Dear VTT Families,
I hope this email finds you all well and healthy after celebrating the chaggim. Despite face time spent together with family and friends over the holidays, it is also apparent that COVID-19 is still very much with us and we must continually reassess our protocols and policies in order to manage the risk and preserve the health of our school community. With that in mind, I would like to update you regarding three key policies.
Mask Policy Update:
This morning a new Public Health Order was shared mandating indoor mask wearing for all SK-7 staff and students. As of Monday, October 4th, all SK-7 students will be expected to wear masks indoors except when eating. This added layer of protection will be helpful in mitigating the disruption caused by the respiratory illness season (which is upon us) and is one additional measure we can all commit to given the increased contagiousness of the Delta virus.
For many students, this will not mean any change whatsoever; but for others, they will need to adjust to this new level of protection both for themselves and their peers, not just from COVID-19, but also from the many other respiratory germs that are coming back this season with a fury. We appreciate you speaking with your children about the value of wearing masks both for their personal health and for that of their peers and teachers. The more we can limit germs from transmitting within the building, the better this year will be for everyone. This new policy will come into effect on Monday, October 4, 2021.
VTT Sickness Policy
Along with the mask policy, we know from our medical advisory committee and public health that this winter is going to be very challenging as far as the amplified return of viral illnesses such as the common cold. Although COVID-19 is our gravest concern, we must all do our part to stay home when sick so as not to spread other viruses. We recommend that all families consider getting the flu shot, but we also want to bring further clarity to our sickness policy so that you will make the right choice when determining when it is safe to send your sick child to school. Please note that the sickness policy does not apply to chronic symptoms that arise from medical conditions such as asthma and allergies.
If your child is ill, please follow with these steps:
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Complete the K-12 BC health check to determine whether they should be tested for COVID-19 or remain isolated at home.
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Should the health check NOT mandate your sick child stay at home or be tested, they may return to school ONLY once symptoms have significantly improved and they feel well enough to be in class. You should monitor your child’s symptoms no matter the severity for 24 hours and keep them at home before making this decision. Please note that children who are in the infectious stage of an illness pose a risk and potential inconvenience to everyone in the building and should remain home until their contagious period has subsided. Symptoms should be barely present and any child returning to school should be fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours.
- Should your child return to school and the school does not feel that the symptoms have been sufficiently reduced, you will be called to pick them up. We ask that you err on the side of caution when returning your child to school for the health of everyone in our community.
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When your child returns to school, please email the teachers, attendance@talmudtorah.com and copy the division principal explaining the status of their symptoms to ensure that everyone is on the same page and to prevent unnecessary calls home.
Case Study 1
Day 1:
Your child wakes up with a stuffy nose, but no other symptoms. The K-12 BC health check states that they do not have to stay home. You monitor your child for 24 hours while they remain home to ensure the symptoms are improving.
Day 2:
Your child develops a cough and headache. You keep your child at home for a second day and take the K-12 BC health check again to determine whether a test is prudent.
Day 3:
Your child begins to show some improvements, moderate congestion and no cough nor mild fever. They remain home.
Day 4:
Your child has shown significant improvement and has only mild congestion remaining. They may return to school.
Case Study 2
Day 1: Your child presents with a runny nose and no other symptoms. The K-12 BC health check states that they do not have to stay home. You monitor your child for 24 hours while they remain home to ensure the symptoms are improving.
Day 2: Your child has shown significant improvement and has only mild congestion remaining. They may return to school. If there is no improvement, they should remain at home for further monitoring.
Case Study 3
Day 1: Your child is experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort (vomiting and/or diarrhea). They have no other symptoms and the K-12 BC health check does not require a COVID test.
Day 2: Symptoms subside. Symptom-free SK-Grade 7 students may return to school after 24 hours; early childhood students must wait 48 hours to return to school provided they are symptom-free without the aid of medication.
