FAQ
My child is vaccinated. Are they still required to submit regular negative COVID tests?

A vaccinated person is largely protected from a serious reaction to the virus, but is still able to contract and spread the virus, therefore testing is necessary.



What if my child is displaying symptoms that I know having nothing to do with COVID?

Unfortunately, we can’t admit students to campus based on a parent’s judgement. In the interest of keeping everyone safe, students with visible symptoms must obtain a physician’s clearance before being allowed on campus.



What happens if my child has been exposed to someone who either has COVID or is suspected of having contracted COVID?

Please notify the administrative staff immediately (not your child’s teacher). Your child will be quarantined until they complete and submit a negative COVID test.



My child has previously contracted COVID and any COVID test will be positive. Are they then unable to attend school?

Students who have previously contracted COVID (60 days or more prior to enrollment) must submit a physician’s note indicating they previously contracted the virus. They must still continue testing on the school’s required schedule.

COVID Protocols - Keeping Our Children Safe

We have spent considerable time determining the necessary protocols to ensure the safest return to in-person instruciton as possible.

Take this seriously. The health of our staff, students, parents and extended members of our community are at risk. When we first quarantined in March 2020, we assumed we would return to the building within the month; and then certainly by the beginning of fall, 2020. Neither of which happened. Today, we’re taking a bold step to re-open our doors, but remaining so doesn’t lie fully in our control, and it’s thus critical that we control the areas that we can. Following this guideline is imperative to provide us an opportunity to successfully remain open. We are guided by the success we had in re-opening 4 classes during the spring, 2021 without a single COVID incident, and we hope to do everything possible to replicate that success this school year.

Our plan is conservative at the onset by design. We’ll closely monitor our community’s adherence to the protocols and the results of our school’s COVID testing as well as Alameda County COVID statistics to determine when, and if, to ease restrictions. This document provides the basic re-opening protocols we’re enforcing and is followed by a FAQ. If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact members of the administration.

Core COVID Protocols

  1. Only students, staff, and preschool parents are allowed on campus. Anyone wishing to reach the school should call the administrative staff at (510) 632-8230 or reach out via email at any time (email addresses are provided below).

  2. No student may attend school without a recent negative COVID test on file. A COVID vaccination, while encouraged, is not a substitute for the required COVID test.

  3. All students are required to wear a mask at all times while on the school’s grounds, and no student will be admitted without a mask. We know that students may lose their mask while attending school, and masks are available for students throughout the day while on campus. However, it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure students begin the day with a mask.

  4. We had contracted with a vendor, Maestro, to provide free, weekly COVID testing, and in fact over 80% of our students obtained their first COVID test through Maestro prior to school beginning. However, soon thereafter, Maestro announced they would no longer provide free testing. Thus, until an alternative plan is developed, parents will be responsible for submitting a negative COVID test every two weeks. A specific schedule for testing will be posted.

  5. Families may pay to cover COVID testing on campus during the school day (the fee has not been finalized). This is merely provided as a convenience. Families may obtain testing from other testing sites if they like.

  6. Any child displaying any symptoms of COVID (unfortunately very broad), including fever, cough, or runny nose, will not be allowed admission to school. They must obtain a physician’s note stating that their symptoms are not due to COVID before they can return to school. Parents of children with seasonal allergies can obtain a physician’s note stating as such, in advance, and leave the note on file. If a child is displaying symptoms, and the parent concludes it is just allergies and a physician’s note is already on file the student will be allowed admission.

  7. Any student who is quarantined for any reason (not the class, just a single student) will need to access their instructional material online, and will be able to communicate with the teacher during after school hours.

  8. If a student has had a COVID contact, families of the children connected to the child, will be notified, but only the student who had contact will be quarantined.

  9. If a student tests positive, their class (and teacher) and any connected classes via sibling relationships will be quarantined, and the class would shift to remote instruction until the quarantine period passes.

  10. It is absolutely necessary that parents communicate any potential COVID contact to the administrative staff immediately.