COVID-19

• We will be using the Magnus Mobile V2 app to conduct online screenings for students, faculty, and staff each day.  

• Parents/guardians will be required to complete a brief online screening for each student before leaving for school every day. Screening should be completed no later than 7:15 a.m. each day.  

• All individuals entering the building must have completed the online screening, including a temperature check. A list of names of those who have not completed the screening will be at each building entry. Parents/guardians of students who have not completed the online screening will be notified and required to complete the screening before the student will be allowed into the building.  

• Any person with a temperature at or above 100.0° F or who does not pass the online screening protocol will not be permitted to enter the school.  

• Below are a sample of Windward’s online screening questions. These are subject to change based on evolving guidelines and recommendations. If anyone answers yes to the above, they will be prompted to stay home and contact their health care provider. In addition, they will be asked to contact their campus Health Office. 

1. Are you (student/ employee) experiencing any of the following symptoms:  

• Temperature of 100.0° F or above or chills (You will record your daily temperature reading.)  

• Cough or shortness of breath  

• Sore throat  

• New loss of taste or smell  

• Headache or muscle ache  

• Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting  

2. Have you had a positive COVID-19 test in the last 14 days or are you waiting on results of a COVID-19 test?  

3. Have you had close contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days?  

4. Have you traveled internationally or to a state that requires you to quarantine in the last 14 days? 

• Those who have not completed online screening prior to arrival will be directed to an alternate area to have the screening completed before entry to the building. 

• If a child arrives without a completed screening, a parent/guardian will be asked to remain on campus until the child’s screening is completed. If a child does not have a completed screening and arrives without a parent/guardian, the child will be taken to an alternate area where a temperature check will be done on site. Parents/guardians will be notified to complete the question section of the screening. If cleared, the child will go to class. 

• In-person screeners will wear appropriate PPE, provided by the School.  

• Onsite screenings will be conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner, and results will remain confidential with only essential members of the School’s administration notified of findings. 

• The COVID-19 virus spreads from person to person in droplets produced by coughs, sneezes, and speech. It is important that students and staff cover their mouths and noses with a mask whenever possible.  

• All students, faculty, and staff will be required to wear a mask-type face covering at all times in the buildings, with the exception of lunch time.  

• Faculty and staff will be given the option of receiving a 3ply high-quality disposable mask for daily use, or they may wear a 2ply minimum mask of their choice. Face masks with valves, gaiter-type face coverings, and bandanas are not acceptable.  

• Plastic face shields will be provided for faculty and staff for optional use during the school day; however, all faculty and staff on lunch and snack duty will be required to wear a KN95 mask and face shield at all times. 

• Students may wear non-distracting masks (not required to be solid colored) of their choice, provided they meet a 2ply minimum without valves. Gaiter-type face coverings and bandanas are not acceptable.  

• Masks should be labeled with student name and grade/group.  

• Students will have socially distanced mask breaks intermittently and when needed throughout the day.  

• Masks should be placed in a paper bag (provided) while not in use.  

• If a mask becomes soiled, or a student forgets their mask, a disposable replacement will be provided.  

• If a student cannot tolerate the mask requirements, the School will offer counseling and training. Ultimately, students who prove unable to meet expectations for mask usage will have to stay home for remote learning. 

• The Facilities team will continue to clean, disinfect, and sanitize high-touch areas such as bathrooms, door handles, and desks throughout the day, on an increased schedule. 

• Maintenance logs will include date, time, and type of cleaning and disinfection completed. 

• Cleaning and disinfection will be completed using approved antiviral cleaning agents. 

• Maintenance staff will use hydro-static sprayers on all indoor and outdoor PE and recess equipment after use. 

• Classroom kits of cleaning supplies will be provided to each classroom. 

• Wipe down will occur of desks and room technology, with a sign-off sheet noting specific times/places of cleaning. 

• To minimize the sharing of high-touch materials, the School will provide adequate supplies. Each child’s belongings will be separated from the others and kept in student backpacks. 

