St. Francis Xavier
School Year 2020-2021
COVID-19 Reopening Plan

The reopening plan is accessible through a link on our website homepage at www.sfxschool.org

We respect that not all families may feel comfortable with In-Person Instruction after reviewing this document.  We will continue to offer 100% Distance Learning.  You can rejoin us on campus at any time.

 

Letter from the Pastor

November 20, 2020

To Whom It May Concern,
I am the pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Burbank, CA. St. Francis Xavier School is a part of our larger parish community. I am proud of all the work that has been done to prepare for the re-opening of the parish school through the proposed waiver from the County of Los Angeles.
Due to Covid-19, we have had to learn to accommodate new working arrangements and safe alternatives for re-opening our school safely and responsibly, and for celebrating our faith identity.
Last summer I convened an administrative team with members from the parish and school to plan for the new school year. We originally implemented a plan for distance learning, but now we have revised our plans to re-open school for students in TK through grade 2.
Together with the school principal, the Human Resources Director of the parish, and teacher representatives from the school, we have followed the direction and advice from leadership from the Department of Catholic Schools, the LA County and the CDC to apply for the TK through grade 2 waiver.
On behalf of the St. Francis Xavier Community (of which I am speaking for) I have full confidence in the re-opening plan for these young learners. I anticipate great success hosting once again live instruction for the students in grades TK through grade 2 at St. Francis Xavier School, Burbank.
Respectfully,

Rev. Sebastian Vettickal
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Burbank
Pastor
 

About St. Francis Xavier School

St. Francis Xavier is located in the Verdugo Hills on 8.5 acres. 
The school employs ten primary teachers, five auxiliary teachers, three aides, one health aide, and four administrative personnel.

Workplace Policies and Practices to
Protect Staff and Students
COVID-19 Compliance Team

The COVID-19 Compliance Team:

1. Dr. Paul Sullivan, Principal
2. Fr. Sebastian Vettickal, Pastor
3. Fr. Benny George, Associate Pastor
4. Rita Recker, Director of Parish Administration
5. Teresa Smith, Vice Principal

The team was established in April 2020 and has developed distance learning plans, in-person learning plans, as well enforcing all COVID-19 safety protocols.  Roberta Cranston, the school health aide is the point person to inform DPH or any outbreaks at the school, and to receive instruction from DPH if such an event were to occur.

 
Hybrid Attendance Model
This model ensures physical distancing of 6 feet amongst students and staff; and a cohort of nor more than 16 students and 2 supervising adults per stable group.

This model consists of half the student body attending in-person instruction in the mornings and half the student body attending in-person instruction in the afternoon.  Each group would attend school for in-person instruction five half-days per week.  The students attending in the morning would have auxiliary subjects online from home in the afternoon.  Students attending in the afternoon would have auxiliary subjects online from home in the morning.  Auxiliary subjects include Science, Spanish, Computer, Art, Drama and PE.

The morning session would be from 7:45 am to 11:00 am; the afternoon session would be from 12:15 to 3:30.  There will be a recess period and no on campus lunch.  
Rigorous disinfecting will be employed between 11:00 am and 12:15 pm.  See cleaning schedule for more information.

Adapted Classrooms and Shared Indoor Spaces
Students will stay with their assigned stable group.

Each student will have their own desk regardless of the stable group.  Half of the desks in the classroom will be used by the morning stable group and half by the afternoon stable group.  Desks will be color coded.  All gold desks will be checkerboard style for one stable group and all blue desks will be checkerboard style for the second stable group.  Gold desks will be 6 feet apart from another gold desk, and blue desks will be 6 feet apart from another blue desk.  Each student’s desk has a plastic shield.  Gold lockers will be distanced from other Gold lockers and the Blue lockers will be distanced from other Blue lockers.

Teacher desks will be positioned 6 feet from student desks, and are also outfitted with clear plastic shields. 

Classroom supplies will not be shared among students.  Individual supplies will be kept in the student’s desk or locker; if supplies must be shared, they will be disinfected after each use and students will be required to sanitize their hands.

