
2020-21 School Year Covid-19 Planning
2020 Reopening Plan
The Folsom Preparatory School 2020 Reopening Plan has been developed in accordance with the
California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Sacramento County Public Health (SCPH), School
Reopening Task Force, and School Health, Safety, and Security Committee. The Folsom Preparatory School 2020 Reopening Plan is in alignment with our In-Person Waiver application and has been developed in close consultation and collaboration with our employees, parents, and local community organization.
Cleaning and Disinfecting:
- Shared surfaces will be cleaned after each use using sanitizer spray and/or disinfecting wipes. We have also purchased an electrostatic sprayer to be used in sanitizing rooms after exposure to illness. Shared items will be wiped down using disinfecting wipes and/or alcohol wipes.
- In order to minimize the use of shared items, each student will have a set of their own supplies to be kept in their own desk. There will not be bins of common items such as pencils, crayons, markers, erasers, etc. Students will also be assigned their own desk that will not be used by other students.
- Employees and/or students will be provided gloves for conducting duties such as cleaning, first aid, or food service.
Cohorting:
- Other terms we use for cohorts are pods or groups. Students are placed in groups of no more than 12 students (up to 15 once allowed). These students are with their own classmates for the entirety of the school day, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm. Each cohort has its own classroom and teacher.
- Outside time will be staggered so that no more than two cohorts are out together. Students will sit two or three to the table depending on the size of the table. Cohorts who are on the deck eating will not be mixed with cohorts who are playing and vice versa. During playtime, cohorts will be assigned to different areas to play.
Entrance, Egress, and Movement within the School:
- Our 1st-5th grade students start school at 8:00 am. Our Kindergarten students start school at 8:15 am. We are open from 6:30 am – 6:00 pm and because of this the arrival/pick-up times naturally stagger themselves. If there is more than one family checking in, the other families are asked to stand and wait at least six feet behind.
- Within the school the recess times are staggered. This limits the number of cohorts that are moving through the hallways at any one time.
- Our enrichment classes are staggered in order to limit the number of cohorts within the hallways. For some of the enrichment classes, the teacher will go to the classroom rather than students coming to them which also limits movement.
- Parents are asked to wait for their child outside or at the front desk. They will call to have us get them ready or we will meet them at the door and ask who they are picking up. We do not allow more than two parents in the front desk area at a time.
Face Coverings and Other Essential Protective Gear:
- Wearing masks while in the building will be required of all staff, students of all ages, and visitors. Face coverings need to cover the nose and mouth. Clean face coverings should be used each day.
- Students should bring their own mask with them to school. If an individual forgets their mask, the school will provide a disposable mask for the day.
Health Screenings for Students and Staff:
- All staff, students, and visitors will have their temperature taken prior to entering the building. Any person with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be sent home and not permitted in the building.
- Parents/caregivers should screen themselves and their child(ren) for respiratory symptoms, chills, sore throat, headache or muscle pain, or new loss of smell or taste. If any of these symptoms exist they should not come to campus or attend school. Parents will be asked to verify they screened each day upon arrival.
- All staff and visitors should screen themselves for respiratory symptoms, chills, sore throat, headache or muscle pain, or new loss of smell or taste. If any of these symptoms exist they should not come to campus.
- Parents/caregivers should be prepared to take children home if they are exhibiting symptoms during morning screenings or pick up children who exhibit symptoms during the school day.
Healthy Hygiene Practices:
- Teachers will teach and reinforce handwashing procedures.
- Sanitizer will be available in each of the classrooms, the front desk, and outside.
- Students will be asked to wash/sanitize their hands upon entering the classroom; before and after eating; after coughing or sneezing; after being outside; and before and after using the restroom.
Children under age 9 should use hand sanitizer under adult supervision.
- Employees must wash/sanitize their hands upon entering the classroom/office; before and after eating; after coughing or sneezing; after being outside; before and after using the restroom; and after handling mail and packages. Please see “Cleaning Protocols” for more information.
- Students will be encouraged to bring their own water bottle.
Identification and Tracing of Contacts:
- Any positive COVID-19 tests of student or faculty-staff member will be reported to the Sacramento County Public Health Department (SCPH) by our designated staff member, Candis Murawski. The health staff-officer will maintain current learning group assignments and schedules of all students to be readily available for any on-campus contact tracing.
- We will maintain confidentiality of family information in alignment with school communication systems that allow staff and families to self-report symptoms and receive prompt notifications of exposures and closures, while maintaining confidentiality, as required by FERPA and state law related to privacy of educational records and other privacy laws. SCPH may contact Candis Murawski at candis.murawski@folsomprep.com.
- Sacramento County is onboarding a nurse who will take all the reports for schools. They are developing a process and plan to have that information soon. In the meantime, School will use the Sacramento Country Public Health School Hotline: 916-661-7331.
