Connected 2020: The Health and Safety Plan to Reopen Central Catholic

Requirement:

Cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and ventilating learning spaces, surfaces, and any other areas used by students (i.e., restrooms, drinking fountains, hallways, and transportation)

• All surfaces and floors will be cleaned and disinfected with EPA approved products. Highly touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, desks, etc. will be sanitized frequently throughout the school day.
• Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms, dining halls, gym, and in hallways, and replaced when needed.
• Disinfecting wipes will be available in all classrooms and dining halls, and will be replaced when needed.
• Water fountains will be converted to water bottle filling stations.  
• When possible, and safe, windows and inside doors will be left open to allow for increased ventilation throughout the school day.
• Bathrooms will be cleaned regularly throughout the school day.
• Outside air exchangers in spaces with A/C will be set to provide the highest rate of exchange.
• Spaces without air exchangers will have open windows and ceiling fans to increase air exchange.
• Deep cleaning will be conducted weekly.
• Additional cleaning staff will be employed during the school day to clean and sanitize.

Requirement: 

Classroom/learning space occupancy that allows for 6 feet of separation among students and staff throughout the day, to the maximum extent feasible

• Students will be spaced at least three feet and preferably 6 feet or more apart to the maximum extent feasible.
• Desks should all face in the same direction.
• In the chemistry classrooms where students face each other, plastic shields will be placed between the students.  Plastic shields are cleaned daily.
• Each teaching area will be separated from the students by a plastic shield.  Teachers will have the option to use a portable microphone and speaker set.
• As much as practical, move any non-essential furniture, materials or equipment and store in a place outside of the room
• Each student is encouraged to provide their own supplies to reduce the need to share supplies.

Requirement: 

Restricting the use of cafeterias and other congregate settings, and serving meals in alternate settings such as classrooms

• Chairs will be spaced 6 feet apart with a plastic shield separating students at each table to the maximum extent feasible.
• Additional staff will be on hand to clean and sanitize between lunches.
• An additional dining hall will be used to reduce the number of students.
• Air flow will be increased to the maximum extent possible.
• Students who carry their lunch will be encouraged to eat in the Quadrangle in good weather and in the gym in inclement weather.

Requirement: 

Hygiene practices for students and staff including the manner and frequency of hand-washing and other best practices

• Training will be provided by a qualified individual and will begin for all staff and faculty prior to the beginning of the school year.
• Teachers or administrators will review hygiene practices with students.
• Hand sanitizer or sanitation station in each room and common areas.

Requirement: 

Posting signs, in highly visible locations, that promote everyday protective measures, and how to stop the spread of germs

• One-way traffic patterns for hallways (keep your right shoulder closest to the wall), and staircase (Main building: Up in the side stairs and down the main stairs/STEM building: South Stairs Up, North Stairs down).
• Decals will be displayed in bathrooms on appropriate hand washing.

Requirement: 

Limiting or restricting visitors and volunteers

• Limit or restrict volunteers.
• All visitors to the building will have a health screening and a temperature check before entering. Entrance only permitted if temperature is under 100.5°F using temporal modes.
• Visitors will generally not be allowed in the building during the school day.
• Parents / guardians picking up their student will go to the Visitors’ Center and sign out their student.  If the students is not waiting, the parent / guardian will wait in the Quadrangle or their car for their student.

Requirement: 

Handling sporting activities consistent with the CDC Considerations for Youth Sports for recess and physical education classes

• Use outdoor spaces as much as possible.
• Limit the use of shared objects (gym and sports equipment)
• Modify athletic practices to conform to WPIAL and PIAA guidelines.

Requirement: 

Limiting the sharing of materials among students

• All students are required to have their own supplies.
• Library books can be checked out but will be put aside for one week upon return.
• Magazines and newspapers will be eliminated.
• Central Catholic has a one-to-one technology program for all students.  Students who do not have Internet access at home will be provided with a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Requirement: 

Adjusting transportation schedules and practices to create social distance between students

• Central Catholic has two drop off areas, one for buses and one for car drop off.
• For private school buses, students will be seated one per seat and are required to wear a mask.  Windows will be open to increase air exchange.
• Busing protocols are dependent upon the local school districts who transport to Catholic Schools.

Requirement: 

Other social distancing and safety practices

• Minimize the number of assemblies and large gatherings of students.
• Face Shields or masks will be worn by all visitors, students, faculty and staff.

Requirement: 

Monitoring students and staff for symptoms and history of exposure

• Students and staff will submit an electronic health screening each day.
• Students and staff are encouraged to stay home when feeling sick.
• Each student’s temperature will be taken before entering Central Catholic.  Any reading of 100.5°F or higher on a temporal thermometer will be sent to the school nurse.  If the temperature remains above 100.5°F the student will be sent home.
• When faculty and staff arrive in the building, they will take their temperature.
• Any student exhibiting signs of illness is sent to the isolation area and a parent/guardian is contacted to take the student home or to a healthcare facility.
• Any staff member that exhibits signs of illness is sent home or to a healthcare facility.
• All areas where the ill student/staff member may have been are closed off and then completely cleaned and disinfected.
• In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, school administrators will notify local health officials, staff, and families immediately of any case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality.
• Any students/staff that have had close contact (< 6 feet for > 15 minutes with or without a mask) may be asked to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms.

