COVID-19 Handbook - 2021-22

The health and safety of our students and staff is always of the utmost importance to us, and we are taking measures recommended by the CDC and state and local health officials to provide a safe & healthy school environment.

School wellness policies include requiring all staff, children, and campus visitors (including parents entering school buildings) to complete a temperature check.

• Temperatures of enrolled students will be taken by staff using a touchless thermometer at carpool (or as students arrive on campus).
• Those with a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or other COVID-19 symptoms may not be on campus.
• Those diagnosed with COVID-19 may not come to campus until quarantining and testing requirements have been met.

Springmont’s Precautionary Measures include:

• Mask wearing indoors in certain circumstances (see Masking section below.)
• Close monitoring for symptoms and rapid isolation of those with symptoms
• Physical distancing (a minimum of 3 ft when feasible)
• Enhanced air filtration
• Following recommended testing, contact tracing and quarantine protocols, as needed and recommended by the CDC 
• Nightly cleaning and disinfecting of classrooms, restrooms, and contents with electrostatic equipment
• Students will be explicitly instructed about all health and safety measures, including handwashing and physical distancing.
• Handwashing will be regularly scheduled and supervised throughout the day, and young students will be aided in the use of hand sanitizer as necessary.
• Activities will occur outdoors as much as possible.
• For Toddlers and young Primary students who nap on campus, napping is done in separate, designated spaces. Cots are assigned and placed 3’ apart from one another. Children use the same cot each day. Bedding, provided by parents, is sent home for laundering weekly.

Despite our best efforts, there is some risk involved in sending your child(ren) to campus; therefore, Springmont's Acknowledgement Of Risk And Responsibilities, an informed consent acknowledging these inherent risks, displayed above, is in effect and implicitly acknowledged by sending your child(ren) to campus.

If community spread is  high, Springmont will ask all members of our school community (including those fully vaccinated) to be mindful of their activities off campus and encourage everyone, in accordance with CDC guidelines for daily activities, to:

• Get a vaccine as soon as it becomes available. At this time, we are not considering a student vaccine mandate. Springmont will continue to follow state and federal guidelines (which currently allow for exemption) with regard to medical and religious exemptions for vaccines, including the COVID vaccine. 
• Wear a properly fitted mask (covering both nose and mouth tightly and securely) and maintain physical distancing (at least 3’), as much as possible, when in high-density indoor settings and venues (i.e., graduations/ceremonies, concerts, and sporting events).
• Monitor for symptoms (including fever, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, other respiratory symptoms, chills/repeated shaking, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, etc.) and self-quarantine if there is suspected exposure to the virus.
• Teach and model frequent and proper handwashing techniques and habits
• Report any confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases to Springmont via feedback@springmont.com.

Beginning Thursday, March 24, Springmont has adopted an indoor mask-optional policy, regardless of vaccination status. This means that people may voluntarily continue to wear masks indoors on campus, but that except in certain circumstances (detailed below), masks will not be required for students, parents, visitors, and staff.

We did not make this decision lightly and understand there may be mixed feelings about mask-wearing indoors. In conjunction with CDC guidance, we encourage students and staff at higher risk for severe illness and those who prefer to wear a mask to continue to do so. In keeping with our core value of Mutual Respect, we ask that everyone be respectful of the masking decisions made by others.   

We recognize that some students may experience some anxiety, fear, or other emotional responses to this change. School Counselor Ann Van Buskirk is available to support students and has led age-appropriate discussions with Elementary classes and Primary afternoon students, touching on topics such as why some people may choose to continue masking (for example, those residing with or planning to visit an elderly or immunocompromised person) and how Mutual Respect is essential as we all navigate this transition.

Masks will be required for those 2 and older in certain circumstances:

• People who develop COVID symptoms (fever/chills, cough, congestion, unusual fatigue, headache, sore throat, etc.) while on campus must carefully mask and isolate while waiting to leave campus. 
• As we are aware that many children and adults experience seasonal allergies in the spring, those who have a clear runny nose, and no other symptoms, may remain on campus carefully masked. If parents do not wish to have their child(ren) mask, they may keep them home or provide a negative test result. (See Quarantine & Testing Protocols section below.)
• Persons who have tested positive (Day 0) but returned to campus during Days 6-10 because they are symptom-free and have completed the required quarantine must carefully mask.
• People identified as close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, may continue to be on campus so long as they are carefully masked, symptom-free, and provide negative test results for tests administered on the specified date (Day 5). 
• Masks will be required after international travel or receiving an international visitor. (See Travel Policies section below.)
• Masks will be required on Springmont buses. 
• Masks may possibly be required for high-density indoor activities such as class-wide events that include families or other large indoor meetings. Participants will be notified in advance.
• Students may also independently elect to wear a mask daily or from time to time.  Masks will be made available for students' occasional use, but students who regularly wear masks should bring them from home.
• If community spread in Fulton County reaches the High level, indoor masking will likely resume. The CDC's COVID County Check will be monitored midday each Friday, and if necessary, masks will be required for the following week.   Parents will be notified via email only if masks will be required the following week.

