Health and Safety Plan

Golden Bridges School operations follow the guidance of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

We appreciate our community’s responsiveness as we share information essential to our Golden Bridges School operations and will continue to keep our community updated as to current guidance, offering supplemental information and resources as they become available.

Golden Bridges School Mission

Golden Bridges School offers an innovative, place-based education steeped in the urban outdoors of the southern neighborhoods of San Francisco.  With a passionate commitment to the development of the whole human being, we strive to harmonize the physical, emotional, and intellectual life of each child. ​By bringing developmentally appropriate academic rigor through hands-on experience, nourishment of the imagination, care for the earth, and a commitment to social justice, we equip our students with the tools to become free-thinking, moral human beings. ​

In-Person Instruction

Golden Bridges School is prepared to take many paths to support our community.

We have small stable student cohorts. We have large classrooms with operable windows and large adjacent outdoor areas to support instruction. We have a school farm, large campus with adjacent outdoor areas, a three hundred acre park next door, and all of our teachers are qualified and experienced in teaching class in outdoor settings. We have a parent community who is practiced in sending their children to school in outdoor gear - ready for rain or shine.

During periods when public health and safety guidance supports in-person instruction, modified Distance Learning systems support Continuity of Education for students attending class from home.

Our teachers are prepared to welcome their students into their classrooms. Whether their students are attending from home or in-person we are grateful for the opportunity to be together again.

School Health and Safety Plan Overview
Following public health and safety guidance, Golden Bridges School will:

  • Monitor public health indicators¹
  • Follow SFDPH, CDPH and CDC guidance for COVID-19 prevention and mitigation¹
  • Prioritize in-person instruction when public health and safety guidance and SFDPH supports in-person instruction¹
  • Maintain Community Engagement around school operations, health and safety practices and GBS Community Health and Safety Norms¹ 
  • Support Continuity of Education for all students on-campus and at-home¹
  • Encourage and expect adherence to GBS Community Health and Safety Norms¹
  • Require health screening for all teachers, staff, students and visitors, which may include temperature checks¹
  • Require that all individuals, including staff and students of all ages, must wear face coverings over both their nose and mouth while at school/on campus.¹
  • We have developed a plan for organizing students and staff into small groups (cohorting) that remain together while social distancing, with limited mixing between groups (all school day for young students, and as much as possible for older students).¹ ² ³
  • GBS will provide ongoing education to our students and staff around required hand hygiene practices.¹
  • When public health and safety guidance and SFDPH requires for in-person instruction, implement testing plans for staff, students and families¹
  • Consult with SFDPH in the event of a COVID-19 exposure¹
  • Notify individuals of closures and restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 exposure.³​
  • SFDPH Health Check Handout
  • SFDPH Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine

Our GBS response to a specific COVID-19 exposure will be informed by consultation with the SFDPH Schools and Childcare Hub. The SFDPH will help the school determine if the classroom, cohort, or school needs to be closed. Schools with smaller and more contained cohorts are less likely to require school-wide closure.¹​

​The Director of Operations for Golden Bridges School is designated to respond to all COVID-19 concerns and can be contacted by email at adam@goldenbridgesschool.org or by phone at (415) 912-8666.¹ ² ³​
School Health and Safety Plan

