Covid 19 Updates

List of 16 items.

• Masking

  Updated: 6/7/22
  

  In accord with our previously announced plans, we reviewed our Covid infection numbers following the Shavuot break with our medical advisors today. While there are still scattered infections across the school, as you can see on the dashboard, our numbers have fallen significantly. Once again, this tracks communal rates, which are down 21% in Essex county in the past two weeks. As such, we are returning to mask optional policy starting June 8 with the following exceptions: large indoor gatherings such as tefillah and special indoor events with the community will continue to be masked. Ganon (Pre-K) will also continue to mask since we follow day care rules for our youngest students. 

• Vaccinations (initial series)

  Updated 2/23/22
  

  • Mandated for all staff, except with approved medical or religious waiver. 
  • Mandated for all students 16+, except with medical waiver.
  • Mandated for all participants in competitive sports and overnight field trips.
  • Mandated for participants in Aftercare and Funtracks, since cohorts are blended.
  • Mandated for all adult visitors to campus, who must show vaccination record for first visit.
  • Highly recommended for all students covered by the FDA and CDC Emergency Use Authorization. Under current circumstances we do not intend to extend our 16+ mandate for Covid vaccinations to younger students until the State of New Jersey lists it among required immunizations for school children.

• Boosters

  Updated 2/23/22
  

  • Mandated for all staff, except with approved medical or religious waiver.
  • Highly recommended for all eligible students.
  • Requested for all adult visitors, but not mandated for brief masked visits, for example, to attend a ceremony or meet with a teacher or administrator.

• Quarantine and Isolation Policy

  Updated: 2/23/22

  
  

  • • Unvaccinated and unboosted (booster eligible) individuals who come into close contact with a person who tests positive for Covid are required to quarantine for five days after exposure, and test negative before returning to campus on the sixth day. According to the NJ Department of Health, individuals returning from quarantine or isolation must mask during days 6-10.
    • Individuals who develop symptoms associated with Covid must isolate and PCR test.
    • Any student or staff member who tests positive for Covid shall inform their campus nurse, isolate for an additional 5 days, and not return to campus until they are symptom free for 24 hours, including no fever without use of fever reducing medications.

• PCR Testing

  Updated: 2/23/22
  
  

  • No longer required on a weekly basis for staff and students regardless of vaccination status.
  • Required for special programs such as overnight retreats and trips.

• Daily Wellness Screenings

  Updated: 2/23/22
  

  • No longer required for staff.
  • No longer required for K-12 students.
  • Still required for Pre-K, as mandated by the NJ Department of Health for childcare centers.

• Rapid Test Guidelines and Resources

  Golda Och Academy recommends using these rapid tests (list is updated regularly):
  In Vitro Diagnostics EUAs - Antigen Diagnostic Tests for SARS-CoV-2
  
  
  Please be advised:
  
  Do Not Use E25Bio COVID-19 Tests: FDA Safety Communication
  
  Stop using this COVID rapid test, FDA warns. It was illegally imported.

• Directions for Uploading Booster Records to Magnus

  Make sure to have a photo of the completed COVID vaccine card saved on your device, and then follow the below steps:

   

  • Log into Magnus via the GOA Website/Resources/Nurse’s Corner
  • Edit the Immunization Record for your child
  • Add a document/form, which will be your COVID vaccine card. This will not delete previously uploaded documents. Thanks for uploading!

• Vaccination Exemption Policy (Employees)

  Background
  Golda Och Academy (“GOA”) is mandating that all covered workers be fully vaccinated prior to student contact for the 2021-22 school year. The Administration, in consultation with the Board of Trustees, has decided that this requirement is necessary for the health and safety of our school community and to reduce the likelihood of an outbreak on our campus that could cause us to implement virtual instruction. We will also require that all eligible students and visitors to our school show proof of being fully vaccinated before being admitted to our schools or any school sponsored events or activities.
  
  Covered Workers
  For purposes of this Policy, “covered workers” shall include all individuals employed by GOA, both full and part-time, including, but not limited to, administrators; teachers; educational support professionals; individuals providing food, custodial, and administrative support services; substitute teachers, whether employed directly by GOA or otherwise contracted; contractors; providers; and any other individuals performing work in the school district whose job duties require them to make regular visits to the school district, including volunteers. Covered workers do not include individuals who visit the school district only to provide one-time or limited duration repairs, services, or construction.
  
  Proof of Vaccination
  Covered workers shall demonstrate proof of full vaccination status by presenting any of the following documents if they list COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for EUA by the FDA or the WHO, or that are approved for use by the same, along with an administration date for each dose:
  

  1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Card issued to the vaccine recipient by the vaccination site, or an electronic or physical copy of the same;
  2. Official record from the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) or other State immunization registry;
  3. A record from a health care provider’s portal/medical record system on official letterhead signed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, registered nurse, or pharmacist;
  4. A military immunization or health record from the United States Armed Forces; or
  5. Docket mobile phone application record or any State specific application that produces a digital health record.

  
  This documentation shall be provided to Della Irby, Executive Assistant.
  
  Exemption Requests
  Should a covered worker seek a medical exemption, he/she should do the following:
  

  • Obtain a letter from his/her physician documenting the reason for the exemption, including the underlying condition and the specific risk associated with obtaining the vaccine.  The letter should include the physician’s signature and clearly identifiable contact information.
  • Provide the letter in a sealed envelope to George Paulick, Director of Human Resources.
  • The Director of HR will review all requests and may request additional information from the covered worker to make an informed decision.   All decisions will be made based on the facts presented and any applicable legal requirements.
  • The Director of HR will not share any confidential medical information with any third parties without the covered worker’s consent.

