Section One: Staying Home When Sick or After Exposure 

The most important thing that we can do to prevent virus transmission among our school community, is to not bring it onto campus in the first place. Students and employees will be expected and asked to stay home in the following situations: 

• When exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19. Everyone should become familiar with these symptoms, and we will establish a daily self-screening protocol for every student and employee (see below). 
• After close contact with persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are symptomatic
• After returning from travel to certain locations, as guided by CDC or local public health officials 

Screening

All students and employees will be required to complete a daily self-screening protocol before they enter the building. We suggest that you complete this before leaving the house each morning. Our screening tool will provide guiding questions which give daily reminders of symptoms to be looking for, and other situations in which students should stay home. It will also provide for the automated collection of information by the school, which will be treated with the proper privacy and confidentiality restrictions which apply to all student health information which schools require.

In addition to home self-screening, we will establish processes for students to receive basic screenings at school by staff when needed. At this time, we do not anticipate staff performing temperature checks for every student upon building entry, as this is part of the self-screening process. However, we will have non-contact thermometers and other screening tools in the building for in-school screening when needed. 

When students or employees who are already at school report symptoms of COVID-19, we will have a designated isolation room and staff member who is trained to respond. Once brought to that location, students’ family will be contacted, and an initial screening will be conducted. Students may be picked up at that location, and families will receive guidance on steps to take with health professionals prior to returning to school. 

Participation in Class from Home

When a student needs to stay home for COVID-related reasons as described above, but is feeling well enough to continue to participate in class, Brebeuf Jesuit is establishing a home learning platform which will allow them to keep pace with the learning activities and assignments of their classes. In most cases, our goal will be for students to remain fully enrolled in all of their classes, and keep up with their classwork throughout the time they need to be at home, as long as they are well enough to do so. Students will still participate along with their classmates and teachers who are in the building, through the home learning platform. 

It is important that we provide every incentive we can for students to stay home when needed, whether they are feeling sick, are self-monitoring due to possible exposure, or simply don’t feel comfortable with the risk of being in a group setting. As one example, there will not be class incentives for in-person attendance such bonuses for perfect attendance, or points that are only available if a student is present that day.

Students and families who would prefer to opt out of in-person classes at the beginning of the fall 2020 semester, and to remain enrolled at Brebeuf for online learning, will have the opportunity to do so. They will remain enrolled in most or all of their scheduled courses, and join class via the home learning platform. Families who would like to register for that option should contact Shani Simonson in the Principal’s Office at ssimonson@brebeuf.org by August 1.

Return to school

Students who need to stay home for any of the reasons listed above, and their families, will receive guidance on what they need to do in order to return to school and when. This guidance may take place automatically through our screening tool, or in communication with school personnel. In some cases, this may include a student getting a COVID test or seeing a physician. In others, it may include staying home, isolating and self-monitoring for a defined time period. We will rely upon guidelines from medical professionals and public health officials to make these determinations. 

Current Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) guidelines require a 14-day quarantine when one has been in close contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19, and a 10-day quarantine or doctor’s note when one has symptoms associated with COVID-19. We will require students to abide by the return dates which we will set for them individually based on their situation. These guidelines can fluctuate, and you can find the detailed ISDH guidance in the links below:

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/files/20_Family%20quarantine_12-4-20.pdf

https://www.coronavirus.in.gov/files/20_Parent%20screening%2010-22-20.pdf

ISDH Update – August 25, 2020

Safe Return From Travel

When considering travel and returning from travel, please be aware of how your travel activities may increase your risk of exposure to COVID-19. If your travel has included higher risk activities, you may be advised to quarantine for two weeks upon your return. Please use the CDC guidelines in the link below to learn more about how to minimize your risk. If you have any questions, please contact reopening@brebeuf.org.

For more information about safe return from travel, see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html

Section Two: Preventative Steps to Reduce Transmission Risk in the Building

Masks and other PPE 

Beginning on June 8, 2020 and until further notice, it has been the policy of Brebeuf Jesuit for all employees, students, and visitors to wear a face mask at all times while in the building. Masks may be removed for eating while in designated spaces (see below). Please see our face mask guidelines document for more details on proper use. Students should plan to bring their own masks every day, to keep them clean, and to follow other proper use guidelines throughout the day. Extra masks will be available for students who arrive at school and have forgotten them. 

