Re-Opening Plan 2020COVID-19 Policies and Procedures

Updated August 21, 2020● Updated healthcare professional to medical doctor (Slides 8-10).

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COVID-19 OverviewDear Heritage Families,

The following represents Heritage's plans for re-opening the Academy, Study Center, and Preschool in the fall. The plans, policies, and procedures were created with input from HCA administrators, board members, teachers, parents, Summit County Health Department, Geauga County Health Department, multiple medical doctors, and guidance from the Governor's office, CDC, AAP, ODH, and ODE.

We recognize that individuals share vastly different views on how one ought to conduct himself in light of COVID-19. In this, we have been praying for an overwhelming spirit of Christian charity, humility, and grace among our staff and families. This is a difficult situation, and we need the Spirit of the Lord Jesus to reign in us richly as we navigate these waters.

As we've made these plans, we've been praying for our own hearts—that we would love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and that we would love our neighbor as ourselves. - Luke 10:27

David NeesHead of School

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COVID-19 OverviewGuiding Principles and Scriptures:

● HCA’s mission is best conducted with LIVE, face to face instruction.

● Consideration of the health and well-being of others

● Is this the plan for the remainder of the school year? No. We will reassess our procedures as more information is made available. It is a plan with the information that we have currently.

● Is HCA acting out of fear and anxiety? No. We are seeking to be as wise as serpents, yet as innocent as doves. - Matthew 10:16

● Will we do our best to obey the mandates of the governing authorities? Yes. HCA has every intention of following these requirements. Recommendations by these entities will be seriously considered, but weighed according to our convictions, needs, and context. - 1 Pet. 2:13ff

● Overarching Goal: Love of God and Love of Neighbor - Luke 10:27 3

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In-Person / Full-TimePrimary Plan

Heritage At Home Contingency Plan

Communication of COVID-19 Updates

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1In-Person / Full-TimePrimary Plan

HCA students will be LIVE in the buildings, including 5 full days for the academy.

We do not plan to alter the calendar or to shorten the number of days students are in the building.

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In-Person / Full-TimeCohort Model & Student Protocol:

● A Cohort model will be used at HCA. This entails minimizing interaction of groups in order to reduce the spread of illness.

● Teachers will attempt to physically distance the students in the classroom. When this is not feasible, the teacher will create clusters of students.

● Students will be reminded to "drive" on the right side of the hallway, allowing for one way traffic and less congestion.

● Students will be trained on proper hand washing and frequently reminded by the staff and by the use of signs.

● Each student’s belongings will be separated from others’ and in individually labeled containers, cubbies or designated areas to the extent feasible.

● Passing periods and time spent at lockers and restrooms will be adjusted to minimize congestion.

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In-Person / Full-TimeFace Coverings: Masks/face coverings have been a controversial topic in recent weeks. The use of face coverings is in no way intended to make a statement, to infringe upon anyone’s liberties or rights, nor to remove the role of the parents in deciding what is best for their own child. As inconvenient as it is to wear a face covering, it is much more inconvenient for students and faculty members to be ill and need to stay home.

As the research continues to evolve, increasing consensus is building that wearing masks does slow the transmission of the virus (recent CDC report). Therefore, and in accordance with Governor DeWine’s recent mask mandate, at this time Heritage students will be required to wear face coverings while indoors on campus according to the following.

Governor DeWine’s recent mask mandate for K-12 students requires face coverings for all students in grades K-12. After talking with Summit County Public Health and Geauga Public Health, we have clarity on how the mandate will be enforced and what will be required of HCA students.

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In-Person / Full-Time● Preschool and Jr. Kindergarten students:

○ Will wear a mask while in common areas (bathrooms, hallways, entering/exiting the building).○ Students should bring their own fresh, clean face covering to school every day. Masks or face

coverings should be plain or patterned, appropriate in nature, and have no lettering (except for a HCA logo).

○ If you believe your student has a medical condition that prevents using a face covering, please visit your medical doctor for a signed document to be exempt and submit it to the front office before the first day of school.

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In-Person / Full-Time● Kindergarten and 1st Grade students:

○ Will wear a mask while in common areas (bathrooms, hallways, entering/exiting the building).○ As children in these grades are growing in phonemic awareness, and as the teacher-student relationship relies heavily

on both verbal and non-verbal cues and the educational foundation is just being laid for these students, they will be permitted to substitute a face shield (parents’ decision) in place of the required mask during reading and phonics instruction.

○ The teacher will provide regular breaks from wearing the mask—while students are seated and not engaged in active dialog.

○ The teacher will make efforts to take the children outside regularly during the day.○ Students should bring their own fresh, clean face covering to school every day. Masks or face coverings should be plain

or patterned, appropriate in nature, and have no lettering (except for a HCA logo).○ If you believe your student has a medical condition that prevents using a face covering, please visit your medical doctor

for a signed document to be exempt and submit it to the front office before the first day of school.