Action Items:

• All parents are asked to please provide (5) surgical or KN95 masks in a Ziplock bag labeled with their child(ren)'s name by March 24. These may be sent to the classroom with your child(ren) and will be kept on campus in case a mask is needed during the school day. 
• We respect the wishes of parents who would like their child(ren) to continue to mask indoors. If you would like your child to continue to be masked indoors (except during eating, drinking, and napping, if applicable), please notify us by completing this online form by March 23 at 4 p.m.  Classroom Teachers & Assistants will be notified and will monitor masking based on these requests.  If you do not complete the online form, we will assume your child(ren) may be unmasked indoors. If in the future you would like to change your indoor masking preference for your child(ren), please email feedback@springmont.com. 

When masks are needed:

• They should fit securely over the nose and mouth.
• Because medical experts have noted that cloth masks are less effective than KN95 or three-ply surgical masks, we recommend KN95 or surgical masks for adults and students ages 2 and older.  
• Gaiters and vented or valved face masks are prohibited on campus. 
• All masks/face coverings must be appropriate for the school environment.  Masks with inappropriate or distracting graphics are not permitted.
• Masks may not be shared.  
• Exceptions to our mask policies for students 2 and older require a doctor's note indicating a health risk for the wearer. 

Those with COVID-19 symptoms may NOT be on campus. Per CDC guidance, people with COVID-19 may have a wide range of symptoms, including but not limited to those listed below, appearing 2-14 days after exposure. 

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Students or employees experiencing these symptoms or those of other communicable diseases shall not be on campus for a minimum of 24 hours or one school day, whichever is greater, after symptoms are fully resolved.  Negative COVID testing may be required before returning to campus. 

Any student or employee who develops symptoms of COVID-19 during the school day must leave campus as soon as possible. Parents will be notified, and the student will be isolated in a designated area while awaiting prompt pick up by a parent/caregiver.  An employee wearing PPE will supervise the symptomatic student from a physically safe distance. 

No one may come to campus if they have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 5 days. The school must be notified immediately (via feedback@springmont.com) if a student, employee or household member tests positive.

Contact Tracing: Effective March 24, regardless of vaccination status, people identified as close contacts may continue to be on campus so long as they are carefully masked, symptom-free, and provide negative test results for tests administered on the specified date (Day 5) after exposure. This means that contact tracing after notification of positive test results will continue, but we will no longer distinguish between those who are up to date on vaccinations per the CDC and those who have elected not to vaccinate. The school will identify and notify close contacts, communicating masking and testing requirements to those affected without identifying the infected student/employee’s name. (Close contacts are people who were within 6 feet of the infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more during the 2 days prior to illness onset, regardless of vaccination status and mask-wearing.) 

The school must also be notified (via feedback@springmont.com) if an employee, student or household member (regardless of vaccination status) has known or suspected close contact exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19. (Close contact exposure includes being within 6 feet of the infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more during the 2 days prior to illness onset, regardless of vaccination status and mask-wearing.) 

Persons who test POSITIVE, regardless of vaccination status, must isolate and remain off campus for 5 days. (Symptom onset date or positive test date is Day 0.) If on Day 6 or later the person is symptom-free (including fever-free for 24+ hours without the use of medication), they may return to campus but must continue to carefully wear a well-fitted mask indoors through Day 10.  Close contacts, including all household members, must follow the exposure protocols below.

