Safe Reopening Plans

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School

Plan for the Safe Reopening of Campus

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School is committed to the safe reopening of our campus on August 17, 2020. As part of our campus’ commitment, two Task Forces were created to create a plan using the guidance and recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

Below is a framework the Family and Faculty COVID-19 Safety Task Force (FFSC19TF) is working through based on our goals from Father Christopher Muñoz (Pastor) and Mr. Michael Fierro (Principal).  We ask that you take a moment to review these guidelines to help ensure the safety of our students, families, faculty and staff.

You may also submit a comment, question or recommendation directly to the task force using the form at the end of the safety plan. We know there are a lot of questions that need to be answered in a short period of time. We know we all want to ensure our children and community are healthy, and their mentally and physically well-being remain our priority.

To assist with the plan, Blessed Sacrament has made the following distinctions within the campus safety plan:

• Items in Red indicate CDC Goals
• Items in Blue indicate CDC Recommendations
• Items in Black indicate Blessed Sacrament Policies and Procedures

Promoting Behaviors that Reduce Spread

Educate staff and families about when they/their child(ren) should stay home and when they can return to school.

• All staff members must report to the School Office before entering their classroom buildings for a health screening including a temperature check. Staff members arriving before 7:00 a.m. must report to the School Office at 7:00 a.m. If a staff member has a temperature of 100.0° or higher, then the staff member will not be allowed to come onto campus. 
• Temperature checks will be taken as students are being dropped off at school and then as they are entering the cafeteria for lunch.  If a student has a temperature between 99.5° and 100.3°, the student will be allowed onto campus, but a mid-morning temperature check will be taken to record their temperature.  If a student has a temperature of 100.4° or higher, then the student will not be allowed to come onto campus.  An exception will be made if a student’s pediatrician or family doctor, licensed in the State of Texas, indicates the student’s regular body temperature equal to 100.0°. A third temperature check will be taken for students participating in After School Care (ASC). 
• Blessed Sacrament will refrain from offering in-person extracurricular clubs and organizations for the First Grading Period unless a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases have occurred in the City of San Antonio.
• The Athletic Director will follow the safety protocols, including the suspension of athletic activities, as outlined by the Archdiocesan Interscholastic Athletic League (AIAL).

Return to Campus

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School procedures’s for Individuals Confirmed, Suspected or Exposed to COVID-19 Returning to Campus.
• In evaluating whether an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, Blessed Sacrament will use the following established symptoms:
  • Temperature of 100.4 Fahrenheit;
  • Sore Throat;
  • New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty of breathing (or, for students with a chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline);
  • Diarrhea, committing, or abdominal pain; or
  • New onset of severe headache, especially with fever.

Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will teach students the proper way to wash their hands using classroom lessons and educational videos.
• In addition to hand sanitizing stations throughout campus, students will be allowed to have a personal bottle of hand sanitizer at their desk. Parents are asked to help educate students on proper use of hand sanitizer.
• The School Safety Task Force is working on providing plexiglass partitions to be installed in school bathrooms.

Cloth Face Coverings

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will follow face covering requirements established by the State of Texas, Bexar County, City of San Antonio and the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Administrators, teachers, support staff members, students and approved visitors must wear a face mask or face shield.
• All students will be required to wear a face inside classroom buildings and during instruction. Teachers will conduct brain breaks outside, throughout the day, to give students an opportunity to take their mask off. The frequency of outside brain breaks will vary based on the student’s age.
• During designated lunch periods, a student may take off their mask or face shield allowing them to eat without difficulty.
• The School Safety Task Force is working on providing plexiglass partitions for Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms.

Adequate Supplies

• The State of Texas has provided Blessed Sacrament with the following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): 1 Case of Disposable Face Masks for Students, 1 Case of Disposable Face Masks for Adults, 1 Case of Reusable Face Masks for Adults, 1 Thermometer, and 20 Gallons of Hand Sanitizer.  This PPE will be used as necessary for the safety of students, faculty and staff members.
• Blessed Sacrament has purchased four iHealth PT3 infrared, no-touch, forehead thermometers.
• The school will provide parents, guardians and grandparents the ability to purchase hand sanitizer through our school’s vendor in the event it becomes difficult to secure at local stores or online vendors.
• Students will remain in control of their individual hand sanitizer bottles, disinfectant wipes and tissue boxes.

