COVID-19

OCS is studying guidance from a variety of sources including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and other medical and educational sources. OCS is also collaborating with other local school districts and private schools in the sharing of information and resources. 

We will communicate weekly through the Saints Weekly and send emails as needed to keep families aware of the current conditions in the school. FAQs will be updated regularly on the COVID-19 page of the OCS website. Parents may email questions or concerns to ocscovid@ocssaints.org

Yes. Our plan is to return to on-campus learning and keep our doors open this fall. Christian education is our mission and we believe it is best accomplished in-person, through relationship and personal interaction. However, as much as we want to return to on-campus learning, we must develop precautions to mitigate the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in our school community. 

The student will be required to quarantine and not return until the following criteria are met:
-3 days with no fever AND
-respiratory symptoms have improved AND
-10 days since symptoms first appeared

The employee will be required to quarantine and not return until the following criteria are met:
-3 days with no fever AND
-respiratory symptoms have improved AND
-10 days since symptoms first appeared

If a member of an OCS household tests positive for COVID-19, all members of that family may not return to the OCS campus for 14 days.

If a student becomes ill and presents any of the symptoms on the CDC symptom list, the student may not return to school without a note from a doctor or a negative COVID-19 test.

Our current plan is to only quarantine the student who tests positive. We will alert the parents of the students in closest proximity to the student who tested positive for COVID-19 (student names will not be released to protect confidentiality). At that time, parents may choose to self-quarantine their children and enter the blended learning option. 

We hope to stay open for the entire year. We realize that this is a dynamic situation and circumstances could change, however our current desire is to stay open. If circumstances become such that we are faced with going online, we will make that decision with great discretion, caution and with much prayer and discernment. OCS has a spiritual mission to deliver Christian education. We believe this mission is a tool in fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). Throughout the ages the Body of Christ has persevered and improvised to meet together – sometimes in very difficult circumstances. Therefore, we are not inclined to quickly cease on-campus operations without great consideration. Our blended learning model will make it possible for students to quarantine as needed, allowing the rest of the class to continue in-person. There will be no penalty for students to quarantine and learn online for a period of time. However, it is important to understand that a lack of instructors is a significant hindrance to staying open, as we experienced before Spring Break, when we were forced to take an early vacation due to a lack of teachers. 

No.

No. However, if the sick child tests positive, the siblings quarantine for 14 days, beginning the count on the first day the positive child presented symptoms. Nevertheless, as a courtesy, it would be appreciated if parents kept the siblings home until the sick student has been tested.

Yes. Any time a new household member gets sick with COVID-19 and you had close contact, you will need to restart your quarantine.

No. It is not certain that such testing would reduce the likelihood of spread within schools.

• Students in grades 4-12 are required to wear face coverings at all times, except while seated for instruction, eating, and participating in athletics or outside activities. Students in grades 6-12, who are collaborating in classroom activities in close proximity to others, may be required to wear face coverings, depending on the nature of the activity.

• Students in grades PK-3 are required to wear face coverings while entering and leaving school buildings, while traveling to other school buildings, and in carpool. 

All employees will be required to wear face coverings (face masks or protective shields) when interacting in an indoor setting with other adults or students. 

No gatherings larger than classroom size (16-24 students) will take place during the regular school day. No assemblies, chapels, or events will be held, unless students can be separated by a distance of 3-6 feet apart. (According to the AAP, evidence suggests that three feet of physical distancing may accomplish much of the benefit of six feet. Exceptions to this will be athletic practices and voluntary events such as football games. Faculty meetings will take place in rooms where social distancing is possible (auditorium, gym, cafeteria).

At this time, to limit risk of exposure, parents will not be able to conduct drop-in visits and must schedule an appointment. Every effort will be made to schedule meetings by phone or video conferencing.

Yes. Current guidance is to continue recess, with careful handwashing and disinfecting before and after recess. When possible, PE classes that would normally take place in the gym will take place in outdoor areas. 

Students will be assigned lockers by cohorts to reduce the need for hallway use across multiple areas of the building and to reduce the number of students congregating around locker areas.

Yes, however only touchless water bottle filling stations will be used. We will retrofit water fountains throughout campus with touchless filling stations and make the drinking spigots non-functional. 

We will go 1:1 on computers in the MS. HS students will be encouraged to bring their own laptop or device. In certain cases, computers will be wiped down and disinfected after each student use. We will eliminate all communal supplies (pencil sharpeners, markers, etc). 

We will move the check-in kiosks to the lobby in the HS; in the MS we will move the kiosk to the MS lobby (lost and found table); in the ES we will move the kiosk closer to the front doors.

No. Children may be less likely to present with fever as an initial symptom, therefore we will not conduct temperature checks of our entire student body. However, parents are asked to partner with the school by checking their child’s temperature daily, prior to coming to school. 

No. We don’t want to mask the symptoms of potential infected students. 

