Reopening Plan Covid-19

COVID-19 REOPENING PLAN

1 FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear ISF Community,

I am delighted to welcome you to the new academic year and our return to campus based learning. While we are looking forward to a very purposeful year, our primary focus at this stage is to ensure that we can provide a safe environment for all members of our community. To that end, the school Reopening Plan outlined here requires every member of the school community to accept modifications in expectations, approaches and behaviour. The plan is designed to ensure everyone’s safety and the measures involved are required if we are to avoid a return to distance learning.

This document is based on our best understanding of the current situation in Italy, evolving instructions from the Ministero dell’Istruzione as well as international best practice. While it is rooted in current advice, a developing situation means that we will all need to adapt as necessary. I know that I will be able to rely on your understanding and that we share a common ambition to maintain the continuity and the quality in student learning.

Simon Murray

PRIOR TO OPENING

TESTING IN SCHOOL

In keeping with best professional advice, the safe reopening of campus will require all staff and students to take a serological test for coronavirus. These tests will be carried out by pediatric specialist nurses on behalf of our scientific laboratory contractor, Bio Labor. The costs of these tests will be covered by the school. Test results will be provided within 24 hours.

Testing will take place on the Junior School campus on August 31 and September 1 and 2. You will receive more detailed instructions regarding procedures and your allotted time slot shortly by email.

In the event of a positive test, families will be contacted by the Italian health authorities (ASL) who will require a second swab test to be taken with a second test result provided 24 hours from that point. All test results will be held confidentially and individuals identified with positive test results will not be allowed on campus for 14 days.

Any student who remains untested will not be allowed on campus.

INDEPENDENT TESTING

If you prefer to have the relevant tests done independently, then please use the information below.

There are two different types of testing: the serological test and the swab test. The serological test is a test that looks for antibodies (specific proteins made in response to infections). If there is a presence of antibodies, this indicates an immune response after infection. Antibody test results are especially important for detecting pre- vious infections in people who had few or no symptoms. If you test positive to either IgG or IgM antibodies it is mandatory for the patient to call their family doctor and also the Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL). This local health authority will administer the swab test for free (to determine if the infection is active or if it was a past infection) within 24 hours from the serological test.

Telephone numbers for the ASL Toscana: ASL Toscana centro (Firenze, Prato, Pistoia, Empoli): 055 5454777 ASL Toscana nord ovest (Pisa, Livorno, Lucca, Massa Carrara, Viareggio): 050 954444 ASL Toscana sud est (Arezzo, Grosseto, Siena): 800 579579

If you decide to get a swab test, this consists of inserting a 6-inch long swab (like a long Q-tip) into the cavity between the nose and mouth (nasopharyngeal swab) for 15 seconds and rotating several times. The swabbing is then repeated on the other side of the nose to make sure enough material is collected. The swab does not measure our antibodies but it directly detects the presence of virus genetic material.

2 INDEPENDENT TESTING (continued)

Swab test results are usually available after 5 days. If the test is a swab after a positive serological test, the results will be available within 24 hours. Depending on what kind of serological test, results will be available in 1 or 2 days. You should be aware that the agreement that the school has with the testing laboratory allows test results to be released much faster.

If you decide to opt for independent testing, you will be required to take the test within 72 hours prior to your return to school.

Families who already know that they will be returning late to school should contact the school nurse for advice.

This is the list of where you can get privately tested in the Florence area, after calling and making an appointment: Ambulatori Misericordia Campi Bisenzio tel. 055.89411 / 342.9506677 Biomolecular Diagnostic (Firenze) tel. 055.570762 / 334.8459802 Istituto Prosperius (Firenze) tel. 055.50661 Istituto Fanfani (Firenze) tel. 055.4970324 / 055.4970486 / 055.4970636 Nuova Igea (Firenze) tel. 055.600546 / 055.6540501 / 055.4376697 / 055.701607 Istituto Ecomedica (Empoli) tel. 0571.99281 Lea Srl (Empoli) tel. 0571.543985 / 371.3547896 Istituto Ragionieri (Sesto Fiorentino) tel. 055.4200056 Synlabmed (Sesto Fiorentino) tel. 055.4211617

The cost for the testing is usually between €40 and €60 per test.

If you require any further advice or assistance, please contact our School Nurse and COVID-19 Coordinator, Sofia Gori at [email protected]. In the event that you cannot be tested at school, or independently, please contact the school nurse.

PROCEDURES FOR SUSPECTED INFECTION

In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 within our school community, we will follow governmental in- dications and guidelines which include informing the Firenze ASL promptly. Particular guidelines for schools have not been published at this point, but once available, ISF will be obliged to follow these guidelines strictly. In the case of students exhibiting symptoms at school, we will proceed to quarantine the student with the School Nurse and will request immediate collection from parents. Following government instructions, we will collaborate with the local health authorities to track possible infection and inform families. Communication of possible contact and further quarantine will follow updated guidelines aimed at guaranteeing safety and privacy of families. The local health authorities will liase with affected families.

