COVID-19

Regina Catholic Education Center

Return to Learn Update

2021-2022

Premise: Every effort will be made for Regina Catholic Education Center to operate as normal and routine as possible; however, the situation regarding COVID-19 and the Delta variant is fluid. As such, the information provided here today may change even before school begins on Monday, August 23^rd. Regina is closely monitoring the virus pattern and its movement throughout Johnson County. Regina is also reviewing guidance provided by Johnson County Health Department (JCHD), Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Iowa Department of Education (DOE), and the Diocese of Davenport. Please note: the guidance provided by these entities is not always consistent nor do they always align with one another. As such, Regina will proceed by making the best decisions for the students and staff while also adhering to the laws and best practices in virus prevention and containment.

This document is designed to answer questions that students, staff, families, and the entire school community have regarding the start of the 2021-2022 school year.

Regina will continue to monitor COVID-19 rates and adjust protocols as warranted. Layered prevention strategies, including wearing face coverings, washing hands, minding social distance to the greatest extent possible, and staying home when sick is essential for the well-being of all in the school community. Regina’s policies, procedures, and these enhanced health and safety guidelines apply to the entire campus and facilities, school-related activities, programs and events, and community use of campus facilities.

Will face-coverings be required? Per guidance from the CDC, universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status, is recommended.  Face-coverings will be available for students, staff, and visitors; however, per Iowa law, Regina cannot require face-coverings to be worn in our buildings or on school grounds for school-related activities.

• Exception: In compliance with President’s Executive Order on domestic transportation, students are required to wear a face-covering while on the bus or utilizing other Regina-provided transportation.

Does Regina recommend members of the school community to wear masks indoors? Because we do not know the individual health circumstances of students or staff (or the people who reside in their homes) and segments of our school population are not yet eligible for vaccination, everyone is encouraged to wear a face-covering indoors.

Will there be handwashing opportunities during the school day? Staff will teach and reinforce virus-prevention etiquette of coughing and sneezing into a sleeve or a tissue. Students and staff are encouraged to take frequent hand washing breaks throughout the day.  Hand sanitizer will be available throughout campus and in classrooms.

Will Regina maintain social distancing? Regina seeks to maximize the distance between individuals, however, we cannot guarantee consistent social distancing of 3 feet in classrooms and other indoor spaces.  Per the CDC, it is recommended that students wear masks when 3 feet of social distancing is not possible indoors. Consistent and correct face-covering use is especially important indoors and in crowded settings when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

How will contact tracing be handled? Contact tracing (isolation and quarantine): If Regina becomes aware of a positive COVID-19 individual, the positive individual will be excluded from activities and programming, and isolated at home for 10 days from the onset of symptoms or from the date of the positive test (asymptomatic cases). Students will receive assignments from teachers during the time that they are gone. The individuals may return to school and activities on day 11 if they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and symptoms are improving.

As Regina becomes aware of positive COVID cases within the school community, an email will be sent to the classroom(s)/group(s) affected. This notification will simply state that there has been an exposure and parents/guardians should monitor for symptoms. Per the IDPH guidance, Regina will not require quarantine of exposed or “close contact” staff or students to start the 2021-22 school year.

What if a member of the school community becomes sick? The Iowa Department of Public Health has adjusted its guidance to recommend that schools and childcare settings approach COVID-19 like other child illnesses. For ease of reference, please see the detailed list of common child illnesses and exclusion criteria, which now includes COVID-19. This guidance comes in consultation with the Department of Education, and underscores that the overall health and well-being of children must be our primary focus. The IDPH has revised COVID-19 guidance for school and child care settings, including quarantine guidance, to recommend that while COVID-19 positive and symptomatic children should be excluded, exposed children should no longer be required to stay home, regardless of mask usage.

How will Regina handle activities/events? Regina intends to proceed with all jr/sr high activities/practices/rehearsals. The ability to keep these activities going depends on everyone doing their part to reduce transmission through vaccination, masking, proper hand-washing, social distancing, etc.

Will volunteers and visitors be permitted at Regina? During substantial or high transmission rate per the COVID tracker, Regina volunteers and visitors will be restricted. During low or moderate transmission rates, volunteers and visitors may be permitted. Volunteers and visitors who have tested positive will need to follow isolation requirements and not come on site for a minimum of 10 days. Individuals are respectfully asked to self-screen for COVID-19 related symptoms prior to entering the campus. Although in-person meetings will be allowed, social distancing remains an important health measure. Individuals are encouraged to maximize space between each other and wear a face-covering.   

