RSSAA Continuing at School during COVID-19 Plan 2021-22 Plan for September 7th - October 29th, 2021 Finalized: August 26, 2021
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RSSAA Continuing at School during COVID-19 Plan 2021-22 Plan for September 7th – October 29th, 2021 Finalized: August 26, 2021 Everything in this plan is still open to change based on input, governance body decisions, and changes in recommendations and requirements from the State of Michigan and/or Washtenaw Health Department. Any necessary significant changes will come through a full process that includes community input, including from parents. Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 1
Throughout this pandemic we have held the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff
with the highest regard, and as we move into the more complicated fall of 2021, we continue to do this.
Over the 2020-21 School Year much work went into adapting our Waldorf education to a pod based
instructional system, with many students learning remotely. As we enter the 2021-22 School Year, we
are returning to a more normal school structure and physical configuration, but we continue to hold the
safety and health of all community members at the center of all of our decisions. The scientific
understanding of COVID-19 that has developed over the past year has provided us with a path of
multiple layers of protection for our children that will allow the delivery of a full curriculum, more
normal social environments and a return to sports and afterschool activities. In creating and updating
this plan we have studied the information and recommendations from the State of Michigan, the
Washtenaw County Department of Health, and the Center for Disease Control to determine the best
practices for a safe learning and working environment. However, there are many questions about the
context we find ourselves in this August – including concern about the more virulent nature of the Delta
Variant, and the likelihood of break-through infections in the fully vaccinated. Therefore, we will be
starting this school year quite conservatively in a number of areas, including our approach to
quarantine, testing, and school activities. We will review the first two months of school at the end of
October and then potentially make changes to our practices based on our experiences and the
experiences of schools around us. We appreciate your patience and support for this approach, in which
we seek to ensure that our students’ health is at the center of our planning and decision making.
This plan spells out how we are operating during the first two months of the 2021-22 School Year. We
will then review and plan for the next two months (November and December) and continue to make our
way through the year this way.
As always, we are driven by our Mission Statement and our Guiding Principles that are central to
Waldorf education at our school.
Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor Mission Statement
At Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor, we nurture children in their growth from Early Childhood through
Grade 12. Our curriculum engages the head, heart, and hands, inspiring curiosity, thinking, empathy and
initiative. Our graduates enter adulthood with confidence and self-knowledge, a deep interest in other
people, and an understanding of the world; prepared to thrive in higher education and their adult lives.
In all that we do we take the following as our Guiding Principles:
• We recognize that children’s needs, interests, strengths, and challenges evolve from their early
childhood years through high school graduation. Our curriculum is consciously designed to best
meet each developmental stage as children grow, providing the right experience at the
appropriate time.
• We seek to work together in ways that increase the diversity of our school community and
promote equity and inclusion for all community members regardless of race, ethnicity, religion,
financial means, sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender, or disability status. This includes
ensuring that we have a continually evolving curriculum that meets all our students.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 2• Relationships are what make our work possible – between students and teachers, among
classmates, among faculty members, between all community members – and we consciously
strive to foster and support healthy relationships in all areas of our community.
• Human beings are individuals with their own personal strengths, challenges, and interests. We
seek to meet each community member with love and care, ensuring that there is flexibility and
support in our classrooms, policies and practices, and community expectations.
• Children are best supported when there is partnership between home and school. We seek to
provide parent support, education, and engagement, and we ask that parents collaboratively
work with teachers in the same way.
• Each community member is a whole human being: body, soul, and spirit. Our faculty and staff
members draw insight and inspiration from the work of Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy.
• Through our curriculum, policies, employment agreements, community expectations and
services beyond the classroom we strive to fully engage all community members and create a
culture of purposeful activity and joy.
• Through our community life we respect and support the inner development and growth of our
community members, sharing the celebration of festivals, athletic competition, artistic work,
and study.
