Covid-19 and Other Illnesses

October 23, 2023

Stay home if ill. We continue to recommend that students and staff with symptoms of illness stay home from school and get tested to help us keep our community safe. Families are expected to continue to self-screen daily at home for symptoms.

Using Face Masks

1. Masks are optional at school. We strongly recommend a well-fitting, high-quality mask if your child is experiencing symptoms or has been exposed. Please send your child to school with at least one mask. If your child has contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive or another communicable disease, it is strongly encouraged that your child wear a mask for 10 days.

Optimizing Indoor Air Quality

1. The use of outdoor space will be maximized whenever possible.

2. Ventilation – Our furnace was upgraded to include MERV 13 filters and every classroom has a portable HEPA air filter as well. We will keep windows and/or doors open whenever feasible and comfortable to maximize natural ventilation.

3. Safe transportation practices – Students who carpool with other families or take public transportation should treat the vehicle as an indoor space.

Maintaining Good Hygiene

1. Teach and reinforce proper handwashing to lower the risk of spreading communicable diseases.

2. Teach and reinforce the practice of covering coughs and sneezes to help keep individuals from spreading communicable diseases.

3. Discourage sharing of personal items.

Testing for Covid-19

1. The school will perform testing of any symptomatic staff or student with a rapid antigen test if needed.

2. If you test at home and have a POSITIVE or INCONCLUSIVE result, please email us and do not come to school.

3. Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should immediately inform the school and isolate for 5 days. They may return after 5 days if they have: a negative test collected on or after day 5, no fever for 24 hours (without medication), and other symptoms are improving.

4. We ask that you secure your own testing. PCR or antigen tests are acceptable. You can use any over-the-counter FDA-approved at-home test or have your child tested by a healthcare provider or public health testing site.

5. If you are testing to return from isolation after confirmed COVID, an antigen test is recommended.

6. We do not want students or staff to miss school because they cannot get tested. Please contact the office to check on availability of tests if you cannot secure a test.

For details on the specific protocols we are following, please see SFDPH’s Guide for Isolation and Quarantine.

COVID Cases on Campus

1. In the event that your child is exposed to COVID at school, Kittredge will follow the SFDPH’s guidance for schools (summarized here ). Students and staff may be permitted to attend school with a negative test as long as they do not have symptoms.

2. Each case is unique and if your child is exposed to COVID at school you will be notified as to how to proceed.

Vaccinations

1. Kittredge requires all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

2. We urge all eligible students (ages 5 and older) and all Kittredge family/household members to get vaccinated and stay up to date with boosters at their earliest opportunity. To make an appointment, go to: https://sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-covid-19.

Community Expectations

1. Please make decisions not only for the wellbeing of your family but also for our entire school community. Kittredge School prioritizes the health and safety of its students, staff, families, and complies with the mandates and guidelines of the California (CDPH) and San Francisco (SFDPH) Departments of Health.

Thank you for keeping our community safe and healthy.