​Policy and Procedure
We monitor and follow guidance from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other regulatory agency policies and orders, relevant to our operations. Public health orders, regulations and other school requirements are extensive, detailed and we work to support transparency by sharing visibility to the comprehensive source documents that inform our policy and procedure when available.
​
  • We follow San Francisco SFDPH orders, consulting with SFDPH around school operations, as needed.¹ ² ³
  • The Director of Operations for Golden Bridges School is designated to respond to all COVID-19 concerns and can be contacted by email at adam@goldenbridgesschool.org or by phone at (415) 912-8666.¹ ² ³
  • We will ask all persons entering the building or campus about symptoms and exposure to COVID-19, including staff, students, parents/caregivers, contractors, visitors, and government officials. Emergency personnel responding to a 9-1-1 call are exempted.¹
  • Adults with symptoms or exposure to COVID-19 are not allowed on campus. Students with symptoms will be sent home. We will keep students who are waiting to be picked up in a designated isolation area or room.¹ ³
  • GBS policies encourage sick staff members to stay at home without fear of job loss or other consequences and protect their privacy, particularly for those with underlying medical conditions and at higher risk for severe illness.¹ ² ³
  • We will limit non-essential visitors and avoid allowing parents and family members into classrooms and other student areas.¹​
  • We offer options (e.g., telework or virtual learning opportunities) for staff and students at higher risk for severe illness.¹ ² ³
  • We offer flexible sick leave policies and practices.¹ ² ³
  • We cross-train staff and maintain a roster of trained back-up staff.¹ ² ³
  • We will conduct daily health checks (e.g., temperature screening and/or symptom checking) of staff and students, in accordance with any applicable health orders, privacy laws, and regulations.¹ ² ³
  • We have developed a plan for organizing students and staff into small groups (cohorting) that remain together while social distancing, with limited mixing between groups (all school day for young students, and as much as possible for older students).¹ ² ³
  • We have protocols to limit contact among small groups and with other students’ guardians (e.g., staggered arrival and drop-off times or locations).¹ ² ³
  • We have a plan for if someone gets sick or shows symptoms of COVID-19.¹ ² ³ 
  • We have a protocol to ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaners and disinfectants, including storing products securely away from students.³
  • We will provide physical guides, such as tape on floors and signs on walls, to promote social distancing.³
  • We will space seating at least 6 feet apart and turn desks to face in the same direction.³
  • Staff within schools should stay 6 feet from other adults as much as possible.¹
  • Staff should stay 6 feet away from students when feasible.¹
  • Students should ideally stay 6 feet apart. When space is limited, 3-6 foot distancing in the classroom is permissible.¹
  • Staff desks will be 6 feet away from student desks.¹
  • During group activities, playtime and recess, physical distancing may be relaxed for students in stable classroom cohorts who are wearing face coverings.¹ 
  • We will increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible throughout the school day (e.g., opening windows and doors when it is safe to do so).³
  • We will prioritize outdoor settings for instruction, when applicable.
  • We will monitor and ensure adequate supplies to minimize sharing of objects, or limit use to one group of students at a time, and clean and disinfect between use.³
  • We will encourage organizations that share the school facilities to follow these considerations. Cornerstone Academy and Golden Bridges have a close working relationship to ensure we are aware of the policies and procedures of each educational organization.³
  • We will adhere to and review protocols to limit contact between small groups and with other students’ guardians.³
  • We will ensure small groups maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet to avoid mixing between groups, if possible.¹ ² ³
  • We will ensure students eat in separate areas or with their small group.³
  • We will ensure each student’s belongings are separated from others’ and in individually labeled containers, cubbies, or designated areas.³
  • We will ensure limited sharing of toys, books, and other games or learning aids, and clean and disinfect between users.¹ ² ³

Facilities
  • We will maintain supplies including: soap, hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), paper towels, tissues, cleaning and disinfection supplies, face coverings for staff (and backups for students), no-touch trash cans, no-touch soap/hand sanitizer dispensers, disposable food service items (when applicable), and as part of our response we upgraded many restrooms, including the installation of nineteen no-touch faucets and eight no-touch flush valves for our new bathrooms.³
  • We have scheduled increased routine cleaning and disinfection in collaboration with maintenance staff, including areas such as the following:  frequently touched surfaces (e.g., desks, door handles, railings, communal spaces (e.g., restrooms) and shared objects (e.g., gym equipment, art supplies, games).³
  • We will monitor, assess and support the ability of staff, students, and families to obtain cloth face coverings for everyday use.³
  • We will monitor safe and correct use and storage of cleaners and disinfectants, including storing products securely away from students.³
  • We will ensure that there is adequate ventilation when cleaners and disinfectants are used to prevent students or staff from inhaling toxic fumes.³
  • We will ensure seating is spaced at least 6 feet apart, when possible, and that desks remain facing the same direction.³
  • We will increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible throughout the school day (e.g., opening windows and doors when it is safe to do so).³
  • We will ensure adequate supplies (e.g., writing utensils, art supplies) to minimize sharing of frequently touched surfaces and shared objects, and monitor cleaning and disinfecting between use.³