• If older students are required to change classrooms, desks and chairs will be sanitized between classes and given enough time to allow for drying. 

• The School conducts hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene education with faculty, staff, and students. This training is reinforced, and Windward will support healthy hygiene behaviors by providing adequate supplies. 

• Touch-free hand sanitizer and hand towel dispensers are available throughout the campuses.  

• Hand washing stations have been added throughout the buildings. 

• Desks are spaced 6 feet apart in all classrooms. 

• Foot traffic patterns are indicated by markers on the hallways. 

• Staff will be working from home wherever possible to free up office spaces. 

• No in-house transportation will be provided. 

• Students will remain in fixed instructional groupings in order to minimize exposure.  

• Non-essential visitors will not be accommodated for the 2020-2021 school year. 

• Students will be required to have a full-sized backpack to store their belongings. We will not be using lockers or cubbies. 

• Signage will be added on floors and walls with new COVID-19-related protocols. 

• All large group events are being changed to virtual or alternate event plans. 

Arrival 

• Buildings open at 8:00 a.m. for all students.  

• Social distancing will be required upon car exit and upon entering the buildings.  

• No early morning drop-off will be permitted.  

• Faculty/staff will greet students as they arrive. 

Dismissal 

• The school day will end at 2:35 p.m, Monday–Thursday.  

• Dismissal begins at 2:40 p.m., Monday–Thursday.  

• The school day will end at 1:25 p.m. on Fridays.  

• Dismissal begins at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays.  

• No late pickup will be available. 

• Instruction is divided into 40-minute periods with an 8-period regular day. 

• Grades 1-7 are in fixed instructional groupings based on their language arts section.  

• Grades 8-9 are in two fixed groupings for their classes, based on language arts and math sections. They have one switch between instructional groups daily.  

• Teachers move between classes throughout the instructional periods, and students remain in their dedicated rooms.  

• Math instruction is differentiated within the classroom.  

• All students use Microsoft Teams to turn in homework. 

• Many specials classes will be taught through doubled instructional pods (fixed student groupings) that will be combined by using live streaming technology. The two instructional pods will not meet in the same room for instruction.  

• Time between classes has been extended to 5 minutes.  

• There will be no office hours for students participating remotely. 

• Currently, there are no in-person sports being offered. With competitive athletic teams not being an option, the focus has shifted to providing virtual sports and clubs that both enrich the student experience and minimize any health risks related to COVID-19. Windward has been able to offer soccer and basketball virtually this year, with a focus on students honing their individual skills while staying connected to one another. 

• After-school clubs have transformed into a crossover model, joining together Westchester and Manhattan campuses, affording students who normally would not interact the chance to build rapport and a sense of community across Windward campuses. Virtual clubs for the 2020-21 school year include photography, game night, computer science, fitness fanatics, vocal fun, sports fan clubs, rainbow club, cheering, Model United Nations, film & cinema, chess club, sports & games, and jewelry & beading.  

• At this time, field trips will be planned only as virtual experiences. 

• For the 2020-21 school year, ties will not be required for boys. 

• Grades 6-9 students will not be changing into gym uniforms until further notice. 

• Grade 5 Westchester girls are permitted to wear dresses and jumpers. This is due to the fact that they will be located at the new Westchester Lower School campus at 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, and the lower school student dress code permits dresses and jumpers. Dresses and jumpers will not be permitted for Grade 5 Manhattan girls or Grades 6-9 girls. 

• Students who are participating virtually only need to follow the dress code guidelines for shirts. 

• Lunch/recess blocks will be 45 minutes in length. Social distancing will be adhered to at lunch as it is the rest of the day.  

• Students eat lunch with their pods in their classrooms. 

• Teachers and staff members on lunch and snack duty wear a KN95 mask and shield at all times. 

• Students sanitize their hands and remain masked until all lunches have been served. 

• Teachers and staff members on lunch and snack duty stand near the door, maintaining more than a 6-foot distance whenever possible. 

• At the end of lunch, students place their mask on and the supervising teacher hands each student a wipe (75% alcohol) to clean their desk. 

