Vancouver Montessori School (VMS) regularly reviews the communicable disease prevention plans during staff meetings and posts this on the school website, as well as the school bulletin board.
COMMUNICATION AND TRAINING/ORIENTATION
- Provide newly hired staff and staff who change worksites with an orientation and any required training on the communicable disease prevention measures for the worksite.
- Inform staff and provide any associated training when there are changes to the communicable disease prevention measures.
EMERGENCY AND EVALUATION DRILLS
Emergency and evacuation planning and drills consider communicable disease prevention plans. In the event of an actual emergency, communicable disease prevention measures can be suspended to ensure for a timely, efficient and safe response.
Vaccines
Vaccination protects from serious illness due to COVID-19 and is the most effective way to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our communities. BCCDC strongly recommends adults interacting with children to be fully vaccinated. All COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada protect against serious complications, including from the Omicron variant. See BCCDC for trusted information on COVID-19 vaccines.
Personal Practices
HEALTH AWARENESS
Everyone at VMS is required to practice health awareness, including staying home when sick.
MASKS AND FACE COVERINGS
The decision to wear a mask or face covering is a personal choice for staff and students. VMS will continue to have non-medical masks on hand for those who want one.
HAND HYGIENE
Staff and students are encouraged to practice hand hygiene upon school entry and before/after breaks and eating, using the washroom and using frequently touched shared equipment.
RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE
Staff and students should:
- Cough and sneeze into elbow, sleeve, or a tissue.
- Throw away used tissues and immediately perform hand hygiene.
PERSONAL SPACE
Staff and students are encouraged to respect others personal space.
SHARING FOOD, BEVERAGES AND OTHER ITEMS THAT TOUCH THE MOUTH
Staff and students are encouraged to not share items that come in contact with the mouth (e.g. food, drinks, unwashed utensils, cigarettes, vaping devices).
Environmental Practices
CLEANING AND DISINFECTION
Regular cleaning and disinfection can help prevent the transmission of communicable diseases from contaminated objects and surfaces.
Products & Procedures
For cleaning, the school uses water and detergent (e.g. liquid dishwashing soap), or common, commercially available products, along with good cleaning practices. For hard-to-reach areas, use a brush and rinse thoroughly prior to disinfecting.
For disinfection, the school uses common, commercially available disinfectants listed on Health Canada’s hard-surface disinfectants for use against coronavirus COVID-19. (Bleach water)
Cleaning and Disinfecting Frequency
- General cleaning of the premises, and cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces at least once in a 24-hour period.
- Clean any surface that is visibly dirty.
- Empty garbage containers daily.
Frequently Touched Surfaces
Frequently touched surfaces are items touched by larger numbers of students and staff. They can include doorknobs, light switches, hand railings, water fountains and toilet handles, as well as shared equipment (e.g., computer keyboards, PE/sports and music equipment), appliances (e.g., microwaves) and service counters (e.g., library circulation desk)
Cleaning and Disinfecting Bodily Fluids (Office Kit)
VMS follows these procedures when cleaning and disinfecting bodily fluids (e.g., runny nose, vomit, stool, urine):
- Wear disposable gloves when cleaning blood or body fluids.
- Wash hands before wearing and after removing gloves.
LAUNDRY
VMS uses regular laundering practices
GENERAL VENTILATION AND AIR CIRCULATION
The school opens windows if weather permits. When using fans n ventilated spaces, air is moved from high places to lower places instead of blowing air directly from one person’s breathing zone to another’s. Horizontal cross breezes are avoided.
Natural ventilation (operable windows, etc.) and portable HEPA filter units are considered in regularly occupied classrooms that do not have mechanical ventilation systems.
HAND HYGIENE
Rigorous hand washing with plain soap and water or using an effective hand sanitizer reduces the spread of illness. VMS follows these guidelines to ensure effective hand hygiene in schools:
- Facilitate regular opportunities for hand hygiene,
- Ensure hand hygiene supplies are always well stocked including soap, paper towels and where appropriate, alcohol-based hand rub with a minimum of 60% alcohol.
- Soap and water are preferred when hands are visibly dirty.
Administrative Practices
SPACE ARRANGEMENT
The school uses classroom and learning environment configurations and activities that best meet learner needs and preferred educational approaches.
Staff Only Spaces
Staff only spaces follow respectful distance and cleaning.
SCHOOL GATHERINGS AND EVENTS
The school resumes all types of gatherings and events.
HEALTH AWARENESS & ILLNESS PRACTICES
Health Awareness
A designated person checks regularly if anyone on premise is experiencing symptoms of illness (including but not limited to COVID-19 symptoms) to ensure they are not coming school when they are sick.
School and School District Responsibilities
The school administrators ensure that everyone entering a school is aware and routinely reminded of their responsibility to practice health awareness. Communications are maintained through emails, newsletters to parents and staff, signage on doors, etc.
The school has a space available where the student or staff can wait comfortably and is separated from others if unwell. Staff are responsible for facility cleaning and disinfecting surfaces/equipment which the person’s bodily fluids may have been in contact with while they are ill prior to the surfaces/equipment being used by others.
What to do When Sick
Child is separated and parent is called to pick up.
BUSES
The following strategies are recommended for student transportation on buses:
Buses used for transporting students are cleaned and disinfected according to the guidance provided in the Cleaning and Disinfecting section of this document.
- Bus drivers and students are encouraged to practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
- Bus drivers, teachers and students in kindergarten to Grade 7 may choose to wear masks or face covering when they are on the bus.
VISITOR ACCESS / COMMUNITY USE
The school ensures visitors are aware of and follow the school’s communicable disease prevention plan, including personal practices.
• Sign in with masks, hand sanitizing and wellness check
CURRICULUM, PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
All curriculum, programs and activities operate in alignment with school communicable disease prevention plans, including school-led activities held off campus.
Field trips
When planning field trips, staff follow existing policies and procedures. Students and staff are required to follow the communicable disease prevention plan of places attended on a field trip, including:
- Sign out with Date/Time of leaving and returning
- Talking any medication
- Taking student verification sheets