Plan for Reopening During the COVID-19 Pandemic
September 7, 2021
Yang Academy will offer both in-person instruction and a virtual school in Fall 2021.
Yang Academy will follow applicable guidelines from the Maryland Department of Health, local health department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for safe reopening of in-person instruction.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does Yang Academy prepare and plan for staff or students who may have increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness due to age or other underlying medical conditions?
They or their parents should ask their health care providers for recommendations regarding work or school during the COVID-19 pandemic and forward such recommendations to Yang Academy. Yang Academy will offer telework or virtual learning options that limit their risk of exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
2. How will Yang Academy address the needs of students with disabilities or special health needs?
Yang Academy will meet their needs by following applicable laws.
3a. Will Yang Academy require universal COVID-19 testing for students and staff prior to starting in-person instruction?
No.
3b. Will Yang Academy require COVID-19 vaccination for students and staff prior to starting in-person instruction if vaccines are available to them?
Yes.
4. Will Yang Academy perform temperature checks and symptoms screening before allowing staff or students to enter the school building?
No; however, staff or students must not enter the school building if 1) they have COVID-19 symptoms; 2) they have you been diagnosed with COVID-19, waiting for a COVID-19 test result, or instructed by any health care provider or the health department to isolate or quarantine; or 3) they are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 or suspected of having COVID-19.
COVID-19 symptoms are any ONE of the following: fever of 100.4°F or higher, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, diarrhea or vomiting, new onset of severe headache (especially with fever), or new loss of taste or smell.
Individuals are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after receiving either 1) both doses of a 2-dose vaccine series or 2) a single-dose vaccine.
A close contact is someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
5. What physical distancing measures will Yang Academy use for students and staff?
Yang Academy will maintain a distance of at least 3 feet (both indoors and outdoors) between any two people (students, staff, and others) who do not live in the same household.
6. May students use the playground available at Yang Academy?
Yes.
7. What will Yang Academy do if a student or staff member is a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19?
Yang Academy will report to the local health department as soon as possible and provide cooperation and support to its possible follow-up actions, including but not limited to, contact tracing, ordering of quarantines, and ordering of school closure.
8. What will Yang Academy do if a student or staff member develops COVID-19 symptoms during the school day?
If a student develops COVID-19 symptoms during the school day, Yang Academy will safely isolate the student and contact the student's parent/guardian or emergency contact person, who must pick up the student immediately.
If a staff member develops COVID-19 symptoms during the school day, the person must vacate the premises, as soon as possible.
9. How long should a student or staff member be excluded from Yang Academy if the person is a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19?
The decision will be made by the local health department.
10. When can a person who is quarantined at home due to a household member with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 return to Yang Academy?
The decision will be made by the local health department.
11. How will contact tracing be conducted at Yang Academy if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19?
It will be decided and conducted by the local health department.
12. Will Yang Academy let families know if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19?
The decision will be made by the local health department.
13. Will students, staff, and others wear masks while at Yang Academy?
Yes, except when they are 1) being outdoors or 2) eating indoors and maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet between any two people (students, staff, and others) who do not live in the same household.
14. Will kindergarten students age 4 wear masks while at Yang Academy?
Yes, except when they are 1) being outdoors or 2) eating indoors and maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet between any two people (students, staff, and others) who do not live in the same household.
15. How will school buses be cleaned and disinfected at Yang Academy?
Yang Academy does not offer school bus service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
16. How will physical distancing and other mitigation practices be done on school buses at Yang Academy?
Yang Academy does not offer school bus service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
17. Do students need to have all the usual vaccinations at the Yang Academy virtual school?
Yes.
18. How will Yang Academy perform cleaning and disinfecting?
It will be done according to the reopening guidance from the CDC.
19. How will food and water be served at Yang Academy?
Yang Academy students and staff will bring their own lunches, snacks, and water.