The information here is not exhaustive, but rather provides parents with an overview of important information. We are working on many other facets relating to school reopening. This information may change at any time, as per direction from the Ministry of Education and/or Ottawa Public Health.
School organization
Students in each classroom cohort will remain separate at all times. Staff interactions between classes will be minimized whenever possible.
School program
We are defining a cohort as a group of children and the staff members assigned to them, who stay together throughout the day.
The cohort will consist of a maximum of 7 students, 1 classroom teacher, and 2 educational assistants. Each cohort will stay together throughout the day and will not be permitted to mix with other cohorts. In the case where a student requires nursing services, the nurse will become part of the classroom cohort.
Each cohort will come into contact with a maximum of 6 additional staff during the course of a school day. This will include:
- 1 teacher for Health/Physical Education (French), and
- 3 members of the therapy team (Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, and Speech and Language Pathologist).
All staff will be wearing appropriate PPE at all times.
Other professionals may form part of the cohort, for urgent matters only (i.e. therapists from the Clinic for Augmentative Communication, psychologist, behaviour therapists, etc.). Whenever possible, these services will be delivered in a consultative model only.
Students will remain in their classrooms for all subject areas throughout the school day. Students will have physical education scheduled everyday with their cohort. Outdoor learning, including physical education outdoor sessions, will be maximized daily.
Health and safety
| Cleaning |
- All surfaces have been sanitized throughout the school, and all area carpets have been removed.
- High-touch surfaces and items in common areas (e.g. doorknobs, light switches, handles, toilets, sinks, water faucets, counter tops) will be sanitized each day between 12:00pm and 12:30pm, and at closing in preparation for the next day.
- At all other times, when a surface is visibly dirty or after contact with body fluids (e.g. saliva), CHEO School staff will be responsible for cleaning and disinfecting the area. In the event of a large spill, Environmental Services will be contacted to sanitize the area.
- CHEO School staff will be responsible for sanitizing the playground equipment after morning use in preparation for the afternoon. Environmental Services staff will be responsible for the sanitizing of the playground at the end of the day in preparation for the following day.
- Tables will be washed, rinsed and disinfected regularly throughout the day. If the surface continues to be wet, it will be wiped dry with a single use paper towel.
- Chairs will be washed and disinfected regularly throughout the day.
- Toys, indoor and outdoor play equipment used for physical education/outdoor play will be disinfected after each use.
- Low-touch surfaces (e.g. floors, wall, and windowsills) will be sanitized at the end of each day in preparation for the following day.
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| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) |
- Staff will be required to wear PPE if physical distancing cannot be maintained (e.g. providing direct care to a student). Staff will then have to wear a mask and protective eye equipment. Staff members will be provided eye protection in the form of a face shield.
- Gloves will be worn when hands come into contact with a child exhibiting respiratory symptoms (not attributed to underlying condition) and when toileting students. Gloves are disposable and single use, and will be disposed of after the task is completed. Good hand hygiene is the line of defense and will be practiced as outlined by infection control.
- Masks are not recommended for kindergarten-aged children.
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| Screening |
- Parents will be required to prescreen themselves, as well as their children, prior to leaving for school each day. A screening tool will be provided to you in your child’s communication book.
- If anyone is displaying any signs or symptoms, you must:
- remain at home
- email anthompson@cheo.on.ca
- call the school at 613-737-7600, ext. 4320 (or ext. 2934 during office hours) to report your child’s absence, the reason for the absence, and the symptoms you and/or your child is experiencing.
- Parents are asked not to come into CHEO School unless there has been a specific request to do so. If a parent/guardian is asked to come into the building, you will have to complete the online entrance self-screening before arriving and you must enter at the main entrance of CHEO. Your screening will be validated and you will be asked to wear a mask which will be given to you at the screening desk. Anyone who does not pass the screening will be turned away. In the event that you are denied entry, you must call the school office to report that you have been turned away and the symptoms you are experiencing.
- If you arrive to pick up your child from CHEO School and are turned away for health reasons, you must call the school at 613-737-7600, ext. 2934 and request that a staff member bring your child to the school entrance to meet them.
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| Isolation of children and staff who become ill with symptoms of COVID-19 |
- Any staff member who becomes ill while at CHEO School will be asked to leave the premises immediately and go get tested for COVID-19.