• Once desks are cleaned, students sanitize their hands using the classroom wall sanitizer or the supervising teacher puts a drop in each student's hand. 

• Flik Dining Services-provided lunches will be delivered to pod classrooms. 

• Cafeteria milk, juice, and water stations are not currently available.  

• Lunches from home should be nut free. 

• Students are encouraged to bring a reusable, filled water bottle (with their name on the bottle) to school each day. 

• For the 2020-2021 school year, Windward campuses are open and operating with in-person instruction for all students. Windward is utilizing alternate school locations in addition to our current Westchester and Manhattan campuses in order to allow in-person instruction for all students. 

• Remote learning will also be available for students in quarantine and for any family who chooses to keep their child at home. While we are not currently in a remote learning setting, Windward is flexible and prepared to adopt to this model at any time throughout the school year. 

• The Windward School utilizes a hyflex learning model to accommodate both in-person and remote learners. The hyflex learning model is a combination of students attending school remotely and in person. The purpose of the hyflex model is to give families flexibility in making family safety decisions and how their child attends class amid a pandemic. 

• As of January 11, 2021, the hyflex model will incorporate set periods of time when students can choose to either attend school either in person, remotely, or in a hybrid plan. We are asking families to commit to a schedule of their child’s attendance plan on a month-by-month basis. 

• The School will continue to run safety drills periodically as scheduled.

• The School will employ social distancing measures for all school safety drills.  

Windward students are supplied with all materials necessary for the school day. Each child should bring a backpack (no wheeled backpacks allowed) to school.  

IF...	THEN...
A faculty or staff member becomes ill with suspected COVID-19 illness while on campus	They should consult with the school nurse using the School’s internal phone system.   They should remain masked and leave campus immediately and consult with their health care provider.   They should report to the health office for evaluation and isolation if not feeling well enough to leave immediately.
A student becomes ill with suspected COVID-19 illness while at school	The child will be escorted to the health office.   The nurse, wearing appropriate PPE, will assess the student in a designated area.   If the nurse determines that the student may be symptomatic for COVID-19 or another contagious illness, a clean, disposable face mask will be provided to the student.   The student will be placed in a safe, comfortable, and monitored isolation area until a parent/guardian can be reached for pickup.   Cleaning and disinfecting according to the School’s COVID-19 protocols will be completed.
A student, faculty, or staff member becomes ill with a strongly suspected case of COVID-19 while on campus, after they are separated from others and receiving appropriate medical attention	The School will address the learning and/or workspace as follows:   The entire class will immediately clean hands and move to another appropriate learning space for the remainder of the school day.   Staff member’s workspace will be closed.   Deep cleaning and disinfecting according to the School’s COVID-19 protocols will be completed.
A student, faculty, or staff member is out of school with symptoms of or a confirmed case of COVID-19	They must adhere to the School’s COVID-19 protocols by isolating themselves. They may return to school after meeting ALL of the following requirements:   Minimum of 10 days after first symptom  Symptoms resolving or resolved   Fever free for 72 hours without medication  Physician’s note may be required

• All close contacts in the School of a confirmed or strongly suspected case of COVID-19 will have to leave school immediately and quarantine for 14 days.  

• When a strongly suspected or confirmed case is identified, the School will trace all contacts, with the support of the Department of Health, to ensure all close contacts begin quarantining without delay.  

• If a suspected case turns out to be a confirmed negative case of COVID-19, the quarantine for all close contacts will end immediately. 

Faculty/Staff  

Any faculty/staff member with close exposure to the COVID-19 virus will be required to quarantine for 14 days before returning to school. The School will adhere to the guidelines outlined by NY State’s Department of Health. The School’s HR department will communicate with anyone infected to provide them information about COVID-19 related health benefits for which they may be eligible (e.g., COVID-19 sick time, Expanded FMLA, etc.).  

Students  

Any Windward student with close exposure to the COVID-19 virus will be required to quarantine for 14 days before returning to school. School administrators will coordinate with the local Department of Health for most current guidelines for return to school. 

