Discussion: View Thread

Let's talk about COVID and schools. Questions: 
(1) How many schools opened as scheduled? How many decided to go either remote or virtual? Or is your school utilizing a hybrid approach? Is your school(s) still closed, and is there a plan to open?

(2) How long has your school been in session, and in what capacity?

(3) What is the protocol(s) being used for students, teachers, staff, admin, nurses? 

(4) What problems or issues have you faced?

(5) What positives have you seen? 

(6) What resources are utilizing or need?

------------------------------
Respectfully,
Anupama Gowda, BSN RN
School Nurse
NASN Oklahoma Director
918-397-4239

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." -Souza
------------------------------

My school opened Monday, August 17.  We offer three options: in-person, blended, or virtual. We have three campuses with a total of 850 students. Over 80% of our parents district-wide have chosen in-person.  We have had COVID tests pending and they have all been negative.  We have two teachers out right now with tests pending.  Our county is yellow per OSDH and OSDE.  Through lots of planning and lots of prayer, no class, team, or campus has been closed yet. Our health guidance is a layered approach.  We use well-checks at home for students and staff and additional checks for sports and activities when social distancing cannot be attained.  Masks are strongly recommended for staff and students when social distancing is not feasible.  Social distancing of 6 feet is the goal, 3 feet when 6 feet is not possible, and seating charts and cohorts are also utilized. Students and staff are sanitizing their hands upon entering and exiting buildings, classrooms, bathrooms, cafe, and gym.  Cleaning and disinfecting measures have been amped up.  There are separate more detailed policies for sports/activities and bus transportation.  This is a link to our "Journey to Learning" and Health Guidance document.  Journey-To-Learning - WilburtonDiggers.org


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Mendi McAlester
School Nurse
WILBURTON MS
Wilburton, OK United States
------------------------------

Mendi, 

Question: how do you clarify that the well-checks are done? Is there documentation from the parent or child on paper or through the school website? Can you define "Masks are strongly recommended for staff and students when social distancing is not feasible.?" Congratulations on having negative COVID tests. 

Please keep us updated as the school year progresses. 




------------------------------
Thank you, and Respectfully,
Anupama Gowda, BSN RN
School Nurse
NASN Oklahoma Director
918-397-4239

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." -Souza
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2020 09:01
From: Mendi McAlester
Subject: Schools and COVID

My school opened Monday, August 17.  We offer three options: in-person, blended, or virtual. We have three campuses with a total of 850 students. Over 80% of our parents district-wide have chosen in-person.  We have had COVID tests pending and they have all been negative.  We have two teachers out right now with tests pending.  Our county is yellow per OSDH and OSDE.  Through lots of planning and lots of prayer, no class, team, or campus has been closed yet. Our health guidance is a layered approach.  We use well-checks at home for students and staff and additional checks for sports and activities when social distancing cannot be attained.  Masks are strongly recommended for staff and students when social distancing is not feasible.  Social distancing of 6 feet is the goal, 3 feet when 6 feet is not possible, and seating charts and cohorts are also utilized. Students and staff are sanitizing their hands upon entering and exiting buildings, classrooms, bathrooms, cafe, and gym.  Cleaning and disinfecting measures have been amped up.  There are separate more detailed policies for sports/activities and bus transportation.  This is a link to our "Journey to Learning" and Health Guidance document.  Journey-To-Learning - WilburtonDiggers.org


------------------------------
Mendi McAlester
School Nurse
WILBURTON MS
Wilburton, OK United States
------------------------------

We don't know that every student or staff is doing their well-child checks, but we do know that we are not seeing fevers or persistent coughs at school.  Also, parents are requesting extra tracking forms for those checks, and parents are calling in reporting why their child is not attending that day.  The well-checks may have to become at school checks as the year progresses.  Our school board wanted masks strongly recommended first, but was open to a requirement if the recommendation was not taken seriously.  Middle school and high school teachers are teaching greater than 6 feet away from students, but when they help individual students they are masked up.  We have the least compliance with masks in the elementary students. We approach every classroom, activity, building with 6 different layers.  The more layers, the better the protection and mitigative effect.
1. Well-Checks
2. Masks
3. Social Distancing/Seating charts/cohorts
4. Hand Hygiene
5. Cleaning/Disinfecting
6. Assessing the OSDE and OSDH color maps weekly and adjust accordingly.

