Covid-19 Protocol

Religious Education Program 

Our priority is to continue proclaiming our faith to our children while caring for their health.

Therefore, we are implementing several strategies to encourage behaviors that reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

             Hand Hygiene

• Teach and reinforce handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and increase monitoring to ensure adherence among students and staff.

  • If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used (for staff and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer).

• Encourage staff and students to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash and hands washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

  • If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used (for staff and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer).
    
    Cloth Face Coverings

• Teach and reinforce use of cloth face coverings. Face coverings may be challenging for students (especially younger students) to wear in all the session. Face coverings should be worn by staff and students (particularly older students) as feasible, and are most essential in times when physical distancing is difficult. Individuals should be frequently reminded not to touch the face covering. 

• Cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms.
  
          Adequate use of supplies:

Students entering the school building should not bring any items with them, their hands must remain empty in order to wash them or use the sanitizing gel. In the classroom, each student will have a package with their book, pencil, colors and other supplies. Each package will be identified with the student's name and no items can be exchanged with other children. If any student needs something they should ask their catechists. At the end of the session, each student, under the supervision of their catechist, will disinfect each of the items used and put them back in the bag. All packages will remain in the classroom.

             Cleaning and Disinfection

• The catechist and catechists aide will clean and disinfect touched surfaces (e.g., desks, chairs, classroom equipment, door handles, sink handles, drinking fountains) before and after each session. Use of shared objects should be limited when possible, or cleaned between use.

• Ensure safe and correct use and storage of all the student packages and all other supplies after carefully cleaning and disinfecting.
  
         Water Fountain 

• To minimize the risk:

  • Teach and reinforce NOT to use the water fountain during the catechetical session. 

  • If necessary, the catechist aide will take the students to the water fountain. After drinking the fountains should be cleaned and sanitized.

  • Parents are encouraged to donate small water bottles to avoid use of water fountains. Your help is greatly appreciated. 
    
    Restrooms:

• The students will be not allowed to go to the restrooms by themselves.

• When needed the catechist aide will supervise hand hygiene with each student and after each catechetical session the restrooms will be cleaned and sanitized (e.g sink faucets and door knobs)
  
         Communal Spaces

• We will close communal use shared spaces such as playground with shared playground equipment; if we need to use it, clean and disinfect between use will be required.

• No students will be allowed to be out of the classroom without an adult supervision, observing the social distancing protocol of at least 6 feet apart.
  
          Enter & Exit:

Protecting our children is our priority therefore:

• Each classroom will use a designated door to enter and exit the building.

• Parents will be not allowed to go inside of the building, the catechist will receive the students at the door, they will check the temperature of each student before entering the building.

• Catechists will bring the children to the exit door at the end of class. 

9. Parents meetings:

• Parents are welcome to visit the Religious Education Office when needed.

• Parent meetings will be online and we will broadcast regular announcements. 

• All information will be updated as needed on our website.