SAFELY ON CAMPUS GUIDELINES
Masks
All students, staff, parents, and visitors are required to wear masks indoors. Masks are optional while outdoors but may be required in certain circumstances (large gatherings). Masks are required for all passengers and drivers on busses or school vans. Some may choose to wear a mask and to physically distance based on personal comfort even when not required.
In limited situations where a mask cannot be used for pedagogical or developmental reasons, a face shield with a drape can be used while indoors, as long as the wearer maintains a 6-foot physical distance from others.
An acceptable face covering is a clean, properly fitting two-layer face mask that covers the nose and mouth. We ask that face coverings do not include words or images which could be disruptive, scary, or controversial. Patterns are fine. If you need a mask while on campus, please come to the Main House Front Office or High School Office. Disposable masks are available.
Vaccines
Although a large majority of the Oak Grove staff and faculty are already fully vaccinated, we require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This update to our mitigation policy is in line with the community standard established by our peer schools, the recommendations of the CDC, and Ventura County Public Health.
We request parents share their high school students’ COVID-19 vaccine card if they are vaccinated. This information remains confidential. This reduces the burden on the school and allows us to implement a strategic response to potential transmissions and contact tracing should it be needed.
Daily Health Screening
Staff, students, and families self-monitor at home for signs and symptoms of illness. If signs or symptoms of any illness develop, all staff, students, and families follow the sick policy as outlined below.
Attendance
The attendance policy in all grades is designed to encourage students to stay home should they have any symptoms associated with illness.
Sick Policy
It is important to protect the school community from illness, and that means staying home when you have any signs or symptoms of illness. A wide range of symptoms is associated with many illnesses, including COVID-19. Symptoms include:
If you experience any of the below symptoms, stay home. You may return to campus once you have met the following criteria:
- At least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications (e.g. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc); and
- Are symptom-free; and
- You have a negative molecular test (PCR, LAMP, NAAT) for SARS-CoV-2, (submit your proof of negative covid test below), OR
- a healthcare provider has provided documentation that the symptoms are typical of their underlying chronic condition (e.g. allergies or asthma), OR
- a healthcare provider has confirmed an alternative named diagnosis (e.g. Streptococcal pharyngitis, Coxsackie virus), OR
- at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset.
| Fever or chills | Cough |
| Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing | Fatigue |
| Muscle or body aches | Headache |
| New loss of taste or smell | Sore throat |
| Congestion or runny nose | Nausea or vomiting |
| Diarrhea |
Fresh Air
To ensure fresh airflow, all indoor classrooms and offices keep open doors and windows, even when HVAC is running. Air filters are cleaned and replaced frequently.
Travel for All Families and Staff
Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to self-quarantine following domestic or international travel.
Unvaccinated travelers (including children under 12) should take a COVID-19 test 3-5 days after travel. Even if you test negative, self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. If you do not take a COVID-19 test, self-quarantine for a full 10 days after travel.
Mitigation for Students and Staff
Guidelines
In order to keep the teachers and students safe on campus, Oak Grove School follows the guidance of California Public Health Department, Community Care Licencing, Cal/OSHA, and Ventura County Public Health.
Monitoring
Teachers and staff monitor students throughout the day for any signs of illness, as outlined by the CDC and CDPH. Teachers send symptomatic individuals to the infirmaries available in Main House and High School. Parents/guardians are contacted immediately for an early pick-up.
Mitigation
Oak Grove’s staff uses N95 or surgical/procedure masks when caring for sick students or staff (community members). Students or staff with a temperature of 99.5 F or higher, a cough, or other COVID-19 symptoms, after isolating from the general cohort population, are sent home. COVID-19 testing is recommended.
Measures outlined on CDPH’s COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School Year will be followed when a student, teacher, or staff member has symptoms, is in contact with someone infected, or is diagnosed with COVID-19.
Reporting, Identification, and Tracing
Oak Grove has two designated VCPH Liaisons. If a community member is confirmed with a COVID-19 case infection, a School Liaison notifies VCPH, isolates the case, and excludes the person from school premises per the quarantine period outlined by VCPH. VCPH and School Liaisons, separately and/or in cooperation with County Health, identify contacts, recommend quarantine, and exclude exposed contacts (i.e the entire cohort) per VCPH’s guidance. VCPH and the School Liaisons recommend testing of contacts and prioritize symptomatic contacts (this will not shorten the required quarantine). The campus maintenance team disinfects and cleans the classroom and primary spaces where the case spent significant time (more than 15 minutes). School may remain open. Oak Grove staff will inform all community members who have been in contact with a confirmed case.
If a community member has symptoms associated with COVID-19 but receives a negative test result, they may return to the school campus once they meet the criteria for returning to campus outlined under the Sick Policy above.
Known Exposure to Someone with COVID-19
Quarantine for vaccinated individuals:
- Asymptomatic individuals do not need to quarantine.
- Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
- If a fully vaccinated person tests positive, follow the guidelines from CDPH and VCPH and/or the School Liaison regarding isolation and quarantine.
Quarantine for unvaccinated individuals:
- Exposures when both parties were wearing a mask, as required in K-12 indoor settings. These are adapted from the CDC K-12 guidance and CDC definition of a close contact.
- When both parties were wearing a mask in the indoor classroom setting, unvaccinated students who are close contacts (more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period within 0-6 feet indoors) may undergo a modified 10-day quarantine as follows. They may continue to attend school for in-person instruction if they:
- Are asymptomatic;
- Continue to appropriately mask, as required
- Undergo at least twice weekly testing during the 10-day quarantine; and
- Continue to quarantine for all extracurricular activities at school, including sports and activities within the community setting.
- When both parties were wearing a mask in the indoor classroom setting, unvaccinated students who are close contacts (more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period within 0-6 feet indoors) may undergo a modified 10-day quarantine as follows. They may continue to attend school for in-person instruction if they:
- Exposures when both parties were not wearing masks or for whom the infected individual was not wearing a mask during the indoor exposure:
- If you remain asymptomatic, meaning you have not had any symptoms, you may discontinue self-quarantine under the following conditions:
- Quarantine can end after day 10 from the date of last exposure without testing.
- If any symptoms develop during the 14-day period following exposure, the exposed person must immediately isolate, get tested, and contact their healthcare provider with any questions regarding their care.
- If you remain asymptomatic, meaning you have not had any symptoms, you may discontinue self-quarantine under the following conditions:
Disinfecting
Play equipment, classroom surfaces, and high touchpoints (doorknobs, light switches, etc.) are disinfected while students are not present.
Disinfectants are listed on the EPA list N for use against SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19). Maintenance is currently using several products to meet the disinfecting needs of the campus. All disinfectants DO NOT contain phosphates or harsh chemicals; all disinfectants are eco-friendly, several are biodegradable, and one is botanically derived.
Testing
We are currently reviewing the school’s testing program and will make an update to the mitigation plan once it is finalized.
Moving to Remote
Although our objective is to be on campus together, we will toggle onto remote learning when we are unable to provide a learning environment on campus that is safe for our students. Possible reasons to move to remote learning:
- Confirmed positive case of COVID-19 within the community
- A significant percentage of teachers absent
- A significant percentage of students absent
- Stay-at-Home orders issued by the government