Signs and Messages 

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will ask all teachers, staff members, students, parents/guardians, and grandparents to abide by a Bulldog Community Pledge asking each member of our faith community to abide by practices to mitigate the likelihood of COVID-19 spread inside Blessed Sacrament.
• The School Administration will print and post posters that promote protective measures and best practices. Signs will be from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and San Antonio Metro Health.
• Blessed Sacrament has ordered the following items to assist with health and safety awareness:
  • • Floor Stickers to Classroom Social Distancing
    • Floor Stickers for Building Social Distancing
    • Entrance/Exit Signs to Assist with Flow of Building Traffic
    • Handwashing Reminders
    • Hand Sanitizer Stations

Maintaining Healthy Environments 

Cleaning and Disinfection 

• High touch areas, including door handles and student desks, will be disinfected multiple times during the school day.
• For the safety of students, water fountains will be discontinued. Student water bottles may be filled, during the lunch hour, by a member of the faculty or staff.
• The School Cafeteria will be sanitized following each lunch period, and at the end of the school day.
• Until further notice, the School Playground or the School Gym will not be used by students. Physical education classes and recess periods will be conducted outside on the school’s field or parking lot.
• In addition to regular classroom cleaning, classrooms will be sanitized at the end of the day using a professional sanitizing system.
• Cleaning and disinfection products will be kept in locked and secure locations only accessible by the school’s administration, faculty and staff, custodial staff and contracted cleaning company.

Shared Objects 

• Teachers will minimize opportunities for the sharing of objects among students. School supply lists have been adjusted with this in mind.
• Students in Pre-Kindegarten through Fifth Grade will remain in their homeroom classes for classroom instruction with the exception of physical education. Special instruction such as art, music and library will take place in the student’s homeroom class.
• Students in Middle School will have the ability to keep their backpack with them ensuring supplies are readily available.  The School Administration is working on a plan to minimize the frequency of changing periods.

Ventilation 

• When weather permits, teachers will be asked to keep their classroom designated windows open to allow for increased ventilation. Students with allergies to bees will be allowed to keep their epinephrine injection (EpiPen) in the classroom. Student EpiPen’s must be kept in a secure location with access limited to the school staff.

Water Systems 

• The parish’s Director of Maintenance will be asked to inspect all water systems ensuring their safety following the closure of campus. 
• For the safety of students, water fountains will be discontinued. Student water bottles may be filled, during the lunch hour, by a member of the faculty or staff.

Modified Layouts

• Each school building will have clearly marked entrance doors and exit doors. Signage will assist with a safe flow of pedestrian traffic.
• Teachers have been instructed to create a classroom layout that is conducive to the learning process, but maintains appropriate social distancing and in a manner that face the same direction. 
• Students in Pre-Kindegarten through Fifth Grade will remain in their homeroom classes for classroom instruction with the exception of physical education. Special instruction such as art, music and library will take place in the student’s homeroom class.
• The School Administration is working on a plan to minimize the frequency of changing periods at the Middle School level. This includes the use of block-scheduling and same-class electives.

Physical Barrier and Guides 

• The School Safety Task Force is working on providing plexiglass partitions for Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms.
• The School Safety Task Force is working on providing plexiglass partitions to be installed in school bathrooms.
• Blessed Sacrament has ordered the following items to assist with health and safety awareness:
  • • Floor Stickers to Classroom Social Distancing
    • Floor Stickers for Building Social Distancing
    • Entrance/Exit Signs to Assist with Flow of Building Traffic

Communal Space

• The School Cafeteria will be sanitized at the end of the school’s breakfast period, following each lunch period, and at the end of the school day.
• Teachers will create a system to ensure students are only in the restrooms one at a time throughout the day.
• Until further notice, the school playground or the school gym will not be used by students. Physical education classes and recess periods will be conducted outside on the school’s field or parking lot. An exception will be made for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students who may use the playground for designated uninterrupted play periods. The playground will be disinfected after each use. 
• Until further notice, the school’s computer lab, library, music room and art room will not be used. This will minimize pedestrian traffic and ensure high use of communal areas are decreased.