Student bathroom occupancy will be limited to 2 children at one time.

In the lower school classroom doors will be designated as one way.  For the upper school classrooms will use the door exiting immediately outside unless using the restroom.

Adapted Outdoor Spaces
Social distancing of six feet will be required outdoors.  This applies to all students, teachers, staff, parents, and campus visitors.

Recess times will be staggered and play areas zoned by stable group.

Snacks must be brought in disposable bags or containers.  No sharing of food between anyone is allowed on campus.  All leftover food will be discarded at the end of the snack time.

Students must wear a mask during outside play time.

Visitors and Volunteers
Outside volunteers and visitors will be limited.  Visitors will check-in at the table outside the parish office or at the table outside the school office.  Volunteers and visitors must wear a mask at all times, be vaccinated and Virtus trained/fingerprinted while on campus.  Volunteers with the exception of those helping to disinfect the building will be limited to outside activities only.

If a student must be picked up early, the parent will call the office from the car when they arrive in the parking lot, the student will meet their parent at the table outside the school office to sign them out.

Afterschool Sports, After School Care, Enrichment and Field trips
Afterschool sports, enrichment and field trips are on hold until further notice.
After School Care is suspended until further notice.
At home staff member screening and exposure
Staff members have to do an at home self-screening.  Staff members must not report to work if they have any of the following symptoms within the last 24 hours:

• Fever of 100.4 degree or above
• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• New excessive fatigue
• Muscle ache
• New onset of severe headache
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• New loss of taste or smell

 

• Or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or has someone in their household that tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.  
• Or have been in close contact (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) in the past 14 days with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19.  
• Or have traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Staff members can return to work if:

1. COVID-19 has been ruled out by a healthcare provider as the cause of any of the symptoms listed above; and
2. 24 hours of no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

Known Exposure for staff members 
Staff members must not come to work if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.  Exposure is defined as within 6 feet for 15 minutes.  They can return after 14 days with no test, or as defined by the State of California and County of Los Angeles.

At-home students screening and exposure
Students are required to perform at-home screening before leaving for in-person instruction on campus.  Students are to stay home if they have any of the following symptoms within the last 24 hours:

• Fever of 100.4 degree or above
• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• New excessive fatigue
• Muscle ache
• New onset of severe headache
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain
• New loss of taste or smell    

Known exposures
Students exposed to a person known to be infected with COVID-19 need to stay home and follow the recommended self-quarantine and testing guidelines issued by the State of California and County of Los Angeles.

Student can return to school when:

1.  COVID-19 has been ruled out by a healthcare provider as the cause of any of the symptoms listed above; and
2. 24 hours of no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

Positive COVID-19 Test
Families are to notify Mrs. Bobbi Cranston at 818-504-4421 in the event a student has tested positive or has been exposed to COVID-19.

Returning to School after Positive Test for COVID-19
Any student, or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 and develops symptoms of COVID-19, he or she may return to campus when

1. Ten days have passed since he or she first experience any symptoms

AND
 

2.  The individual’s symptoms have improved

AND
 

3.  The individual has been fever free without medication for 24 hours

If an individual who tests positive for COVID-19 is asymptomatic, he or she may return to campus if he or she remains asymptomatic and 10 days have passed since testing positive for COVID-19.
 
Student Arrival and Dismissal Protocols

• Students must wash their hands with antibacterial soap before they arrive at school.
• Parents will drive on campus using the West Gate.  They will follow a direct line of cones across the lower parking lot.  They will stop within the drop off zone.  Parents cannot exit their car.
• Before exiting the car students will have their temperature checked and parents will be asked a series of COVID-19 screening questions.
• The students in the upper building will exit the left side of the car and students in the lower building will exit the right side of the car. 

 

• At dismissal time stable groups will wait in their designated pick up zone.  Parents will drive in the West Gate.  They will follow a direct line of cones across the lower parking lot.  They will stop in the Pickup zone.  Parents cannot exit their car.  Siblings will be called over a speaker at the same time to enter their car.  Parents will then exit the East Gate.