------------------------------
Mendi McAlester
School Nurse
WILBURTON MS
Wilburton, OK United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2020 13:07
From: Anoo Gowda
Subject: Schools and COVID

Mendi,

Question: how do you clarify that the well-checks are done? Is there documentation from the parent or child on paper or through the school website? Can you define "Masks are strongly recommended for staff and students when social distancing is not feasible.?" Congratulations on having negative COVID tests.

Please keep us updated as the school year progresses.




------------------------------
Thank you, and Respectfully,
Anupama Gowda, BSN RN
School Nurse
NASN Oklahoma Director
918-397-4239

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." -Souza
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2020 09:01
From: Mendi McAlester
Subject: Schools and COVID

My school opened Monday, August 17.  We offer three options: in-person, blended, or virtual. We have three campuses with a total of 850 students. Over 80% of our parents district-wide have chosen in-person.  We have had COVID tests pending and they have all been negative.  We have two teachers out right now with tests pending.  Our county is yellow per OSDH and OSDE.  Through lots of planning and lots of prayer, no class, team, or campus has been closed yet. Our health guidance is a layered approach.  We use well-checks at home for students and staff and additional checks for sports and activities when social distancing cannot be attained.  Masks are strongly recommended for staff and students when social distancing is not feasible.  Social distancing of 6 feet is the goal, 3 feet when 6 feet is not possible, and seating charts and cohorts are also utilized. Students and staff are sanitizing their hands upon entering and exiting buildings, classrooms, bathrooms, cafe, and gym.  Cleaning and disinfecting measures have been amped up.  There are separate more detailed policies for sports/activities and bus transportation.  This is a link to our "Journey to Learning" and Health Guidance document.  Journey-To-Learning - WilburtonDiggers.org


------------------------------
Mendi McAlester
School Nurse
WILBURTON MS
Wilburton, OK United States

My school opened Aug. 13th as scheduled. We offer in person or virtual classes. Yesterday we had a student test positive so we have went to distance learning for the entire school until Sept. 14th. All three campuses. This was per Dept of Health and CDC recommendations. In person classes, all students and staff are required to wear masks &/or face shields. Every Student and staff member is having temp taken before entering campus. We have isolation rooms set up and ready on all campuses. We have increased sanitizing and cleaning throughout the day. All water fountains are turned off and bottle filling stations installed. Students have been good with the social distancing. Hand sanitizers are available in every classroom and building entrances. Students and staff are sanitizing their hands upon entering and exiting buildings, classrooms, bathrooms, cafeteria. We are learning everyday what is working and what we need to tweak to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. 

------------------------------
Donna Parmain
RN-school nurse
Kansas Public Schools
Rose, OK United States
------------------------------

Hello Donna, 

Question: Are the person(s) wearing a mask along with the face shield? The face shield is not protective on its' own. What are the considering factors to return to school on September 14? Or is it a set date to return?

------------------------------
Thank you, and Respectfully,
Anupama Gowda, BSN RN
School Nurse
NASN Oklahoma Director
918-397-4239

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." -Souza
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2020 10:35
From: Donna Parmain
Subject: Schools and COVID

My school opened Aug. 13th as scheduled. We offer in person or virtual classes. Yesterday we had a student test positive so we have went to distance learning for the entire school until Sept. 14th. All three campuses. This was per Dept of Health and CDC recommendations. In person classes, all students and staff are required to wear masks &/or face shields. Every Student and staff member is having temp taken before entering campus. We have isolation rooms set up and ready on all campuses. We have increased sanitizing and cleaning throughout the day. All water fountains are turned off and bottle filling stations installed. Students have been good with the social distancing. Hand sanitizers are available in every classroom and building entrances. Students and staff are sanitizing their hands upon entering and exiting buildings, classrooms, bathrooms, cafeteria. We are learning everyday what is working and what we need to tweak to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. 