• Tested positive for COVID-19  

• Fever at or above 100.0° F with OR without fatigue/body aches/chills or per clinical judgment  

• Respiratory symptoms (persistent cough, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath)  

• Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea or vomiting)  

• New unexplained loss of taste or smell  

• Close exposure* to a confirmed COVID-19 case  

• Travel to a restricted state in the past two weeks according to CDC Travel Advisory list  

*Close exposure is defined as being less than 6 feet of distance for 15 minutes or longer. 

For any traveler to New York State from a noncontiguous state, US territory or CDC level 2 or level 3 country, the new guidelines for travelers to test-out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine are below: 

For travelers who were out-of-state for more than 24 hours: 

• Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure, prior to arrival in New York. 

• The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days. 

• On day 4 of their quarantine, the traveler must obtain another COVID test. If both tests come back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test.

For travelers who were out-of-state for less than 24 hours: 

• The traveler does not need a test prior to their departure from the other state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival in New York State. 

• However, the traveler must fill out the NYS traveler form upon entry into New York State, and take a COVID diagnostic test 4 days after their arrival in New York. 

More info and full details here.

Community accountability plays a critical role in keeping the School open safely, and we rely on our Windward families to do the following: 

• Follow CDC guidelines at home and Windward’s protocols on campus 

• Identify all personal items with student’s name and grade

• Utilize health tracking applications daily prior to arriving at school 

• Ensure your student(s) have required vaccinations before returning to campus 

• Practice social distancing as a household and, prior to the start of school, wearing masks for extended periods 

• Answer the Magnus app daily health screening on school days and read questions carefully prior to submitting as they may change without notice. 

• Follow NYS travel guidelines and travel testing or quarantine protocols 

• Stay home if you are sick or have recently had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. 

• If you or someone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive, contact your health office nurse. 

* For students at higher risk for severe illness, Windward will offer options to limit their exposure risk (e.g., remote learning). 

Campus Events 

All large group events have been cancelled or moved to a virtual platform for the 2020-21 academic year. 

Windward Institute Events & Lectures 

Parent seminars and lectures have transitioned to a virtual platform for the 2020-21 academic year. 

The Windward School’s on-campus and remote learning program supports our students academically and developmentally. Windward teachers strive to foster meaningful relationships with students and build a sense of community and trust, all while teaching critical skills.  

The guidance department will continue to offer one-on-one support for students as needed and offer resources to help our students build their resilience and empathy. 

Our Guidance Department has created a 6-step plan integrating in-person support, online support, family supports, and academic coursework.  

Step 1 

Prior to the students’ first day, assistant division heads and a senior member of the guidance teams prepared a PowerPoint presentation for training faculty and staff on each campus. It focused on how to talk with and support students during and after the Covid-19 health emergency. Teachers are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and emotional difficulties in our student population.  

Step 2  

Additional online resources for families have been added for the 2020-2021 school year.  A newsletter at the beginning of the year was sent out to all parents/guardians that included where to find the articles and information, with a direct link to the section on the Portal.  

Step 3 

Teachers will assess all situations with an understanding of when they will need to refer students to the guidance department or assistant division heads for further support.  

Step 4 

Teachers were reminded during orientation training that behavioral problems and acting out in the classroom could be a sign of emotional troubles that need to be addressed as such. Teachers will not analyze students; rather, they will support students and refer them to the appropriate administrator or guidance counselor when necessary. Counselors and assistant division heads will work together to communicate with parents/guardians in a timely manner. Guidance Staff will make suggestions for outside support if appropriate.  

Step 5 

Teachers and Assistant Teachers will refer any parent/guardian calls to the Guidance Staff if there is concern regarding a student’s emotional well-being or a change in behavior that is affecting academics or social interactions.  

Step 6 

Each instructional grouping will receive a minimum of one lesson focused on or related to resilience or empathy. Middle school group guidance lessons will also focus on resilience and coping strategies as much as possible and as needed throughout the year.