivered to their classrooms. Lower School families will receive monthly menus. A menu options list will be sent home on Monday via email and hard copy. This must be returned to your student’s teacher by Wednesday to allow us to plan accordingly for Lower School lunch service.
Middle and Upper School will continue to be served in the lunch area. To help limit the number of students together at one time, we decided the safest approach would be for 5th and 6th Grades to get their lunches from the food service area immediately before Middle School lunch time begins. They will then return to their classrooms to eat their meals. All other Middle School grades and all of Upper School will dine in classrooms only during their designated lunch periods. Upper School will now have an extended lunch period to reduce overcrowding and create better physical distancing practices. We will operate an additional serving area in the gym to help reduce the number of students and faculty waiting to be served and to continue to expand physical distancing practices.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me. I want to make certain you are comfortable with the lunch program when your student returns to school.
All the best,
Chef Mark
mcarter@saddleriverday.org
Transportation
- Face coverings will be required at all times while on the buses.
- Students will fill bus seats beginning in the rear. They will exit from the front to the rear.
- Students will be seated one per seat and rows will be skipped where possible. Siblings will be permitted to sit together.
- Frequently touched areas and seats will be wiped down prior to the start of each route.
- Windows will be open when possible to assist with ventilation.
- Signs will remind students to keep their distance.
- Bus companies will be required to maintain protocols for driver testing.
A MESSAGE FROM THE NURSE, ANN HANNA, RN:
Our Saddle River Day School community will play an integral part in making our campus a safe place for all. As a community, we will work together to minimize risk to students and faculty as we return to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is vital that every member of our community does their part to ensure the health and safety of our Community. Parents and guardians of the Saddle River Day School community have a shared responsibility in following the policies and procedures listed below, along with abiding by our community expectations. By enrolling your child at Saddle River Day School and participating in our school’s community, you agree to the following requirements:
Health & Safety: Community Expectations
The night before: Setting up your child for a good start to their day begins the night before. Eat a healthy dinner and get a good night's rest. Make sure your child has face masks, a water bottle, and hand sanitizer in their backpack.
In the morning: Take a good look at your child! Are they exhibiting any signs of illness? If so, please keep them home. Check their temperature. If your child exhibits a temperature of 100º or more, cough, stomachache, headache, and/or signs of illness, your child should stay home from school.
During the school day: If your child visits the nurse’s office at any point during the school day feeling unwell, the parent/guardian will be called and the student must be picked up from school (ideally, within the hour.)
The most important thing you can do: Keep your child home if they are sick, have a temperature of 100º or more, or experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms.
Follow Federal, State, and Local Orders. All families are expected to adhere to the directives of applicable federal, state, and local government health departments, including the CDC, regarding social distancing in public and other measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Testing and Notification: If your child or someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, you must notify the Head Of School, Jalaj Desai, and the school Nurse, Ann Hanna, as soon as possible.
Stay Home if Exposed: If anyone in your household has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, or if you or anyone in your household is notified by the State Health Department that they were in contact with an individual infected with COVID-19, you must notify the school nurse immediately. You must also keep your child home for 14 days. During this time, your child will be able to continue classes via distance learning.
Face Masks: Please send your child to school with face masks every day they are attending on-campus classes. Teach your child how to properly use and remove a face mask. Please ensure that your child’s mask is cleaned and laundered regularly.
Hygiene: Practice and reinforce good hygiene at home, in particular, it is important to make frequent and proper handwashing a habit.
Students’ Personal Items: Limit the items your child brings onto campus each day. Please remind your child that the sharing of food, supplies, and other items with other students is prohibited. Student lockers will be out of service and unavailable until further notice.
Medical Forms and Emergency Contacts: Parents/guardians must complete and submit all required student medical forms prior to the first day of school. Parents/guardians must provide at least two emergency contacts who are able to pick up your child from the school within one (1) hour of receiving a call from the school nurse or an SRDS faculty member if your child presents with a temperature or becomes ill during the day.