Health and Safety at Newport News Public Schools

Social Distancing: Stay at least six feet away from others, this is called social distancing, and avoid contact with people who are sick. In schools, six feet distances will be marked off and one-way traffic in the building will be indicated. Access will be through secured doorways.

Staff/Student/Visitor Daily Self-Screening Questionnaire: Staff, students and visitors will be asked to conduct a self-screening questionnaire daily before coming to school; if they answer YES to any of the questions, they must stay home. Visitors will be told about the questionnaire when they call for an appointment. The questionnaires will be posted at entrances, available online and explained over the phone. Visitors will be encouraged to make virtual appointments whenever possible.

All students, parents and staff are required to go over their respective questionnaire before coming to school in the morning. Parents/guardians should be sure that older children realize the importance of taking this wellness check before leaving the house; and that for most elementary and all preschool children, the parent or adult who sends them off in the morning should go over the questionnaire. Students need to stay home when sick until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (temperature of 100.4 or higher) or signs of fever (chills, feeling very warm, flushed appearance or sweating) as well as other symptoms, without the use of fever-reducing medicine. If symptoms get worse and/or increase in number, students should continue to stay home and parents/guardians should contact their health care provider. Parents/guardians should notify the school if their child is diagnosed with COVID-19, is suspected of having COVID-19, or has been in contact with someone with COVID-19.

Hygiene: Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is best, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. (Singing Happy Birthday twice is about 20 seconds).

If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Be careful that young children do not use sanitizer unsupervised because of the alcohol content.

Cough/Sneeze Etiquette involves coughing or sneezing into your elbow. Education, demonstration and signage will be age appropriate and will include information about not touching your face with your hands.

Students
Mask use is optional for all students in schools and on school buses in accordance with Senate Bill 739 signed into law by the Governor and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s revised order for public transportation.

No documentation or parental notification is required for students to be masked or unmasked. Parents/guardians are asked to discuss mask preference with their children to make sure they are aware of parental expectations. NNPS staff will not be responsible for student mask use or nonuse. However, students who are wearing masks may be asked to wear them correctly. Additionally, principals will not be able to accommodate requests for changes in classroom seating assignments or school bus seating assignments due to mask preference.

Employees
The wearing of face masks is optional for all non-health services NNPS employees who are fully vaccinated and up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccine.

All Health Services employees must continue to wear a face mask due to possible exposure to COVID-19 during their job responsibilities. In addition, all employees working in the COVID isolation room must continue to wear face masks.

NNPS employees who are not fully vaccinated or up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccine must continue to wear a mask in schools, offices and on school buses.

Visitors and Volunteers
Wearing a mask is optional for parents/guardians, visitors, volunteers and tutors while inside schools and administrative offices and on school buses.

Important Information for Everyone
Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms, a positive COVID test or who have been exposed to someone with COVID should wear a face mask and follow isolation and quarantine guidelines. Masks will be required to be worn by all individuals while in the school clinic.
Masks are still encouraged to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19.Disposable masks will be available to individuals who need or request one.

Newport News Public Schools remains committed to the health and wellbeing of all students, staff and visitors.