Physical Distancing:
- All classrooms will have desks laid out to ensure appropriate physical distancing. All desks will face the same direction.
- In the hallways and restrooms, there are markings to help guide students on maintaining physical distance while waiting in line or outside their classroom.
- The lunch tables are marked so students know where to sit.
- There are markings for students lining up outside after recess in order to maintain physical distancing.
- Employees will maintain at least six-foot social distancing from other non-related persons while on campus.
- Teachers and staff will teach and reinforce prevention behaviors including social distancing, use of face coverings, handwashing, and cough/sneeze etiquette.
- While we recognize social distancing will be a challenge, all individuals on campus are expected to maintain a distance of six feet from all non-related persons.
Staff Training and Family Education:
- Our reopening plans have been posted on our website at folsomprep.com
- All families will be emailed our reopening plan and it will be posted in the front office.
- Staff are required to complete the County of Sacramento Covid-19 Return to Work Training at https://rise.articulate.com/share/2lSkE03OFqitk9b2S4jKTt8zhY1CXMJc#/. The completion certificate will be printed and kept in personnel files.
- All staff were provided with materials from the CDC regarding what they should know about Covid-19 to protect themselves and others, how to prevent the spread of Covid-19, how to properly wear and take off a face covering, and social distancing guidelines.
- During monthly staff meetings updates and/or modifications will be discussed.
- All staff and student families will receive a copy of the Folsom Preparatory Covid-19 Policy.
Testing of Students and Staff:
- Anyone who exhibits Covid-like symptoms will be excluded from school and referred to their doctor for further testing and direction. Testing may be available through the county, private healthcare provider, or private lab.
- Faculty and staff will be tested at regular intervals. 25% of staff will be tested every two weeks on a rotating basis once regular testing is available with a result turnaround of 24-48 hours. We will actively utilize the testing resources available to our school.
Sacramento County Testing Locations:
SACRAMENTO COUNTY COMMUNITY TESTING LOCATIONS
Triggers for Switching to Distance Learning:
Students or Staff with: | Actions: | Communication: |
COVID-19 symptoms
|
• Send home
• Recommend testing • School/classroom remain open |
No action needed |
Close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case | • Send home
• Quarantine for 14 days from last exposure • Recommend testing • School/classroom remain open |
School community notification of a known contact |
Confirmed COVID-19 case infection | • Notify Sacramento County Public Health
• Isolate case and exclude from school for 10 days from symptom onset or test date • Identify contacts 1 , quarantine & exclude exposed contacts for 14 days after the last date the case was present at school while infectious • Recommend testing of contacts, prioritize symptomatic contacts • Disinfect and clean classrooms and primary spaces where case spent significant time • School remains open (A contact is defined as a person who is less than 6 feet from a case for more than 15 minutes.) |
School community notification of a known case |
Test negative after
symptoms |
May return to school 3 days after symptoms resolve
● School/classroom remain open |
School community notification if prior awareness of testing |
Individual school closure is recommended based on the number of cases, the percentage of the teacher/students/staff that are positive for COVID-19, and following consultation with the Local Health Officer. Individual school closure may be appropriate when there are multiple cases in multiple cohorts at a school or when at least 5 percent of the total number of teachers/student/staff are cases within a 14-day period, depending on the size and physical layout of the school.
The Local Health Officer may also determine school closure is warranted for other reasons, including results from public health investigation or other local epidemiological data.
Communication Plans:
Our Head of School, Candis Murawski, will email staff and school families about cases and exposures at the school. A sample letter to staff and families is attached.
Any changes, modifications, or updates to the plans will be emailed to families/staff and posted on our website.
Virtual Classrooms 2020-21
Students at home will have the ability to join in and watch live lessons happening within our classes on-campus. Students will be able to interact with the teacher during lessons, participate in classroom discussions and complete their work alongside their on-campus peers. All lessons will be recorded and archived so students also have the option to watch on their own time. In addition to participation in the core subjects such as Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies, students will have access to participate in our specialty classes. We offer Art, Spanish, STEAM, Technology and more. Outside of the live sessions students can connect with their teachers on a one-on-one basis as needed. Our small class sizes will allow teachers to meet the needs of students both in school and at home. Please contact us if you are interested in signing up for our Virtual Classrooms.
Meet Folsom Prep
Folsom Preparatory School is the premier private school in Folsom, CA providing discerning parents with the best option for their children. We provide exceptional education for children from kindergarten through 5th grade, while instilling character traits necessary for future leaders. We prepare students to emerge as self-reliant, yet collaborative, kind individuals who possess independent, critical thinking skills.

Discovery Day
Come see for yourself! We would love to have your child join us for a “discovery day” to see if Folsom Preparatory School is a good fit. Contact us today to schedule your Discovery Day!