------------------------------
Donna Parmain
RN-school nurse
Kansas Public Schools
Rose, OK United States
------------------------------

The staff wearing the face shields are also wearing masks. The date was set by the Dept of Health and CDC. Our superintendent has been in close contact with them.

------------------------------
Donna Parmain
RN-school nurse
Kansas Public Schools
Rose, OK United States
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2020 13:13
From: Anoo Gowda
Subject: Schools and COVID

Hello Donna,

Question: Are the person(s) wearing a mask along with the face shield? The face shield is not protective on its' own. What are the considering factors to return to school on September 14? Or is it a set date to return?

------------------------------
Thank you, and Respectfully,
Anupama Gowda, BSN RN
School Nurse
NASN Oklahoma Director
918-397-4239

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." -Souza
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2020 10:35
From: Donna Parmain
Subject: Schools and COVID

My school opened Aug. 13th as scheduled. We offer in person or virtual classes. Yesterday we had a student test positive so we have went to distance learning for the entire school until Sept. 14th. All three campuses. This was per Dept of Health and CDC recommendations. In person classes, all students and staff are required to wear masks &/or face shields. Every Student and staff member is having temp taken before entering campus. We have isolation rooms set up and ready on all campuses. We have increased sanitizing and cleaning throughout the day. All water fountains are turned off and bottle filling stations installed. Students have been good with the social distancing. Hand sanitizers are available in every classroom and building entrances. Students and staff are sanitizing their hands upon entering and exiting buildings, classrooms, bathrooms, cafeteria. We are learning everyday what is working and what we need to tweak to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. 

------------------------------
Donna Parmain
RN-school nurse
Kansas Public Schools
Rose, OK United States

Thank you to both of you. And please keep us updated as we progress through the school year.

------------------------------
Thank you, and Respectfully,
Anupama Gowda, BSN RN
School Nurse
NASN Oklahoma Director
918-397-4239

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." -Souza
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2020 13:16
From: Donna Parmain
Subject: Schools and COVID

The staff wearing the face shields are also wearing masks. The date was set by the Dept of Health and CDC. Our superintendent has been in close contact with them.

------------------------------
Donna Parmain
RN-school nurse
Kansas Public Schools
Rose, OK United States
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2020 13:13
From: Anoo Gowda
Subject: Schools and COVID

Hello Donna,

Question: Are the person(s) wearing a mask along with the face shield? The face shield is not protective on its' own. What are the considering factors to return to school on September 14? Or is it a set date to return?

------------------------------
Thank you, and Respectfully,
Anupama Gowda, BSN RN
School Nurse
NASN Oklahoma Director
918-397-4239

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." -Souza


Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2020 10:35
From: Donna Parmain
Subject: Schools and COVID

My school opened Aug. 13th as scheduled. We offer in person or virtual classes. Yesterday we had a student test positive so we have went to distance learning for the entire school until Sept. 14th. All three campuses. This was per Dept of Health and CDC recommendations. In person classes, all students and staff are required to wear masks &/or face shields. Every Student and staff member is having temp taken before entering campus. We have isolation rooms set up and ready on all campuses. We have increased sanitizing and cleaning throughout the day. All water fountains are turned off and bottle filling stations installed. Students have been good with the social distancing. Hand sanitizers are available in every classroom and building entrances. Students and staff are sanitizing their hands upon entering and exiting buildings, classrooms, bathrooms, cafeteria. We are learning everyday what is working and what we need to tweak to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. 

------------------------------
Donna Parmain
RN-school nurse
Kansas Public Schools
Rose, OK United States