Hygiene Practices
According to Toronto Public Health, hand washing is one of the most effective ways to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Signage about hand washing and proper respiratory etiquette will be prominent in Hillmount. Teachers will be building regular hand-washing time into their timetables. Non-scented, alcohol-based sanitizers will be available in each class and throughout the school and at designated entry and exit points.
Please take the time to view the videos below about proper handwashing and how to use hand sanitizer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETbleaNS7dM&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH23hzGkGwU&feature=youtu.be
All classrooms will have non-scented hand sanitizer, soap and paper towels. Students may bring their own hand sanitizer from home to keep at their desks, but please remember this must be scent-free.
There will be hand sanitizer stations throughout the school including entry points.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
All staff members will be provided with the appropriate PPE (medical masks and face shields) to safely interact with each other and with students. All students are required to wear masks.
We encourage you to send at least 2 masks with your child. Masks should be labelled with your child’s name. Please teach your child how to wear a mask, how to store it and change it, and the importance of wearing it properly. Please see the following videos regarding mask-wearing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tv2BVN_WTk
All classroom teachers will have extra masks for students, just in case. For students who are eating lunch at school, please provide a container or paper bag in the child’s lunch bag. The purpose of this bag is so that students have a sanitary place to put their mask while eating lunch. Ziploc bags are not recommended by Toronto Public Health.
Students are required to wear masks while inside the school. This means that they will need to take their mask outside during recesses, outdoor time at lunch and during physical education. In order to ensure that masks do not get lost when they are removed during outdoor play, there are a few methods that you may want to consider.
-a fanny pack, worn around the waist
-a snap-away lanyards that can be worn around the child’s neck (lanyards that do not snap-way are a choking hazard and will not be accepted)
-a carabiner to clip to a belt or belt loop
The school has purchased badge clips, so that the masks can be clipped to the child’s clothing while outside, if necessary. In addition, some of our teachers have come up with age-appropriate ways to store the masks safely. They will communicate with you to let you know if there is something they need you to provide to support safe mask-wearing.
Cleaning and Other Additional Measures
Caretaking staff will perform routine cleaning of general facilities throughout the day and will conduct enhanced cleaning of high touch surfaces such as light switches, handrails, door handles, etc. twice daily. Shared items will be used minimally and will be cleaned between users. Mechanical HVAC systems have been checked to ensure they are operating as designed, and we will increase the frequency of filter changes. In addition, the intake settings will be adjusted to increase the amount of fresh air and reduce recirculation.
Suspected Cases of COVID-19
(from TDSB - A Guide to the Safe Re-opening of TDSB Schools)
If a staff member or student has COVID-19 symptoms, they are to go to an assessment center and get tested. As per Toronto Public Health, if the test is negative, individuals can return to work/school 24 hours after symptoms go away, as long as they are not self-isolating for other reasons. Individuals with a confirmed case of COVID-19, can return to work 14 days after their symptoms first appear, as long as symptoms are mostly gone. No tests or clearance letter is required for return to work or school.
If a student develops COVID-19 symptoms while in school, they should immediately be separated from others in a separate room until picked up. The student will be accompanied to the room by a staff member who will remain with them until they are picked up by family members. Both the staff member and the student will be required to wear a mask and other required PPE. To assist with this requirement, the room will be equipped with a PPE kit that includes masks, gloves, gown, face shield and tissues. The room will be disinfected once the individual leaves.
If a staff member becomes ill while they are at school, they are to go home, get tested for COVID-19 and selfisolate pending results. If they are unable to get home safely, they will be directed to wait in the isolation room until such time as a family member can pick them up. They will be required to follow all of the steps laid out for sick students in the isolation room.
Well-Being and Supports for Students
Returning to school after many months away will require time to address the social and emotional needs of students and we continue to provide ongoing support to students who need it. All staff have a role to play in supporting students’ mental health and well-being. Building relationships and connections, offering support and building capacity of school-based staff will help ease the transition back to school and help meet the needs of students. Professional learning has been provided to staff to help identify students’ specific needs and appropriate strategies during the return to school.