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FAQs

Check back for updates. If you have specific questions that are unanswered, we encourage you to reach out to your division head or the leadership team at leadership@ljcds.org. If you have any health or COVID-19 protocol-related questions, please contact our HIPAA compliant team at covid19@ljcds.org. 

Social Distancing

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

Face Coverings/Masks

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • Are face coverings mandatory on campus, and how will this mandate be enforced?

    Yes, wearing a face covering is part of LJCDS health and safety protocols, and it will be required for all community members to wear a face covering. If a member of the community forgets a face covering, one will be provided. 

    All members of the community must wear a face covering when indoors except when an individual is alone in a private office or eating or drinking in a space with proper physical distancing. 

    Specific protocols will be shared with families before the start of school. The faculty will also review the protocols with students.

  • What types of masks are allowed?

    Masks can be made of various materials only if it is form-fitting. Acceptable masks include cloth masks, disposable non-surgical grade masks and KN95 respirators.

    Unacceptable facial coverings include bandanas or similar loose face coverings, and masks with an exhalation valve are not allowed.

  • Will face shields be promoted when masks aren’t being worn and/or in addition to masks? Will teachers be wearing face shields?

    All members of the community must wear a form-fitting face mask, and one can decide to wear an extra layer such as a face shield. If a member of our community has a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a mask, a face shield may be worn. Some teachers will wear face shields and masks.

Other Health Protocols

List of 17 frequently asked questions.

  • What is the accuracy of the school’s COVID-19 testing?

    We are using the Sofia2 rapid antigen test. The sensitivity of any biomedical test is the probability that a person tests positive given that they have the disease. The specificity of a test is the probability that a person tests negative given that they do not have the disease. For this test, the sensitivity is 96.7% and the specificity is 100%. 

  • Can I take my child to get the COVID-19 test with my own medical provider?

    You may choose your own medical provider for this test, but it must be a recent test (within a week before an individual returns to campus). If you choose to test with another provider, please send documentation before returning to campus to covid19@ljcds.org.

  • How fast are parents notified if a student in a cohort tests positive or has been exposed to COVID-19?

    For the rapid antigen test parents are notified in approximately 15 minutes. For the PCR tests from UC San Diego parents are notified the next day if the test result is positive.

    If you have any health or COVID-19 protocol-related questions, please contact our HIPAA compliant team at covid19@ljcds.org. 

  • How do the symptoms of COVID-19 compare with a cold or the flu?

    The CDC offers this graphic showing a comparison of COVID-19 symptoms with strep throat, common cold, flu, asthma and seasonal allergy symptoms. This is for reference only and is not meant to replace a medical provider when making decisions about your health.

  • What is the protocol for what happens when faculty, staff or students test positive for COVID-19?

    If a member of the community tests positive for COVID-19, all faculty, staff and students in the cohort and/or members who have had close contact with the individual will be notified immediately. Learning and teaching will occur remotely. 

    When there is a COVID-19 infection, the school will:
    • Notify the local public health department
    • Isolate case and exclude the individual from school for 10 days from symptom onset or test date
    • Identify close contacts (within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more)
    • Quarantine exposed close contacts (14 days after the last date the case was present at school while infectious)
    • Recommend testing of close contacts, prioritize testing of symptomatic contacts.
    • Disinfection and cleaning of classroom and primary spaces where case spent significant time
    • School remains open. Learning and teaching will resume remotely for quarantined individuals.

      If the individual who tested positive is a student who has a sibling or siblings, the sibling(s) will likely have been in close contact with the student. If it is determined that someone has been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case:
      • Send home
      • Quarantine for 14 days from last exposure
      • Recommend testing (and individual will remain in 14-day quarantine)

      Isolation is for people who are already sick.
       
      Quarantine is for people who are not sick but may have been exposed.

      View the LJCDS Illness/COVID-19 Exposure Decision Tree

      If you have any health or COVID-19 protocol-related questions, please contact our HIPAA compliant team at covid19@ljcds.org. 

    • What is the protocol for what happens when someone in a household of a student, faculty or staff tests positive for COVID-19 (e.g., a student’s parent tests positive, a teacher’s spouse tests positive)?

      When there is a COVID-19 infection, the school will:
      • Notify the local public health department
      • Isolate case and exclude the individual from school for 10 days from symptom onset or test date
      • Identify close contacts (within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more)
      • Quarantine exposed close contacts (14 days after the last date the case was present at school while infectious)
      • Recommend testing of close contacts, prioritize testing of symptomatic contacts.
      • Disinfection and cleaning of classroom and primary spaces where case spent significant time
      • School remains open
      If you have any health or COVID-19 protocol-related questions, please contact our HIPAA compliant team at covid19@ljcds.org.

    • What will happen if a member of the community shows symptoms of being sick at school?

      The community member will be sent to the designated isolation room. For students, parents will be contacted. Then the use of telehealth with certified local doctors will be in place to assess the COVID-19 symptoms. Per the recommendation of the doctor, the community member may be tested.

    • Which room is designated for isolation?