• Collaboration and shared responsibility are the foundations of our school governance and
leadership model. We work with consensus within all governance groups. We are committed to
a transparent and cooperative process for all significant decisions in the school.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 3Contents A. Overview of RSSAA Approach ................................................................................................................... 6 B. Making this work as a Community............................................................................................................ 9 C. Our Plans for Daily In-Person Instruction for the 2021-22 School Year.................................................. 11 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Masks .................................................................... 11 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Mask Breaks .......................................................... 12 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Physical Distancing ................................................ 12 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Vaccination ............................................................ 13 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Symptom Tracking ................................................. 13 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Cohorting of Students ........................................... 13 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Protocols for COVID-19 Cases ............................... 14 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Testing for COVID-19 ............................................. 18 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Ensuring Healthy Environments ............................ 18 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Access to the Buildings .......................................... 18 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Regular Faculty Testing ......................................... 19 In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Regular Offering of Testing to Families ................. 19 In-Person Instruction Curriculum and Instruction Plans: Grades One to Eight ...................................... 21 In-Person Instruction Curriculum and Instruction Plans: High School .................................................... 22 In-Person Instruction Operations: Technology ....................................................................................... 23 In-Person Instruction Operations: Athletics ........................................................................................... 23 In-Person Instruction Operations: Events ............................................................................................... 23 E. Decision Making at RSSAA around Plan Changes ................................................................................... 25 Overview of School Decision Making ...................................................................................................... 25 Ongoing Commitment to Meeting All Rules and Regulations ................................................................ 25 Decision Making Around Updates and Adjustments to this Plan – October 2021 ................................. 25 Decision Making Around Changes in School Instruction Mode .............................................................. 26 Appendix 1: Symptom Response for Students and Employees Who are Ill ............................................... 27 Appendix 2: COVID-19 Positive Case Response Plan .................................................................................. 28 Appendix 3: COVID-19 Positive Case Response Plan Flow Chart ................................................................ 29 Appendix 4: RSSAA COVID-19 Quick Testing Plans ..................................................................................... 30 Appendix 5: RSSAA Policy on Close Contacts Who Have Had COVID-19 Previously .................................. 31 Appendix 6: RSSAA Policy on Overnight Trips and COVID-19 Testing ........................................................ 32 Appendix 7: Sports Program ....................................................................................................................... 33 Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 4
Appendix 8: Early Childhood Student Mask Policy ..................................................................................... 35 Appendix 9: Resource Page......................................................................................................................... 36 Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 5
A. Overview of RSSAA Approach
As we enter the 2021-22 School Year, we have crafted this plan based on the guidance of the State of
Michigan, the Washtenaw County Health Department, and the Center for Disease Control. We have
worked with these recommendations and with the specific challenges and possibilities provided by
Waldorf Education, our specific campuses, and the needs of our community. We are committed to
meeting all laws and regulations in place at any time during the school year but realize that laws and
regulations may change and that our internal policy decision making process is the most reliable for all
community members. This plan is the statement of our school policy and practices for the start of the
2021-22 school year, in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, and with a focus on September and October
2021, and will stand in place regardless of changing laws and public health mandates unless our policies
do not meet the minimum legal requirements we are under, in which case we will amend our plan to
include those additional legal expectations. This means that even as rules, laws, state mandates and
regulations change over the coming weeks you, as a community member, can be confident that this plan
is in place and will continue until we choose to amend it, through a collaborative approach outlined in
section E below. You can also be confident that we will be reviewing and updating it every two months,
allowing us to change our approaches based on the level of community infection.
We are centering our response to the pandemic for the 2021-22 school year on the layering of
preventative and protective measures. Our examination, with the support of the Washtenaw Health
Department, of the recommendations, regulations and the known science around COVID-19 has shown
that there are specific behaviors that are most likely to provide the highest level of protection from viral
transmission of the illness. Our plan is based on applying these behaviors as strongly as possible within a
school environment. These behaviors, as recommended by the CDC are:
A. Wearing of masks indoors on both campuses for all community members
B. Physical distancing of a minimum of three feet when indoors whenever possible
C. Vaccination, by family choice, with any of the available COVID-19 vaccinations, for all
eligible people – we do know that many of the eligible community members are
currently vaccinated.
D. Symptom tracking, staying home for any illness, and testing, to prevent cases entering
the school building
E. Cohorting of students, and tracking of contacts, to reduce possible exposures
F. The use of quarantine or testing to insure that exposed students do not develop or pass
on COVID-19
G. Testing for COVID-19 cases in specific situations, such as sports competitions, field trips,
and travel
H. Ensuring healthy environments through effective ventilation and regular cleaning
We are committed to creating layers of protection for RSSAA students, faculty, staff, and families, by
using all eight of the preventative strategies above in different combinations, based on situations and
classroom contexts. As the pandemic hopefully wanes and these precautions become less necessary, we
will use the decision making process outlined in Section E to make the decision about when these
policies will change, including when masks are no longer required at school.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 6The work to update these plans was carried out by RSSAA Faculty and Staff and supported by the COVID-
19 Task Force. Members of the COVID-19 Task Force are:
Paul Trombley College Chair
Gary Banks High School Faculty Chair
Peggy Wilson Lower School Coordinator
Heather Rindels Board Vice President and High School Parent
Jim McCauley Board Treasurer
Knut Hill Board Secretary and Grade and High School Parent
Sara Deon Parent Council Co-Chair and Early Childhood Parent
Holly Murphy Grade and High School Parent and Physician
Siân Owen-Cruise School Administrator
Carolyn Raschke Finance Manager
This plan was approved by the Board of Trustees and the College of Teachers in August, 2021. Over the
summer-long process to update this plan there was full consultation and input from faculty at all levels,
administrative staff, and a community input process.
Members of the College of Teachers are:
Wendy Abate Early Childhood Lead Teacher
Gary Banks HS Science, Music and Math Teacher
Anne Birney Early Childhood Lead Teacher
Erica Choberka HS Life Science and Math Teacher
Noelle Frerichs HS Physics and Math Teacher
Angela Gladstone Early Childhood Lead Teacher
Abby Kurlfink Early Childhood Coordinator
Siân Owen-Cruise School Administrator
Yoni Paz HS Humanities Teacher
Paul Trombley College Chair
Perla Schaeberle LS Spanish Teacher
Karen Sheridan Grade Six Class Teacher
Robert White Grade Seven Class Teacher
Peggy Wilson Lower School Coordinator
Members of the Board of Trustees are:
Gary Banks College Representative
Anni Fox Maniglia RSSAA Alumna
Elizabeth Head Current RSSAA Parent
Knut Hill Secretary and Current RSSAA Parent
Jim McCauley Treasurer
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 7Mike McFall Current RSSAA Parent
Don Remboski Chair and Alumni Parent
Heather Rindels Vice-Chair and Current RSSAA Parent
Timothy Standke Current RSSAA Parent
Paul Trombley College Representative
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 8B. Making this work as a Community
Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor is a unique community and during the spring of 2020 we worked
together – as parents, teachers, administrators, and students – to make the unprecedented remote-
learning period work as well as possible for everyone.