   
  Special Requirements for Exemption Approvals
  As a condition for continued employment, any covered worker who is granted a medical exemption will be required to obtain a negative COVID test (PCR) every week at their own expense and submit the results to Della Irby every Monday by 9:00 a.m.  Home tests cannot be accepted.  GOA shall track test results required by Executive Order 253 and must report those results to the local public health department.
  
  Other Exemption Requests
  A covered worker seeking a request for an exemption from the vaccine for non-medical reasons must submit a detailed letter to the Head of School explaining in detail the reason for the exemption request.  Such requests will be reviewed by the Head of School whose decision shall be final and binding.

• Campus Visitation Vaccination Policy

  Access by visitors to the GOA campus will be restricted to those who are fully vaccinated and share a copy of their record prior to their first visit. If you make an appointment on campus, please be sure to send a photo of your vaccine card to Della Irby at least a day prior to your visit.

• In-Person Instruction

  GOA is committed to in-person instruction, which is by far the most effective educational format. Like other schools, we are not planning to offer a remote option this year as a matter of course. There may be circumstances in which the entire school must go remote, and there may be cases of individual medical emergency that would require a brief exception to this policy, but we are not able to provide the high level of instruction that we expect at GOA with an extended hybrid format.

• Protocol for Positive COVID Results During the School Day

  With our new weekly COVID-19 testing protocol in place for all unvaccinated students, we anticipate periodically receiving positive test results. If these results are received when students are not present in school, then we will notify the parents of the affected student to isolate them at home, and inform the entire cohort that they, too, need to quarantine at home. As usual, we will provide families with the date when they should test for COVID, when quarantine will conclude, and plans for remote instruction in the interim.

   

  In the event that we learn during the school day that a student has tested positive, then we will follow the following protocol:

   

  1. Nurse Roberta or Nurse Ilena will contact the parents to confirm that they have received the results, ask them to come to school to collect their child immediately, and ask for permission to inform the child in a reassuring but clear manner that they are being picked up because their test result was positive. 
  2. The nurse will next inform their campus principal of the situation and ask them to inform the Head of School and relevant faculty and staff.
  3. The nurse will come to the classroom and ask the student to accompany her to the office, where they will wait to be collected. 
  4. The Head of School will notify parents of other children in the section that their child has been exposed to COVID, should be collected from school and commence isolation. These students will not be allowed to take a bus home.
  5. The Head of School will send a general notice to the GOA community mentioning the infection by grade level.
  6. The classroom teachers will inform their students that, “Because of an infection in our class, we are going to switch to remote learning. Your parents will come to pick you up soon.” Meanwhile, teachers will keep their students separate from other sections and staff, whether in the classroom or ideally outdoors, until they are collected. 
  7. If this situation develops close to dismissal it may not be practicable for parents to make a special trip to collect their students, but we will still communicate with them so they can take measures to minimize contact with children in other cohorts.

• Athletics

  • Updated: January 12, 2022
  • All age-eligible participating athletes must be fully-vaccinated. Proof of vaccination status must be uploaded to the Magnus health portal.
  • All students must be masked during practice and during games.
  • During games, students should take mask breaks away from other players, coaches and referees.
  • Students are expected to bring multiple masks during games and practices.
  • All students should bring their own water bottle.
  • If eligible, all students should get a COVID-19 booster as soon as possible.
  • For those students or families who do not feel comfortable participating in games, they may participate in practices and remain on the team.  Please reach out to your coaches to let them know if you will not be participating in games.
  • High School
    • Varsity and Junior Varsity Teams are participating in the SEC league which does not require student athletes to be vaccinated.  GOA athletes may be playing against other athletes who are not currently vaccinated.
    • Athletes who choose to participate in games and practices may be considered a close contact if a member of the GOA team or a member of the opposing team tests positive for COVID-19.
    • Additional requirements may be included for those students who are within the coming week of Na’ale or Neshama.
  • Middle School
    • Middle School Teams are participating in the Y.M.S.S.A. league which requires athletes, coaches and referees to be vaccinated; however, that vaccination requirement does not require a third vaccine/booster vaccination.
    • Athletes who choose to participate in games and practices may be considered a close contact if a member of the GOA team or a member of the opposing team tests positive for COVID-19.

• Lower School Aftercare

  • Updated: January 10, 2022
  • Students must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 to participate in the aftercare program

• Lower School Funtracks

  • Updated: January 10, 2022
  • Students must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 to participate in the Funtracks program   

• Vacation/Holiday Travel Guidelines

  • Updated: June 2021
  • New Jersey – and Golda Och Academy – continue to strongly recommend delaying travel until all members of the family are fully vaccinated. If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, follow CDC’s recommendations for unvaccinated people.
  • For those unvaccinated students who must travel, travelers and residents returning from any U.S. state beyond the immediate region (NY, PA, and DE) should self-quarantine while following recommendations from the CDC:
    • COVID (PCR) test should be taken on day #3-5; if travelers test negative, they should be quarantined for a full 7 days after travel.
    • If not tested (or if the results are delayed), travelers should quarantine for 10 days after travel.