SELF DECLARATION

In consultation with other schools in our professional networks and following government guidelines, parents will be required to sign a declaration in order for their children to return to school. This will contribute to the safe reopening and ongoing safety for the entire community. You will find a digital copy of the Self Declaration form attached. In addition, hard copies will be available during testing. Please note that the forms need to be signed by both parents and returned to the school.

3 DAILY

SCHOOL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS LIFE AT ISF

All students (Foundation - G12) All members of the must wear masks* community will have indoors and in all their temperature taken circumstances where upon arrival to their social distancing is respective school not possible. campus. Students will be issued The school will be individual masks. Staff cleaned and sanitised will be issued with both on a daily and extensive visors and masks. basis.

All members of the community will be en- couraged to wash and sanitise their hands on a regular basis.

SCHOOL ROUTINES

• If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection (fever, cough, cold), you MUST NOT come to school. • Upon daily arrival to school, everyone will have a temperature check using the thermo-scanner and/or handheld temperature devices. • All students (Foundation - G12) must wear masks indoors and in all circumstances where social distancing is not possible. • Strive to maintain a distance of 1 metre, avoid large groups, and avoid any physical contact to respect peers and staff. • Wash your hands regularly with soap and use the gel dispensers** that are available throughout the school. Avoid touching your face. • As directed by your teacher, use the provided materials to sanitise your desk. • We encourage the use of outdoor spaces as much as possible, for teaching and learning, lunches, breaks, and physical education.

*ISF will provide one EU-certified, washable mask per student and staff member. In the event the mask is lost, students and staff are asked to bring their own masks to school. ISF will retain a small supply of disposable masks for emergencies.

**Gel dispensers are positioned in strategic points around school, as well as inside classrooms.

SCHOOL CLEANING PROCEDURES

• Additional cleaning staff have been employed for the intensified cleaning of the school facilities. The school campus will be sanitised routinely and completely at the end of each day. • The school will undergo a deep clean prior to the arrival of our students and staff at the end of August. • Sanitizing hand units will be available in classrooms, common staff areas and corridors. • At teachers’ direction students will clean their own immediate desk and equipment areas for the following lesson.

4 BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

For the safety of all, it is the expectation that all members of the ISF community follow the rules and regula- tions outlined in this protocol. We expect all students to behave in a safe and responsible manner in and around school at all times. The new Form Tutor system at the Middle/Upper School and classroom teachers at the Junior School will reinforce these general expectations and the new protocol for the return to campus in September. Whilst we expect everyone to support each other in sensible and positive approaches to behaviour there may be occasions when this is not the case. Students who do not follow the reopening protocol or indeed any of our agreed rules, will be requested politely by a member of staff to comply. Should they refuse or continue to behave in an unhelpful or unsafe manner then after this first warning they will imme- diately be asked to meet with the Vice Principal for Wellbeing for a discussion, which may also result in a conversation with parents. Should the unwelcome behaviour continue thereaf- ter, as per any continual failure to comply with school rules, the student may be asked to stay at home for a set period of time to reflect, and return once an agreement has been confirmed with the parents and student to follow the rules. We also expect students, in the health and safety in- terests of all, to encourage peers to follow the rules and protocol for reopening.

We realise that our return to school will be met with a mix of emotions for students, parents and staff. Our goal is to help each other understand and manage the range of emotions we are experiencing. We will strive to create a sense of safety, calm and wellbeing while promoting social connectedness. Parents and students are welcome to contact the Vice Principals for wellbeing: Junior School- Kelly Jo Dean - [email protected] Upper School - Toby Dean - [email protected]

STUDENT WELLBEING

5 UPPER SCHOOL MORNING DROP OFF

Students will access the school as normal, by walking up the driveway. When students arrive on campus, they will be directed to one of two temperature checks and remain outside of the school building, socially distanced, where they will be met by their Form Tutors in a designated area.

JUNIOR SCHOOL MORNING DROP OFF

A staggered entry process (15 minute slots) will be in operation. This relates to students who do not take the school bus. School bus timings will be arranged FOUNDATION - GRADE 2 directly with the drivers. (plus siblings) Parents will enter school from Ponte a Ema at the 8.00 - 8.15 lower gate (reception side) and drop off Foundation to G5 children directly at the Lower gate and then proceed to the exit without parking (see map). Please GRADE 3 - GRADE 5 have your children ready, with their backpacks, to (plus siblings) efficiently exit their vehicles. 8.15 - 8.30 EY 1 and 2 Parents only can park in the car park in the indicated zone (See map). A teacher will collect your child from the car. EARLY YEARS 1 & 2 (plus remaining siblings) No parents will be permitted on campus without an appointment made through Reception. 8.30 - 8.45

When students arrive they EY 1 & 2 Path will be directed to temperature stations by a staff EY 1 & 2 DROP POINT member. Please note you Foundation to G5 Path do not have to wait for the results of this temperature check; if a child has a temperature you will be alerted by phone.

