RIVMA SAFETY PROTOCOLS  

 

Welcome to the 2021-2022 School Year RIVMA Families! 

​

The safety of our students and staff is our utmost priority. As such, new health and safety protocols will be implemented that are in accordance with CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and CDPH (California Department of Public Health) guidelines. In order to allow for necessary social distancing and safety precautions, the following are specific decisions and plans that RIVMA will institute for all students,  families, and staff participating in our on-campus learning:

​

VISITORS ON CAMPUS
 

• RIVMA will be a CLOSED CAMPUS. All nonessential visitors will be restricted from campus during this time. Parents/Guardians must drop off students outside the classroom door.

• Essential deliveries will be received at the door and all packages will be disinfected before being brought into the facilities.

 

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES

 

• Upon arrival, both student(s) and Parent/Guardian will be screened for fever and illness prior to entering the facility. Parent/Guardian and/or Student(s) with a temperature reading of greater than 100.4° will not be allowed to enter the facility and will be asked to return home. In addition, children who appear unwell despite a fever less than 100.4° will not be permitted entry. 

• Staff, Parent/Guardian, or Student must be fever-free without medication for a total of 72 hours before returning to school and must not exhibit any other signs of illness such as cough, sore throat, headache, or shortness of breath.

• If Parent/Guardian & Student’s temperature is read normal, the Parent/Guardian will be asked to clock in their child through their phone “app” on Brightwheel, our new check-in system. A staff member will be available to assist if necessary.

• We are asking that only one (not both) Parent/Guardian accompany the student when checking in or picking up. We prefer, if possible, the same Parent/Guardian accompany their child daily for both the drop-off and the pick-up.

• Relatives including siblings should refrain from accompanying the student and will not be allowed into the facility. 

• Upon entering the facility Parent/Guardian will be required to wear a mask. Student masks are optional for Preschoolers but preferred.  Both Parent/Guardian & Student will be asked to use hand sanitizer and walk directly to the child’s classroom.  Upon arrival to the child’s classroom, the teacher will receive your child at the door along with their backpack (All student belongings must be placed inside the backpack.)  At this time, Parents/Guardians will not be allowed to enter the classroom or loiter outside.

• Please practice social distancing when dropping off your child at the door with their Teacher.  We would like for drop-offs to be brief and run quickly and smoothly for all parents, especially those on their way to work.  If your child is having a difficult time during drop-off, please pull your child aside and away from others in order to calm them down and reassure them.

• While we can understand that socializing and catching up with friends and others in the parking lot, classrooms, and other areas inside the school buildings was a key part of the relational culture at RIVMA, at this moment, we are asking parents not to loiter in such areas. Adult restrooms are closed for parent use. Restrooms are for employee use only.

​

PICK-UP PROCEDURES

 

• All parents/guardians must be wearing a mask and sanitize their hands with hand sanitizer prior to entering through the gate. 

• Only one Parent/Guardian will be allowed to enter the facility when picking up their child.

• When picking up your child from school, parents will be asked to practice social distancing guidelines.

• Parents will be required to clock out children through their phone on the Brightwheel app, outside of the classroom, before pick up.

• Please wait outside your child’s classroom door for the teacher to bring him/her to you. A staff member will accompany the child outside with their belongings. Please do not enter the classroom, if necessary, knock on the door to get the teacher’s attention.

​

STUDENT CLASSROOM PRACTICES 

 

Classroom guidelines in compliance with the CDC, CDPH & Title 22 will be followed at all times to ensure the safety of all children. 

• Classrooms will be downsized and social distancing will be encouraged between children in the classrooms. 

• Children will stay with one classroom group throughout the day, including outside playtime, as much as possible.

• Children will be placed in classrooms according to similar schedules of arrival and pick up, as much as possible.

• Adequate supplies will be provided to students to minimize sharing of high-touch materials to the extent possible (art supplies, equipment, etc. will be assigned to each individual child.) 

• Table space will be marked off with tape and a name tag to ensure proper distancing. 

• Scheduled handwashing times will be implemented throughout the day. Children will wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap & water upon entering their classroom, before and after snack, lunch, recess, nap time, and pick up time.  Hand sanitizer will be available as needed throughout the day. Teachers will reinforce healthy hygiene practices to the students daily. 

• Share time has temporarily been suspended and toys or stuffed animals will not be allowed into the classroom.

• Children may only bring necessary items to school. All child belongings such as a lunch bag, water bottle (no taller than 7 inches) blanket, pillow, jacket, crafts, classwork, extra clothes shall be transported inside a small backpack to and from home.  No loose items are to be brought into the school or classroom. All items brought to school for lunch including water bottles must be disposable. Disposable lunch bags are recommended.

• At nap time, cots will be placed within a safe distance from each other.  Blankets and pillows will stay on the child's personal cot and be sent home weekly to wash. The cot area will be disinfected with disinfectant spray at the end of each day.

• Cleaning and disinfecting tables, chairs, door handles, bathrooms & toys will be conducted throughout the day.  Extra staff will be assigned to clean heavily used areas inside and outside throughout the day.  At the end of the day, all surface areas and supplies will be disinfected with an electrostatic sprayer. 

 

STUDENT/STAFF ILLNESS 

 

• If a student shows signs of illness, we have arranged an isolation area where they can wait until the child can be picked up.  The child’s identity will be kept confidential and the school will notify parents and the Health Department in order to obtain direction.

• Staff showing symptoms of illness or fever will not be allowed to work. In-house staffing has been arranged to substitute, if necessary.

• Affected areas will be closed off and disinfected thoroughly.

• A decision to close the school, if necessary, would be made in partnership with the local health department and Parents/Guardians would be notified immediately through the Brightwheel app.

• Please keep in mind that if directed to close the school it could be for a period of 2 to 12 days in order to properly clean and disinfect. No refunds will be given for tuition in the event of school closure. 

 

STAFF PROTOCOLS 

 

• All Staff will be wearing face masks, face shields, and gloves during classroom time. Frequent hand washing and social distancing will be required of all staff. Hand sanitizer will be placed throughout the school

• All staff will undergo temperature checks at the beginning of their shift as well as throughout the day. 

 

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU 

 

As challenging a time as this has been, we are confident that we will create a safe and nurturing environment for our children. Our staff is deeply committed to the social, emotional, and intellectual growth of our students and understands the many complexities that surround these goals during this time. We hope that this document answers some of the questions that you may have had and feel assured that our team is collectively dedicated to making safety and hygiene a priority. 

​

None of us could have anticipated the many changes that have taken place since the outbreak of COVID-19, but our team will work diligently to ensure that our students receive an outstanding education and our families receive the support that they need.