On Campus screening during school hours
Should a student begin to feel ill and demonstrate any COVID-19 related symptoms, they will be isolated in Cabrini Hall or in the Church breezeway. Both spaces have been designated as isolation space.  Isolation space will remain empty and be disinfected 24 hours after exposure. 

If a student has a temperature above 100.4 degrees, or COVID-19 related symptoms are found, they will be sent home and advised to seek immediate medical attention.  Their siblings will also be sent home as well.

School Exposure Plan
If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 there will be immediate quarantine of exposed staff and/or students within that specific area of campus.  Testing protocols as outlined by the CDC will be followed for returning to school.

A cluster of cases is defined as three or more cases within 14 days, to DPH.  Instructions from DPH will be followed on whether the cluster of cases reported requires a public health outbreak response, including partial or full closure of the school.

Contingency Plans for Full or Partial Closure of In-Person Instruction
If St. Francis Xavier School is instructed by the DPH or the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to suspend in-person instruction of students, the school will revert to 100% distance learning.  If only affected grade level(s) are instructed to close, only the affected grades will revert to 100% distance learning. 

Since the same classroom will be used for morning and afternoon classes, the stable group not affected will not attend school for 24 hours while the affected area is thoroughly disinfected.  The remaining stable group will be taught by a substitute teacher during quarantine time.  Each teacher is required to prepare substitute teacher plans that can be implanted on a moment’s notice.

Mask Protocol and other PPE Equipment
Anyone entering the school property shall wear a protective mask while on campus.  Plastic face shields may be worn in addition to a protective mask, but not as a substitute.

A protective mask will be provided to anyone arriving at school without a protective mask.

A protective mask should be washed or replaced daily.  Parents are instructed to ensure that students have clean protective masks.  Staff are instructed to wash or replace their masks daily as well.

Secondary masks should be brought to school daily in the event that initially worn masks become soiled during the school day.

Staff members have access to disposable gloves, masks, and plastic face shields.

With the help of the PTO and parents, the school has installed bottle filling fountains.  Traditional drinking fountains are not being used.  Students should bring a filled water bottle to school each day.

Hand sanitizing stations are at each entrance to the school, classrooms and restrooms.  Students need to sanitize their hands every time they enter their classroom, the main school or a restroom.  Teachers also schedule hand washing and sanitizing times throughout the day.  Bathrooms are equipped with disinfecting soap.

Cleaning, disinfecting and ventilation
Included in this document is the cleaning schedule and list of supplies used.
 
Ventilation
Classroom windows and outside doors will remain open during the school day.  The school has implemented using MERV 13 rated filters in the classrooms.  It has also purchased Medify Air Purifiers for the classrooms. Classroom instruction is encouraged to be outside whenever feasible and appropriate.

The custodian, staff, teachers and parent volunteers will clean and disinfect high touch surfaces and common areas frequently and as needed.  A thorough disinfecting will take place between the morning and afternoon stable group.  These areas include, but are not limited to door handles, light switches, sink handles, bathroom surfaces, student desks and chairs. 

All classrooms are equipped with disinfecting wipes and spray.
 
Independent Self-Management Skills
Parents are encouraged to practice the following skills with their children.

• Proper handwashing
• Proper disposal of tissues
• Proper placement and removal of a protective mask
• Correct covering of nose and mouth at the same time while coughing or sneezing and wearing a protective mask, using the brook of the elbow and not hands
• Tying shoes
• Avoiding touching the face, keeping fingers out of their mouth, nose and eyes

 

Cleaning Products and Disinfectants

Alberto uses:

• Empire Cleaning Supply P.T.C. as primary cleaner purchased from Empire Cleaning Supply
• NABC Non-Acid Disinfectant Bathroom Cleaner purchased from Empire Cleaning Supply
• Keystone Peroxide Disinfectant and Glass Cleaner RTU from Ecolab
• Or other CDC recommended products.

Supplied by Bobbi to the teachers:

• Lysol wipes from MacGill
• Lysol spray from MacGill
• Clorox spray from MacGill
• Citrace disinfectant spray from MacGill (this has not been available this school year)