Will lunch be served at Regina? For this coming school year Regina is able to offer no cost meals for every K-12 enrolled studentthrough the Seamless Summer Option from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This is a nationwide waiver for the 2021-2022 school year only allowing schools to offer this helpful option to all families and facilitates the safe provision of meals by eliminating the need to collect meal payments, including cash payments, at meal sites. This speeds up service of meals, thereby reducing contact and potential exposure to COVID–19.

Free meals (breakfast and lunch) will be provided for all enrolled K-12 students through age eighteen. This applies to complete meal onlywhich include an entrée, fruit and/or vegetable and milk. Ala cart items are not included and will still be charged at regular prices. Families who annually complete the free/reduced waiver form should please do so as this application is also used to determine eligibility for other programs. 

Will outdoor seating be provided during lunch? A tent has been placed on campus and students will be encouraged to eat outside.

How will Regina handle cleaning and disinfecting the school? High-touch areas will be sanitized daily. High touch areas include, but are not limited to:

• Student desktops
• Student chair seats, backs, and fronts
• Classroom tables/surfaces

Building and classroom cleaning and disinfecting will take place as regularly scheduled through the custodial department. Sanitizer will be available in classrooms for teacher use when needed throughout the day.

Are face coverings required on the bus or any Regina transportation? In compliance with the President’s Executive Order on domestic transportation, students riding the bus are required to wear a face-covering while on the bus or utilizing other Regina-provided transportation. This includes transportation between home and school, as well as transportation for co- and extracurricular activities, field trips, and other school-sponsored events.

How will building access be handled? Regina will balance building access with allowing sufficient time for buildings to be cleaned while students and staff are out of the building.

• Students should exit the building once the school day is complete or the extra/co-curricular activity has ended. Families are encouraged to have drop-off/pick-up plans.
• For activities and events outside the school day, students should arrive no earlier than 10 minutes prior to the event start time.

Is a COVID-19 vaccination required? Regina encourages all individuals to get the COVID-19 vaccine. While a vaccine is not required to attend, visit, or work at Regina, this recommendation reflects the guidance of the CDC, IDPH, and JCPH.

How can I check the level of transmission in Johnson County? Based on the CDC COVID Data Tracker, Johnson County’s level of community transmission is considered to be substantial as of today.  If this level of transmission changes, these guidelines will be reviewed and adjusted.

What if I want my child to be online to start the school year? Per the Davenport Diocese, virtual learning (defined as enrolled in the school but 100% of the instruction occurs outside of school) is not an option for students. However, there are times when a remote solution may be appropriate for a school-approved extended absence. A school-approved extended absence includes the following:

• When there is a documented medical reason that necessitates a long-term absence
• When a student must isolate due to COVID and will be missing more than three days of school

Extended absence due to a health condition must be documented and reported to school administration by a health professional and approved by the principal on a case-by-case basis.

Click HERE to download this document

As of 8-19-21

Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague has issued an order that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of the Delta variant, every person in the City of Iowa City must wear a face covering when in a public space. 

The order will take effect at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. The order will expire on Sept. 30, 2021, unless otherwise extended. 

The Mayor has also issued a proclamation of Civil Emergency due to the growing risk of the Delta variant.

The full order and proclamation can be read online: www.icgov.org/news/mayor-issues-new-mask-order-city-iowa-city

As of 8-19-21 the Mayor of Iowa City has issued a city-wide mask mandate. Family Fun Festival attendees unable to maintain a social distance of 6 ft must wear masks.

In accordance with local, state, and CDC public health guidance, it is recommended for Iowa City Family Fun Festival attendees to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. For the protection of all attendees, it is further recommended each attendee, particularly if unvaccinated, wear a mask at all times. Additionally, by attending or participating in Iowa City Family Fun Festival events, attendees agree they do not fall into any of the following categories:  

1. Individual who currently or within the past fourteen (14) days has experienced symptoms associated with COVID-19, which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath among others;
2. Individual who has traveled in the past fourteen (14) days either internationally or to a community in the U.S. that has experienced, or is experiencing, sustained community spread of COVID-19; or  
3. Individual who believes he or she may have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is not yet cleared as non-contagious by state or local public health authorities or the health care team responsible for his or her treatment.

