Covid-19 Protocols
TEA's comprehensive guidelines for a safe return to in-person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year states: “There will almost certainly be situations that necessitate temporary school closure due to positive COVID-19 cases in schools. Parents, educators, and school administrators should be prepared for this in the event that it occurs, while actively working to prevent it through prevention and mitigation practices”.
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Alerts & Notifications
CNCS has a standard response in place in the event of a confirmed COVID-19 among students and staff at a specific campus. In the event your student’s campus is impacted, parents and staff at the impacted campus receive an email with an update by the end of the day the COVID-19 case is reported.
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Intermittent School to Home
Should there be a need to temporarily close a class or school due to COVID-19, teachers will instruct virtual classes via Microsoft Teams, pending the return to class/campus. Home internet and device access are required for virtual learning. Also, extracurricular and student programs will be temporarily unavailable during a campus closure. Please keep in mind that temporary transitions to virtual learning must take place immediately so that the educational process is not interupted. As the start of the school year approaches and anticipated additional guidance from state, local authorities and the TEA is provided, CNCS is prepared to release additional COVID-19 health and safety protocol information to our families.
Cafeterias & Food Service
To minimize possible outside exposure and to allow for adequate physical distancing for students during meal times, Return to School Phase 1 protocols include no food/gift deliveries will be accepted and visitors non-essential to school operations will not be allowed on campuses or in cafeterias. Phase 1 protocols will be reviewed at the end of each grading period.
Nutrition & Food Service Protocols
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CNCS Nutrition & Food Service staff use face shields, facial coverings and gloves when performing job responsibilities and are trained to practice health and hygiene regulations
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CNCS cafeterias are cleaned and disinfected daily with an EPA disinfectant
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CNCS cafeterias, serving and eating areas are cleaned between uses
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Signage is located in cafeterias to reinforce social distancing
Meal Service
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Students must follow social distancing signage displayed on the walls and floor markers
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Until further notice, microwaves and refrigerators will be off limits
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Students may be directed to eat in various locations throughout the building, including classrooms, to maximize social distancing
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Parents are encouraged to use the online payment system to provide student meal money instead of sending cash to your child’s campus. https://cnchs.revtrak.net/
Campus & Classroom Protocols
For the health and safety of all students and staff – parents are required to assist their children with a daily self screening for COVID-19 symptoms and fever before arriving to school, or boarding school transportation.
Per TEA “In evaluating whether an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, consider the following questions: Have they recently begun experiencing any of the following in a way that is not normal for them?"
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Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
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Loss of taste or smell
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Cough
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Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
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Headache
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Chills
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Sore throat
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Shaking
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Exaggerated shivering
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Significant muscle pain or ache
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Diarrhea
Health and Hygiene Practice: Masks
Schools are required to comply with the Governor’s executive order regarding the wearing of masks. In addition to the Governor’s executive order, TEA has provided school districts with guidance that can require the use of masks or face shields for adults or students for whom it is developmentally appropriate. CNCS Return to School Phase 1 protocols require the following in regards to the wearing of face masks and will be reviewed upon the end of the first grading period.
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Facial coverings required for all district staff
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Cloth masks are required for students grades 6 through 12. Masks cannot be vulgar, inappropriate, or anything that might be considered offensive.
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Instructional day temperature checks required for new enrollees and late arrival students
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No outside food or gift deliveries will be accepted
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No drinking from water fountains will be allowed. Students may bring clear water bottles that can be refilled at the water fountain.
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Visitors, non-essential to school operations, will not be given access to the campus including on the first day of school and during scheduled meal times
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Parents/volunteers required to conduct campus visits by phone, virtual or by pre-scheduled appointment
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No student field trips during the instructional day
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No large group gatherings or events will be held during the instructional day or evenings
Employee Health Protocols
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All staff are required to complete a daily self screening for symptoms prior to arriving to work
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All staff must practice appropriate hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and social distancing
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All staff are required to wear a facial covering while in classrooms, common spaces, and when social distancing cannot occur
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All staff are expected to clean and sanitize work space before and after use
Student Health Protocols
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All students are required to complete a daily self screening for symptoms prior to arriving to school or boarding school transportation
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All students are provided daily guidance on proper hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and social distancing
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All students, grades 6th through 12th, are required to wear a cloth mask while in classrooms, common spaces, and when social distancing cannot occur
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All cloth masks should cover the nose and mouth
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All students must be up-to-date with state required immunization compliance
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All students are provided sanitizing wipes to clean work space before classroom instruction begins and ends
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All students are encouraged to use hand sanitizer before classroom instruction begins and ends
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All students are seated with as much separation as feasible during the instructional day
Cleaning Practices
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Campuses are cleaned throughout the instructional day with an emphasis on cleaning high traffic and multiple touch areas, including door handles, restrooms, large group transition areas, cafeteria between meals
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Hand sanitizer stations are located in multiple areas throughout the campus
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Transportation personnel disinfect school buses between runs and hand sanitizer is on each bus
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Signage for proper hygiene practices is visibly posted at multiple locations
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We have contracted with DTK Facility Services to clean the school nightly with Virex, an EPA approved disinfectant that kills all viruses including Covid 19.
Transportation
Per TEA’s COVID-19 guidance regarding transportation, CNCS is implementing enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures between each bus trip. Bus transportation is provided for eligible riders and every effort is made to ensure students are able to socially distance. In addition, TEA encourages families to drop students off, carpool, or walk with their student to school to reduce possible virus exposure on a bus.
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All transportation staff required to wear facial coverings
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All students, grades 6 through 12, required to wear cloth masks until futher notice
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In most cases, bus seating is assigned, with no more than two (2) students per seat
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Students and staff required to use provided hand sanitizer upon boarding the bus
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Bus windows will remain open to allow for additional ventilation and air flow
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Buses will be thoroughly cleaned after each bus trip, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as bus seats, steering wheels, knobs, and door handles
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Dismissal times have been adjusted to accommodate the enhanced hygiene protocols. See Dismissal under the CNCS Campus Considerations tab for details.