Together, we must encourage everyone in the school and our community to practice ALL COVID-19 preventive behaviors as shared in the regularly updated guidance from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). Preventative behaviors are evolving, requiring all of us to be receptive and attuned to new and changing SFDPH guidance. Based on this guidance, we must adapt, modify and even suspend common pre-COVID-19 activities. Implementing new social practices is often uncomfortable and challenging, but essential to support the health of the greater community. This is our critical work in these times, and each of us is responsible to engage in the work of elevating community safety and practicing preventative behaviors.
For Golden Bridges School, our community’s practice of preventative behaviors reduces risk for our school community, expands our capability to be together for in-person instruction, and centers student and teacher health. Ultimately, our decisions made outside of school life, including: to ask clarifying questions with openness, to stay informed around developing guidance, to encourage progress with compassion and kindness, and practice preventative behaviors, influences the health of the greater community.
When in community, SFDPH preventative behaviors for San Francisco include: wearing face coverings, practicing physical distancing, and practicing proper hand hygiene. These basic directives are well-known and clear AND are supported by further more detailed directives around symptom response, testing, gathering, travel, and quarantine and isolation. Following this guidance requires significant changes in common behaviors, including: how we care for ourselves and those around us, how we gather (and when we should not), how we travel (and when we should not), and how to keep ourselves, our families, and others safer when engaging in these activities.
When at school, these same preventative behaviors apply, AND we follow specific and detailed SFDPH school guidance to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. The SFDPH works in direct partnership with schools, and our school, to support safety. Golden Bridges School welcomes ALL questions and is available to help our community understand and navigate the latest guidance.
We start each day with safety, and students and staff may not come to school, and the Director of Operations MUST BE NOTIFIED, if they have: COVID-19 symptoms, had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, have been diagnosed with or tested positive for COVID-19. We are ready and available to help you navigate complicated scenarios and identify next steps and can be reached at (415) 912-8666 AND healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.
Golden Bridges School follows SFDPH School Guidance for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19. When the school receives notification of symptoms, close contacts, and confirmed COVID-19 cases, GBS supports communication around isolation and quarantine, contact tracing, plans for return to school, and shares essential COVID-19 Advisory notifications.
Before students arrive at school each day, parents, caregivers, and guardians must complete a daily health check for students. As SFDPH advises, “If your child is even a “little bit” sick, STAY HOME!” Teachers and staff must complete a daily health check before arrival to work. The school will conduct a second daily health check of students upon arrival for in-person instruction.
COVID-19 has a wide range of symptoms – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, and include:
Fever or chills OR a temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
Sore throat
New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (for students with chronic allergic / asthmatic cough, a change in cough from the baseline)
Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
Golden Bridges School Community Pledge
When in community, my family pledges to follow the guidance, including:
Wearing face coverings, which keep people from spreading the infection to others, by trapping respiratory droplets before they can travel through the air. Wear a face covering when you are within 6 feet of people who don’t live with you.
Getting tested promptly, if students or staff have symptoms of COVID-19. Family members of students and staff should get tested promptly, before spreading infection to students and staff.
Avoiding gatherings with individuals not in our householdand, when a special gathering is required, adhering to the SFDPH guidance for small gatherings.
Quarantining for 14-days after last exposure, if close contact with a COVID-19 case. SFDPH: “Close contact is defined as any close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes within 6ft.”
Isolating for 10 days after the first COVID-19 symptoms took place, if COVID-19 symptoms without a COVID-19 test. A COVID-19 test is strongly recommended and a negative COVID-19 test AND improved symptoms, is usually the fastest way for a student to return to school.
Physically distancing and limiting nonessential gatherings and travel during this pandemic, to the extent possible. The more people gather and travel, the more interactions people have. The more interactions people have with people outside their household, the greater the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.
Getting a flu shot this Fall. The San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) strongly recommends that everyone ages six months and older get their yearly flu vaccine. With COVID-19 and the upcoming flu season overlapping, health officials say it's more important than ever to get vaccinated against influenza this year. For more information, contact your healthcare provider.
Following quarantine orders after travel outside of the San Francisco Bay Area.SFDPH recommends you quarantine for 14 days upon return to San Francisco, if during your travels you interact within 6 feet of individuals outside your household when you or those around you are not wearing face coverings at all times.
When at school, my family pledges to follow the guidance, including:
Completing a daily health check for students each day before students arrive at school.
Actively monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms, and not attending school if ANY symptoms.
Informing the School immediately(within one hour of learning of the test result) if your child tests positive or has an inconclusive test result and providing documentation of the positive or inconclusive result within 48 hours. Contact the GBS Director of Operations or the GBS Administrative Director at (415) 912-8666 and healthandsafety@goldenbridgesschool.org.
Notifying the school and staying homeif any household member (1) has a positive or inconclusive COVID-19 test, (2) has a loss of sense of taste or smell within the last 10 days and have not been tested for COVID-19 or are awaiting testing result, or (3) has unexplained fever and cough/shortness of breath and has had close contact in the last 14 days with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Wearing a face covering for all school activities.Staff, students and visitors may not enter the campus, the farm, or outdoor instruction space unless wearing a face covering. Face coverings are required for adults who are dropping off or picking up children in person.
Carpooling, when needed, with the same stable group of people.Everyone in the vehicle should wear a face covering and windows should be open to maximize outdoor air circulation, when feasible.
Promptly responding to school notifications and directions.Students with symptoms of COVID-19 will need to be picked up and are encouraged to get tested as soon as possible. Students cannot attend school until they have met the conditions required to return to school. Contact your regular doctor or clinic for advice. Partner with the GBS Director of Operations or the GBS Administrative to develop a plan, share important updates, and determine a date to return to school.
Our Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Norms and Community Pledge represent our shared understanding and acknowledgement of what is expected to attend in-person instruction.