ASSUMPTION OF RISKS. Attending a public event includes possible exposure to and illness from infectious diseases including, but not limited to, COVID-19. While protective measures and  personal practices may reduce risks of contracting Covid-19 and other transmissible illnesses, the risk of contracting a serious illness and death remains. Except as may otherwise be provided by applicable laws, by attending the Iowa City Family Fun Festival, you knowingly and voluntarily, for yourself and family members, assume all risks relating to illness and infectious diseases, such as COVID-19.

Click HERE to download this document

View on on www.facebook.com/uichildrens at noon on Wednesday. It will also be recorded and you can view at your convenience.

Facing the Facts: The Role of Face Coverings in Containing COVID-19

The University of Iowa College of Public Health is hosting a free webinar for anyone interested in understanding the role of face coverings in controlling COVID-19.

This event will be held Wednesday, September 2, 2020, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. (CT).  We have brought together a panel of faculty experts — including Drs. Edith Parker, Renee Anthony, Fred Gerr, and Dan Sewell — to address a variety of issues related to the use of face coverings during the pandemic. The panelists will address questions posed ahead of time (questions will be collected during the brief pre-registration process at https://uiowa.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_E4FPyaIATeubbU3Bt9JgQQ.

We have considerable capacity for this webinar so all who are interested are welcome to join. Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues and others. Pre-registration is required to ensure security over the Zoom platform, and during the webinar participants will be passive (no interaction with the panelists or with each other). Following the webinar we will send a list of related resources and a link to the recorded webinar to all participants.

Thank you,

College of Public Health
University of Iowa
https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu

Dear Families,

We need everyone’s assistance to help with this very important step in helping to control the spread of COVID-19 as we return to on-site learning for the 2020-21 school year.

We are asking all families to sign this PLEDGE:
(Please fill out this form separately for each student)

• They will take all student’s temperatures at home on a daily basis each morning before coming to school.

• Should the student’s temperature be 100.4°F or more, then the student should stay home for 10 days and until they are fever-free (unmedicated) and symptom free for 24 hours OR if they receive clearance from their primary care provider OR they receive a negative COVID-19 test. This is required.

Regina will reserve the right to send home any individuals that display symptoms and may request that the individual consult with their health care provider before returning to school and activities.

All staff are also required to check their temperature before reporting to work.

Any adult family member who needs to come into the building should check their temperature before doing so.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE TEMPERATURE PLEDGE FORM

Thank you,

Celeste Vincent, Elementary Principal – celeste.vincent@regina.org Glenn Plummer, Jr/Sr High Principal – glenn.plummer@regina.org

Dear Regina Families,

These unprecedented times have created many issues and challenges. 

The Regina community has demonstrated the ability to overcome obstacles over and over again. This pandemic gives us the chance to show the great support that our parents provide to our school.

We have always faced a problem with having enough substitute teachers to meet the needs of our school. As we look forward to this school-year, there is a potential for that problem to be even greater. If it fits into your life and schedule, we ask you to look into obtaining a substitute authorization. Please pass on this information to anyone you know who may be interested in helping us out this year.

Information for obtaining a substitute authorization can be found at https://www.mbaea.org/professional-development/substitute-teach-in-iowa-schools.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Celeste Vincent, Elementary Principal – celeste.vincent@regina.org

Glenn Plummer, Junior Senior High Principal – glenn.plummer@regina.org

Our Return-to-Learn Committee has been working diligently to prepare for the upcoming school year. After careful discussion, thought, and consideration, the Regina Board of Education has approved a plan of starting the school year with our students in the classroom.  However as part of our plan, a full comprehensive on-line option will be available to support our learners and families that choose to do so.

In the classroom and on campus, we will be taking necessary precautions to protect our students and staff.  As part of this plan, face coverings will be mandatory on-site at Regina for all 2nd-12th grade students, staff, and visitors. Face coverings are strongly recommended for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.   

We will continue to provide further details regarding safety protocols and procedures as they evolve.  We are committed to our Return-to-Learn plan, but keep in mind that this situation is fluid and may require us to make modifications to our plan.  Updates from the Return-to-Learn Committee will continue to appear here on our website under the COVID-19 tab. 

Please know that our primary objective is to keep our students, families, and staff safe and healthy while providing the level of education our families are accustomed to at Regina.  

Please feel free to reach out to Celeste Vincent at 337-5739 (Elementary Principal) or Glenn Plummer at 338-5436 (Jr./Sr. High Principal) with any questions or concerns.