During the 2020-21 School Year we worked with students in small groups of 8 – 10 students, and with
approximately 20% of the student body learning remotely. This was challenging for everyone. For
teachers it created significant burdens as they struggled to present multiple main lessons, support
students that they could not meet with, and manage to bring classes to students both in the room and
on Zoom. It was just as difficult for students who struggled with the academic challenges of learning in
unconventional, and much less than ideal, ways, the social issues of being limited to very small social
groups, and the personal struggles of isolation, anxiety, and separation. We are very glad that the
science that has developed over the past year has shown that with the use of the layers of protection,
explained in detail below, we can return to a full curriculum, to full-size groups of children, and to a fully
in-person curriculum.
This time last year we brought the following principles to the community around how we wanted to
work together to get through what we knew would be a challenging 2020-21 School Year. Now, as we
face, in many ways, an even more difficult 2021-22 School Year, we ask that everyone recommit to
them. The pandemic has become a point of political and philosophical controversy as well as a health
emergency. We, as a school, know that there is no way that we will be able to create an approach to
the school year that will meet every community member’s ideal and that we are very likely to lose
community members over the decisions we make as we enter this fall. This is extremely regrettable, and
we are working intently to avoid it, but we are making the best possible decisions for our community –
with a focus on science and the health of teachers, students, and community members.
Thank you for continuing to work with these principles:
• Having patience with each other as we learn a whole new way of being at school, yet again. The
more patient and caring we can all be for each other as we experience the stress and anxiety of
returning to school again, the more we will be able to come together and make this as nurturing
an experience as possible for the students, teachers, parents, and staff.
• Following the Health Department guidance around health and when to stay at home. This
means that faculty members (who may be tempted to work through almost any illness) need to
again take the time off this year, and parents need to keep children home when they are unwell,
and we understand how hard this can be at times. To be true partners with the Washtenaw
County Health Department we all also need to be responsive to them if they contact us, usually
by phone. Please answer any calls from the Washtenaw County Health Department and
cooperate with them if they ask you to quarantine or share contact information.
• Refraining from judgement and curiosity when someone does test positive for COVID-19. It is
easy to assume that they were doing something risky, and that they are unvaccinated, but they
may have just been going to the grocery store or to work, and it may well be a break-through
case. We need to be supportive of anyone in the community who is taken ill.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 9• Considering how our personal behavior may open up risk for the community members we are in
contact with. The choices we make in our personal life will have more of an impact on those
around us than usual, so please make every effort to limit your exposure to COVID-19 to protect
the school community. This is especially important as we come back together as a community
this fall, making sure that we are taking COVID-19 precautions in other settings to avoid transfer
of COVID-19 into our classrooms.
• Sharing when things are not working well for us – whether it is school related or more general.
We all need to be able to ask for support when we need it, and your coordinators, teachers, and
fellow parents can all work to solve problems, address concerns, and give a physically-distanced
hug.
• Talking with your level coordinator – Abby Kurlfink for the Early Childhood Program; Peggy
Wilson for Grades One to Eight; and Ann Brennan, or Heather Lomason for the High School –
whenever you see or experience something that you think could be handled in a way that would
be more supportive of members of our community. All the coordinators are working to ensure
that the plan is followed and that we meet all of our commitments to health and safety
protocols, and if you are aware of something that is being overlooked or not fulfilled, please
share that directly with them.
Together we can get through this coming school year in the best way possible – one that supports and
nurtures our children and each other. We appreciate all your involvement and support in making this
school year successful.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 10C. Our Plans for Daily In-Person Instruction for the 2021-22 School Year
During the 2021-22 school year we plan to operate in person throughout the school year with a return
to our traditional structure of individual Early Childhood classes of between 12 and 20 students, single
grade classrooms for Grades One to Eight, and the normal mix of small and full grade classes at the High
School. We will be implementing the following combination of precautions to minimize the likelihood of
spread of COVID-19 and responding to any outbreaks as outlined below.
Our approach will include:
• Wearing of masks indoors on both campuses for all community members
• Physical distancing of a minimum of three feet when indoors whenever possible
• Vaccination, by family choice, with any of the available COVID-19 vaccinations, for all
eligible people –we do know that many of the eligible community members are
currently vaccinated.