Cloth masks or surgical masks are sufficient to meet this requirement, and additional personal protective equipment (PPE) is allowed for any student. Thanks to a donation, Brebeuf Jesuit also has a set of face shields to give to any student or employee who would like one. Face shields must be worn together with cloth masks, not in place of them. 

When students and employees are on campus but outside the building, masks are optional, not required, as long as physical distance from others is able to be maintained. Students may be outdoors, for example, when outside for a PE class or athletic practice, for a class utilizing outdoor space, when eating at a designated outdoor eating space, or when waiting outside for pickup. We will continue to ask students to maintain physical distance while outside, but the reduced risk of virus transmission outdoors means that masks will not be required.

Physical distancing at school

Brebeuf Jesuit will make a number of adaptations to provide an environment where students, faculty and staff are able and encouraged to maintain appropriate physical distance from one another throughout the course of the school day. It should be noted that we cannot guarantee that 6 feet of distance from others will always be able to be maintained within our building. Current scientific guidance and the advice of our Medical Task Force gives us confidence that when we put into place all of the rest of these procedures such as staying home when sick or exposed, consistent personal PPE, and regular hygiene practices, this will provide sufficient risk mitigation for our population within our building, even if students are sometimes closer together than 6 feet. Still, we will take a number of steps for physical distancing of students, faculty, and staff, including:

• Classroom spacing and arrangement of desks to assure at least three (3) feet in between students, and arrangement of desks facing the same direction 
• Assigned seating in the classroom (this is also relevant to contact tracing, see below)
• Enforcing reduced capacity in common gathering areas such as the Information Commons, Student Commons, Tim Boldt Lounge, and Academic Department Offices
• Increased faculty/staff proctoring of common areas to remind students of distancing guidelines
• Staggering passing periods so the entire school is not passing through halls and using restrooms at the same time
• Designating one-way stairways and hallways when necessary
• Adapting group work assignments to provide more physical distance among groups of students than usual in the classroom
• Adapting activities and locations for courses such as PE, visual arts, and performing arts, to maximize distance and avoid activities which have shown greater risk of virus transmission (e.g. contact sports, choral activities in close proximity)
• Reducing and eliminating shared classroom materials whenever possible
• Increased use of outdoor campus space for various classes and activities as weather allows

Personal hygiene

Students, faculty, and staff at Brebeuf Jesuit will receive regular education and instruction in personal hygiene procedures which are shown to reduce the risk of virus transmission. These include:

• Frequent handwashing 
• Hand sanitizing – Brebeuf Jesuit will provide additional sanitizing stations in common areas, and students are encouraged to carry and use their own hand sanitizer throughout the day
• Avoiding touching your face

Cleaning procedures

Our facilities staff will be implementing regular cleaning and sanitizing procedures throughout the building, which are much more intensive than normal. In addition, students, faculty, and staff will observe protocols for cleaning each classroom and meeting room after use, before the next group enters. 

Food service and nutrition

Serving and consuming food and beverages presents challenges in our current environment. Changes to these procedures will include the following:

• Water fountains will be accessible for bottle-filling only. Students will continue to be encouraged to bring their own reusable water containers and rely on them throughout the school days.
• Cafeteria service will be adapted to minimize or eliminate self-service and close proximity in lines. New “grab and go” options will be the norm.
• Vending machines will be temporarily discontinued.
• Students will be encouraged to bring their own lunches and to not share items.
• Eating locations will be designated, and eating in other locations will not be permitted. These eating locations will be set up to provide for physical distancing between students.
• Our cafeteria capacity will be reduced considerably. As a result, some classes will be assigned to eat in their classrooms or in other locations, rather than the cafeteria, on a rotating basis.

Drop-off, pick-up and movement on and off campus

Drop off and pick up locations and procedures will be similar to usual, with the line of cars forming at the student entry & exit point at the gym lobby doors at the east end of the building. Students who are waiting for pickup will be asked to wait outside, weather permitting, and with physical distancing, rather than inside the gym lobby.  

Class field trips will not occur for the time being.

For the beginning of the school year on August 13, Brebeuf Jesuit’s campus will be open at 7:30 a.m. each morning. The first class period begins at 8:30 a.m. The last class period ends at 3:20 p.m., and we ask that students who are not staying for a practice or other activity wait outside the gym lobby to be picked up by 4:00 p.m.

