https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet Please read below to find up to date BENS policies and procedures regarding COVID-19 en-us 2021-10-29 21:20:48 UTC 2022-06-14 17:22:43 UTC hello@padlet.com bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061520759 BENS has implemented a mask-optional policy for adults and children when outside. 

Children and staff will still be required to wear masks when indoors, except for while sleeping and eating. Our teachers will also continue to be masked indoors. Our indoor mitigation strategies will remain the same:

• Keeping doors and windows open at all times
• Implementing physical distancing while eating and sleeping
• Keeping our indoor classroom cohorts stable

]]> 2022-02-22 23:04:48 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061520759 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061542554 If your child tests positive for COVID-19...

- Stay home: your child must quarantine for at least 5 days regardless of vaccination status
- After 5 days, your child may take an antigen test if they are asymptomatic or no longer have symptoms.

IF the test result is NEGATIVE at day 5 and your child no longer has symptoms, your child may return to BENS after 7 days.

IF the test is POSITIVE or your child continues to have symptoms, they must stay home and can end quarantine after 10 days.

Please report all test results to the BENS office as soon as they are ready.

IF, after 10 days your child still exhibits symptoms, we ask that you keep them home until they are well enough to return to school (regardless of a negative test result).]]> 2022-02-22 23:30:04 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061542554 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061547794 If the person who tested positive is a member of your household, your BENS child must stay home while that family member continues to test positive. The BENS student should have a PCR test 5 days after their exposure and continue to get tested throughout the quarantine.

Once the affected family member has a negative antigen test after 5 days of symptom onset or positive test OR reaches day 10 of quarantine, the BENS student may return to school with a NEGATIVE antigen test result.

Please report all test results to the BENS office as soon as they are ready.

Please note: out of an abundance of caution, this is the BENS policy regardless of the child's vaccination status. ]]> 2022-02-22 23:36:46 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061547794 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061553203 If the person testing positive does not live with the BENS student AND the BENS student does not show any symptoms...

BENS students may return to school and must be tested 5 days after the exposure with either an antigen or PCR test. Test results must be reported to the BENS office as soon as they are ready.

If at any point the BENS student or anyone in their household exhibits symptoms, the BENS student must stay home and follow procedures outlined above.]]> 2022-02-22 23:43:51 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061553203 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061555481 Your testing method depends on your reasons for testing!

In the event of an exposure, PCR testing is preferred as it is known to be the "gold standard" for testing in the medical field. Antigen tests are also accepted.

Once a student has tested positive for COVID-19, antigen tests should be used in order to return to school on day 7 (before the 10 day quarantine time has passed).]]> 2022-02-22 23:46:49 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061555481 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061557230 1. Are all the BENS teachers vaccinated? Are they testing regularly? BENS teachers are all vaccinated and boosted. Tests are provided to the teachers weekly for them to administer at home on Sunday before work.

2. Will BENS begin testing the children on a regular basis? At this point in time, BENS does not have a plan to regularly test the children. If at any point a family needs a test, BENS will happily provide it for that family/child.

3. If a student has been exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19, what is the policy for when they can return to school? Please see the "Close Contact" column for exposure protocols.

4. What if someone's sibling or parent is exposed to someone with confirmed COVID-19 or exhibits COVID-19 symptoms (runny nose, coughing, etc)? Does that affect the BENS student attendance at school? If the confirmed positive case does not live in your house, the BENS child does not need to quarantine. If the symptomatic person lives in your house, please test immediately and keep your BENS child home if the result is positive. See "Close Contact" section for more detail.]]> 2022-02-22 23:48:59 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061557230 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061566684 2022-02-22 23:59:36 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061566684 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061567995 2022-02-23 00:01:09 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061567995 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061569235 Below are links to the BENS Family Handbook and COVID-19 Addendum that was in place at the beginning of the year.

PLEASE NOTE: Policies on this padlet are up-to-date and may differ from the addendum's policies.]]> 2022-02-23 00:02:46 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2061569235 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2063051937 EXPOSURE:

If your child has been exposed to COVID-19, they should get tested 5 days after the exposure with a PCR test.

POSITIVE TEST:

If your child tests positive with an antigen test, they should stay home and get tested with a PCR test as soon as possible.

Once they have a positive PCR test, BENS children can begin using an antigen test 5 days after their symptoms started or their positive test. They should NOT get another PCR test, as they might test positive on a PCR test for up to 90 days. Children may keep testing using an antigen test in order to end quarantine early, or not test and quarantine for the full 10 days.]]> 2022-02-23 17:31:09 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2063051937 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2086989230 The CDC Recommends that all individuals returning from travel test upon return. Our travel policy has updated to reflect their guidelines and also take into account our population of both Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Individuals. 

UNVACCINATED AND VACCINCATED INDIVIDUALS RETURNING FROM TRAVEL:

• BENS friends may return to school immediately as long as they are symptom-free.
• ALL BENS friends must take a COVID test immediately upon return, on day 3, and on day 5. We recommend a PCR test, but will accept an antigen test.
• If you chose not to test your child, please keep them home for a 10 day quarantine.

]]> 2022-03-09 22:02:52 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2086989230 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2119730401 Here is the CDC Travel Guidelines for traveling. Please scroll down to "After Travel" to read their recommendations which guide our policy making.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html]]> 2022-03-29 16:25:36 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2119730401 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2221023340 Please use this resource to determine quarantine periods for COVID-19 positive individuals.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html#]]> 2022-06-14 17:07:09 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2221023340 bens38 https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2221036779 After much consideration and feedback, BENS is adopting our new test-to-stay policy for Camp BENS starting 6/21/22.

• If there is a positive case in one of the classes, all children at Camp BENS must test for COVID-19 each morning before arriving at school for 5 days. 
• All children and staff in the class with the positive case will be required to wear masks outdoors and will not have indoor small group time. 
• The class with the positive case will have a modified schedule of 9:00 am - 1:00 pm to eliminate indoor, unmasked resting time. 
• If another child tests positive for COVID-19, the class will close and move to online learning for 5 days. 

]]> 2022-06-14 17:21:44 UTC https://padlet.com/bens38/covidpadlet/wish/2221036779