CHICAT is excited to safely return students and staff to in-person learning in September 2021. In order to facilitate a safe and healthy return, CHICAT has adopted the following Return to Class Policy applicable to all students and their caregivers.
I. Daily Health Screening Form. All caregivers are responsible for completing and submitting a Health Screening Form prior to the student’s arrival at CHICAT. Students will not be permitted entry into CHICAT unless the Health Screening Form has been received for that day and all responses are truthfully answered “no.” If a student responds “yes” to one or more of the health screening questions, he/she/they must be kept home and will not be permitted entry into CHICAT. If a student arrives and either the Health Screening Form has not been received or the student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID19, the student’s caregiver will be notified and must arrange for the student to be picked up or transported home at the caregiver’s expense. As a general rule, caregivers should not send a sick student to CHICAT under any circumstance.
II. Students Who Become Sick At CHICAT. If a student falls ill while at CHICAT, staff will remove the student from the classroom and isolate him/her/them in a private, closed room. Staff will then notify the caregiver that the student is unwell and must be taken home immediately. Caregivers are obligated to arrange for their child to be picked up from CHICAT and taken home as soon as possible but no more than 1 hour after CHICAT notifies the caregiver. CHICAT will call 911 if a student is experiencing a medical emergency (e.g. unable to breathe, loss of consciousness) before notifying the caregiver.
III. Contact Tracing. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, caregivers are asked to promptly notify Lisa Moultrie by calling (312) 733-1701 or emailing lisa@chicat.org. CHICAT may request to ask the student whom they had close contact with during the 48 hours before the diagnosis. CHICAT will then
notify all staff and students who had close contact with the student, without revealing the student’s name or identity.
IV. Face Mask Policy. When inside CHICAT, students must wear a face mask or face covering that covers the nose and mouth. If a student has a medical condition or disability that prevents them from safely wearing a face mask or face covering, the caregiver must notify CHICAT before the start of class. Students who arrive to CHICAT without a face mask or face covering will be provided a disposable face
mask for use that day.
V. Social Distancing. Classrooms have been configured to accommodate social distancing guidelines for K-12 schools. Students should generally remain 3-6 feet apart from other people inside CHICAT and should comply with any and all directional signs indicating one-way hallways or social distancing measures.
VI. Hygiene. Students should practice safe cough hygiene by coughing into the shoulder as opposed to the hands. Students should utilize hand sanitizer throughout the day and should wash hands frequently with soap and water.
VII. Cleaning and Sanitation. Students should contribute to the overall cleanliness of CHICAT by putting trash in receptacle bins, keeping desks clean and tidy, and cooperating with cleaning and sanitation measures that occur throughout the day. Students should promptly report spills or related accidents that impact the overall cleanliness of CHICAT.
VIII.COVID-19 Vaccination. CHICAT does not require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at this time. However, CHICAT encourages all caregivers to independently research the available COVID-19 vaccines and discuss the risks and benefits with their health care provider. If a student is or becomes fully-vaccinated, as defined by the Centers of Disease Control (“CDC’”), caregivers are encouraged (but not required) to disclose student vaccination status by emailing Lisa Moultrie at lisa@chicat.org. Fully vaccinated students will be permitted entry into CHICAT so long as they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 not attributed to another medical condition.
CHICAT strives to be transparent regarding its response to COVID-19 and return to in-person instruction. To the extent parents or caregivers have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Lisa Moultrie by calling (312) 733-1701 or emailing lisa@chicat.org.