Current
Scenario:
Yellow
Community
Health
Guidelines
Serious respiratory illnesses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, tuberculosis and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19 are spread by:
- Coughing or sneezing.
- Unclean hands: Touching your face after touching contaminated objects and touching objects after contaminating your hands.
To help stop the spread of germs we ask that you follow the following guidelines and protocols.
Masks at NA
Appropriate face masks or cloth face coverings must be worn, at all times (except when eating), by all community members who are inside the building. Masks must be worn over your nose and mouth.
According to CDC guidelines, masks should “have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric” and should “fit...snugly against the side of your face.” Masks should not have an exhalation valve or vent.
It is recommended that each employee or student wear his or her own face covering. Newark Academy will provide a mask to all employees. If a student does not have access to a face mask or cloth covering, Newark Academy will provide the required face mask.
Washable cloth face coverings should be laundered every night and surgical masks should be used only once. A bandana is not an acceptable face covering.
Any writing or images on masks must be similarly school-appropriate, respectful, and avoid bias and/or insensitivity (see the Bias-Response & Education System and Costume Policy in the online Student and Parent Handbook for additional information).
In addition to the official guidance from the CDC, school nurses Pat Neary and Kathleen Ollen suggest that community members should use the “birthday candle test” to identify the effectiveness of a mask; if a person can blow out a candle with the mask on, the mask is likely not effective and should not be worn.
Students and employees are encouraged to carry a backup mask or face covering. It is recommended that students keep an extra mask in a fresh ziplock bag within their backpack.
Plastic face shields will be provided to employees upon their request. Plastic face shields cannot be worn alone and must be worn in conjunction with a face mask or facial covering.
Students and employees will have access to outdoor areas during the day to remove their face coverings while practicing recommended social distancing. When “de-masking” individually outside, students and employees should ensure that they are at least 6 feet away from other individuals and preferably much farther away.
Masks and Spaces
If employees are in shared spaces (e.g. classrooms, departmental offices, copy room, etc.), they should always wear a mask, except when eating in designated areas.
If employees are in a private space (e.g. an individual office), they may de-mask if the door is closed. While employees should strive to exercise discretion when de-masking in private spaces, employees do not need to close the blinds or draw shades on those spaces.
If employees are in a temporarily private space or an office where other colleagues may enter, a mask should be worn given that the virus may be spread through the air.
If there is any doubt about whether a mask is required indoors, our community default should be to wear a mask.
Based on guidance from the New Jersey Department of Education, masks must be worn by students and employees during outdoor classes and activities, except while engaging in “high intensity aerobic or anaerobic activities” during PE classes, outdoor Athletics, and sports play. Given the nature of their disciplines, Language teachers and Health teachers can remove their masks while teaching outdoors, but must engage in social distancing.
In accordance with guidance from the State of New Jersey, students and employees should not wear a mask if they are in “extreme heat outdoors,” but they should continue to practice social distancing.
Mask Compliance
In the spirit of “We” > “Me,” we all share in the responsibility of keeping our community safe. If you see a colleague or a student not wearing a mask (or not wearing a mask properly), please politely remind them of our community pledge.
If you are uncomfortable speaking to a colleague about mask protocols, please contact Traci Osterhagen Brock if the colleague is a member of the faculty and Sarah Guelich if the colleague is a member of the staff.
Gloves
Gloves are not recommended but, if requested, a pair will be provided.
Attire and Bookbag
All students will follow a casual dress code for the 2020-2021 school year. This will enable students to wear the appropriate clothing during the school day in preparation for physical education. Students will not have access to lockers for physical education classes. For further information, please reference the Student and Parent Handbook.
This year, in order to make it easier for students to take P.E. without access to locker rooms and to be comfortable outside in general, there are regular choices and several more relaxed clothing choices. Regular and Extended Appearance Code options are permitted Monday through Friday.
Regular Appearance Code: (includes original Monday-Thursday and Friday options, combined)
- collared shirts and plain t-shirts, t-shirts with writing or images, provided the messages are school-appropriate and avoid bias and/or insensitivity; sleeveless tops, provided the straps are 3-fingers wide; sweaters; N.A. sweatshirts; khaki, corduroy, unfaded, cotton pants; untorn, unripped jeans; opaque/solid-color leggings with palm-length tops; Bermuda-length shorts, dresses/skirts, no shorter than slightly above the knee; sneakers, shoes, boots (no flip flops or slides); any hair color or style; neatly-trimmed, well-groomed facial hair, juniors and seniors only.
Extended Appearance Code for 2020-2021:
-athletic t-shirts with sleeves (ie. team shirts or athletic brands), athletic shorts, sweatpants, all types of sweatshirts (no muscle tees, athletic pinnies, cropped tops, beach wear, or spandex wear)
Lockers
In order to avoid crowding in the hallways, this year students are strongly encouraged to use their lockers at two times only: before advisor group in the morning and at the end of the day. In addition, students should wait patiently to use lockers in order to facilitate social distancing and use their lockers quickly. Individual locker number and combination can be found on MyNA under the student profile picture.
Bookbags & Belongings
Students must carry their backpacks and belongings with them or store them in their lockers. It is especially important this year to bring only absolutely necessary items to school and to have the lightest possible backpack. Bookbags and possessions may not be left in any public location. Picking up student belongings from public spaces and the crowding that occurs when students retrieve their belongings are both problematic at this time. Students who leave their belongings in public spaces will receive a detention.
Hand Sanitizers and Faucets
Hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies will be provided in all corridors, classrooms and offices. Sanitizing dispensers will be installed on all outdoor athletic facilities as well as the concession building. Sanitizers will also be available in all tents erected as outdoor classrooms.
Touchless faucets will be installed within high-use bathrooms.
Air Purifiers
Newark Academy now has approximately 100 air purifiers deployed throughout the building to promote air exchange and clean existing air. Additionally, MERV 13 filters have been installed on all rooftop units.
The School Nurses' Office
The Nurses’ Office will provide an isolation area for sick students until they can be picked up. Students must be picked up within one hour of parent contact, and families are encouraged to prepare for this scenario.
The Nurses’ Office will have increased ventilation within its areas used for sick students. Two full-time nurses and a full-time certified athletic trainer will be present to support the community’s health and wellness.
Visiting The NA Campus
Only students and employees will be permitted into the building. Parents and visitors will be permitted into the building by appointment only. All non-essential on-campus visits will be suspended until campus health conditions improve.
Appropriate face masks, without valves, or face coverings must be worn, at all times, by all community members who are inside the building.
Security will be provided at the front entrance to the campus to control the access to campus.
Service vendors will be permitted into the building to perform work only when students and staff leave campus (except in emergencies).
Should you become ill or exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 infection, we ask that you please do not come to campus.
Magnus Health Survey
The COVID-19 questionnaire from Magnus Health must be completed by students and employees prior to entering campus. The questionnaire will be reviewed by a medical team, with follow up as needed. You can find this link in MyNA.
Given that health and safety is a shared responsibility, community members will be required to sign a health agreement before the start of the school year. By signing the agreement, community members will affirm their responsibility in upholding the ”Campus Health and Safety Protocols for Fall 2020” (e.g. masks, social distancing, handwashing, etc.), disclosing potential illness and travel plans, conducting daily wellness checks, and making careful and prudent decisions about behaviors that could jeopardize personal health. In doing so, community members will protect the health of our entire community.
