August 13, 2020
Dear Westview Community,
 
We have made some changes to our Child First Reopening Plan to reflect the most current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention, Texas Education Agency, and our very own team of medical advisors. Below you will find highlighted areas where changes and additions have been made. You can view our entire plan here or visit our COVID-19 tab on The Westview School website.

PROMOTING BEHAVIORS THAT REDUCE SPREAD (Page 2)
The CDC has made changes to guidelines on COVID-19 infected individuals to return to campus. Our plan now reflects these changes.

Staff, students, or clients who have tested positive or are showing signs of COVID-19 must stay home. They may return when all three of the following criteria have been met:  
  • At least 24 hours have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever reducing medications), 
  • The individual has improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath), 
  • AND at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

SCREENING PROTOCOL (Page 3)
Additional symptoms have been added to our screening protocol based on current recommendations from the CDC.

Any staff, students, or clients who display the following will be sent home: 
  • Temperature above 100.0℉. 
  • Symptoms including unusual cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle/body aches, congestion/runny nose, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea, bloodshot eyes, or unusual rash. 
  • Close exposure to someone with a known COVID-19 diagnosis.

FACE COVERINGS (Page 3-4)
In addition to previous released information on face masks, our plan now includes the following:
  • Face masks reduce the spread of respiratory droplets to those around you, and thus reduce the spread of COVID-19.
  • Neck gaiters and face masks with ventilation valves are not acceptable as they do not reduce the spread of respiratory droplets..
  • Hands should be washed before touching face masks (whether adjusting or don/doff).

CLEANING AND DISINFECTION (Page 4)
We have new cleaning protocols detailed in our plan that include the following:

Frequently used surfaces (including door handles, sink handles, light switches, student desks, tables, chairs, toys, phones, etc.) will be cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day. 

Cleaning and disinfection will be scheduled and performed at multiple times during the school day including: 
  • Before and after lunch and snacks 
  • After students leave to go to the restroom 
  • After students leave to go to the playground or PE 
  • After a task in which students have utilized a surface that has or will be used by others 
  • Periodically throughout the day as teachers deem appropriate
  • At the end of the school day once all students leave 

SHARED OBJECTS (Page 5)
We have included more details and additional guidelines for the use of shared objects.

  • Toys that cannot be cleaned or sanitized will not be used. 
  • Use of shared objects will be limited (e.g., toys, games, books), and objects that are shared between students or staff will be placed in a bin and cleaned between use. Clean with soap and water, rinse, sanitize with an EPA-approved disinfectant (following directions on the container), rinse again, and air-dry. 
  • Machine washable cloth toys (such as stuffed animals) should be used by one individual at a time or should not be used at all. These toys should be laundered before being used by another child. 
  • Staff will have a specific, clearly marked container for setting aside toys that need to be cleaned/disinfected. Try to have enough toys so that they can be rotated through cleanings. 
  • Children’s books or other paper materials should be rotated if used by one group in a cohort. They should not be used by any other cohort or group for at least 36 hours. 
 
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR STAFF/STUDENTS IN CONTACT WITH A CONFIRMED OR SUSPECTED CASE (BASED ON KNOWN SYMPTONS) ON CAMPUS? (Page 10)
This section is a new addition to our reopening plan and is based on the recommendations of Johns Hopkins University Contact Tracing.

  • Contact is defined as:
  • Being directly exposed to infectious secretions (being coughed on); or
  • Being within 6 feet for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes.
  • Staff and students’ families will be notified immediately by telephone or email.
  • If COVID-19 is confirmed, all staff and students who had contact with the case would immediately begin quarantine, transition to remote learning, and monitor symptoms for 14 days.
  • If the contact is with someone suspected of having COVID-19, but not yet lab-confirmed, staff and students would immediately transition to remote learning while awaiting test results.
  • If the test is negative, students and staff could return to campus.
  • If the test is positive, staff and students would continue in remote learning while monitoring symptoms for 14 days.

Our staff has been hard at work preparing our campus for your child’s return to school. As we welcome our teachers for in-service beginning next Monday, we anticipate our excitement to grow. We cannot wait to have your children back to school on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. As always, remember that our very best chance of returning to school requires us all to stay healthy. Please continue to be diligent about avoiding unnecessary exposure in the weeks leading up to our return to school.
 
Be safe and be well,



Head of School
The Westview School
CONTACT TRACING AT THE WESTVIEW SCHOOL

Bevan Koch, Head of School, and Penny Khuri, Marketing Coordinator, added to their regular back to school duties over the summer by completing and becoming certified in CONTACT TRACING through Johns Hopkins University. This knowledge learned will be an essential tool in reducing risk of exposure, infection and community spread for The Westview School community. Contact tracing has the potential to provide valuable information and help to prevent widespread infection rates.
Bevan Koch, Head of School
Penny Khuri, Marketing Coordinator
Resources


Please refer to COVID-19 tab on The Westview School website for the most up to date information regarding our Child First Reopening Plan.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION: Based on receipt of federal financial assistance through a Paycheck Protection Program loan administered through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CAREs Act, the School acknowledges its obligation to prohibit discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, citizenship status, genetic information, handicap or disability in admissions, access, employment, tuition assistance, educational policies, or other school administered student and employee programs and activities. Questions regarding the School’s compliance with the application and administration of the School’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed to Carol Harrison, Principal, [email protected], 713.973.1900 x100, 1900 Kersten Dr., Houston, TX 77043, or to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or to the SBA. Please refer to the School’s SBA Non-Discrimination Compliance Policy on the School’s website for information on how to file complaints with OCR or the SBA. This notice will remain in effect until the School has satisfied and paid off the SBA Paycheck Protection Loan.