XIII. COVID POLICIES

IN SEAT AND REMOTE LEARNING

For the 2021-2022 school year, Iona Preparatory will not be offering a remote learning option for students. Students will be required to be in-seat every day to be accounted for on our New York State compliant attendance documentation. Exceptions to the “In-Seat Learning” policy include illness or injury that requires a student to remain home for a period of time. Per the NYS Health and Safety Guide for 2021-2022, “students should stay home if they are showing signs and symptoms of infectious illness, including COVID19, and get tested”. If your son is experiencing signs and symptoms of illness, he is required to stay home and learning remotely until recovered. We continue to encourage all parents/guardians to screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to their child attending school each day.

PPE/MASKS

Iona Preparatory School will follow the guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatricians, the NYS Department of Health, and the NYS Education Department regarding the prevention and spread of COVID-19 unless the school administration determines an alternate policy is in the best interests of the entire Prep community. As of this writing, students will be required to wear masks while indoors and remain socially distant whenever feasible. All face masks must be appropriate within the context of the mission of Iona Prep. During lunch and other activities, face coverings maybe removed at the discretion of the teacher or other adult supervisor. Parents are required to provide the appropriate face coverings for their son – it is part of the uniform. The school retains the right to amend its COVID-19 policies when necessary.

ARRIVAL ON CAMPUS

Students may arrive on campus at 7:30 AM. Students must be dropped off at the designated area for their grade. Upon entering the building, each student will see a staff member to ensure that a parent has completed the health questionnaire. After students have finished their daily temperature scan, they will move to their classroom. Staff members will supervise students at their lockers and insure that there are not too many students in the hallway at one time so that they can maintain social distance.

Students who arrive after 8:10 AM must report to the Main Office entrance. Students who are late must follow the same protocols in terms of a completed health questionnaire and temperature scan. They must also see

Mrs. Ricci-Breen or Mrs. Kenny who will be located in the main office for a late pass.

The following questions will be included in the daily health questionnaire form to be completed by a parent for each student on the Healthworks app:

Basic Questions Yes No

Have you been tested for COVID-19 since your last day of school/work?

Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days?

Have you knowingly been in close or proximate contact in the past 14 days with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19?

Have you traveled outside of NYS in the past 14 days? (if yes, students will contact the Dean of Students of the Upper School)

In addition to the “Basic Questions” seen above, parents may have to answer a brief symptom checker assessment form for their son that will display the following:

Instructions: Since your last day of school, or last visit here (within the past 14 days), have you had any of these symptoms that are not attributed to another condition?

Symptoms

Fever (temp ≥ 100 F) or Chills

Cough

Shortness of Breath or difficulty breathing

Fatigue

Muscle of Body Aches

Yes No

Headache

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

REMOTE LEARNING ATTENDANCE POLICY

During the 2020 – 2021 academic year, Iona Preparatory School’s remote learners were not marked absent for purposes of New York State school attendance records. For the 2021 – 2022 academic year, since we are not offering a fully remote option to our students, attendance recording will be slightly different.

While we expect all students to be in-seat, we acknowledge that there will be times when a student may legitimately be absent from school. Further, during some of these absences, a student might be well enough to attend classes remotely and will be encouraged to do so. Students will be issued an excused absence for the first three days of remote learning if he is home ill. Likewise, if quarantined, his absences will be excused. A doctor’s note will be required for any student to continue remote instruction after a three-day absence from illness. If not, the absences will not be considered to be an excused absence. Unexcused absences may cause New York State authorities to level a complaint of truancy (seven (7) unexcused absences from school in a row or ten (10) unexcused absences from school in one academic year.) against the student.

DAILY POLICIES

Social Distancing – will be maintained wherever and whenever possible including classrooms, cafeteria, gymnasiums, hallways, etc.

Food service - Students may bring their own lunch to school, however, students will not be permitted to heat up (microwave) food brought from home. Iona Prep will have cafeteria service but lunches must be preordered. Students must bring their own refillable water bottle and all supplies (trays, utensils, plates) used during lunch periods will be disposable.

At the end of the academic day, students who ride buses, including Iona Prep transportation, will be dismissed first and will go directly to their buses. Students who are being picked up by parents or caregivers, will be escorted to their dismissal area by a teacher. All students must be off campus by 3:00 PM, until such time that after school activities resume. If after school activities resume, then students participating in the activity will remain supervised at school until the designated end of the activity.

Acknowledgment of Receipt and Understanding:

We ______________________________________________, and our son,_______________________________________, acknowledge that we have received, read and understand the policies contained in the Iona Prep Lower School Student/ Parent Handbook. We understand that some policies may be suspended or altered during the year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Signed:____________________________________________

Date:___________________