Education and Training
  • We will educate staff, students, and their families about when they should stay home if they have COVID-19 symptoms, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are waiting for test results, or have been exposed to someone with symptoms or a confirmed or suspected case, and when they can return to school.³
  • We will educate staff on flexible work and leave policies that encourage sick staff members to stay at home without fear of job loss or other consequences.³
  • We will teach and incorporate into daily instruction the importance of hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.³
  • We will teach and incorporate into daily instruction the importance of social distancing and staying with small groups, if applicable.³
  • We will provide information on proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings.³
  • We will train staff on all safety protocols.³
  • We will conduct training virtually or maintain social distancing during training.³

Communication and Messaging
  • Golden Bridges School Health and Safety Plan is based on guidance received from the SFDPH, CDPH and CDC. Updates to support evolving public health guidance will be shared with our community and available on our Community Engagement webpage.
  • Community Health and Safety Norms will be included in Fall back-to-school paperwork and the document represents our shared understanding as a community around health and safety practices that support in-person instruction, when supported by health and safety guidance.
  • We have posted signs in highly visible locations to promote everyday protective measures and describe how to stop the spread of germs.³

Gatherings, Visitors, and Events
  • We will identify opportunities to pursue virtual group events, gatherings, or meetings, if possible, and develop a protocol to limit those where social distancing cannot be maintained.³
  • We will limit nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations as much as possible—especially those who are not from the local geographic area (e.g., community, town, city, country).³
  • We will identify opportunities to pursue virtual activities and events, such as field trips, student assemblies, special performances, school-wide parent meetings, if possible.³
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Preparing for when Someone Gets Sick
  • We will make sure staff and families know they should not come to school, and that they should notify school officials if they have COVID-19 symptoms, are diagnosed with COVID-19, are waiting for test results, or have been exposed to someone with symptoms or a confirmed or suspected case.³
  • We require that all staff self-report to administrators if they have symptoms of COVID-19, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are waiting for test results, or were exposed to someone with COVID-19 within the last 14 days.³
  • We will provide prompt notification of closures and restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.³
  • We have a designated area to separate anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms or who has tested positive but does not have symptoms.³
  • We will maintain vigilant observation and support staff, students, and families experiencing trauma or challenges related to COVID-19.³

When Someone Gets Sick
We will immediately separate individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or who test positive for COVID-19.³ 

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

SFDPH Health Check Parent Handout
SFDPH Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine

Students and staff must not attend school if they have any of the symptoms listed above. This is a community-wide expectation and agreement shared in our GBS Health and Safety Norms.

  • If necessary, we will arrange transport of a sick individual(s) to a healthcare facility, depending on how severe their symptoms are. If calling an ambulance or bringing someone to a healthcare facility, we will alert them ahead that the person may have COVID-19.³
  • We will close off areas used by a sick person and do not use these areas until after cleaning and disinfecting them (for outdoor areas, this includes surfaces or shared objects in the area, if applicable).³
  • We will advise sick individuals that they should not return to school until they have met CDC’s criteria to discontinue home isolation.³
  • In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, we will notify local health officials, staff, and families of cases of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).³
  • We will notify individuals of closures and restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 exposure.³
  • We will advise those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home, self-monitor for symptoms, and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.³
  • We will wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible. Ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaning and disinfection products, including storing them securely away from children.³

After Someone Gets Sick
  • In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, we will notify SFDPH, staff, and families of cases of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).³
  • We will notify individuals of closures and restrictions put in place due to COVID-19 exposure.³
  • We will advise those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home, self-monitor for symptoms, and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.³
  • We will wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, wait as long as possible. Ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaning and disinfection products, including storing them securely away from children.³

SFDPH Health Check Parent Handout
SFDPH Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine

Public Health Guidance Informing Policy
¹​San Francisco Department of Public Health
²California Department of Public Health
³Centers for Disease Control and Prevention