• Symptom tracking, staying home for any illness, and testing, to prevent cases entering
the school building
• Cohorting of students, and tracking of contacts, to reduce possible exposures
• The use of quarantine and testing to ensure that exposed students do not develop or
pass on COVID-19
• Testing for COVID-19 cases in specific situations, such as sports competitions, field trips,
and travel
• Ensuring healthy environments through effective ventilation and regular cleaning
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Masks
The following requirements for facial covering (masks that cover nose and mouth) will be in place:
• Faculty and Staff: All faculty and staff will always wear a facial covering (except when eating or
drinking) when they are indoors on campus. Masks can be removed by an individual when alone
in private offices with closed doors. Masks can be homemade, at least double layers of cotton
or other material that provides containment of aerosol droplets; commercially made; or
disposable, level-one grade surgical masks. RSSAA will provide masks to all faculty and staff who
would like them, but employees are encouraged to decide what is the most comfortable for
them individually and to be ready to wear them throughout the school day.
• Students from PreK to Grade 12: all students in Grades PreK to 12 will be expected to wear a
face mask when indoors throughout the school day. Masks can be homemade; commercially
made; or disposable, level-one grade surgical masks. Students are asked to provide their own
mask, but RSSAA will have them available if a student forgets to bring one. Students will be
asked to put their mask on before entering the building and to wear it throughout the day
unless they are outside.
• Visitors to Campus: all visitors to campus will wear masks when inside the buildings.
Masks are optional outdoors on both campuses, students and teachers may wear them at their own
choice and discretion.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 11Everyone is encouraged to have multiple masks available to them on campus, to change them whenever
in the day they are wet or soiled, and to wash them regularly.
Masks are a difficult challenge for all of us – children and adults – at this point in the pandemic. We will
be working across all levels to make sure that mask break areas are available easily and within the view
of each teacher, and that everyone is supported with mask wearing. Details on this are below.
As the school year goes on, and hopefully COVID-19 transmission reduces in the wider community, we
will work with the recommendations of the Washtenaw County Health Department, CDC, and LARA
Childcare Licensing about when we can remove indoor masks. Our goal will be to have students
unmasked inside and out, but we will not do this until we are confident that the risk is low.
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Mask Breaks
We have worked across the school to ensure that all students are well supported in their mask wearing,
and that mask breaks are available as needed. The details for each area are:
• Early Childhood: As last year, we will be outside as much as possible when the weather is good,
and the students will have plenty of time each day without a mask. However, faculty in the
Early Childhood program will all be watching for moments during the day when children need
additional support with their masks. This will include ensuring that there are plenty of extra
masks available for when a child gets a mask wet or soiled, and warmly removing children from
the room for breaks from the mask when needed. The full EC Masking Policy can be found in
appendix 8.
• Grades One to Eight: Each individual grade will have a mask break approach in place so that
students who need a break can take one. In most cases this will involve the outdoor space
immediately outside the room, but in the case of classrooms without external doors it will
involve support from the front office. Each class teacher will share their mask break approach
with parents before the first day of class. All teachers will support mask breaks, and we
encourage parents to talk with their class teacher about the individual needs of their children.
• High School: Students in the High School are always able to take bathroom and necessary
breaks when needed. Students will be supported in stepping out when needed and to take full
advantage of class passing and transition times. Any student or parent with concerns should
speak with Ann Brennan or Heather Lomason.
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Physical Distancing
Across both campuses students will be seated at least three feet apart in our classrooms. There are
some specifics to be aware of:
• Early Childhood Classrooms: Children in Early Childhood classrooms do not spend their days at
desks or sitting indoors, instead they play, move, and interact. We will not be asking students in
our Early Childhood program to socially distance except for meals and sleeping. The teachers
will ensure that they are spaced appropriately at tables for eating and that the nap mats are
placed so that students are not in close face-near-face proximity when resting and sleeping. The
classes will also eat outside when possible.
• Grades 1 to 8 Classrooms: Desks for students in our Grades 1 – 8 will have at least three feet
spacing between students, and students will be expected to sit at their desks for eating and
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 12drinking. Again, as with the Early Childhood students, the grades students will still move around
the classroom and play together, and we will not be enforcing unrealistic expectations on these
behaviors.
• High School Classrooms: The desks in our classrooms for full-grade classrooms will be three feet
apart, and students in mixed-grade classrooms (music, math, and language) will be distanced by
six feet.
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Vaccination
The Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor does not take a position on vaccination, instead feeling that it is
a personal, family medical decision. However, a high percentage of community members – faculty, staff,
and eligible students – are vaccinated and we will be using this information around responses to
exposures, quarantines, and other situations.
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Symptom Tracking
Symptom Tracking, Staying Home and Testing for Symptoms in Students and Staff
We are continuing to use the ParentSquare app to screen all faculty, staff, and students for symptoms of
COVID-19 daily. This means:
• Faculty and Staff: All faculty and staff are asked to complete a daily symptom check through a
ParentSquare feature that will check on symptoms. Early Childhood and Grades 1 – 12 faculty
and staff may check their temperature at home each morning and complete the app before
coming to campus.
• All Students: Families will be asked to monitor their children’s daily symptoms and temperature
and to keep children home whenever they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 or have a
temperature over 100.4 degrees. All parents (or High School students) are asked to complete a
daily symptom check through a ParentSquare feature that will check on symptoms.
See Appendix 1 for full details of symptom checking and responses that should be taken to any
symptoms.