- Any child who demonstrates symptoms of COVID-19 while at CHEO School will be immediately separated from others in a supervised area until they can be picked up by a parent/caregiver. Parents/caregivers or emergency contacts of a sick child will be notified to pick up your child as soon as possible.
- The staff member waiting with the child who presents symptoms of COVID-19, will wear face protection, gloves, and a gown, in addition to their mask. Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette will be practiced at all times.
- The area will be cleaned and disinfected immediately after the child with symptoms has been sent home.
- Staff and children who were exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be asked to self-isolate at home for 14 days.
- If a confirmed case of COVID-19 is detected within CHEO School, the school will be closed and undergo a thorough decontamination process.
- Staff/students who are being managed by Ottawa Public Health (e.g. confirmed cases of COVID- 19, household contacts of cases), should follow instructions from Ottawa Public Health to determine when to return to CHEO School.
- You and your child must isolate for 14 days or longer if any member of your family presents with symptoms.
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| Testing requirements |
- Symptomatic staff and children will be referred for testing.
- Testing of asymptomatic persons should only be performed as directed by Ottawa Public Health, as part of outbreak management.
- Those who test negative for COVID-19 will be excluded from the school until 24 hours after symptom resolution.
- Those who test positive for COVID-19 will be excluded from the school for 14 days after the onset of symptoms and clearance has been received from Ottawa Public Health.
- Two or more symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in staff members or students will be considered a confirmed COVID-19 outbreak, in consultation with Ottawa Public Health. Outbreaks will be declared in collaboration between CHEO's hospital, school, and Ottawa Public Health to ensure an outbreak number is provided.
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| Drop-off and pick-up procedures |
- Parents choosing to drive their child to school will have to arrive during their specified drop off/pick up time period (to be determined).
- Parents will not be allowed into the school building. CHEO School staff will meet parents/guardians at their car in the designated drop-off/pick-up area in order to greet the child and accompany them into the building, or to bring them to the car at the end of the day.
- Parents needing to pick up their child early are asked to inform the school ahead of time. When you arrive, please wait outside the school and call the office. We will bring your child out to you.
- If you are collecting your child for an appointment within CHEO's hospital, you will need to complete the online entrance self-screening before arriving and you must enter at the main entrance of CHEO. Your screening will be validated and you will be given a mask. You are then welcome to come through the hospital to the school office in order to collect your child.
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| Visitors |
- Non-essential visitors will not be permitted into CHEO School.
- Where possible, the use of video and/or telephone interviews will be used to interact with families, rather than in person.
- Ministry staff and other public officials (e.g. firemarshal, public health inspectors) will be permitted to enter for inspections at any reasonable time.
- Volunteers or students (college/university students, medical students, etc.) will not be allowed in the school during the reopening period.
- A log will be kept of all visitors entering CHEO School noting their name, contact information and the duration of the visit.
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| Reducing the risk of transmission during the school day |
- Staff who are unable to maintain physical distancing will wear PPE at all times when working with students.
- Group sensory play activities (sand/water table) will be suspended. Individual labelled sensory bins may be used.
- ‘No sharing’ will be reinforced where possible.
- Personal toys from home will not be allowed.
- Permitted personal items (extra clothes, lunch bag, water bottle, sunscreen) must be clearly labelled with each child's name. Any item that is not labelled will not be allowed into CHEO School.
- Individual activities will be increased to promote space between children.
- Students will be provided with their own book bins to choose from during the week. At the end of the week, these books will be removed from circulation for a period of time, before they are returned to the classroom.
- All puppets, plush toys, area rugs, and cushions will be removed from the classrooms.
- The use of the playground and gymnasium will be staggered. Only one class will have access to the school gymnasium per day, in order to allow for deep cleaning at the end of each day.
- Staff will supervise and ensure that children practice hand hygiene frequently, such as: before and after eating, after coming inside, after toileting or when hands are soiled.
- Students will eat in their classrooms with their cohort. Where possible, children will be asked to practice physical distancing while eating.
- Students will have recess in their classrooms with their cohort. If the class has access to the gymnasium, they may go there for all recesses that day. Outdoor play during recess will be encouraged.
- Students will be asked to bring their own cutlery. If school cutlery is used during lunchtime, it will be cleaned/disinfected in the dishwasher.
- Social distancing measures between cohorts will be maintained during unloading/loading buses each day.
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