Safety

Coble Elementary School Administration and School Board continue to monitor the requirements for gathering in larger groups. At this time, chapel programs will continue as a streamed program available to each classroom or virtual student. We are grateful for the local pastoral staff that continues to spiritually guide our learning community through difficult times!

When restrictions on gatherings relax, we fully intend to continue with the traditional programming that enhances our spiritual and learning community. In the meantime, our faculty continue to brainstorm ways that we can connect with one another, and continue the tradition of the family atmosphere that our school is known for.

At this time, use of the cafeteria will remain suspended. Students will need to bring a cold lunch, and will eat in their classrooms. Unfortunately, the use of microwaves are not currently allowed, as this is a shared touch point. Knowing that this is an inconvenience, we continue to work towards ensuring a safe lunch program that will provide prepared lunches to the classroom in individually portioned containers. Details will be provided prior to school in August.

Coble Elementary School plans to meet the following recommendations and guidelines from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the CDC.

• Daily screening questions and temperature check for all students, staff, and faculty

• Only EPA approved disinfectants safe for the school setting will be used

• Installation of hand sanitation stations within each classroom and in all outside entrances to the school building.

• Providing shields, masks, and gloves for faculty/staff use

• Providing school approved mask for use by students (optional at all times or as required by public health department)

• Posting personal hygiene practices throughout campus

• Installing water bottle filling stations for use in place of the water fountains

• Suspending use of the microwaves

• Increased sanitizing of frequent touch points in the building by operations staff throughout the day

• Providing professional development regarding personal hygienic practices and sanitizing protocols to appropriate custodial staff and faculty

• Installation of air ionization systems throughout the school buildings for air purification

• Individuals exhibiting symptoms of illness will be supervised in an isolation spaced away from other faculty, staff, and students

Coble Elementary School is obligated to inform both the Georgia Department of Public Health and the school-wide community regarding the infection. The public health department will then offer guidance regarding tracing, testing, sanitizing and re-entry procedures as recommended by both the GaDPH and CDC. Family members of an infected individual will also be excluded from the in-person instruction setting until all family members receive negative tests and full clearance from a physician.

Coble Elementary School will be following the CDC recommendation that students and staff maintain social distancing. This means that the classrooms will be arranged to allow for the 6 feet of distance between individuals. Although no class size limitations are currently in place, the physical size of the classroom does place some limitations on the number of students that can utilize that space while maintaining the appropriate distance.

Faculty and administration are currently working together to re-arrange the classrooms to maximize the space available and accommodate the students that have enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year. Fortunately, there are many spaces within our current building that allow us flexibility with instructional spaces. We continue to explore these options. With the beautiful campus, we also plan to utilize the outdoors, God's first classroom, to enhance our educational opportunities. You will notice that a camp chair has been added to the student supply list to enable teachers to provide instruction either in the classroom or outdoors when appropriate.

John L. Coble Elementary School strives to ensure the health and safety of students and faculty. Should your child become ill with a fever over 100.0 degrees during the school day, they will be isolated until picked up by parent/guardian. Arrangements to pick up an ill child should take place within an hour of notification.

Coble Elementary School does not have an on-site nurse. All staff have been trained in First Aid, CPR, AED, and the use of an Epipen. When an emergency arises, staff immediately notify parents and when appropriate contacts 911 for assistance.

John L. Coble Elementary School strives to ensure the health and safety of each child and employee in its care. The administration recognizes that communicable diseases that may afflict those in the school range from common childhood diseases, acute and short term in nature, to chronic, life-threatening diseases. The CES School board relies on the advice of the public health and medical communities in assessing the risk of transmission of various communicable diseases to determine how best to protect the health of both students and staff. Management of common communicable diseases will be in accordance with Georgia Department of Public Health, Northwest District, guidelines and communicable diseases control rules.

A student or staff member that exhibits symptoms of a communicable disease that is readily transmitted in the school setting may be temporarily excluded from school attendance. Coble Elementary School reserves the right to require a statement from the student or staff member's primary care provider authorizing the person's return to school. The school administrator, as designated by the school board, will determine which additional staff members, if any, have a need to know of the affected person's condition. Only those persons with direct responsibility for the care of the student will be informed of the specific nature of the condition, if it is determined there is a need for the individual to know this information. Parents of other children attending the school may be notified that their child has been exposed to a communicable disease without identifying the particular person who has the disease.

The risk of contracting Covid19 remains in our community. Parents are welcome to review the written safety protocols, observe the facility/equipment at a non-school time, and discuss any concerns with school administration. Coble Elementary school understands that the novel coronavirus, Covid19 has been declared a worldwide pandemic, and is extremely contagious. Although the school has implemented measures to reduce the spread of Covid19, it cannot guarantee that you or your child will not be infected with Covid19.

John L. Coble Elementary School continues to follow the guidance of the Georgia Department of Health, Northwest district. At this time, masks for students in the school setting are recommended, but not required. Families may choose whether or not they would like their children to wear a mask. The school has purchased an appropriate mask and filters for each child. These masks will remain at school, be laundered regularly, and filters replaced to ensure the health and safety for your child. Your child's teacher will ask you for your preference regarding your child's use of masks.

Masks are very important during times when social distancing is difficult. As a school, we intend to practice social distancing throughout our learning time. Yet, one of the most critical interactions comes when students and teachers interact with one another in a one-on-one setting. To minimize risk, we have asked all staff and faculty to wear masks.

The faculty and staff continue to explore ways to overcome any communication issues that may arise with the use of masks. Newly installed sound systems and microphones will assist teachers as they project verbal instructions. Additional communication strategies using chat, email, and projectors will allow teachers and students to interact without breaking the proximity recommendations.