      The former Lower School faculty lounge school (next door to nurse Jan Capon’s office) has been identified as the isolation room. This room has proper ventilation, exclusive restroom facilities and a zippered visqueen around the interior perimeter.

    • Can you provide more details on the testing protocols? Who will pay for testing? Will families be eligible for testing as well?

      E-Learner’s Entry: Testing will be required for e-learners’ return to campus, the school will schedule dates for testing. LJCDS will use the Sofia SARS Antigen FIA, Sofia 2 analyzers, which provides automated and objective results in 15 minutes. 

      Symptomatic Testing: The school will continue to test students, faculty and staff who are symptomatic with the rapid antigen test, which provides results within 15 minutes.

      Asymptomatic Testing: La Jolla Country Day School and UC San Diego EXCITE Lab have partnered to implement a reoccurring PCR testing program during the school year for students, faculty and staff on a three-week cycle. The PCR test detects the virus’s genetic material through a nasal swab. The test can be self-administered under the watchful eye of our trained team on individuals 13 years of age and older. The results will be processed within 24 hours. 

      An individual’s insurance will pay for the rapid antigen testing. If insurance does not pay for the testing, the school will absorb the cost. The recurring testing through UCSD is being paid in total by LJCDS.

      Athletes are tested once a week by PHM Laboratory, Inc. PMH utilizes Thermo Scientific Taq-Pac and Sequonce as their COVID-19 antigen testing platforms. They are both Real-Time PCR test methods with 99% sensitivity and 99% specificity rates, making the platform highly sensitive.

      PMH will bill participant’s health insurance for COVID-19 testing. If insurance does not cover the cost, PMH will absorb the cost. Families and employees should not pay any bills.

      At this time, testing will be available for faculty, staff and students only.

    • What happens if a family refuses to get tested before coming to school?

      Testing will be required before students, faculty and staff arrive on campus for in-person teaching or learning. Families may choose to test on-campus at LJCDS or with their own medical providers.

      If a student tests with their medical provider, it must be a recent test (within a week of an individual returning to campus). Documentation of the test can be sent to covid19@ljcds.org. 

      If a family does not wish to have their child tested, the student must opt for the e-learning program.

      If you have any health or COVID-19 protocol-related questions, please contact our HIPAA compliant team at covid19@ljcds.org.

    • How often will faculty, staff and students be tested?

      E-learners will be tested a week prior to joining the on-campus community, be it at the beginning of the year or whenever they begin in-person learning.

      Throughout the year, faculty, staff and students who have been away from the campus for at least two consecutive weeks will be required to take a test before rejoining the community.

      During the school day, individuals on campus who display COVID-19 symptoms will have the opportunity for immediate antigen testing on campus and use of telemedicine with our provider to assist in their medical care. 

      Students, faculty and staff will also be tested on a 3-week cycle. 

    • How will the daily health screening work?

      Before arriving at school, families, faculty and staff are required to submit a brief questionnaire on SchoolPass daily to assess the symptoms of illness and exposure to COVID-19. Upon arrival, individuals will show their completed questionnaire before getting dropped off or parking their car.  

    • Are physical examinations still required this year since it increases children’s risk of exposure to COVID-19 at the doctor’s office?

      Physical evaluations are still required for the 2020–2021 academic year. For the upcoming school year only, Upper School students who are not participating in athletics and kindergartners will not need to submit a physical evaluation. Doctors’ offices are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of all patients. Physicals are required for all new students as well as those who will be entering Tiny Torreys, Jr. Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grades 7–12 prior to the start of the upcoming school year. No physicals needed for Grades 2–6, and for this year only, no physicals needed for students in Grades 9–12 who are not participating in athletics and kindergarten. Visit the Health Forms page for more information.

    • What kind of training will faculty and staff undergo?

      The school will train all employee in the following safety actions:
      1. Enhanced sanitation practices 
      2. Physical distancing guidelines and their importance
      3. Use of face coverings
      4. Screening practices
      5. COVID-19 specific symptom identification
      6. Proper use, removal and washing of cloth face coverings

    • Will insurance pay for testing?

      Virtual Care for Families will be processing testing and/or telehealth visits through insurance, and families may receive an explanation of benefits and/or an invoice from the test and/or telehealth visit. Families will not be responsible for paying any out-of-pocket expenses. If insurance does not pay for the testing, the school will take care of the cost. If you receive an invoice, do not pay the invoice. Contact Head of School Gary Krahn at gkrahn@ljcds.org about the invoice.

      PMH Laboratory, Inc. will bill participant’s health insurance for COVID-19 testing. If insurance does not cover the cost, PMH will absorb the cost. Families and employees should not pay any bills.

    Academics

    List of 11 frequently asked questions.

    Student Life

    List of 7 frequently asked questions.

    • How are you approaching traveling?

      According to the Centers for Disease Control, travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. The CDC recommends staying home to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If you plan on traveling, review the CDC website traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

      The California Department of Public Health updated its guidance on private gatherings. The mandatory requirements are to gather outdoors with no more than three households, wear a mask, practice physical distancing and hand hygiene. If you plan on gathering, review this guidance.