Food Service

• The school’s catering service provides disposable items such as trays, utensils and drinks, and napkins.
• Multiple trash receptacles are located in the school cafeteria. Students will use an assigned receptacle minimizing cross pedestrian traffic.
• Based on the number of students on campus, the lunch period schedule may be adjusted to decrease the number of students in the school cafeteria.
• Students will have the opportunity to eat outside, weather permitting.

Maintaining Healthy Operations 

Protections for Staff and Children at Higher Risk for Severe Illness from COVID-19

• The principal will consult with staff members who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.  In collaboration with the Archdiocese of San Antonio’s Human Resource Office, a determination will be made for any accommodations based on the employee’s risk level and the school’s ability to provide the accommodation. 
• Families with students at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are asked to consider Guided Distance Learning (Option 2) or Self-Paced Learning (Option 3) until their child’s pediatrician, licensed in the State of Texas, has made the determination that In Person Instruction (Option 1) is safe for the student. 
• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will not publicly disclose any communications or publicly comment on individual discussions regarding health conversations complying with applicable health and privacy laws.

Regulatory  Awareness 

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will follow the policies related to group gatherings established by the State of Texas, Bexar County, City of San Antonio or the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

Gatherings, Visitors and Field Trips 

• Until further notice, large school gatherings will be discontinued. Dates will remain on the 2020/2021 Instructional Calendar, but will be updated on Spike’s News.
• Access to classroom buildings, the school cafeteria and the school gymnasium will be limited to students, teachers and support staff members with regular access.
• Approved visitors will only be granted access to school facilities if there is a specific need that requires campus access.  Approved
• visitors must sign-in with the School Office and complete a health screening including a temperature check.
• Field trips will be suspended for the First Grading Period as Blessed Sacrament continues to monitor the safety of our students. A decision on whether to continue this suspension will be communicated to the school community at the end of the First Grading Period.

Identifying Small Groups and Keeping Them Together (Cohorting)

• Students in Pre-Kindegarten through Fifth Grade will remain in their homeroom classes for classroom instruction with the exception of physical education. Special instruction such as art, music and library will take place in the student’s homeroom class.
• Students in Middle School will participate in a Instructional Block Schedule minimizing the exchanging of classes. Electives will take place by their assigned cohort.

Staggered Scheduling 

• All parents, guardians and grandparents are asked to drop off their student using a school approved arrival lane allowing for students to be screened for campus entry. This will assist in preventing gatherings outside classroom buildings.
• All parents, guardians and grandparents are asked to pick up their student using a school approved dismissal lane allowing for students to be individually walked to their vehicle. This will assist in preventing gatherings outside classroom buildings.
• Students in Pre-Kindegarten through Fifth Grade will remain in their homeroom classes for classroom instruction with the exception of physical education. Special instruction such as art, music and library will take place in the student’s homeroom class.
• The School Administration is working on a plan to minimize the frequency of changing periods.

Designated COVID-19 Point of Contact 

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School has designated Mr. Fierro (Principal) and Mrs. Martinez (Office Manager) as the primary points of contact regarding COVID-19 concerns. Parents, guardians, and grandparents may address their academic concerns with their respective Grade Level Coordinator: Ms. Aguilar (Elementary), Ms. Gonzalez (Intermediate) and Mrs. Gomez (Middle School).

Participation in Community Response Efforts 

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will ask all teachers, staff members, students, parents/guardians, and grandparents to abide by a Bulldog Community Pledge asking each member of our faith community to abide by practices to mitigate the likelihood of COVID-19 spread inside Blessed Sacrament.

