List of 6 items.

• Vaccination and Testing

  For the safety and well-being of our community, we are strongly encouraging all of our students to be fully vaccinated before the start of school. We will revisit vaccine requirements if and when the vaccine receives full FDA approval. Unvaccinated people are required to be tested for COVID-19 at school twice weekly. If they wish, vaccinated students may be tested on a weekly basis by contacting the Health Coordinator: health@college-prep.org. Faculty and staff have been asked to secure vaccinations, except in cases of a medical exemption or sincerely held religious belief.
  
  Vaccination rates for our on-campus community as of September 24, 2021:
  

  • 100% of Faculty and staff are fully vaccinated
  • 99% of Students are fully vaccinated

• Community Health Compact

  The health and wellness of all of our community members relies on our individual and collective behaviors. As such, we ask every member of our community to enter into a shared compact, or agreement, around the tasks and behaviors that are most likely to reduce exposure to contaminating levels of infection. We know that mutual respect, trust, and a deep sense of our reciprocal obligations to one another will be essential to navigating this unprecedented public health challenge. We need all members of our community to accept responsibilities and to act with self-awareness and sensitivity to others.
  
  The School has implemented a set of safety protocols and practices. It is important to note that these preventative measures can only mitigate, not eliminate risk. We believe, however, that in combination with the behavioral expectations outlined below, this path represents our best collective effort to reduce harm.
  
  Consistent with the recommendations of the California Department of Public Health, we strongly encourage COVID-19 vaccinations for all; mandatory universal masking in schools when indoors; and additional mitigation layers.
  
  Daily Screening Prior to Coming to School
  

  Last year, a self-screening app was used by students, faculty, and staff prior to arriving on campus. While everyone is expected to attend to their own wellness (stay home if sick), formal screening protocol will not be implemented unless local conditions suggest otherwise. Should this occur, daily screening will be reinstated.

  
  Masks/Face Coverings 
  Students and visitors must use face masks at all times while indoors, unless they are in medical distress. Vaccinated faculty and staff my choose to unmask indoors when no students are present. Unvaccinated persons are required to wear a mask at all times, indoors and outdoors. Face shields may be worn in addition to a face mask. We encourage community members to use masks that are fitted to the face, leaving minimal gaps between the mask and face. Bandanas or scarves are not acceptable. While community members are asked to provide their own masks, the School maintains a supply of disposable masks should they be needed.
  
  Physical Distancing
  New guidelines from the California Department of Public Health no longer require physical distancing as recent evidence indicates that in-person instruction can occur safely without minimum physical distancing requirements when other mitigation strategies (e.g., masking) are implemented.
  
  Personal Hygiene
  Diligent hygiene, when practiced by the entire community, helps prevent virus transmission. Regular hand-washing with soap and water is critical. Additionally, the frequent use of alcohol-based hand rub with formulations containing 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol is an effective way to prevent the spread of pathogens and infections. To support this, the School has installed hand sanitizing devices, touchless faucets in most of its restrooms, and additional portable hand washing stations.
  
  

• Campus Health Status

  As the 2021-22 school year progresses, we will vigilantly respond to changing safety conditions. Protocols, such as having an open or closed campus or masking directives, will be determined using guidance from the CDC, California Department of Public Health, and the Alameda County Public Health Department.
  
  Changes in College Prep’s COVID-19 mitigation practices will be shared with the community via email and, when notice is short, via Titan, the School’s emergency notification system. When a change is anticipated, we will give as much lead time and information as possible. Please know that the School may be required to make adjustments with little notice.

• Shifting to Distance Learning

  College Prep believes that the ideal teaching and learning environment is one where students and teachers are able to interact with each other in person. As such, we will be holding school on campus. We also recognize the importance of students staying on a productive path when it is not advisable or possible to attend school in person. We are prepared to support students in maintaining their core academic progress under specific circumstances. Reasons for requesting temporarily learning from home might include:
  

   

  • When the School requests that a student isolate or quarantine.
  • Students with COVID-19 symptoms waiting for test results.
  • When the Air Quality Index is high for an extended period of time, ie: during fire season, see AQI Response Plan.
  • Other student or family concerns that might require this accommodation.