Staying home whenever ill: Parents will be asked to keep children home for any two COVID-19
symptoms or a fever of 100.4 and above and to consider seeking COVID-19 testing if symptoms
continue. Faculty and staff are also being asked to stay home when they have any symptoms or a fever.
We realize that this will lead to higher-than-normal levels of absence in both students and employees.
To support employees, we have expanded our paid sick time for the 2021-22 school year to avoid
people reporting to work when they are potentially ill. Teachers will be ready to support students who
are home with make-up work and flexibility as usual for ill students. We will not be offering a remote
program for students who are home ill, but teachers will support learning and catching up as we do for
all students out for any illness. For full guidance on the handling of symptoms please see Appendix 1.
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Cohorting of Students
Throughout the school we will be working to keep students in controlled size groups throughout the day
to allow us to reduce possible exposures and be completely aware of who students have been in contact
with. This means:
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 13• Early Childhood: Our Early Childhood classrooms will be full classes ranging from 12 in our PreK
class to 19 in our mixed-aged kindergartens The children will stay in these groups and will not
mix with children in other classes. As the year passes it is possible that if the risk of COVID-19
diminishes in our community, they will be able to play with the other classes outside, but in
September and October we will not be allowing them to come together inside or outside.
• Grades 1 to 8: Each grade will be together in a single classroom with their class teacher and
subject teachers. This is how we have traditionally run our classes. Subject teachers will come
to the classroom, and for specific classes the entire class will travel to the subject room (such as
the gym for movement or the art room). The schedule will return to one that anyone enrolled in
the school for the 2019-20 school year will find familiar. All students will receive all subject
lessons in a regular rotation throughout each week. We will be actively working to ensure that
students do not meet students of other classes in the hallways, while playing outside, or in any
classrooms.
• High School: We are returning to a more normal schedule in the High School and students will
meet students from other grades in math, language, and music classes. For those classes they
will be physically distanced by six feet, and fully masked. During September and October,
students will not be allowed to sit together inside with students from different grades, outside
of class. We hope to be able to return to this as the year passes.
o During the Fall of 2021 the Ninth Grade will meet in the Assembly Hall. This is because
the class is the largest at the High School and likely to be the least vaccinated (as they
are the youngest). They will have their main lesson and other full-grade classes in the
Assembly Hall, while math, language, and music classes will be held in other rooms
around the building. The Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Grades will be in our regular
classrooms for main lesson and full-grade classes. These grades are smaller and can be
safely accommodated in the space we have, with sufficient social distancing. Students
will be tracked in all classes and activities so that we can know who students have had
contact with each day.
o In September and October, Volleyball will be the only sport that practices indoors, and
spectators will not be allowed at practices. Families will be the only spectators allowed
for competitions.
o In September and October, as much as possible, all clubs and activities in the High
School will take place outside. As we move into November this will be reviewed as part
of our end-of-October review and we will decide how to continue these activities safely.
o The Afterschool program will have assigned areas for students from different grades, to
keep them from sitting closely or socializing during the period that they are inside to
work. Students in the afterschool program will be allowed to be outside and to be with
students from other classes there.
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Protocols for COVID-19 Cases
Illness at school: Teachers will monitor students for symptoms of COVID-19 throughout the day. If a
student displays COVID-19 symptoms, the teacher will call the Front Office and the parents will be called
to pick up the student. The student will be escorted to a comfortable but isolated place where he or she
will be cared for while they wait for a parent to pick them up. If a student is sent home with symptoms
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 14of COVID-19 they will not be allowed to return to school until they have received a negative COVID-19
test or ten days have passed.
Response to any positive tests in the community: We are working with the Washtenaw Health
Department and following their directions for handling any positively-confirmed COVID-19 cases in our
school community. As we shared with the community earlier this summer, the Washtenaw County
Health Department will be allowing schools to use a testing protocol instead of quarantining students
exposed to COVID-19. However, we are concerned that we do not yet have enough information about
the way the Delta Variant, or subsequent ones, will travel within a school environment, or the level of
break-through infections likely despite vaccination. We are also working to balance the need for reliable
childcare for younger children, and concerns that many parents have about testing the younger children.
Therefore, we will be following this protocol:
A. Response to a positive COVID-19 Case in an Early Childhood Student or Faculty Member
• In the case of a positive COVID-19 case on either campus we will have a one-day break from
school on that campus to allow for the implementation of the following steps, and deep
cleaning of the campus. Full details on this policy are in Appendix 2.
• The student or faculty member who has the positive test result will be quarantined at home for
ten days minimum, as will any family members, such as siblings.
• Parents of the exposed students, generally the full Early Childhood class, will make one of the
following choices:
o Choose to quarantine their child for ten days at home
o Choose to have their child tested daily (at school with a quick test) and to continue to
attend school for the ten days unless they receive a positive test in that time.
• During the ten days that a child is tested daily and attends school they may not attend Aftercare.
• During the ten days of quarantine the Class Teacher will regularly reach out, through Zoom, to
the parents quarantining the students at home.
• If any of the children testing daily and attending school has a positive test, we will then ask all
children in that class to quarantine for an additional ten days. Once we have transfer within the
school, testing out of quarantine will not be allowed for that particular case.
• Details on the testing process can be found in Appendix 4.
