decision-making matrix

A: Given these unprecedented circumstances, Bernard Zell recognizes there may be times during the school year when, although we are in session and on campus, some families may need to have their students learn from home. This year, online learning options will only be available for students who either have a positive diagnosis for COVID-19 or who are quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19.  In these circumstances, we are able to offer developmentally appropriate access to classroom learning and related materials. Students will be able to join classroom activities via live stream, submit assignments, and receive feedback from their teachers via digital platforms, though this will look different at each divisional level. This will be a modified experience that may require active parent participation and partnership in order to provide full access to school content.

A: The school’s role is to communicate to relevant parties within the school setting that they may have been exposed to a communicable disease, and in the case of COVID-19 initiate any necessary steps to direct a cohort or grade move to Distance Learning. Please always involve your own pediatrician in how to manage medically your family’s illness, testing and isolation needs. 

In the same way that you would notify the school nurse at bznurse@bernardzell.org about any other illness or communicable disease, the same policy holds true for COVID exposure or a positive case. Should we be made aware of a positive case that may have had close contact with a member of our community, a notice will be sent to those impacted from the school nurse regarding medical precautions, and Division Heads will be in touch regarding any plans for Distance Learning. Should a member of our own school community test positive for COVID, school leadership will always notify all parents, faculty and staff regardless of division or grade level.

A: Bernard Zell will comply with the City of Chicago’s Emergency Travel Advisory and ask that all individuals who are not fully vaccinated, regardless of age, get a negative COVID test prior to returning to Chicago if you visited one of the states on the Chicago Travel Quarantine List. Please note there is also a quarantine requirement for unvaccinated individuals  returning from international travel. Whether you traveled or not, in the weeks before the start of school we ask that you consistently follow the recommended public health guidance.

A: Every single space has been evaluated for how to best clean and circulate air throughout the building. As our campus comprises four different buildings of different ages, we have gone room by room to determine what upgrades may be made—either through plasma ionizing units, UV disinfection, portable ionizers with a built-in HEPA unit or 100% outdoor air exchange. Laminar airflow tests were conducted to be certain air was moving through the building rapidly and air filters were efficiently removing particles. Significant capital investments have been made and following implementation, air quality tests will be conducted and supplemental units added if necessary.

A: While only permitting your child to interact with those from their cohort would be impossible, the more we extend our interactions, the greater the risk we encounter for ourselves and our community. The school’s Community Partnership Pledge, which will be shared next week, asks families to commit to a community standard of responsible activity. 

A: We will be beginning our school-wide surveillance and diagnostic testing on Thursday, August 26.  Any families unable to attend the Bounce Back to BZ event and provide a student saliva sample are required to upload a negative result from an outside testing service to their Magnus account within BZ Connect dated August 27, 28 or 29. Please be aware that the upload portal will not be active in your Magnus account until Friday, August 27.

A: All students, faculty and staff will complete a daily wellness screening in the SchoolPass app. Parents will be asked to fill out the screening on behalf of each student each day. The wellness tracker will support our efforts to reduce exposure and anyone who has not completed the daily wellness screening will be screened upon arrival. Individuals who have a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees fahrenheit/38 degrees celsius or currently known symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, may not enter the school building. 

A: The health and wellbeing of your child is of the utmost priority. Please keep your child at home if they are not feeling well. Please consult your family physician if you are ever unsure as to whether your child may attend school.

Completion of your student health forms in BZ Connect will notify us if your child has a medical condition, such as seasonal allergies, that may result in symptoms similar to those we are screening for. If a child is presenting with any of the following COVID-19 symptoms (fever, new cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea) we will follow outlined screening procedures and contact parents/guardians immediately.

A: We are returning to a single office for the nurse this year. Students with routine health concerns will be asked to remain in their classroom until the nurse comes to get them. If you receive a call from a teacher or the school nurse, we request that you have your student picked up promptly.

A: All students and faculty will be required to wear masks while in the school building even when social distancing is maintained, except  in the following circumstances (if individuals remain six feet apart from each other), with the permission of a teacher:

• When eating

• When playing a musical instrument outdoors 

• While children are napping 

• When they are outdoors 

Because fit and comfort are so specific to individuals, we recommend that families start to look for masks during the summer that meet the following criteria. When you have one you like, and these may be made rather than bought, we recommend having three in rotation. Criteria are:

• Triple layered (it is up to you whether you want the middle layer to be a disposable filter material but do not choose a filter material that contains fiberglass. There are some two-layer masks that offer filtration up to .3 microns that do not require a third layer.)

• Washable and reusable. Embellishments like sequins, glitter, etc. that prevent easy washing should be avoided.

• Tightly woven (not sheer). No light should shine through.

• Adjustable either through an elasticized edge or a bendable nose strip so that there are no gaps around your nose or cheeks

• Covers your nose and mouth completely and fits firmly as you talk and move.

• Water resistant on the external layer, particularly if low density materials are used. Please note that waterproof materials are discouraged as they may prohibit breathing easily.

• Does not have a valve to promote exhalation (the point is to keep your germs inside the mask, not just protect you from germs outside the mask)

• We understand that for many students, masks may be a source of personal expression. Per our student handbook on dress code, masks should not promote hate speech or inflammatory language, have images, language or references to alcohol, drugs or anything illegal, distasteful or obscene.

Please label your mask.

As a general rule, avoid touching your mask. The outside cover is exposed to virus particles so please wash your hands before and after removal. Your mask should be easy to remove using ear loops or ties exclusively. And please do look for comfort—a mask that is rated to block 95% of particles is not helpful if your child cannot wear it for more than five minutes.

A: If a student forgets a mask, a disposable mask will be provided upon entry. 

A: The Illinois State Board of Education says that masks should be used instead of shields in most circumstances.

A: A classroom cohort will range in size from 12 to 18 students, not dissimilar to traditional class sizes in any other year. However, desks and other classroom furniture have been rearranged to promote social distancing and students will not intermix with other grade levels throughout the day, with the exception of recess and other settings where 6ft of distance can be maintained between grade-levels.  Fully vaccinated classes, in 7th and 8th grade, will have more flexibility with regard to social distancing, but are still required to wear a face covering. 

A: Teachers will still be providing students with brain breaks, motor breaks, etc, as they typically would under normal circumstances. These breaks may look different as classroom configurations have changed but we also know the importance of such breaks to allow for student engagement in learning to remain high.

A: Visual arts, music and performing arts classes will be held in discipline specific rooms, as long as there is sufficient room to maintain 3 feet of distance between students, if not we will utilize the core classrooms,, with the teachers coming to the students. P.E. will be held outside whenever possible. In the event of inclement weather, P.E. will take place in the gym or in classrooms.

A: Continuing our practice from last year, parent volunteers will be limited to outdoor activities, such as assisting with maintaining social distancing and queueing, and for limited purposes related to the PTC.  An appointment will be required to enter the school building. Visitors from outside the community will be prohibited, with the exceptions of essential workers and new family applicants. Any parent/visitor entering the building will be required to present proof of vaccination and follow the health and safety protocols including filling out a symptom questionnaire, mask wearing, and maintaining physical distance.  Due to the fact that the majority of our students remain unvaccinated, we will be limiting the total number of people allowed in the building.  As guidance evolves at the state and local level, we will explore how we can expand access for parent volunteers to enter the building.  When allowed, parent volunteers will be required to provide proof of vaccination to enter the building.