Communication Systems 

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will continue to use FACTS SIS (RenWeb) to communicate regarding the health, safety and well-being of our faith community.  This includes emails and text messages.
• The school will also use the website (www.blessedschool.com) and official social media accounts to promote behaviors that reduce spread,  and maintain healthy environments and operations.

Back-Up Staffing Plan

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic school will work with the Department of Catholic Schools in identifying potential substitutes.  Substitutes will be placed into two categories:  Classroom Proctors and Classroom Facilitators. In the event a classroom teacher is lab confirmed with COVID-19 or displays symptoms of COVID-19, then the teacher will follow the quarantine or isolation guidelines outlined in the school’s identified plan for safe re-opening. 
• If the classroom teacher is able to teach remotely, then a classroom proctor will be brought onto campus to supervise students while the classroom teacher teaches the content. The classroom proctor will then assist students with assignments and ensure the safety protocols are followed.
• If the classroom teacher is unable to teach remotely, then a classroom facilitator will be brought in to conduct teaching responsibilities. 

Staff Training

• As part of the Back to School Inservice Week, faculty and staff will be trained in related to COVID-19 prevention safety. In addition, staff will need to demonstrate knowledge mastery regarding this plan for the safe reopening of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School.

Recognize Signs and Symptoms 

• All staff members must report to the School Office before entering their classroom buildings for a health screening including a temperature check. Staff members arriving before 7:00 a.m. must report to the School Office at 7:00 a.m. If a staff member has a temperature of 100.4° or higher, then the staff member will not be allowed to come onto campus. 
• Temperature checks will be taken as students are being dropped off at school and then as they are entering the cafeteria for lunch.  If a student has a temperature between 99.5° and 100.3°, the student will be allowed onto campus, but a mid-morning temperature check will be taken to record their temperature.  If a student has a temperature of 100.4° or higher, then the student will not be allowed to come onto campus.  An exception will be made if a student’s pediatrician or family doctor, licensed in the State of Texas, indicates the student’s regular body temperature equal to 100.0°. A third temperature check will be taken for students participating in After School Care (ASC).

Sharing Facilities 

• Temporarily, the use of instructional areas used by the faculty, staff or students of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will be limited to those authorized to enter campus. The principal will coordinate with the Pastor to ensure this policy is respected. 

Support Coping and Reliance 

• Temporarily, the use of instructional areas used by the faculty, staff or students of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will be limited to those authorized to enter campus. The principal will coordinate with the Pastor to ensure this policy is respected. 

Preparing for When Someone Gets Sick

Advise Staff and Families When Someone Gets Sick

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will follow the established procedures for Individuals Confirmed, Suspected or Exposed to COVID-19 Returning to Campus.

Isolate and Transport Those Who Are Sick

• Blessed Sacrament Catholic School will require parents/guardians  to acknowledge that students should refrain from coming to campus if their student(s) demonstrate symptoms of COVID-19, have been lab-confirmed with COVID-19, or have had direct exposure.
• During the school day or after school care, the School office will be notified immediately if someone demonstrates symptoms of COVID-19 or becomes aware of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been exposed.    
• If the individual is a student, he or she will be immediately separated and sit in a designated and supervised area. The student’s parent/guardian will be contacted so they can pick-up their student. In the event the student cannot be picked up within 30 minutes, then the parent/guardian is asked to make arrangements for the student. The siblings of the student will be screened and if necessary sent home.
• If the individual is a faculty or staff member, then he or she will be sent home immediately.

Clean and Disinfect

• In the event an instructional area must be closed off due to a sick person, the class will be relocated to another instructional area for 48 hours. The infected area will be closed off and disinfected after 24 hours and again after 36 hours.

Notifying Health Officials and Close Contacts 

• Respecting established state and local laws and regulations, the principal will inform local health officials, the Department of Catholic Schools, staff, and families immediately of any COVID-19 cases at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

• School Safety Task Force

  • Name*
    First Last
  • Phone*
  • Email*
  • Enrollment Status*
    Prospective FamilyNew FamilyReturning Family
  • Comment, Question or Recommendation for the School Safety Task Force*

  Δ