To avoid students and staff touching contaminated door handles, interior doors (not bathrooms) will be locked, but left open with a doorstop, so in the event of a lockdown, the doorstop can be removed quickly and the door secured. During high traffic times of the day, exterior doors will be opened and secured with a door stop, yet locked for security purposes. Exterior doors will not remain open unless there is an adult in close proximity who is able to close and secure the door in the event of a lock down. We will install bathroom door foot pulls when possible.

No. Food will not be shared during the COVID-19 crisis. Food served at class parties / birthday treats must be in store-bought, individually wrapped containers. 

Effort will be made to avoid large groups of students in one bathroom at a time.

Break will be organized in a way that reduces the size of large crowds.

Students and adults will be asked to walk on the right side of the hallway when feasible.

Yes. OCS will employ a daytime custodian to specifically handle ongoing cleaning and disinfectant. Our evening cleaning company has increased their level of service to accommodate COVID-19 conditions.

Yes, by the day custodian.

Hand sanitizing dispensers will be installed in each classroom prior to the start of school. Students and adults will be required to sanitize their hands anytime they leave or enter a classroom or office. Students who are allergic must bring an alternative product for hand sanitizing.

No. The CDC guidance is to not use UV lights in a school setting due to additional health risks.

OCS has no current plans to purchase and install air purifying units or modify our HVAC system in buildings.

Staff will practice specific cleaning procedures in their work spaces and classrooms. The day custodian will continually clean and disinfect common areas during the day. 

Yes. We have built in time between classes to wipe down equipment. 

“Meet the Teacher” and “Schedule Pick-up will be handled in small group format.

 It is unlikely. Principals will assess the COVID-19 situation and context of potential overnight trips before scheduling any off-site activities.

No. There are too many unknowns to commit to January international mission trips.

We are checking on the possibilities of moving ahead, understanding the possibility of the trip not being feasible. We are investigating details related to account deposits and refund policies. 

It is unlikely. Principals will assess the COVID-19 situation and context of potential field trips before scheduling any off-site activities. 

Yes, however no parents or siblings will be able to attend and procedures will be provided to provide food in a safe manner.

All food brought to the school for parties must be store bought and individually wrapped.

High school community service has been temporarily suspended for the year due to the prohibitive nature of COVID-19 precautions. 

At this time we are expecting to have athletics. OCS will follow the recommendations of the OSSAA as to schedules, practice and game restrictions. 

Yes. OCS will follow the recommendations of the OSSAA to allow students to play. 

Yes. However we will only serve pre-packaged items. Chick-fil-A sandwiches will be served because it will be pre-packaged coming to OCS and follows their standards for food handling. 

Students athletes will not be penalized or disciplined for guaranteeing, however coaches will play the players who are most prepared to play competitively.

Face coverings will not be mandatory outdoors for fans, however face coverings will be mandatory for inside athletic events; we will pull out both sets of indoor bleachers for volleyball; plexiglass will positioned between the gate attendant and the guests; entrance fees will be dropped in a box, gate workers will have cash ready for change and use gloves; hand sanitizer will be available at the gates; only pre-packaged concessions will be sold.

We will attempt to physically distance students on busses if possible.

OCS will inform opposing teams when we become aware of positive cases before upcoming games (without using the name of the student athlete). We will decide along with the opposing school administration if a game should be played on a case by case basis.

We are allowing fans for all athletic events. Masks are mandatory for indoor athletic events. Masks are not mandatory for outdoor athletic events, but are highly encouraged. Fans should social distance while attending all events. Hand sanitizer will be available.

Athletes are not required to wear masks while playing or sitting on the bench. However, if they are watching a game from the stands at an indoor athletic event, they are required to wear a mask. 

These policies are in effect for OCS facilities. Each school may have different policies. We encourage you to have masks with you when visiting opposing schools. The only school that we are aware of that is not allowing fans is Oakdale Middle School.

We are broadcasting all middle school, junior varsity, and varsity athletic events in our gym and our football field with a subscription to the NFHS network. Click here to subscribe.

No. This would create too learning inconsistencies between the students who come on different schedules.

Yes. OCS will follow the current policies for withdrawal and readmission.

Since instruction will be delayed by approximately two days, there may be some content that students have not been introduced to. As in the case with a normal absence, the teacher will work with the parents to make sure the student will be on target and gain any needed content and skills up re-entry to on-campus learning.

We will continue to wear chapel dress, so students don’t get out of the habit and feel entitled to no longer wearing it. 

We will continue policies in the Student Handbook. Blended Learning students will be counted as present unless parents inform the office of extended illness or a worsening degree of symptoms.

We will heavily recruit substitute teachers prior to the start of school, emphasizing the importance of this vital factor in keeping instruction in-person. Depending on the number of absent students in each grade level, classes may be combined if feasible for a short time, until quarantined teachers return or substitutes are available.