Requirement: 

Isolating or quarantining students, staff, or visitors if they become sick or demonstrate a history of exposure

• If a student/staff member becomes ill/has a history of exposure, they will be sent to the isolation area.
• The isolation area will have a staff member wearing PPE when a student is in the isolation area.
• A staff member will call a parent/guardian to pick up the student and take them home or to a healthcare facility. If they are taken to a healthcare facility, Central Catholic will notify the facility of the possibility of a COVID-19 case.
• If a staff member becomes ill, they will be sent home or to the isolation area and call for someone to get them if they are too ill to transport themselves. If they are taken to a healthcare facility, Central Catholic will notify the facility of the possibility of a COVID-19 case.
• Completely clean and disinfect the isolation area after the person who was ill left.
• If a visitor is exhibiting signs of illness, they are not to enter the building and are asked to leave. All surfaces and areas that were contaminated are disinfected.

Requirement: 

Returning isolated or quarantined staff, students, or visitors to school

• Central Catholic will follow the COVID-19 decision tree published by AIU3 in consultation with the Allegheny County Health department and the Exclusion From and Return to School Requirements Form

Requirement: 

Notifying staff, families, and the public of school closures and within-school- year changes in safety protocols

• Central Catholic will list protocols on the school’s website to inform the school community of a positive case.
• Changes will be communicated via email, automated phone system, and updated on the school’s website.
• Changes will be communicated to students during morning announcements.
• Central Catholic will work with health departments and local health care systems to disseminate hygiene and disinfection strategies for transmission prevention at home.

Requirement: 

Protecting students and staff at higher risk for severe illness

• Establish a standard routine of checking the health status of all who enter the school. Ask staff and students and parents to identify themselves as higher risk.
• PPE resources are available to all who enter the school.  PPE is available at the welcome center and at the front desk of the STEM building.

Requirement: 

Use of face coverings (masks or face shields) by all staff 

Use of face coverings (masks or face shields) by all students 

• Decisions regarding the continuous wearing of face coverings will be based on the rate of local community transmission and recommendations from the CDC, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Allegheny Health Department, and PA Department of Education.  Based on the current rate of community transmission, face coverings will be required at all times when inside.  “Mask breaks”  may be taken outside with social distancing.
• Face coverings will be worn outside unless there is 6 feet of social distancing.

Requirement: 

Unique safety protocols for students with complex needs or other vulnerable individuals

• Students who are unable to wear a face covering (face or shield) must take classes online.  Students will not be eligible to participate in sports or extra-curriculars.

Requirement: 

Strategic deployment of staff

• High Schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh are following the Federation of Diocesan Pittsburgh Schools Agreement
• Reasonable accommodations will be made for faculty and staff who are at a higher risk.

Requirement: 

Students, faculty and staff returning from travel

• Refer to guidelines from the Department of Health regarding quarantine practices required for students and staff following travel.

Requirement: 

Celebrating Mass

• The schools will follow guidelines for parishes regarding liturgical celebrations and Mass attendance.

Requirement: 

Relaxation of the Dress Code

•  Faculty will not be required to wear ties and in addition to dress shirts, may wear golf shirts.
• Students will not be required to wear ties and in addition to dress shirts, may wear golf shirts.  In addition to dress pants, they may also wear golf shorts for the first quarter and after the first of May.
• The shaving requirement for students is waived while the face covering requirement is in place.
• Full dress code requirements are found in the student / parent handbook.

Requirement: 

Adjusting transportation schedules and practices to create social distance between students

• Central Catholic has two drop off areas, one for buses and one for car drop off.
• For private school buses, students will be seated one per seat and are required to wear a mask.  Windows will be open to increase air exchange.
• Busing protocols are dependent upon the local school districts who transport to Catholic Schools.

In addition, we are working to increase the number of available parking passes for students.

Requirement: 

Handling sporting activities consistent with the CDC Considerations for Youth Sports for recess and physical education classes

• Use outdoor spaces as much as possible.
• Limit the use of shared objects (gym and sports equipment)
• Modify athletic practices to conform to WPIAL and PIAA guidelines.

Central Catholic will continue to follow the previously approved PIAA "Return to Play" document linked below.

Requirement: 

Notifying staff, families, and the public of school closures and within-school- year changes in safety protocols

• Central Catholic will list protocols on the school’s website.
• Changes will be communicated via email, automated phone system, and updated on the school’s website.
• Changes will be communicated to students during morning announcements.
• Central Catholic will work with health departments and local health care systems to disseminate hygiene and disinfection strategies for transmission prevention at home.

Requirement: 

Notifying families of a positive COVID-19 case

• Families will be contacted via email and automated phone system in the event of a positive COVID-19 case at Central Catholic.