COVID Safety at Pacific School

"We have absolutely loved our time with the Pacific Elem family and we are going to miss so many of you! You provided a light and a sense of community during one of the most difficult years we have experienced.  I will forever be grateful for this year. Everyone should be proud of what a unique, loving and special school has been created here."

Parent about their student's time in kindergarten class during COVID lockdowns, 2020-21

Sick? Stay Home
Symptomatic students still need to stay home from school. Please review the  Student COVID Flowchart or the County Office of Education's current COVID rules for schools.

Symptoms? Here's what to do: Student COVID Flowchart
If your student has any of the following, keep them home: Congestion/runny nose, Fever/chills, Cough, Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle/body aches, Headache, New loss of taste/smell, Sore throat, Nausea/vomiting, Diarrhea.
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Prior to returning to school ALL of the following must be true: 

1. At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; AND
2. Other symptoms have improved; AND 
3. Parents provide the office with a copy of a lab-based negative COVID test (home tests are not acceptable), OR parents provide the office with documentation from a healthcare provider that the symptoms are typical of their underlying chronic condition (e.g., allergies or asthma) or an alternative named diagnosis, OR at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset.

You can also use this Student COVID Flowchart to help you figure out when to keep your student home. Thanks for your help keeping everyone safe! Reference

Sign Your Student (and Yourself!) Up for Onsite Testing
We are offering free onsite COVID testing to all students whose parents opt in. The more people who participate, the safer our entire school community will be! Once you have signed up, you can choose to have your student test weekly or on an as-needed basis. Results are usually available the next day. (Students who were signed up last year do not need to sign up again.)

Good news - Parents can also participate! Sign yourself up as a "Community Member", then be present on campus Monday or Thursday morning 8:30-10:30 to get tested. Students and adults can swab themselves or ask the trained staff to do it for them.

NOTE: Although the form asks for insurance information, you do NOT have to provide it. You can just put NA in all the blanks. 

Thank you for helping to keep the community safe.

Free, Fast COVID Testing Options for Students, Staff, and Families
The County Office of Education is also offering drop-in drive-through testing Monday-Saturday, with results usually returned the next day. These sites are available for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.  Students, staff or family members or students or staff needing a test can fill out one-time registration at http://sccoe.link/inspiresc and go to any site. NOTE: Although the form asks for insurance information, you do NOT have to provide it. You can just put NA in the blanks.

No appointment is required. Current hours and locations.

Current Rules
Pacific School follows the County Office of Education's COVID guidelines, which are stated here. (This is a living document that Santa Cruz County Office of Education keeps updating as rules and recommendations change.)

What modifications has Pacific School made to its ventilation systems?
Our HVAC system is only a few years old. In 2020, we installed MERV 13 filters on the HVAC system, and set the system to maximize incoming fresh air. In addition, we are encouraging teachers to keep windows and doors open and to teach outdoors when possible. In addition, we have stand-alone HEPA air filters for the classrooms.

What are the requirements for face coverings?
While evidence continues to mount showing that masks are an effective way of reducing the spread of COVID, as of the fall of 2022, they are currently optional for both staff and students in school settings.

Are students kept in cohorts?
At this time, there are no cohort requirements for the 2022-23 school year. Students will interact primarily with their own consistent classmates, but will interact with students in other classes, both indoors and outdoors, at times, in order to accommodate our coordinated math, lunch, and recess schedules. 

How do after school programs work?
All after school programs meet outdoors to the greatest extent possible. 

What happens when students eat?
We have structured our class schedule so that students can eat outside or, when eating inside, students are spaced out, and eat in groups with their classmates, with no more than 20 students in one lunchroom at a time. Ventilation is maximized.

Are screenings of staff and students conducted?
Staff are expected to conduct a health self-screen each day before arriving at work. Families should also screen their students at home. Students who display COVID symptoms at school will be kept outside and away from other students until they can be picked up.

Are staff fully vaccinated?
Yes, all Pacific School staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Are parents allowed to volunteer?
Volunteers are allowed to work on campus and in classrooms. If working around students, they need to:

1. complete the volunteer agreements
2. either be fully vaccinated and submit their proof of vaccination to the office, or test for COVID weekly using lab-based tests

If the volunteer work is entirely outside and not around students, such as doing grounds maintenance or volunteering for Parents' Club, these requirements do not apply.

What other safety measures is Pacific School taking?
Custodial staff hours have been increased to allow for additional cleaning. Staff ensure that all students (and staff) wash their hands frequently throughout the day.

COVID Prevention Plan​