Health & Safety

The health and safety of the Foote community is our highest priority. While nothing can completely eliminate risk, we have implemented a series of measures recommended by state and local health officials, as well as Foote's Campus Reopening Task Force. We closely monitor infection trends and are prepared to adjust our plans should the need arise.

In this section

1. Health & Safety Measures
2. Student Health Office
3. Confirmed or Suspected Cases of COVID

 

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Health & Safety Measures

	Cohorts Students learn in stable cohorts, in classes of no more than 12, to minimize exposure.
	Physical Distancing The number of students in each classroom has been reduced to allow for 6-foot distances. Extraneous classroom furniture has been removed. Campus common areas have been closed.
	Face masks Everyone is required to wear a face mask. Students have outdoor "mask breaks" during the school day. Neck gaiters and masks with breathing valves are not be allowed.
	Hand Hygiene Regular hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer occurs throughout the day. Children are taught and reminded about proper hand washing.
	Health Screening All Foote students and employees complete a daily health screening before arriving at school to verify they are symptom-free.
	Bathrooms Shared bathrooms are be restricted to one person at a time (includes locker rooms). Touchless faucets and fixtures have been added to all rooms.
	Recess Is staggered to reduce the number of children on playgrounds and fields at same time.
	Enhanced Cleaning Dedicated cleaners are on campus during school hours to disinfect high-touch surfaces continuously, and to clean bathrooms twice per day.
	Improved Air Handling Air handling systems have been upgraded to increase fresh air to classrooms, improve filtration and upgrade HVAC software. All enhancements meet or exceed state guidelines.
	Food Students are seated physically distant from one another for indoor lunch, and eat outdoors weather permitting. Microwaves have been removed from classrooms. All lunches must be non-microwavable.
	Visitors No visitors are permitted on campus for the immediate future.

 

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Student Health Office

• Our Student Health Office has two distinct treatment areas: one for individuals exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19 (that area has a direct door to the outdoors); and one for individuals with other health concerns.
• The Health Office has a dedicated bathroom.
• There are two full-time nurses on hand at all times.
• If a child is suspected of having COVID-19, parents must pick them up within an hour of being notified.

 

Confirmed or Suspected Cases of Covid-19

• In the event that a student, teacher or staff member has a suspected or test-positive case of COVID-19, we have developed protocols to provide the best possible care for the affected individual(s) and those who have come in contact with them.
• These protocols were developed by Foote's Health and Safety Committee in consultation with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the school nurses and our consulting pediatrician, Dr. Camille Brown, Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Yale School Medicine.
• If an individual develops symptoms associated with COVID-19, s/he will initially be evaluated at the Student Health Office.
• If COVID-19 is suspected, the student or faculty/staff member will be sent home to consult with their health provider regarding testing.
• Decisions about quarantining cohorts, and the cohorts of a sibling of someone with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, will be made on a case-by-case basis by our school nurses in consultation with public health officials and our consulting pediatrician.
• In the event of a COVID-19-positive test, contact tracing, with the support of the public health department, will determine the need to quarantine or test any other individuals or an entire cohort.