Our Commitment to Keeping Students Safe
At Oakland, our commitment to keeping students safe is unwavering. So to ensure the health and wellbeing of our valued students, families, and staff, we have developed a detailed School Day Safety Protocol based on recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control, US Department of Education, and the Virginia Department of Health. Our staff will continue to monitor guidelines and update the Protocol in accordance with new recommendations.
Following this Protocol, Oakland remained 100% COVID-free during our five-week in-person summer camp, a standard we will strive to achieve for the duration of Winter School. However, we recommend that our families consult with their own physicians regarding whether it is safe for their child to attend our program. We will require every family to execute a permission/waiver form prior to attending their first day.
Our School Day Safety Protocol is summarized below for your reference.
Social Distancing
Staff, parents, and students will practice social distancing by maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from non-family members at all times.
Personal Item
Each student will be asked to bring the items outlined below.
- Backpack
- Water bottle
- Picnic-style blanket or cushion for sitting
- At least one face mask
- A pair of reusable gloves (utilized for some activities)
- Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content
- Horseback riding gear
Throughout the day your child will have designated places in which to store their personal items and each student will be instructed not to touch others’ belongings.
Daily Drop-Off & Arrival
Upon arrival, each student’s temperature will be taken by the nurse or a staff member while s/he is still in the car. If the student’s temperature is 100 degrees or above, the student will be asked to stay home until s/he is fever-free for 72 hours and has obtained a doctor’s note indicating it is safe to return to campus.
No parents will be permitted outside of their car without a face mask.
Staff will have their temperatures checked every day upon arriving to Oakland and will adhere to the same guidelines as outlined for students above.
Academic Instruction
The CDC has indicated that activities are safer if they are held outdoors, which is why we are prepared to be outside as much as possible.
- Canopies have been installed to limit sun exposure.
- Each student will have their own materials, including assigned clipboards and/or whiteboards for writing exercises.
- Desks, doorknobs, and other materials will be sanitized between classes.
- Hands will be sanitized before and after every class.
If we must be inside, due to weather or other circumstances, we will adhere to the applicable guidelines outlined above, as well as the following:
- Windows and doors will stay open for fresh air.
- Desks will be appropriately spaced.
- Teachers will wear face shields or guards for daily one-on-one instruction sessions.
- All staff and students will wear masks inside.
Riding Lessons
Oakland’s included riding program has been an integral component of our social and emotional curriculum for more than 60 years, and we are pleased to be able to offer this physically-engaging, stress-reducing activity under the following safety guidelines:
- Riders will use a rain protector on his or her saddle for each lesson.
- Riders will have his or her own assigned hook for personal gear.
- Riders will have his or her own assigned grooming kit. Changing areas will be appropriately distanced.
- Staff will handle all tacking-up and wiping down of reins between lessons.
Dining
Included in tuition, Oakland’s lunch program offers a daily respite from our rigorous academic programs and an opportunity for students and teachers alike to gather and socialize, now under these new protocols:
- Diners will wash hands before and after every meal.
- Diners will fill personal water bottles prior to meals in lieu of using shared pitchers.
- An extra hand-washing station will be set up outside the dining room.
- Masks will be worn inside until sitting down to eat.
- Diners will follow way-finding floor signage when going through the serving line to ensure proper social distancing.
- All plates and utensils will be disposable.
- The salad bar will be condensed and will be served by a designated dining employee.
- Diners may sit inside or on the screened-in porch.Staff will direct diners where to sit based on proper social distancing measures.
- All areas will be sanitized between meals.
Wellness Checks
Any student or staff who feels sick will be required to immediately see the nurse and have their temperature taken. If it is above 100 degrees and/or if the individual has difficulty breathing, a persistent cough, or other flu-like symptoms as outlined by the CDC, the individual will need to go home until fever-free for 72 hours and with a doctor’s note indicating it is safe to return to campus.
If any student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, whether symptoms are evident or not, the individual will be required to quarantine at home for a minimum of 14 days. If the individual presents COVID-19 symptoms, then s/he may return no sooner than 10 days after any symptoms appeared. His or her symptoms must have improved, s/he must have had 3 days with no fever (without fever-reducing medication), and s/he must have a negative test with a doctor’s note OR no fever for 3 days and 2 negative tests in a row, at least 24 hours apart, and a doctor’s note.
If any student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, parents will be notified and be informed if their child has had any close contact with that individual. In order to attend school, the parent/guardian and all employees must agree that in the event they test positive for COVID-19, that the school must share their name with those with whom they may have come into contact at school. If a student or staff member has had close contact with that individual, they must quarantine at home for a minimum of 14 days and follow the above procedures for returning to school.
Students in quarantine may elect to continue their studies from home using customized distance learning plans prepared by Oakland’s staff.
