Return Health Key Communication
Messaging Before School Starts
- Student and staff safety is our top priority.
- School will reopen in fall 2020 with modifications to
programs and services to protect children and staff from COVID-19
infection. The district will follow the guidance of state and
county health departments for implementation of precautions and
modifications to school programs.
- The physical and mental health and safety of our community is
the responsibility of each of us. Our behaviors affect each
other.
- The current CDC guidelines outline five key components:
isolation of ill individuals, personal hygiene, physical
distancing, use of cloth face coverings, and disinfection of
surfaces. In the absence of a vaccine or herd immunity, these
actions together significantly reduce the risk of spreading
COVID-19.
- Print
Keep Each Other Safe Guidelines (Appendix A) in annual
parent notification.
- Ask parents/guardians to consider making cloth face coverings
for reuse when in public and sending children to school with a
cloth face covering. Face coverings will be provided if a child
does not have one.
- Prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and the ability of our
school to remain open depends on all of us following the
Personal Hygiene Guideline (Appendix D) and the
Stay at Home Requirements (Appendix B).
- We are in this together.
Messaging During Opening
- Student and staff safety is our top priority.
- The situation is not stable and ongoing evaluation and
modifications will be necessary.
- The district will follow state and county orders. District
and school staff are working closely with Sacramento County
Public Health, Sacramento County Office of Education, and
surrounding districts to monitor the current situation, address
concerns, inform and educate students.
- Routine cleaning protocols are being followed. High-touch
areas and areas where sick students or staff were present will be
disinfected, following established district guidelines.
- Prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and the ability of our
school to remain open depends on all of us following the
Personal Hygiene Guideline (Appendix D) and the
Stay at Home Requirements (Appendix B).
Ongoing Communications
- We prepare for the cold and flu season every year, by
providing immunization clinics for eligible families, and
conducting awareness campaigns to help prevent the spread of
communicable diseases.
- Keep students home from school when sick and seek the advice
of a healthcare provider for COVID-19 symptoms.
- Should we receive a concern regarding the exposure or
confirmation of case of COVID-19, SCUSD will respond immediately
regarding the exposure or confirmation of a COVID-19 case, using
our established protocols and guidance provided by SCPH officials
and the California Department of Public Health – School Guidance
on COVID-19.
- Prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and the ability of our
school to remain open depends on all of us following the
Personal Hygiene Guideline (Appendix D) and the
Stay at Home Requirements (Appendix B).
- We are in this together.
Messaging on Resources/Support
- We know this is an anxious time for our community and our
hearts go out to those who are ill, have lost family members, who
have lost jobs and are experiencing hardships brought on by the
pandemic and mitigation measures.
- Our thoughts are with all of our families and children who
are affected.
- Please note that there have been reports of students and
others being stigmatized or bullied. We urge our community
members to help prevent any discrimination and to respect the
privacy of our community members. We encourage everyone in our
community to treat each other with compassion, respect, and
kindness as we work together to keep our community healthy and
physically and emotionally safe.
- See COVID-19 Frequently Asked
Questions on the SCUSD website.
Communication Strategies for School Site Staff and
Administration
- Establish and advertise widely a single source/webpage for up
to date information on the planning, pandemic response and
expectations for staff, students, and families.
- Utilize Communications to distribute accurate
information.
- Training of community liaisons currently at school
sites.
- Meetings with PTA.
- Announcements during school hours – before school, between
classes, before recess and at lunch to reinforce personal hygiene
guidelines.
- Designate a staff/community liaison or liaisons to be
responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees should
know who they are and how to contact them.
- Use all-calls, all emails, superintendent letters, school
site websites, remind texts.
- Use electronic billboards/marquis.
- Use banners, signage through the school to reinforce
messaging.
- Translation of communications should be provided based on
the threshold languages of the community.