  For a student needing this accommodation, please contact David Kojan, Assistant Head/Academic Dean (david@college-prep.org).

• Responding to Health Concerns

  College Prep has partnered with Joffe Emergency Services to retain a full-time Health Coordinator for the year to support and assist with the special requirement of this period. The Health Coordinator, a trained Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), is responsible for delivering a wide range of medical care to our students, faculty, and staff and is the main contact for any health issues involving our community, including coordinating a response to known COVID-19 cases in our community. The Health Coordinator can be reached at health@college-prep.org. 
  
  In the Event of Illness
  We know that our students and teachers love being at school; they don’t like to miss class, even when they are not feeling well. We must adjust our habits around illness, and stay home if we are unwell. Any student, teacher, or staff member with a fever of 100.4 F degrees or higher, or any of the other symptoms of possible COVID-19 virus infection, cannot come to campus. Please immediately contact the Health Coordinator for next steps.
  
  If a student, faculty, or staff member develops illness, fever, or other COVID-19 symptoms while at school, there will be a rapid response. Students should report to the Health Coordinator right away, where a staff member will contact their family for immediate pickup. Sick students waiting for pickup will remain in a dedicated Sick Bay, near the Main Office now located adjacent to the parking lot. Faculty and staff members who are ill must leave campus right away.
  

  
  

  Identification, Notification, and Tracing of Contacts 

  If a member of our community tests positive for COVID-19, becomes symptomatic, or has had a known exposure, we ask that they contact the Health Coordinator (health@college-prep.org), as soon as possible to inform the School. Without revealing the name of the person, the Health Coordinator will report the case to public health officials and follow their guidance around contact tracing. The Health Coordinator will contact trace within the College Preparatory community and notify individuals and groups that have had close contact with people who have tested positive. Students, parents/guardians, faculty, and staff will be notified within one business day should there be a positive case on campus. The Health Coordinator will also work with our facilities team to guide appropriate cleaning and disinfection of affected areas. 

   

  Community members who have had close contact with an infected individual (within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, in an indoor setting) will be notified. Simply working or being in the same building/classroom with someone who has symptoms, or who recently had an exposure or tested positive does not trigger a higher risk for getting the virus. Fully vaccinated individuals who remain asymptotic are not required to quarantine. 
  
  Individuals will not be able to return to campus until the appropriate quarantine or isolation period has passed. The Health Coordinator will provide information and resources regarding quarantine instructions for those both vaccinated and unvaccinated community members, as well as specifics regarding returning to campus. Please contact them for this and additional information at health@college-prep.org or (510) 420-2332.

   

• Student Support

  Beyond helping students make adjustments to high school life, the faculty and staff at College Prep are ready to support students as they cope with the feelings that might accompany the stresses of school during a pandemic. Advisors are ready to respond as well as the School’s counselor, Sara Lipton-Carey, (saralc@college-prep.org) who is available by appointment. 

  Beyond the structure and support that the school community will offer, there are other sources of help. The Center for Disease Control’s site on Mental Health and COVID offers a clearinghouse of resources. Shine’s “Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety” is a toolkit of insights and exercises to help inform a practice of self-care. Let’s do our best to take care of ourselves and each other.

List of 5 items.

• Campus and Space Configuration

  In order to expand our physical space, we have secured the Seneca Campus at 6929 Chabot Road, a seven minute walk from our Main Campus. For the fall, while we are in construction, Seneca will house the Admission Office, Math Department, and most Math classes.
  All students will have classes and other commitments on both campuses.
  
  The Main Office is located off of the parking lot, adjacent to the portables.

  College Prep’s open air campus provides a variety of outdoor spaces in which to study, talk with friends, or relax. Nearly all of our classrooms and offices open directly to the outdoors and to the extent possible, classroom doors and windows are to be kept open to take advantage of natural ventilation. HVAC systems, where available, will bring in outside air. A good supply of outside air to dilute indoor contaminants is one of our first line of defense against aerosol transmission of COVID-19. We will turn on ventilation systems two hours prior to class start, during school, and for two hours post occupancy, which purges the air.
  
