Ranney Reopening Roundup: New Sick Policy and Acceptable PPE

August 7, 2020

Dear Ranney Community,

This Reopening Roundup will focus on our new Sick Policy and additional answers to community questions, particularly details regarding the mask policy. As we release new information each week, we are constantly updating the website, so please visit www.ranneyschool.org/covid-19. for the latest and most complete information.

We have updated our Sick Policy in collaboration with pediatric specialists on our Medical Advisory Board. In an abundance of caution, we will strictly enforce our updated Sick Policy. If children are sick, and exhibit any signs of illness, they must stay home. If children exhibit any signs of illness while at school, they will be sent home immediately. Families who repeatedly violate the Sick Policy by sending their children to school when they are sick, or who fail to comply with any of the school’s policies related to health and safety, will be required to keep their children home to learn virtually for the remainder of the school year. Please understand that these measures are necessary to keep our community healthy, and to allow our Health Office to focus on tracking illnesses to assess COVID risk prevalence.

Students with any of the following may not attend school in person.

Symptoms

Temperature of 100.4+
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Sore throat
Severe cold symptoms
Loss of smell or taste
Unusual body aches
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Undiagnosed rash

Circumstances

COVID-19 Positive Test
Student has been identified as a contact with exposure to a positive COVID-19 case
Student has traveled to a state or country on New Jersey’s quarantine list
Student has taken fever or symptom-reducing medications to alleviate symptom listed to the left within the last 24-hours

On a daily basis, we will require parents to certify that their child(ren) does/do not have any of the above symptoms or circumstances. Administrators and faculty will check students’ temperature during the school day to ensure compliance with our Sick Policy or to identify students who might begin to develop symptoms of illness while at school.

When your child is sick, a nurse from the Health Office will follow up with you to assess symptoms and discuss the need for medical evaluation before the student may be cleared to return to campus. In most cases, we will require a doctor to provide details about diagnosis, treatment, and date of safe return. A doctor’s clearance form can be obtained from the Health Office.

We are developing specific protocols regarding quarantine and return to campus clearance requirements specifically related to COVID-19 symptoms and circumstances. Administrators are working closely with Ranney’s Medical Advisory Board and Board of Trustees, and also participating in training related to COVID-19 Case Response and Contact Tracing. We are closely following CDC, state and local guidelines regarding safe school opening. We will share details about these protocols in the coming weeks.

In each Reopening Roundup, we will continue to address questions from the Reopening Survey.

What type of mask should my child wear to school?

According to Johns Hopkins, both fabric and disposable surgical masks help prevent against the spread of COVID-19. Thicker, more densely woven cotton fabrics are best. Look for masks made with at least two layers of fabric. The fewer tiny holes you can see in the fabric, the better it will work to filter droplets. Masks should cover the child's nose and mouth without large gaps. The mask should also have ear loops or ties so your child can adjust it. For people who wear glasses, look for a mask with a bendable border at the top so you can mold the mask to fit the bridge of your nose. Overall, the best masks are ones that minimize the possibility of droplets passing through while ensuring you can still breathe properly. We also ask that you wash cloth masks on a daily basis.

Can my child wear a face shield instead of a mask?

The CDC does not recommend use of face shields as a substitute for masks. A face shield may provide additional protection in cases when another person is not wearing a mask, but we will require all students to wear masks. Students and faculty are welcome to wear face shields in addition to masks if they would prefer to do so. Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

You can find the latest version of our 2020 Reopening Plan here. In upcoming Reopening Roundup communications we will share policies related to daily health certifications, quarantine policies, athletics, extracurriculars, and more. For the latest information, please visit www.ranneyschool.org/covid-19. We invite you to please email safety@ranneyschool.org with any questions or concerns.

The partnership between home and school has never been more critical to the health and safety of our community. With the ability to learn virtually, students have the option to keep up with their studies even when feeling under the weather. Making the choice to keep your child(ren) home when they are sick is critical to keeping our community healthy. Thank you for your continued partnership, flexibility and patience.

Sincerely,

Dr. John Griffith, Head of School