Bright Montessori School, Inc.
COVID-19 Policy: October 2022

Based on California State Licensing Department and CDC recommendations, we have put together a policy that will allow us to operate in the safest possible manner under the current COVID-19 situation. We intend to continually update and improve these guidelines to ensure best practices.

Drop-off/Pick-up and Screening Procedures

  • Daily temperature-taking will be carried out for all students and teachers when they arrive at the school.
  • A teacher will take each child’s temperature with a no-touch thermometer at drop-off and provide hand sanitizer for the child. If anyone has a temperature of 100.4°F/38°C or higher, they will not be allowed in school. This data will not be stored by the school.
  • Students and staff who are unwell, or who have members of their household who have exhibited flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough, will be required to stay away from school. 
  • Parents must also notify the school if the child has taken any fever reducing medications in the past 24 hours.

Vaccination and Social Distancing Measures

  • The school highly recommends all students to get vaccinated.
  • To allow for as much social distancing as possible, children will be separated into three groups/pods with one teacher assigned to each. 

Masks 

  • Wearing a mask in school is not mandatory. 
  • Staff members are encouraged to wear a mask at all times while at the school.
  • If parents would like their children to wear a mask indoors, they should inform the teacher and provide masks for their child. 

  • If there is a COVID case in the pod, we will ask the students in the pod to mask indoors for 10 days. 

Testing and Quarantine

  • A staff member or child with symptoms (runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, lethargy, etc.) must quarantine at home until either symptom free or a negative COVID test. 
  • If a staff member or child or anyone in the household has come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID, the staff member or child will be required to take a COVID test and can return to school with a negative test result. 
  • If a staff member or child tests positive for COVID, they will be required to quarantine for 5 days before returning to school. Staff member or child must have no symptoms upon return (see bullet below for timeframe) and should provide the school with a negative test (antigen recommended over PCR in this case due to validity).  
  • If a staff member or child tests negative, they should be symptom free without medicinal intervention for 24-48 hours before returning to school.
  • If a child is vaccinated and travels within the US or outside of the US using public transportation (ex: plane, bus, train), there is no quarantine or testing required before returning to school. 
  • If a child is not vaccinated and travels within the US or outside of the US using public transportation (ex: plane, bus, train), the school will require them to get tested 3-5 days after travel and return to school after 5 days of quarantine (with a negative test result). If the test result is positive, then follow guidance above. This is to ensure the safety of the children and community. 
  • If a child is sent to school with symptoms that have not been cleared by a negative test they need to be picked up immediately by a parent/guardian.
  • Children who develop symptoms of illness after drop-off will be separated from others right away,  preferably outside in the courtyard if weather permits or in the office. The child will remain in isolation until they can go home. 
  • The following website provides information on where to  obtain a COVID-19 test: https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/ 
  • If a child or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the school will contact the Department of Public Health Acute Communicable Disease Program for  guidance on next steps. They will discuss if and for how long the school may need to close for appropriate  cleaning and other steps. The program can be reached 213-240-7941 during daytime hours or 213-974-1234 (After Hours Emergency Operator). 

General Guidelines

  • Parents are to provide an extra pair of shoes to wear in the classroom.
  • As per our regular practice, we will monitor children throughout the day for signs of illness. If a child exhibits flu-like symptoms during the day, the child will be physically distanced from the rest of the class, and parents will be asked to pick them up as soon as possible.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available in each room; teachers will supervise the use of hand sanitizer.
  • We will give the children instructions on proper hand washing techniques, and the importance of frequent hand washing.
  • To encourage community cooperation of these guidelines, we will be asking teachers and parents to sign a waiver acknowledging these guidelines before attending Bright.