Health & Wellness Plan – New Morning School

Peak Performance

At New Morning School, we focus on the growth of students by embracing them as a whole child. It is our goal to create a learning environment that supports both physical health and emotional well-being. Students and families can trust that the New Morning staff and community have their best interest in mind when it comes to caring for and teaching children every day.

Ways in which New Morning School supports student Health and Wellness:

Daily movement and brain breaks as a class, small group or individuals as needed
Daily outdoor recess (unless weather does not permit)
Access to outdoor learning spaces
Emotional support and regulation strategies taught and practiced in PreK-8^th grade
Mindfulness practice throughout the school day
Health policies supporting the whole community, allowing school to be open as often as possible

COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan

As Covid-19 is in the forefront of today’s community health concerns and needs, we continue to review and make amendments to our policies based on current guidance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Wayne County Health Department (WCHD) and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), our preschool and Kids’ Club licensing agency.

Working Together to Stay Safe

Throughout the pandemic, New Morning School staff, and students have made thoughtful adjustments to our program so in-person learning can continue. The protocols we’ve implemented coupled with our community’s determination and commitment to working together works.

We ask that each family make a commitment to our wellness policies to keep students attending every day, and keep teachers well so that they can teach every day. We thank you for your daily diligence as we work together to stay well. Accommodations need to be made for now, but not forever. We can each follow the procedures below to help those in our community from getting sick.

Students Attend Every Day

Our plan is for all children to attend every day for classes. A plan is just a plan. If health circumstances require it, we may, at any time, need to make adjustments such as mask wearing or remote learning, should the health and safety needs of our school community change. Remote learning will start 48 hours after the physical school is closed.

Kids are Resilient

We know that kids are resilient. They have and will prosper even among new procedures. While changes may occur, we have not changed our culture. That will remain the same.

Changes as the Year Progresses

We recognize that the COVID-19 and other illness circumstances remain fluid. We will continue to meet with our Health and Wellness Response Team, review guidelines provided by the county and state health organizations, and make adjustments to our policies. The focus will continue to be the best way to stay safe and remain open for student learning.

*Helpful Links documents see Appendix B

Please understand that these protocols are adjusted as positivity rates and other factors in our area change.

MASKS

Masks are currently optional for all students and adults with the following exceptions:

Close contacts: When an individual is a close contact to a household or individual in another setting, please adhere to the following:

Close contacts may return to school wearing a well-fitting mask (N95, KN95, KN94 preferred; no cloth masks).
Mask must be worn for 10 days from last contact with the sick individual. Last day of contact is day zero. (see below for more information)

Short-term mask mandate: We will consider temporarily required masking based on transmission levels within our school, local municipalities and/or the county. A community case surge may result in a temporary masking requirement in our school building.

When required, staff, parents and students in the building will wear masks, indoors, in the gym. Masks will not be required outside. Exceptions are made for those with a medical condition and documented by a medical professional.

When required, masks must completely cover your nose and mouth, fit snugly against the sides of your face (no gaps), must not be ventilated, and have a nose wire to prevent air from leaking at the top. Please, no gator style masks.

HYGIENE

Students will be taught to wash their hands for 20 seconds. Frequent handwashing is not only important to stop COVID transmission, it also helps reduce transmission of other viral illnesses as well.

Hygiene for Preschool

All students will be asked to wash their hands thoroughly upon arrival, before and after lunch, after nap, and before and after being in the gym or outside.
All toys used will be disinfected regularly.

Hygiene for K – 8 Children

All students will be asked to wash their hands thoroughly upon arrival,before and after lunch, and before and after being in the gym or outside. Hand sanitizer will be used after using shared materials.

The aides will disinfect student workspaces at the end of the day.
Students may keep their supplies in their cubbies. They will use their own supplies and shared supplies.

Hygiene for Adults

All aides will be assigned high-touch places to disinfect throughout the day. High-touch places will be cleaned mid-day and after school.
Adults will wash their hands regularly and use hand sanitizer throughout the day.

WELLNESS POLICY

If your child takes medication during the school day, or has allergies that may be treated at school or use an epi-pen, please contact Kit in the office to complete a Medical Plan for your child.

LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES

As some of our children have nut allergies, we are a peanut and tree-nut free school. Keep this in mind when packing lunches or snacks. Thank you.

No Candy, No Pop Policy

The neuroscientists teach us that for the brain to be optimized for learning, you need to keep an even blood sugar level. That means eating protein and complex carbohydrates. To that end, please refrain from sending pop or candy in lunch boxes, both of which cause a spike in blood sugar and a rapid drop. Thanks for keeping our kids ready for learning each day!

ILLNESS

Please call the school office if your child is sick and will not be attending. The school is required to report communicable diseases to the health department. In addition, for the health of all children and staff please keep your child at home if he/she has any of these symptoms:

Fever or chills– must stay home 24 hours with no fever and no fever-reducing meds (defined as over 100.0)
Rash (if not yet treated by a doctor)
Difficulty breathing
Nausea or vomiting (must stay home 24 hours after vomiting)
Abdominal pain
New or worsening cough
Diarrhea (must stay home 24 hours after diarrhea)
Sore throat or pain swallowing
Severe congestion – runny or congested nose
Other communicable diseases
Is unable to go out for recess
Headache that is unusual or long-lasting
Muscle aches or extreme tiredness
Decrease in smell or taste

If your child shows any of the above symptoms at school, we will notify you, so that you may pick up your child(ren).

*See Appendix A for Exclusion Times for Common Childhood Illnesses

Child, Teacher, or Aide is Sick

A school member with any of the symptoms above must contact their physician for instructions on returning to school. Either a note from their physician, a negative COVID test, or appropriate exclusion time is completed (with improving or resolution of symptoms) to return to school.

COVID Testing

A PCR test or Rapid Antigen testing is accepted.

School Member Tests Positive for COVID-19

Must isolate for five FULL days, regardless of vaccination status. Date of symptom onset or positive test (if asymptomatic) is day zero.
If symptoms have significantly improved or they are asymptomatic and the school member is fever free for 24 hours (with no fever reducing medications), they may return to school on day 6 while wearing a well-fitting mask through day 10 (N95, KN95, KN94 preferred; no cloth masks).

Household Member has COVID or School Member is a Close Contact in Other Setting

Close contacts may return to school wearing a well-fitting mask (N95, KN95, KN94 preferred; no cloth masks). Mask must be worn for 10 days from last contact with the sick individual. Last day of contact is day zero.

COVID test at least once three (3) to seven (7) days from last close contact.
Monitor for sick symptoms for 10 days from last contact. If sick symptoms develop, stay home and obtain COVID test
Alternately, students or adults may quarantine for 10 days if mask wearing is not possible.

Notification

Given the nature of our classrooms, students are mobile throughout their day. The school will monitor illnesses and notify parents accordingly.

CLEANING

Throughout the School

We practice standard disinfecting procedures and continue to use school safe cleaning supplies.

VENTILATION

Annually, all furnaces are checked. All are set for maximum intake of fresh air.
High-end HEPA air filtering units have been placed in every space throughout the school

It is important not to let our guard down. Our success rate is because of the precautions we are taking. Thanks for all that you are doing to meet our standards.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine Kennedy, Head of School

Pauline Nagle, Associate Head of School

Joan Barrett, Admissions Director

Hamid Ghanbari, MD., New Morning Parent

Heather Johnson, PA-C, New Morning parent

Together we will make this a good year.

For two years, we have been successful because of the positive participation

of every adult and child. This year will be even better!

Appendix A

*Report Appropriate Information to the Local Health Department (LHD) Michigan Law requires schools and childcare centers to report specific diseases according to Act No. 368 of the Public Acts of 1978. Any reportable disease that is suspected or known to have occurred in the school or a school-sanctioned activity, including chicken pox, COVID-19, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae Type B, meningitis, encephalitis, hepatitis, tuberculosis, or any other serious or unusual communicable disease must be reported within 24 hours. Any unusual occurrence, outbreak or epidemic of any disease or condition must also be reported within 24 hours

Appendix B

Helpful Links

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