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In-Person / Full-Time● Second through 8th Grade students:

○ Will wear a mask while in common areas (bathrooms, hallways, entering/exiting the building)○ Will be expected to wear a mask the majority of the time they are in the classroom.○ The teacher will provide regular breaks from wearing the mask—while students are seated and not engaged in active

dialog. ○ The teacher will make efforts to take the children outside regularly during the day.○ Students should bring their own fresh, clean face covering to school every day. Masks or face coverings should be plain

or patterned, appropriate in nature, encourage unity, and have no lettering (except for a HCA logo).○ If you believe your student has a medical condition that prevents using a face covering, please visit your medical doctor

for a signed document to be exempt and submit it to the front office before the first day of school. ● Faculty/Staff/Admin

○ Per the state of Ohio mandate for schools, all faculty and staff will wear a mask during the school day at all times, except when alone in their assigned workspace or classroom.

○ Teachers may choose to wear a face shield while in the classroom, carefully physically distanced (6 feet), for instructional reasons. When not instructing (or outside of the classroom), cloth masks are required.

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In-Person / Full-Time

Heritage asks you to strongly consider a face-covering that easily stays "attached" to the student, whether being worn on the face or not. Example: a "gaiter" sits around the neck all day and can simply be pulled up over mouth and nose. Alternatively, parents are encouraged to provide a lanyard so that the child can affix the mask to the lanyard when not in use.

The benefit of these types of product is that students will not drop or lose their mask throughout the day or accidentally put another student’s mask on. Heritage requires a solid color or very simple pattern face covering/gaiter. No sparkles, reflective materials, tie-dye, words, or logos (except the HCA logo).

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In-Person / Full-TimeCleaning:Heritage is taking the following steps to combat COVID-19.

● Buildings will be cleaned nightly with a non-toxic disinfectant.

● Hand sanitizer stations will be provided throughout our campuses, including entrances.

● Parents are asked to provide personal hand sanitizer of choice for students' desks and in their lunch bags.

● Each classroom will have hand sanitizer and hand-sanitizing wipes available.

● When possible, students will use all their own classroom supplies. Shared supplies will be wiped down regularly.

● Common and high contact surfaces will be cleaned regularly throughout the day.

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In-Person / Full-TimeVisitors on campus:

The injunction to raise up children in the fear and admonition of the Lord is placed on parents, and as such, Heritage affirms the primacy of parents in the education of their children. We greatly value parent volunteers on campus and the benefit they bring to the education of our students and the extra help to teachers! For the time being we need to greatly limit additional visitors to campus. We thank you in advance for your understanding. We hope to lift this restriction as soon as possible.

Any visitor to campus must be approved in advance by school administration, be subject to a temperature check at entrance, and be required to wear a mask and/or shield. In addition, all visitors are expected to follow CDC guidelines if they have been ill, diagnosed with COVID-19, and/or exposed to someone with COVID-19. See slides 21-23 for guidelines.

At this time no outside organizations may use the building.

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In-Person / Full-TimeExtracurricular activities, field trips, and large group gatherings:

● Cross Country, Running club, and Tennis club will be offered this fall.

● All other clubs, including Lego Club and Chess Club, are under review and will be determined at a later date.

● Athletics will follow OHSAA guidelines regarding COVID-19.

● Virtual field trips & local nature walks are encouraged. Off campus field trips will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

● Given the ever changing nature of COVID-19, large group gatherings will be determined at a later date and on a case by case basis.

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In-Person / Full-TimePrior to Morning Drop Off:

● Parents should perform daily morning temperature checks and keep student home if they display any symptoms per the governor’s guidelines.

Before/After Care: ● Pre-registration is required.● Care begins at 7:30am, ends at 4:00pm.● Students will work independently with a parent provided book, toy, etc. No sharing of items.● Students will be physically distanced.

Drop Off:● Peninsula Campus - There will be multiple drop off locations which will be spelled out at orientation. ● All students should proceed directly to their classroom.

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In-Person / Full-TimeConvocation and Chapel:

Convocation and Chapel will take place remotely in individual classrooms. Mr. Bond will lead via livestream for convocation.

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In-Person / Full-TimeSnack Time: All snacks will be consumed in the individual classrooms or outside.

Lunch/Recess:

Prior to lunch, all students will be required to wash their hands. Lunch will be conducted in the cafeteria, physically distanced according to classroom cohorts. Lunch and recess schedules will be adjusted accordingly.

Although temporarily suspended, special lunch days (Pizza/Chick-Fil-A) will hopefully continue with plated pizza and individual meals from Chick-Fil-A.

Recess times will be altered to allow for smaller groups of students at any one time.

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In-Person / Full-TimeSpecials

● Specials (Art, Music, P.E., Chorale) will continue at Heritage but may look a little different for the time being.

● Chorale/choir will be held in the gym (Peninsula) or the large open space in the lower level (Bainbridge) practicing physical distancing. Students will not sing. Instead, preschool through 2nd grade years will learn rhythm, percussion, and movement based music and 3rd through 8th grade years will learn how to play the ukulele.