B. Response to a positive COVID-19 Case in a Grade One to Five Student or Faculty Member
• In the case of a positive COVID-19 case on either campus we will have a one-day break from
school on that campus to allow for the implementation of the following steps, and deep
cleaning of the campus. Full details on this policy are in Appendix 2.
• The student or faculty member who has the positive test result will be quarantined at home for
ten days minimum, as well as any family members, such as siblings.
• Parents of the exposed students, generally the full class, will make one of the following choices:
o Choose to quarantine their child for ten days at home.
o Choose to have their child tested daily (at school with a quick test) and to continue to
attend school for the ten days unless they receive a positive test in that time.
• During the ten days that a child is tested daily and attends school they may not attend Aftercare.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 15• During the ten days of quarantine the Class Teacher will send homework for students who are
quarantining at home.
• If any of the children testing daily and attending school has a positive test, we will then ask all
children in that class to quarantine for an additional ten days. Once we have transfer within the
school, testing out of quarantine will not be allowed for that particular case.
• Details on the testing process can be found in Appendix 4.
C. Response to a positive COVID-19 Case in a Grade Six to Eight Student or Faculty Member
• In the case of a positive COVID-19 case on either campus we will have a one-day break from
school on that campus to allow for the implementation of the following steps, and deep
cleaning of the campus. Full details on this policy are in Appendix 2.
• The student or faculty member who has the positive test result will be quarantined at home for
ten days minimum, as well as any family members, such as siblings.
• Depending on vaccination status and parent choice, the student will be assigned to quarantine
or testing
o All unvaccinated students will be expected to quarantine for ten days at home.
o Vaccinated students will have the choice of quarantining or receiving a daily COVID-19
test for the ten days.
• During the ten days that a child is tested daily and attends school they may not attend sports
practices or competitions.
• We are being cautious and conservative by testing the vaccinated students attending school
daily for the ten days and this is because of concerns that the vaccination does not completely
stop infection or the ability to pass it on to others.
• During the ten days of quarantine, main lesson and language lessons will be streamed for the
quarantine group. The Class Teacher will send home skills work and assignments.
• If any of the students testing daily and attending school has a positive test, we will then ask all
children in that class to quarantine for an additional ten days. Once we have transfer within the
school, testing out of quarantine will not be allowed for that particular case.
• Details on the testing process can be found in Appendix 4.
D. Response to a positive COVID-19 Case in a High School Student or Faculty Member
• In the case of a positive COVID-19 case on either campus we will have a one-day break from
school on that campus to allow for the implementation of the following steps, and deep
cleaning of the campus. Full details on this policy are in Appendix 2.
• The student or faculty member who has the positive test result will be quarantined at home for
ten days minimum, as well as any family members, such as siblings.
• Depending on vaccination status and parent choice, the student will be assigned to quarantine
or testing
o All unvaccinated students will be expected to quarantine for ten days at home.
o Vaccinated students will have the choice of quarantining or receiving a daily COVID-19
test for the ten days.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 16• During the ten days that a child is tested daily and attends school they may not socialize inside
with students from other grades, attend sports practices or competitions, or attend clubs or
school activities.
• We are being cautious and conservative by testing the vaccinated students attending school
daily for the ten days and this is because of concerns that the vaccination does not completely
stop infection or the ability to pass it on to others.
• During the ten days of quarantine, math, language, main lesson, and afternoon academic
subject classes will be streamed to the quarantine group. Music, art, and movement classes will
not be held for students on quarantine.
• If any of the students testing daily and attending school has a positive test, we will then ask all
children in that class to quarantine for an additional ten days. Once we have transfer within the
school, testing out of quarantine will not be allowed for that particular case.
• Details on the testing process can be found in Appendix 4.
We anticipate that during the 2021-22 School Year vaccination will be offered to students younger than
12. When a period sufficient to allow students in the new age group to become fully vaccinated has
passed, we will expand the expectations for students over 12 (unvaccinated expected to quarantine,
vaccinated able to choose between quarantine or daily testing) to the younger children.
We are using the Binax Quick Tests provided to us by the State of Michigan. These are tests that involve
the student swabbing the inside of the front of the nose (not a deep nasal sample), and then an adult
places the swab in a test pack that includes an indicator that shows whether COVID-19 has been
detected in 15 minutes.
This approach to quarantine is conservative, in that we are not allowing unvaccinated students over 12
to opt out of quarantine through testing. We will also be testing all vaccinated students over 12 who
want to attend school rather than quarantine. This is because of our concern about the more
contagious Delta Variant, and the possibility of break-through infections in the vaccinated. Whether this
is the right balance will be a central part of our late October review. We will be using our experience
from the fall to decide how to continue forward. We are choosing to risk being too conservative at the
beginning of the year with the ability to relax our precautions, with the hope that this will help us
prevent any widespread outbreak in the community. By the end of October, we will have our own
experience and that of other local schools to base our decisions on.
Students Exposed Outside of School: If a student is considered a close contact to a person with a
positive COVID-19 test outside of school they will be asked to quarantine at home for ten days.
Website Tracking of School COVID-19 Data: We also keep full information about levels of quarantine
students and employees, positive COVID-19 cases, and probable COVID-19 cases on our website at
https://www.steinerschool.org/our-families/covid-19-information.cfm. The table lists the following:
• Data by campus (LS and HS) and by student and faculty.
