Heritage Christian School
COVID Plan
COVID Plan Details for Each School:
Preschool - Grade 4
Early Childhood & Elementary School
5th & 6th Grade
Intermediate School
7th & 8th Grade
Middle School
9th - 12th Grade
High School
To view our list of frequently asked questions, click here.
School Opening
CALENDAR
School will open as planned in our current school calendar.
START OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Orientations, parent nights, and other events are being redesigned to avoid large gatherings. Plans will be communicated by each specific school area.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Athletics, fine arts, clubs and other extracurricular activities will occur when practical and feasible. Elementary after school clubs have been suspended.
VISITOR & VOLUNTEER POLICY
Visitor and volunteer programs and activities are suspended or revised. Only pre-approved persons necessary to the academic or functional need of school operations will be admitted to school during school hours.
AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Provided for pre-registered students in cohorts to reduce interactions.
PLANS DEVELOPED FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ILL OR QUARANTINED
Additional technology and plans are in place to allow students to stay on track should a lengthy time away from the classroom be required.
ESS PROGRAMMING
Will continue with one-on-one and small group services. Physical distancing and/or face coverings and shields will be utilized. Written Intervention Plans will be in place.
DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship is an integral part of the Heritage school community. Through physical distancing, live streaming, small groups, and one-on-one interaction, we will continue to provide discipleship for students.
Physical Distancing
To maintain 6 feet physical distance when feasible, the following strategies will be employed:
COHORTS IN PRESCHOOL - 6TH GRADE
Each individual classroom will be a cohort. Cohorts limit contact with other students and adults.
REDUCED CLASS SIZES
Number of students per classroom is reduced by scheduling changes and hiring additional teachers.
CLASSROOM LAYOUT REDESIGNED
Furniture arranged for physical distancing. Students face the same direction, as feasible in each classroom.
ASSIGNED SEATING
Students will have assigned seats in each classroom and on buses.
LUNCH IN THE CLASSROOMS
Boxed lunches available for pre-order. Students with food allergies will be accommodated safely. [Learn More]
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL
Dismissal times will be adjusted. Additional building entrances and exits will be utilized.
MASKS & FACIAL COVERINGS
Required for faculty and staff, and for students 2nd -12th grade both outdoors and indoors when physical distancing cannot be maintained. [Learn More]
DAILY TRANSPORTATION
Maximum of one student/family per seat on buses. Masks will be required for driver and students. Only pre-registered riders will be allowed. [Learn More]
Health & Hygiene Protocols
TEACHING & ENCOURAGING HEALTHY HYGIENE PRACTICES
Including frequent hand washing, physical distancing, mask wearing, and cough etiquette.
INCREASED SANITATION IN THE CLASSROOM
Hand sanitizing stations added to every classroom. Classroom sanitization kits available for use during class transitions.
AIR QUALITY
Teachers will be instructed to teach with the windows appropriately open when feasible. In buildings where the windows do not open, we have installed air purification technologies.
ISOLATION OF SICK STUDENTS
Our two health services offices will continue to be staffed with Registered Nurses, and equipped with a well-student and ill-student area.
MONITORING ILL STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF
New criteria from the Indiana State Department of Health will be followed for all ill students staying home from and returning to school. Parents are asked to report any positive COVID-19 result to the school from a student or student’s household.
DECREASED SHARING OF COMMON ITEMS
Intensified cleaning protocols of playground and high touch surfaces with EPA certified cleaners effective against COVID-19. Increased use of outdoor space. Drinking fountains will be utilized as water bottle refill stations only.
HEALTH SCREENING & LIABILITY EXPECTATIONS
Daily Home Checklist for Students: By sending their student to school, parents are confirming that they have performed daily health screening of their student using the HCS COVID Daily Checklist. This expectation is based on the assertion that parents are the first line of health safety defense.
Voluntary Assumption of Risk: By deciding to send their student to school, student families voluntarily assume the full risk of outcomes related to contracting COVID-19 through participation in any of the schools programs or activities. Families agree to the HCS COVID-19 Assumption of Risk document.
SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
HCS is committed to providing an environment which considers the social and emotional well-being of your child. If your child experiences feelings of anxiousness or uncertainty please contact your teacher or principal. HCS has support in place, through staff and outside professionals, to assist your child in this back-to-school transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there anything I need to do before sending my student to school each morning?
- What do I do if my student struggles with allergies or an underlying medical condition that causes symptoms similar to COVID-19?
- When can my student return to school if they are ill? (COVID-19 related illness, alternate diagnosis, or unsure of reason for illness)
- What happens if my student tests positive, but is not experiencing any symptoms?
- When does my student need to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure?
- Should my student be tested for COVID-19 if they have been exposed?
- When can my student return if they have to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure?
- What happens if my student begins to exhibit symptoms / becomes ill during their quarantine?
- Where do I report a positive COVID-19 test result from my student or a member of our household?
- Will I be notified if there is a positive COVID-19 case in my child’s class, school building, or on campus?
- Where can I have my student and/or family tested for COVID-19?
- Who identifies "close contacts" that need to quarantine?
- What counts as a "close contact"?
- Additional Resources for Parents