● PE will be conducted outside whenever possible.

● Classes will travel by cohort to the art and music rooms, disinfecting the classrooms in between.

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In-Person / Full-TimePick up: Pick up will work differently this year. All students will wait in their classrooms (or be physically distanced in large gathering spaces according to cohorts) for their name to be called via walkie-talkie. We anticipate this approach may add a few minutes to pick up. We thank you in advance for your patience!

In Peninsula, pick up will be conducted at front AND back of the building by alphabet/last name. All Preschool and JrK students who dismiss mid-day will dismiss from the front of the building ONLY. More information will be provided at Orientation.

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In-Person / Full-TimeStudent Illness:

● Per the Governor's guidance to K-12 schools, we ask that families follow the CDC guidelines for student illness and return to school policies (refer to slides 18-20).

● As always, if a student is not feeling well, please keep him home and monitor symptoms. In particular a student needs to stay home if he has a fever 100° or higher, vomiting, diarrhea, persistent cough, or has loss of taste and smell.

● Parents should perform daily morning temperature checks and keep student home if they display any symptoms (see above).

● If a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, parents will be expected to notify the school and follow CDC guidelines for return (see slide 19).

● A sick room will be set up for any student not feeling well at school. Temperature will be taken and parent will be notified. Parents will be asked to pick up sick children ASAP.

● HCA will follow local and state laws and regulations regarding notification of local health officials, staff, and families immediately of any case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality.

● Faculty and Staff will follow the same guidelines stated above.

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In-Person / Full-TimeWhen faculty members, students, parents, or visitors can return to school (per the CDC):

If you had symptoms but have not had a test to determine if you have COVID-19, you can return to HCA after these three things have happened:

EITHER:1. At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared,2. AND all symptoms have improved (for example, cough or shortness of breath have improved),3. AND you have had no fever for at least 24 hours (that is one full day of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers).

OR: You bring a medical doctor’s note indicating that the cause of the symptoms is due to issues other than COVID-19 and specifically indicating that you are safe to be on campus.

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In-Person / Full-TimeWhen faculty members, students, parents, or visitors can return to school (per the CDC) after a COVID-19 diagnosis:

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you can return to HCA after these three things have happened:

EITHER:1. At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared,2. AND all symptoms have improved (for example, cough or shortness of breath have improved),3. AND you have had no fever for at least 24 hours (that is one full day of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers).

OR: You bring a medical doctor’s note specifically indicating that you are COVID-free and safe to be on campus.

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In-Person / Full-TimeWhen faculty members, students, parents, or visitors can return to school (per the CDC) after COVID-19 exposure:

If you have been exposed (“exposed” or “exposure” being defined as maintaining less than 6-foot distance for more than 15 minutes) to someone with COVID-19 but remain symptom free you may return after 14 days.

OR: You bring a medical doctor’s note specifically indicating that you are COVID-free and safe to be on campus.

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2 Heritage At HomeContingency Plan

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Heritage At HomeIndividual related COVID-19 student absence:

Anticipating that students may be out due to COVID-19, teachers will be posting weekly/daily lesson plans on NEO, our learning management system for K-8 and RenWeb for Preschool/Jr. Kindergarten. As students are self-quarantining at home because of illness and/or direct exposure to a COVID-19 patient, they will be able to access lesson plans, documents, and resources so that they may continue learning from home. Additionally, teachers will utilize videos of classroom instruction to send to students that are at home. Students will need a device that is able to access Zoom and the learning management system. Significant parent (or other adult) help will be required. Students who feel unable to complete their work while at home will be able to make it up when they return to school, but they are encouraged to do as much as possible before returning to avoid getting too far behind.

**This plan is still being developed based on technology research, costs, etc.

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Heritage At HomeFull shut down of school:

In the event of a total shut down where no students are permitted on campus, like we experienced in Spring 2020, Heritage at Home will go completely online and remote. Students will receive instruction through a combination of LIVE and recorded videos. Course loads and expectations will be adjusted to facilitate a successful transition to completely remote learning. Students will need a device that is able to access Zoom and the learning management system. Significant parent (or other adult) help will be required. Convocation will take place virtually on Zoom.

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3 Communication of COVID-19 Updates

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Communication of COVID-19 UpdatesHow will Heritage communicate updates with parents?

● The Head of School will send regular email updates.

● Parents may check our COVID-19 page on the HCA website: heritageclassicalacademy.org/covid

● Parents can submit COVID-19 related questions here. We ask that you submit questions to this link rather than emailing questions to one of the staff members. This will help the Heritage administration to keep all questions in one place and to answer them the same way each time.

● A Waiver of Liability and Health Screening Agreement will be emailed at a later date. Every family will be required to sign the waiver prior to the start of school.

● Obviously, the COVID-19 situation is fluid and ever-changing. As the situation changes, so will our plan.

● Thank you, and please continue to pray for HCA!