• Numbers of students/employees who are quarantined in any particular week.
• Numbers of students/employees who have a positive COVID-19 test in any particular
week.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 17• Numbers of students/employees who have a probable COVID-19 case in any particular
week – “probable” is a health-department-defined term meaning that the person is
waiting on a test but the doctor working with them is expecting a positive result.
• We update it daily, so it is completely current.
• Note that a single quarantined person appears in two weeks of data as the quarantine
period is 10 days.
• Note that the probable cases will either resolve into positive cases or disappear from
the chart (when the result is negative).
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Testing for COVID-19
There are a few other situations in which we will be routinely testing students for COVID-19.
• Overnight and Field Trips – Any trips that include overnight stays or significant travel by shared
transportation (cars, buses, or planes) will require a negative COVID-19 test before a student
can participate. The full policy is in Appendix 6.
• Return from Group Travel by Plane – Any school trip that includes plane flight will include
testing for COVID-19 for the first ten days upon return – testing on day three, five, seven and
nine.
• Participation in Basketball and Volleyball – All Middle and High School Students participating in
Basketball and Volleyball will need to be tested in the following way
o For indoor practices – twice weekly, with at least three days between the two tests.
o For all competitions – directly before the event. This can replace the requirement for
the testing for indoor practices as long as it meets the twice weekly, at least every three
days, requirement.
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Ensuring Healthy Environments
Across both campuses we will continue to work with all of the improvements to ventilation and cleaning
that we made in the 2020-21 School Year. This includes the improvement of our air filtering and
circulation levels, the keeping of windows open as much as possible, and the addition of cleaning of
surfaces, especially common-touch surfaces.
Teachers are also encouraged to hold classes outside as much as possible, especially snacks and lunch.
In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Access to the Buildings
During the 2021-22 school year we will be returning to more access for parents to the school campus
and buildings. However, we will not be allowing parents to enter classrooms when children other than
their own are present. All parents will be expected to wear masks in the building at all times. Early
Childhood and Lower School Grades students will be dropped off and picked up curbside at designated
areas. Parents will be asked if they completed the ParentSquare Symptom Check. Early Childhood
students will be dropped off with their teachers and Lower School Grades students will be greeted by
staff members who will make sure they make it to their classroom. Parent meetings will be held in either
an in-person or Zoom context based on the choice of the individual teacher (working with the parents in
the class). Parent engagement events will be held both in person and remotely, and there will always be
social distancing.
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 18In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Regular Faculty Testing As we did in the 2020-21 School Year, we will be regularly testing faculty and staff members throughout the 2021-22 School Year. Testing will be done weekly on both campuses. Any positive quick test will result in the faculty or staff member leaving campus to get a PCR test, and if that is positive then the full COVID-19 case response process will take place. In-Person Instruction Safety and Health Protocols: Regular Offering of Testing to Families We are currently exploring whether we can offer regular COVID-19 testing to children and families through the State of Michigan process. We will have more information on this once we have a full understanding of what is possible. This would be offered as a support to families who were interested, and not expected or required. Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 19
D. Our Plans for In-Person Instruction: Curriculum and Instruction, and Operations In-Person Instruction Curriculum and Instruction Plans: EC Program As we prepare for the 2020-21 school year, we are following the State of Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Guidelines for Safe Child Care Operations During COVID-19. We already work closely with LARA to meet all the state licensing regulations and are confident that we will have the support and guidance we need. Physical Space Students will return to storing their materials and clothing in hallway hooks and classroom cubbies. Students will not mix with students from another class in this space, instead the classes will move through these spaces in sequence and with teachers ensuring that children do not meet those from other classes. We have ensured that each classroom is well ventilated and has safe water systems. During this school year we will continue to be outdoors even more than we usually are to take advantage of the fresh air and our beautiful grounds. We are enriching our nature and seasonal curriculum and will work together with the children to create beautiful and active outdoor play areas on our school grounds. Golden Eagles Program We are committed to offering a full and engaging Golden Eagles Program (for our rising first graders) during the 2021-22 School Year but it will need to look very different than in non-COVID years, as it is very likely that groups of students will not be able to come together for significant parts of the school year. Our Golden Eagles program offers a rich Waldorf curriculum for those children who are age eligible to enter Grade One the following school year. Golden Eagles students will be a part of their home classroom (Robin, Redbird, Bluebird) and will work with the Golden Eagles Lead Teacher in special activities to build skills, strength and will. The Golden Eagles Lead Teacher will travel from class to class in the same way that the Specials Teachers in the Grades will travel from class to class. Our Language Arts circles include fine and gross motor skills, song, dance, and fun. Seasonal crafts engage the children in fine motor skills such as sewing and weaving. The Golden Eagles Lead Teacher will guide the Golden Eagles students in finger weaving and by telling rich stories and puppet plays. As the year goes on, the children are given more challenging tasks which they are excited to participate in. These include more complex movement journeys in which the children enter a world of imagination led by the Golden Eagles Lead Teacher and a lively story. Movement journeys help the children develop core strength, build stamina and balance, practice gross motor skills and integrate the senses which will be beneficial in Grade 1 when they will be learning the basics of writing and math and can anticipate sitting at desks. The Golden Eagles also jump rope outdoors with the Golden Eagles Lead Teacher and classmates. The Golden Eagles end the year with a special age-appropriate craft woodworking project. Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 20