      If you choose to engage in a higher-risk activity (e.g., hosting or participating in large gatherings or spending time in crowded spaces), the CDC recommends the following: 
      • Maintain distance when around others not in your household
      • Wear a clean mask every day
      • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
      • Monitor your health and be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19. 
      • Consider self-quarantining for 14 days. Please connect directly with your division when making this decision so e-learning expectations can be discussed.
      • Consider getting COVID-19 tested through the County of San Diego or your own provider.

    • Will you offer Early Care or Extended Day?

      We know several of our families rely on our Extended Care options. As our first priority is the health and safety of our community, this service is modified. Morning drop-off for Extended Care will start at 7:30 a.m. 

      Lower School Extended Day will take place on the LS playground from 3:30-5:30 p.m. for a fee. Middle School Extended Day will take place in the quad from 3:15-5:30 p.m. Parents can pick up their children from the Early Childhood Center (ECC) parking lot. Please note: all other parking lots will be closed. The security guard in the ECC lot will notify the appropriate Extended Day group when the parent/guardian arrives and the child(ren) will be walked over to the ECC lot. Parents/guardians remain in the car. Contact Jessica Lacoff-Roberts with any questions.

    • Will an after-school program be provided? Will the library be opened for students after school hours?

      To honor our cohort model, the after-school program will not be available, and the library will not be open for students after school hours. Extended Day is available and students will remain in their cohorts. 

    • Is there consideration for friend groups in the cohorts? I know that is a logistical nightmare, but it is an important factor in personal growth and social development.

      In the case of ECC through Grade 5, like in years past, teachers and the administration will meet with the prior year teachers to determine the best design of cohorts. Considerations include social, emotional, personal aspects of student groupings.

      In Grades 6–12, given the complexity of offerings and/or the courses per which a student is enrolled, this becomes more complex. However, we will carefully review all the class lists before creating the schedules.

    • What does PE look like?

      Physical education educators will deliver and engage in the PE activities in outdoor, assigned cohort spaces. 

      With respect to the Early Childhood Center and the bubble cohort, one PE teacher will be assigned to all students and the physical activities will take place within the ECC footprint; students will not travel to the gym.

    • If CIF approves resumption of sports like football and water polo, what measures is the school adopting to protect student-athletes from contracting COVID-19 during training and competition?

      The athletic department has created a detailed return to play protocol and will update it with all current state, county and school health and safety guidelines when students return to practices or training.

    • Given the current circumstances, will external organized team sports satisfy the physical education requirement?

      The new physical education requirement for all Upper School students is a minimum of one season of athletic participation during their freshman year. Students signed up for LJCDS teams will receive their athletic credit in the event an athletic season cannot start or finish due to the pandemic. Freshmen wishing to use the Independent PE program to fulfill their credit can obtain an application from athletic business manager Kathy Dinwiddie at kdinwiddie@ljcds.org.

    Cleaning

    List of 3 frequently asked questions.

    • What safety and testing protocols will be used for food service and cleaning staff?

      The food service staff with SAGE will be tested before on-campus classes resume. SAGE has implemented additional inspections and precautionary measures of the facility and food preparations to ensure the health and safety of all community members. All SAGE employees are ServSafe® COVID-19 certified and will undergo daily temperature and wellness checks. Employees will also wear PPE and minimize person-to-person contact. 

      The daytime cleaning staff with Sandstrand janitorial services has been tested and the night crew will be tested prior to on-campus learning. Additional training that employees have completed includes, but is not limited to, cross-contamination training, PPE training and COVID response training.

    • What is the cleaning regimen?

      LJCDS has hired additional cleaning staff to provide frequent daytime campus cleaning. Hourly cleaning and disinfection will occur during the day for bathrooms and common areas.  

      In the evening, every visited area will be cleaned, sanitized, disinfected and sealed. Our cleaning protocols will include adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing to validate cleaning methods. It also includes Chai testing, COVID-19 environmental surface testing, to ensure spaces are free of detectable coronavirus.

    • What products will you use for cleaning and disinfection?

      The school will use UV sanitation and electrostatic disinfection (from Earthsafe Chemical Alternatives). LJCDS uses cleaning and disinfectant products approved for use against COVID-19 on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.” “List N” labeled products are effective against emerging viral pathogens. 

      We are making efforts to select products on List N with asthma-safe ingredients, such as hydrogen peroxide, citric acid, or lactic acid. As best we can, LJCDS will try to avoid products that mix with peroxyacetic (peracetic) acid, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), or quaternary ammonium compounds (Quats), which can cause asthma.

    Lunch

    List of 4 frequently asked questions.

    Tuition

    List of 1 frequently asked questions.

    • Will tuition be adjusted if I select online learning?

      LJCDS is committed to providing a robust and meaningful educational experience, whether remotely or on campus. In order to provide both in-person and remote options for families during this pandemic, the school is making significant investments to ensure the educational experience remains rich and safe for all students. As the academic year unfolds and depending upon the length of the school closure, we will analyze the costs of operating the school vs. funding sources (tuition, fees, donations and other income). If available funds permit, the school will assess the possibility of tuition refunds.

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    9490 Genesee Avenue
    La Jolla, CA 92037
    858-453-3440

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