Early Years 1 and 2 temperature taken at Aula Magna door

Grades F, 1 and 2 temperature taken at Aula Magna door

Grades 3, 4 and 5: tem- F - G5 DROP POINT perature taken at Recep- tion door

6 JUNIOR SCHOOL AFTERNOON PICK-UP

In the afternoon, please enter school from Ponte a Ema via the Lower Gate (the same as in the morning).

It is vital for the smooth running of dismissal that you only enter school at your designated time slot. If you arrive early, please wait at Piazza Bacci. If you are late this will also cause severe disruption to the traffic flow.

When you arrive at the carpark, please park where indicated by staff, exit your car (wearing your mask) and wait at a marked cone in the designated pick up spot (see map) If all the cones are occupied, you will need to wait in your car until a space becomes available. Please exit the campus with your children as quickly as possible. It is essential that you maintain social distance from other families.

TUESDAYS

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL TIME BUS STUDENTS SLOTS WILL BE 3.00 45 MINUTES EARLIER. EARLY YEARS 1 - FOUNDATION (plus siblings)

3.00 - 3.10 FAMILIES WITH STUDENTS AT GRADE 1 and GRADE 2 BOTH SCHOOLS (plus siblings) WILL BE IN THE LATEST PICK-UP 3.10 - 3.20 TIME SLOT.

GRADE 3 - GRADE 5 (and all remaining siblings) 3.20 - 3.30

7 BUS SERVICE

We have agreed with the bus operator that all bus company staff will be tested as part of our testing exercise to provide us with reasonable safety assurance.

All students will have their temperature taken by the bus driver using a handheld device, prior to entering the bus. Students with an above 37.5 °C reading will not be allowed on the bus and parents will re-accompany them home.

THINGS TO BRING TO

**ALL INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THE JUNIOR SCHOOL BELONGING TO STUDENTS MUST BE CLEARLY LABELED.

INDIVIDUAL 2 FULL WATER INDIVIDUAL SNACK BOTTLES INDIVIDUAL SUNSCREEN, HAT, (not to be (to minimize PENCIL CASE AND EXTRA MASK shared) sharing)

THINGS TO BRING TO

**ALL INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THE UPPER SCHOOL BELONGING TO STUDENTS MUST BE CLEARLY LABELED.

2 FULL WATER NOTEBOOKS FOR BOTTLES INDIVIDUAL EXTRA MASK EACH SUBJECT (to minimize PENCIL CASE sharing)

8 SNACK & LUNCH (both campuses)

For health and safety reasons, we have been obliged to make changes to our provision of food. Our lunch service provider (SIAF) will not be operating as normal. Instead, students wishing to have a school lunch will sign up on a monthly basis and be able to choose from simplified lunch box options. All lunch boxes will be pre-prepared and collected from different pick-up JUNIOR SCHOOL points by queuing while maintaining a social distance snack and lunch times of 1 metre. For students who choose to bring their will be staggered own lunch, there will no longer be microwaves available for health and safety reasons.

GRADES 6 - 9 At this time, there will be no snack service from the 12:10 - 12:50 mensa. Students should bring their own individually packed snack. We encourage students not to share food for health and safety reasons. GRADES 10 - 12 Students will go to designated areas to socialise with 13:00 - 13:40 friends with a recommended social distance of 1 metre during snack and lunch breaks.

9 CONTACTS

We understand that you may have several questions regarding the new operating procedures. In order to facilitate communication and respond to your questions, we would be grateful if you could direct your questions regarding our reopening plan to the appropriate staff person.

UPPER SCHOOL RECEPTION (general enquiries) [email protected] +39 055 2001515

JUNIOR SCHOOL RECEPTION (general enquiries) [email protected] +39 055 646226

SCHOOL NURSE AND COVID-19 COORDINATOR (medical enquiries only) [email protected]

UPPER SCHOOL VICE PRINCIPAL OF WELLBEING (student wellbeing enquiries) [email protected]

JUNIOR SCHOOL VICE PRINCIPAL OF WELLBEING (student wellbeing enquiries) [email protected]

FACILITY MANAGER (bus service enquiries) [email protected]

CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER (junior school lunch enquiries) [email protected]

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS (upper school lunch enquiries) [email protected]

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS (new family enquiries) [email protected]

10 MISSION A laboratory for learning where we collaborate to add meaning to a shared future.

VISION A laboratory for learning where we collaborate to add meaning to a shared future.

11 NOTE: All procedures will be subject to routine review and may change based on circumstances and/or new guidance.