The Collective has reached consensus for our COVID-19 policy: Walden will align with the CDPH guidelines for COVID protocols. We will no longer require mask wearing indoors. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask until symptoms have resolved or day 10 has passed. If the transmission rate in Alameda County should reach “High” Walden will follow recommendations to return to masking indoors. Please understand that students and teachers may still wear masks based on their personal choice and will be supported. Spare masks will still be available if anyone wishes to mask for any reason, but forgets to bring one, or if theirs are damaged at school.
To make all our teachers feel supported with their health and well being, we will strictly adhere to our “sick child” rules. Special note re: symptomatic people: If a teacher notices that a child is symptomatic, the child will be sent home. When returning to school, after an illness, parents must communicate with the child’s teachers if there are lingering symptoms. If your child has lingering symptoms, and is not contagious, they may return to school, but will need to mask. See below from the Parent Handbook.
Additionally, Walden will implement all the mitigation practices we can with respect to reducing contagious illnesses, including: more air filters in the rooms, open doors and windows, fans near windows, use of outdoor space, and frequent hand washing.
“Covid K-12 Guidance”
“Covid-19 by County”
“Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning”
From Parent Handbook:
HEALTH AND ILLNESS
Sick children should not be at school. Please keep your child at home if they have a temperature above 99 degrees, have vomited in the past 24 hours, or are noticeably under the weather. Children may return when they have been fever- and symptom-free for 24 hours.
Additionally, parents are responsible for checking their children for COVID symptoms every morning before coming to school. If symptoms exist, please keep your child home, and get a COVID test. A negative test is required to return to school. If a child has symptoms at school or they develop during the day, parents will be phoned and asked to pick up the student. We have rapid tests that we can administer at school, and if you have signed the form, we will do a rapid test and a PCR test, while we wait for you to pick up your child.