Drop-off and Pick-Up of EC Children Early Childhood students will be dropped off and picked up curbside at designated areas. Parents will be asked if they completed the ParentSquare Symptom Check. Early Childhood students will be dropped off with their teachers and will wait with their teachers at their designated curbside areas for pick up. Drop off will be between 8:30 and 8:45 am. Early Bird pick up (half day students) will be at 12:15 pm. Full day pick up will be between 2:50 and 3:00 pm. Festivals and Celebrations Festivals and celebrations are an important part of our Early Childhood curriculum and provide a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with one another and the school. Our goal is to celebrate each festival in a way that honors this connection while mitigating spread of COVID-19. Each festival is unique and, being mindful of safety precautions, we will celebrate them in one of the following ways: classroom specific with only the students and teachers, classroom specific outdoors with families, Early Childhood-wide outdoors with families. It is our hope that we will be able to move toward the third option as we progress throughout the year. We will notify families two weeks prior to each festival with details on how the festival will be celebrated. In-Person Instruction Curriculum and Instruction Plans: Grades One to Eight Class Structure and Placement Each grade will be together in a single classroom with their class teacher and subject teachers. This is how we have traditionally run our classes. Subject teachers will come to the classroom, and for specific classes the entire class will travel to the subject room (such as the gym for movement or the art room). The schedule will return to one that anyone enrolled in the school for the 2019-20 school year will find familiar. All students will receive all subject lessons in a regular rotation through each week. Each classroom will be physically set up to keep student desks at least three feet apart, and we will continue to ensure that we are not encouraging close contact inside. However, it is important for us all to be realistic about young children and to understand that students will come into close contact with each other throughout the day. If there is a positive case in a class, we will consider all of the students in the class to be close contacts for quarantine decision making. As mentioned under social distancing, we expect children of this age to often come closer together than three feet in play and normal activity and we will not be treating this as a problem in the classroom. Specific Lower School Curriculum Considerations Singing: We will be returning to singing as a regular part of the curriculum this school year. Singing inside can take place with masks on, social distancing, and ensuring that students do not face each other as they sing. Class teachers will also be encouraged to sing outside when weather makes this possible. Instrumental Music: Final decisions about the form of instrumental music classes are still being made and will be shared before the beginning of classes. Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 21
Outdoor Play: Students will be able to engage in normal outdoor plan with their own class only. If the
risk of COVID-19 transmission in the county drops, we will be considering whether students can play
together with students from other grades.
In-Person Instruction Curriculum and Instruction Plans: High School
Class Structure and Placement
High School Students will be scheduled as we have conventionally held our school days, with morning
main lesson and afternoon classes schedule with their grade, and the ability to mix grades in math,
language, and music classes. Eating will take place outside or in their grade’s main lesson room only.
Students will be able to socialize across grades outdoors only during September and October. Common
areas include the High School Commons and Athletic Commons, gym, classrooms not assigned to a
particular grade, hallways, and bathrooms. Everyone in these spaces will need to be masked at all times
and are not expected to use these areas for socializing, instead going outside for social interaction. This
will allow students to have lots of connection to students in the other grades, without raising the
amount of inside contact between them. See details about clubs and sports below.
Special High School Curriculum Considerations:
Instrumental and Vocal Music Curriculum: During the 2021-22 school year we will return to our regular
instrumental music curriculum, with the use of specialized masks for wind instruments. We will hold
vocal music classes outside with masks in the fall of 2021 and will re-evaluate our approach as we come
to the end of October.
All School Assembly: All School Assembly will take place weekly outside or in the gym, with classes
socially distanced across the bleachers and around the room.
Trips and Internships: The opportunity for students to move beyond the walls of the High School is an
integral part of our program, and in the spring of 2021, we managed to return to COVID-19 safe
implementations of trips and activities – this year our intention is the following
• Internships – Grade 11: We are currently planning on our Grade 11 students completing their
internships in the spring of 2022. The exact shape of the internships, including the level of in-
person placement will be directly affected by the level of COVID-19 in the community in spring
of 2022 and we will finalize our plans as we draw closer.
• Trips – Grade 12: We are currently planning both the Maine Marine Biology Trip and the Italy
Trip. A decision around Italy will be made in early 2022, based on conditions and international
regulations.
• Trips – Grades 9, 10: We are currently planning for the spring 2022 ninth grade Farm Trip and
tenth grade Survey Trip.
Extracurricular Trips: We are planning for our normal extracurricular trips, including the fall hiking trip.
As in the spring of 2021, all students participating in a trip (class or extracurricular) will be tested with
rapid COVID-19 tests at least twice in the three days before the trip departs. In addition, students will
be provided with the safest possible sleeping conditions, including individual tents for tent camping.
Clubs: All extracurricular clubs will be held starting in September. Meetings will start outside if they
include students from multiple grades. Students will be required to sign in for all meetings so that we
Approved by Board 8/25/2021 and College 8/26/2021 22You can also read