Persons EXPOSED to COVID-19 (Close Contacts)

• Close contacts are people who were within 6 feet of the infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more during the 2 days prior to illness onset, regardless of vaccination status and mask-wearing.
• The last date of exposure is Day 0.
• Close contacts, regardless of vaccination status, may continue to attend class on campus on Days 0-4 after exposure so long as they remain symptom-free and carefully masked indoors*. They may return to campus on Day 5 if they are symptom-free AND have submitted negative test results from tests administered on Day 5. They must continue to carefully wear well-fitted masks indoors through Day 10. Alternatively, the student may complete a 10-day quarantine. 
  • *Because those under 2 cannot mask, they must quarantine and remain off campus through Day 4 and test on Day 5. They may return to campus on Day 5 if they are symptom-free AND have submitted negative test results from tests administered on Day 5. Alternatively, the student may complete a 10-day quarantine.
• Close contacts of any age who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days may continue to attend class on campus so long as they remain symptom-free. Proof of previous positive test results (PCR or antigen test administered by a healthcare professional or lab) should be sent to feedback@springmont.com before coming to campus.
• Close contacts who reside in the same household (siblings/family members) as a person who has tested positive for COVID and who are unable to effectively isolate from the positive case will be required to remain off campus through Day 5, regardless of vaccination status, unless they can provide proof (PCR or antigen test administered by a healthcare professional or lab) of a positive COVID test within the last 90 days. They may return to campus on Day 6 if they are symptom-free AND have submitted negative test results from tests administered on Day 5. They must carefully wear well-fitted masks through Day 10 if age 2 or older. Alternatively, the student may complete a 10-day quarantine.
• In addition to PCR/NAAT tests, we will now accept antigen tests so long as they are administered by a healthcare professional either when symptoms are present or on the designated date after known exposure.  We cannot accept tests administered at home. Please remember that PCR/NAAT tests are the gold standard and that antigen tests are most reliable when symptoms are present or if asymptomatic on Day 5 following known exposure.

Procedures may change based on community conditions and public health best practices.

For the remainder of this school year, At Home Learning materials will only be provided for students that must remain off campus after testing positive. These materials are meant to be used independently or with the help of a parent. Because Montessori is not effectively delivered in person and online simultaneously, at home learning will not be supported via virtual sessions with a teacher. At Home Learning materials will not be provided for elective quarantines or quarantines resulting from travel.  If you feel your family has extenuating circumstances, please email feedback@springmont.com.

As we have done since the beginning of the pandemic, we will continue to develop age-appropriate virtual learning plans in the event they are needed again in the future.

Effective June 23, students, families, and staff (regardless of vaccination status) may travel by air both domestically and internationally without quarantining and/or testing afterward so long as they follow all CDC travel guidelines and are not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 upon return to campus.

Effective March 24, classes may resume normal indoor eating. Outdoor eating spaces, including the tables and heaters in the Pavilion, will remain available. Microwave use may resume as managed by classroom staff. Handwashing and/or hand sanitizer use is encouraged before eating.

Snacks

Springmont will provide morning snacks for students at all academic levels. Afternoon snacks will be provided for students enrolled in All Day programs and Elementary/Middle School Extended Day. For health & safety reasons, snacks will be pre-portioned (rather than served communally) by school staff. Individual servings of pre-packaged, store-bought items may be permitted for birthday or holiday celebrations.  

Lunch

All students must bring their own lunches to campus, daily (except students who have been pre-registered for the Middle School-run Pizza Shop which offers delivery on Mondays).  In keeping with our core value of Stewardship of the Environment, as much as possible, and to reduce the use of disposables (plastic plates, cups, etc.), lunch containers should also serve as dishware.  Bento box style lunchboxes are recommended. Please ensure you include eating utensils, if necessary. If your child prefers a warm lunch, please make every effort to send it in a thermos or other container that will keep it warm until lunch.  Microwave use is managed by classroom staff and may be limited.

Water

In keeping with our core value of Stewardship of the Environment, instead of disposables or classroom cups/mugs, students should bring and use a reusable water bottle, daily.

Cooking & Baking

• Elementary & Middle School classes may cook and bake in the classroom. Food will not be served from communal serving dishes; food will continue to be pre-portioned by adults in the classroom.
• Toddler & Primary students may also cook and bake on campus. Food preparation will continue to be for individual consumption or take home, only. 

Please refer to the Key Information Parent Handbook for carpool, arrival and departure instructions detailed by academic level and program.

Daily access to Springmont buildings is limited to students, employees, visitors with pre-scheduled appointments, parents with pre-scheduled appointments/class events, and necessary contractors.

If an item (lunch, etc.) is forgotten at home and is being delivered to campus, parents should bring the item to the Front Office. The receptionist will deliver items to Toddler & Primary classrooms.  Class Assistants will retrieve items for Lower Elementary students, and Upper Elementary & Middle school students will be permitted to retrieve their own items.