By: Tess Maloney
January 4, 2021

On January 26th, 2021, some students will be returning to schools using concurrent instruction. In order to maintain a healthy and safe environment during this time, it is important to follow the tips, and guidelines FCPS have in place.

Tips that the CDC has put out include, but are not limited to, washing your hands often, avoiding close contact with others, wearing a mask, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting objects, and monitoring your health daily. You should follow these in and out of school.

All students are required to wear either cloth or disposable masks while on school property, and on FCPS transportation.

Considering social distancing in school, these are the guidelines in place –

• Six (6) foot separation wherever possible; limited mixing among student groups
• Social distancing on buses in accordance with health and safety protocols
• Desks will be separated by up to a six feet distance, facing the same direction
• Students will eat meals in classrooms whenever possible (each school will determine the best meal distribution process)
• Student traffic patterns in hallways will be set up to maintain social distancing, including during arrival and dismissal, and all students transitioning to after school care will also follow traffic patterns in the hallways to maintain social distance.

On top of that, temperature checks will be required at school entry and bus stops. If a student has a temperature above 100.4° at the bus stop, they will be unable to board the bus and be sent home. If a student has a temperature above 100.4° while trying to enter the building, they will be escorted or sent to the predetermined isolation room for further screening.

A daily health screening, using Covid-19 Health Screening Questions, will be required for all students attending in-school instruction. This screening will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. It will ask simple yes or no questions about symptoms that may point to COVID-19. Parents/Guardians must complete this form every morning prior to sending their child to school.

If a student has tested positive for COVID, they may not return until it has been 10 days since their first symptoms, they have no fever off anti-fever meds, and the symptoms are better. If a student is exposed to COVID, they must quarantine in their house for a 14 day period.

Please stay safe in and out of school, and remember to social distance and wear a mask!