COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
What additional steps is the school taking?
The school will take extra care with cleaning and disinfection processes, with particular attention to common surfaces.
- Additional cleaning of common surfaces by faculty and staff is happening at regular intervals throughout the school day.
- The evening cleaning crew has implemented a disinfectant protocol in addition to the regular cleaning.
- All faculty and staff are required to maintain appropriate hand washing and sanitizing protocols upon entering the building and throughout the day.
- Children will be prevented from sharing food and food/water containers.
What can families, students, and school personnel do to keep from getting sick and spreading COVID-19?
The CDC recommends the following preventive actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water when your hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick (and do not return to school until you are fever-free for 24 hours without medication). We ask you to strictly adhere to this policy.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
What about events and gatherings?
We will make decisions about holding or canceling events with an abundance of caution and based on the updated information from Vancouver Coastal Health.
When should I keep my child home from school?
Do not send your child to school if you suspect they may be ill, and has exhibited any of the following signs or symptoms:
- An elevated temperature of 100 degrees or more during the last 24 hours.
- Vomiting within the last 24 hours.
- Repeated episodes of diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
- Chills, loss of appetite, unusual fatigue, and/or lingering headache.
- A significant amount of nasal discharge, particularly if the discharge is yellow or greenish in colour.
- A persistent cough.
- A significant sore throat.
- An earache.
If your child has a serious communicable disease, you must notify the school so we can comply with reporting requirements.
What happens if my child feels sick while at school?
Parents will be immediately called to pick up their child.
How will the decision be made to close the school?
In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in our community, the school will work closely with Public Health and health professionals to determine the best course of action, following all public health protocols.
Under what circumstances will the school close?
If a case of COVID-19 is identified in the SWS community, we will follow Vancouver Coastal Health recommendations or orders to close. We may, out of an abundance of caution and in consideration of the school’s unique needs and situation, close even if health officials don’t deem it necessary.
We continue to closely monitor the situation and will keep parents updated as things change.
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