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STUDENT HEALTH UPDATES

We are more excited than ever about building Christian scholars and making disciples that will go impact the world for Jesus Christ!  ~Mr. Talbott Behnken

STUDENT/STAFF ILLNESS (Updated 3/18/21)

 

STUDENT HEALTH PROCEDURES

General Health
Healthy students will proceed to school each day. Per the ISBE/IDPH Joint Guidance provided to us, temperature and symptom screening are no longer recommended or required.  Self-screening/reporting PRIOR to arriving on school grounds continue to be recommended.

Additionally, masking and effective social distancing continue to be a requirement. Based on these new recommendations and to better utilize our resources – we will be discontinuing the temperature screening at the doors on 3/18/2021. We would ask that our entire community would continue to self-screen/monitor/report any COVID-19 like symptoms and follow the HCA Illness Guide in the event any symptoms present themselves.

Illness

If you or your student (any household member is sick) have any of the following symptoms: Fever 100.4 F or greater; new onset of moderate to severe headache; shortness of breath – not related to asthma; new cough; vomiting; diarrhea; abdominal pain from an unknown cause; new congestion/runny nose; new loss of sense of taste or smell; nausea; fatigue from unknown cause; or muscle/body aches, please refer to the chart above for school policy. You must visit a Health Care Provider. See the chart above for the appropriate next steps.

All household members must be excluded from In-Person learning until a diagnosis for the sick individual is made. 

COVID-19 Exposure/Known Close Contact
If a student or a staff member has known contact and exposure to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, the individual is to quarantine at home for 10 days. If this is a student, the student will begin e-learning as long as they are healthy. If this is a teacher, the teacher will teach via zoom as long as they are healthy. Exposure is defined as contact that is greater than 15 minutes at a distance of less than six feet apart, or as deemed as close contact by the parent or school staff.

Student or Staff with a positive COVID-19 test
Necessary precautions and actions will be determined by grade level of students and staff, and level of exposure. All areas in the building will undergo a thorough cleaning and sanitization in addition to normal cleaning procedures if someone tests positive for COVID-19.

For Preschool students, the students in the affected class will be contacted. Because the Preschool schedules vary for many of the students (how many days per week, how many hours per day), the Preschool Director will determine which students will need to quarantine at home for 10 days. In Preschool, as much as is able, the students will rotate stations, remaining with other students for longer than 15 minutes per station. There will be a seating assignment each week for snack time, lunch time, and nap time, if full day students. The Preschool will track which students have had the most exposure to one another and then determine who is affected if a student tests positive for COVID-19. 

For Lower School students, Grades K-4, if a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19, the entire class (not grade) will be quarantined at home for 10 days and begin e-learning. If a student who is quarantining begins to show symptoms, the family members of that student must stay home as well. Because these classes are set up to spend the majority of their day at HCA with only their classmates, the exposure level will be deemed high enough to send the entire class home to quarantine.

For Middle School students, Grades 5-8, there will be multiple systems put into place in order to keep track of which students sit next to one another in each class, including lunch periods. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, the other students that sit directly next to on either side, in front of, or behind that student who tests positive, will need to quarantine at home for 10 days and begin e-learning. If a teacher tests positive for COVID-19, the administration will determine the level of exposure to affected students and quarantine students as necessary. Teachers will be maintaining social distance, and/or wearing a mask or face shield when in close proximity with students. All efforts to maintain minimal levels of exposure will be made.

For Upper School students, Grades 9-12, policies will be the same as Middle School. There will be multiple systems put into place in order to keep track of which students sit next to one another in each class, including lunch periods. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, the other students that sit directly next to on either side, in front of, or behind that student who tests positive, will need to quarantine at home for 10 days and begin e-learning. If a teacher tests positive for COVID-19, the administration will determine the level of exposure to affected students and quarantine students as necessary. Teachers will be maintaining social distance, and/or wearing a mask or face shield when in close proximity with students. All efforts to maintain minimal levels of exposure will be made.

Athletics and Theater procedures will be in accordance with the procedures above. Specifics will be outlined by those departments.

See the Illinois Department of Public Health guidance for schools here.
 
 

NECK GAITERS & LOWER SCHOOL STUDENT PICK-UP UPDATE (Updated 9/18/20)

Beginning Monday, September 21 parents of Kindergarten- Grade 4 students are welcome to return to the halls of HCA for after school pick-up at classroom doors. Before entering hallways please make sure you have your temperature taken at the reception desk on the second or third floor reception desks, and that you have a mask covering your nose and mouth. Also starting Monday, September 21, we are asking that all students and staff in common areas wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose, and go over the ears. Based on the best practices released by the Illinois Department of Public Health and consistent with the CDC, we ask that masks worn not include gaiters or bandannas. While we love the logo on the HCA neck gaiters, these are no longer recommended by the CDC as protective gear. 

CLASSROOM LEARNING

As we believe in always teaching the whole child, in-person teaching provides the superior overall student experience. We are committed to a reasonable and balanced approach to the classroom environment. While we are returning to classroom learning this August, there were modifications to ensure social distancing between desks and enhanced cleaning and sanitizing of the classrooms. Additional cleaning procedures are outlined below. We are committed to being able to provide excellent in-person learning for our students while maintaining a healthy environment as much as is possible. 

 

STUDENT AND FACULTY HEALTH

The health of our families, students, and faculty is extremely important to us. To that end, there will be an increased cleaning and sanitizing schedule for the entire school building. Classrooms will be sanitized frequently throughout the school day. Hand sanitizer and hand washing will be utilized by students before eating, after gym class and after being outside, and as needed throughout the day. We are working to add hand washing stations in the Cafeteria. Students will be kept in smaller and more consistent groups as possible, mostly by grade level.  We are working in conjunction with our building services team to build processes and procedures that will increase the frequency and efficacy with which every area is cleaned and sanitized. Our desire is to be able to provide a safe and healthy in person school experience. 

E-LEARNING 

Should there be a mandate for HCA to close due ISBE or IDPH regulations or due to our own population reaching the threshhold, we will return to E-Learning as we did last spring.  Please know we are most desirous of staying in-person but will be able to make this switch for our students with ease.

Regarding our youngest Lions, HCA Preschool knows that early learning best occurs in person in the classroom in preschool. In the event that the school must go to remote learning, there will be a viable enrichment and continued learning option available for preschool families.

SAFETY GUIDELINES & IMPROVEMENTS

Since we closed the building on March 13, 2020 due to Covid-19, we have implemented the following improvements this summer in order to re-open school on site.  As of Friday, June 26, Illinois moves to Restore Illinois Phase 4.

PER ISBE Part 3 Transition Joint Guidance

  • Require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including face coverings;
  • Prohibit more than 50 individuals from gathering in one space;
  • Require social distancing be observed, as much as possible;
  • Require that schools conduct symptom screenings and temperature checks or require that individuals self-certify that they are free of symptoms before entering school buildings;and,
  • Require an increase in schoolwide cleaning and disinfection.Electrostatic cleaners

In practical application HCA will also

  • MS & HS different bell schedules
  • Staggered start times PS/LS, MS, HS 
  • Social distancing in classroom desk configuration
  • Pre-arrival temperature check
  • Parent/Student/Staff education
  • Hand sanitizer in every classroom
  • Limited access for non-students
  • Every other seat for lunch

 

ADMISSIONS FOR NEW STUDENTS

Want to join us? Learn about HCA through our admissions office.  We are still enrolling new students and invite you to call us to talk about our plan to return to school and if it fits your family.  

REGISTERVIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE
 
REGISTERIN PERSON TOUR

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS

Harvest Christian Academy admits students of any race, color,national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.