Assemblies and other large gatherings

School-wide assemblies will not take place as usual. Instead, we will attempt to deliver these community-wide events in different formats. For example, we may stream events to students in their classes, rather than everyone gathering in the gym.

Visitors

All school visitors are asked to check in at the main lobby desk, as usual. Visitors will need to have an appointment, be met and guided by an employee, and will need to follow all building procedures such as wearing a mask.

Section Three: When there is a positive case of COVID-19 in the community

If a student, or a member of the student’s household, is confirmed positive for COVID-19, we ask that the family inform the school immediately. We should all be prepared, mentally and with procedures, for this likelihood.

Cooperation with local health officials

According to public health guidance, upon learning of a positive case of COVID-19 in our community, the school must provide notification to the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) as well as the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). We will provide this notification, and expect to remain in communication with these officials about their procedures and guidance as we care for our students and families.

Contact tracing

We expect that local health officials will carry out their own contact tracing procedures. And, it will also be possible and helpful for the school to carry out its own procedures as well. If a student, employee, or other person who has been in the building tests positive for COVID-19: 

• School staff will conduct a brief “case investigation” interview to help determine close contacts among the school community
• The student or community member’s close groupings will be considered, such as teams, classroom seating arrangements, etc.
• Families of students who have been in close contact with the COVID-19 positive individual, will be contacted by the school, and asked to self-monitor and follow CDC guidelines. This may include a requirement to stay home from school for a period of time.

Household members

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, “if an individual in one’s home has COVID-19 or is quarantined because of COVID-19, those in the household should also stay home for a minimum of two weeks.”

Communication and privacy

In the case of a member of our community testing positive for COVID-19, we will need to depend on the specifics of the situation to guide what communication is necessary with the broader school community. Privacy considerations, as well as the health safety of the entire school community, will always be respected. Depending on the situation, we may need to inform the entire community that there has been a positive case, but we also may not. We will make these decisions in consultation with local health officials and with our Medical Task Force.

School closure

Again, depending upon the situation, upon learning of a positive COVID-19 case, it may be necessary to temporarily close the school for cleaning. In addition, we will closely monitor community transmission rates, our own school absentee rate, and the guidance of local health officials, in making these decisions. In decisions of school closing, we will communicate the need to the school community, and provide a home learning platform for continuous learning for all students during the closure.

Section Four: Procedures for Athletics

Student-Athletes

Student-athletes will be expected to come to campus having shown no known signs of symptoms of COVID-19 and after completing the self-screening process. They will be asked to wear masks when their activities take place indoors unless they are doing “high intensity aerobic activities” as outlined by NFHS guidelines. They will only have access to the East Gym locker rooms as a changing/showering station only, and will not leave belongings overnight. Athletes should arrive prepared for their practice/activity, as they will not have access to locker rooms to change prior to practice/activity. Student-athletes should arrive no earlier than 10-15 minutes prior to a scheduled activity, and should not congregate in lobbies or outside before or after.

Coaches

Coaches will be expected to come to campus having shown no known signs of symptoms of Covid-19 and, after completing the self-screening process, they will be asked to wear masks for all indoor activities. They will have access to their respective private coaches’ offices, and are responsible for the sanitation of them after each use.

Parents

Only student-athletes and coaches will be allowed at any team, group, or individual workout, regardless if it is held indoors or outdoors. Parents/guardians need to remain in the vehicle for drop off and return for pick-up.

Locations

The Wellness Center will be accessed only via Door #4 at the appropriate times as outlined by Coach Clem. Entrance and exit will take place via the same door with appropriate timing as to eliminate cross contact between groups. The capacity of the groups have been capped at 36 based on structural limitations. Teams will stay on the main floor of the Wellness Center, while PE will utilize the upper floor, again to eliminate cross contact between groups. The Wellness Center will be off limits to everyone else. Teams and PE are responsible for disinfecting their areas after each individual use, and again for a full disinfecting at the end of their session.

Gyms and Outdoor Facilities will continue to be off limits unless supervised by a PE teacher or coach.

All locker rooms and meeting/classrooms will be off limits during the month of July. The only two exceptions are when PE uses a classroom for teaching/examinations and the East Gym Locker Rooms, which will be used strictly as a storage/shower area. The East Gym locker room will act as a storage area for those students who have multiple activities during the course of a single day and have to transport equipment. The locker room will only be accessed during the day and locked each night. No one will keep belongings in it overnight. It will be used with appropriate PE/coaching staff supervision. All locker rooms will be available beginning August 3, and will be reduced to 50% capacity until guidance from the IDOE or NFHS gives clearance to increase capacity.

