COVID-19
Information and resources
Valley Oak Charter is committed to continuing to provide dynamic, student-centered programming that takes into consideration the health and safety of all members of our community. Site-based activities will resume when permitted with a variety of procedures in place to ensure that students, staff, and parents follow the directions of the medical and state authorities and be confident in knowing that their school is a safe environment in which to grow and learn. For up to date information on California Guidelines as it relates to education please visit https://covid19.ca.gov/education/
Please let us know if you or your family has had a positive COVID-19 test. You can email covid19@valleyoakcharter.org. Your information will be kept private.
How is COVID-19 spread?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
What are the symptoms of COVID-19
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
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
How can families help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
It’s especially important to wash:
Before eating or preparing food
Before touching your face
After using the restroom
After leaving a public place
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After handling your cloth face covering
After changing a diaper
After caring for someone sick
After touching animals or pets
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact
Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
Everyone should wear a cloth face cover in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
Do NOT use a face mask meant for a healthcare worker. Currently, surgical masks and N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other first responders.
Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
Cover coughs and sneezes
Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
Throw used tissues in the trash.
Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Clean and disinfect
Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants
will work.
Monitor Your Health Daily
Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
Especially important if you are running essential errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.
Take your temperature if symptoms develop.
Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
Face mask requirements and information
Face coverings must be used in accordance with CDPH guidelines unless a person is exempt as explained in the guidelines, particularly in indoor environments and areas where physical distancing alone is not sufficient to prevent disease transmission.
Face coverings are strongly encouraged for young children between two years old and second grade, if they can be worn properly. A face shield is an acceptable alternative for children in this cohort who cannot wear them properly.
In order to comply with this guidance, schools must exclude students from campus if they are not exempt from wearing a face covering under CDPH guidelines and refuse to wear one provided by the school.
Students exempted from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition should wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits it.
What should I do when a student has symptoms, is in contact with someone infected, or is diagnosed with COVID-19?
COVID-19 Symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing):
Stay home
Report symptoms to <enter appropriate email>
Close contact with a confirmed COVID19 case:
Stay home
Quarantine for 14 days from last exposure
Testing is recommended but will not shorten 14- day quarantine.
Contact <enter appropriate email> to notify staff of exposure
Confirmed COVID-19 case infection:
Notify the local public health department <enter appropriate email>
Stay home for 10 days from symptom onset or test date.
Your student may return to school 3 days after symptoms resolve
All information will be kept confidential as required under FERPA and state law related to privacy of educational records..
What is Valley Oak Charter doing to prevent the spread and transmission of COVID-19?
The staff at VOC is dedicated to providing a learning space that is supportive and safe. In order to maintain the safety of our community which includes family and staff, VOC has implemented the following safety protocol.
Valley Oak Charter has assigned liaisons who will be evaluating and adapting safety protocols on a regular basis to reflect any updates in guidance.
Plans for distance learning have been established and will be available in the event of any repeated school closures.
Staff will reinforce washing hands, avoiding contact with one's eyes, nose, and mouth, and covering coughs and sneezes.
Individual student supplies will be provided in labeled containers that are not shared among students. These containers and the materials they contain will be regularly disinfected.
Staff will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily and, as practicable, these surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day.
All cleaning products and disinfectants used are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Staff will promote physical distancing and the use of facial coverings.
Health screenings will be implemented upon arrival at school for both students and staff.
To reduce possibilities for infection, students will remain in the same space and cohort including for free time. Teachers will be assigned to each cohort.
Outdoor spaces will be used as much as possible.
Nonessential visitors and volunteers will be limited.