Equipment

There should be no shared athletic towels, clothing, or shoes between students at any time. They can also bring a bag that they will keep with them. Shared athletic equipment such as racquets, bats, and batting helmets should be cleaned between each use. Other equipment, such as hockey helmets/pads, wrestling ear guards, football helmets/other pads, lacrosse helmets/pads/gloves/eyewear should be worn by only one individual and not shared. Weight room equipment will be disinfected after each individual use and again prior to each new group accessing the Wellness Center.

Hydration

Each student athlete must bring their own water and water bottles to their PE class/sport activity with the student’s name clearly labeled on the outside of the bottle. These should not be shared with others. Water bottle filling stations will be utilized in the Wellness Center and near the gyms. Hydration stations (water troughs, water cows, etc.) may be used but must be cleaned after each practice/session, according to NFHS Phase 3 guidelines.

Training Room

The training room will be available per ASVSP guidelines. It will most likely be an outdoor tented area, with access to the training room on and individual/as needed base. All ASVSP guidelines for safe practices within all training areas will be followed.

Restrooms

All non-locker-room restrooms will be accessible.

Practice Guidelines

We will follow all NFHS/IHSAA guidelines as they become available in the coming weeks.

Positive Test Procedure

See Section 3 of the Campus Reopening Plan

Severe Weather

All student-athletes will seek the nearest shelter, preferably the lower level of the school building. Coaching staff will monitor social distancing within their teams to ensure proper procedures are followed.

Missing Practice(s)/Contest(s) In-Season

There will be no consequence for student-athletes who miss a practice(s) and/or contest(s) due to COVID-19. However, we will follow the IHSAA by-law 9-14 – Practice Attendance Required to Participate in a Contest: 

 A student-athlete shall attend and actively participate in regularly scheduled Practice sessions to be eligible for interschool athletic competition. If, as a result of a school strike, student Suspension, athletic Suspension, health limitation or other similar reasons, a student shall fail to attend and actively participate in regularly scheduled Practice sessions, such student shall be required to complete the following prior to participation:

1. Attendance and active participation in preseason Practices, if applicable
2. Attendance and active participation in Four (4) school-supervised Practice sessions of normal length, which shall occur on Four (4) separate days prior to the day of the Contest, if the student fails to attend and actively participate in more than Four (4) but less than Eleven (11) consecutive days of regularly scheduled Practice
3. Attendance and active participation in Six (6) school supervised Practice sessions of normal length, which shall occur on Six (6) separate days prior to the day of the Contest, if the student fails to attend and actively participate in more than Ten (10) consecutive days of regularly scheduled Practice. 

Previously, we had communicated to those students who have tested positive for Covid-19, that after their return, they would still need to quarantine upon any future close contact with other positive individuals, in accordance with CDC guidelines. However, since that communication we have learned that the CDC now advises differently:

Therefore, any individual who has been positive for Covid-19 will not be required to quarantine upon close contact alone, for 90 days after your positive test.

However, if you were to develop symptoms of Covid-19 in the future, whether or not there is any known close contact, you will still need to follow the same procedures for staying home as everyone else. This means waiting either 10 days, or until an alternative explanation is given for your symptoms by a medical professional, or a negative test result is demonstrated.

Current medical knowledge of Covid-19 shows that there is a low likelihood of reinfection within 90 days, hence this change in the close contact precautionary requirements. However, please note that there is NOT a medical certainty of immunity for 90 days. You should NOT drop your precautions, and DO NOT act with the assumption that you are immune. We will continue to require all members of the community who have been Covid-positive, to follow the same daily procedures as everyone else, including masking, social distancing, hygiene, and self-screening.

INTERPRETATION

Transportation

Yellow buses will follow Miller Transportation guidelines or Brebeuf’s, whichever is more restrictive. Mini-buses will be limited to seven passengers.

These are rules and regulations in order to participate in any athletic activity on campus. All sessions are voluntary. Anyone with an underlying condition that could be at greater risk of COVID-19 should consult a physician prior to participating. If a student/family does not feel comfortable participating in any activity they should contact their coach prior to the session.