  

  During the first quarter of the 2021-22 school year, the upper area of the Main Campus will be undergoing final construction work on The Hill Project. Health and safety precautions and protocols related to this project are in place. Contractors who are working on this project enter and exit campus from a secured access point on Golden Gate Avenue.

• Campus Access

  We will open the 2021-22 school with as few restrictions regarding access as possible. If pandemic conditions change, protocols, such as non-essential visitors on campus or masking directives, will be determined using guidance from the CDC, California Department of Public Health, and the Alameda County Public Health Department.
  
  Students Access
  Our campus will once again be open for students: 

  • All students must sign in and out when leaving campus. 
  • If a student does not have a class or commitment during the first block, they may arrive later in the morning. Likewise, if they do not have a commitment during the last block, they may leave campus early. 

  Please note: Freshmen are required to be on campus full days, no matter open blocks, through the first semester.
  

  Visitors During the Academic Day
  Prospective families for admission tours, guest speakers, mail/delivery services, facilities vendors, and anyone other than the core community of students, faculty, and staff must check-in at the Main Office to complete a health questionnaire and understand campus safety policy. If vaccinated, masks are only required indoors. If unvaccinated, masks are required both indoors and outdoors.

  Visitors After School & Weekends
  Sports teams, sports fans (Cougars and competition), Admission, Parents' Association, and Advancement events do not require an official check-in. Event coordinators will include School safety protocols in invitations and communications. Masks are required both indoors and outdoors. 
  

• Transportation

  Many students travel to campus using BART. (For information about schedules and mask requirements, please visit BART’s updates on the coronavirus.)

  The School will offer transportation to and from the Rockridge BART station at the beginning of the day through the second academic period and end of each day, which is typically at 6:15 pm. There will be pick up and drop off locations at the Main Campus. 

  Passengers must wear a face covering during the ride. 

• Lockers

  While The Hill Project is under construction, we will have a limited number of lockers available. Students interested in being assigned a locker should contact Steve Chabon, Dean of Students (stevec@college-prep.org).

  
  

• Cleaning, Disinfection, and Ventilation

  On both campuses, rooms are cleaned every night. Antibacterial sanitizing stations are located throughout each campus and disinfectant is also available for classroom use. Touchless faucets have been installed in bathrooms where possible and several handwashing stations are located throughout the campuses.
  
  

  College Prep’s open air campus provides a variety of outdoor spaces in which to study, talk with friends, or relax; to encourage the use of outdoor spaces, the School has added tented areas at both the Main and Seneca Campuses. Nearly all of our classrooms and offices open directly to the outdoors and to the extent possible, classroom doors and windows are to be kept open to take advantage of natural ventilation. HVAC systems, where available, will bring in outside air. A good supply of outside air to dilute indoor contaminants is one of our first line of defense against aerosol transmission of COVID-19. 

  
  

  We will bring fresh air into buildings through multiple engineering and administrative practices to meet ASHRAE Air Turnover guidelines. We will keep windows and doors open as much as practical (even during the cold weather season). Air circulation systems will be turned on during occupancy, allowing forced air systems to bring in the maximum amount of fresh air possible. 
  
  We have purchased a number of air purifiers or exhaust fans to provide additional air filtration in rooms where the existing HVAC air circulation alone does not provide enough air turnover to meet our standards. In addition, we supplemented all shared offices with air purifiers. The types of air purifiers put into each space were determined using a combination of square footage, ceiling height, and required air turnover of 5.
  

List of 6 items.

• Attendance

  All students are expected to be at school in person each day. Please contact Elizabeth Noble, Administrative Assistant (elizabeth@college-prep.org), should a student be unable to attend.
  
  

• 2021-22 Daily Schedule

  The 2021-22 Daily Schedule is designed for five-day a week in person school on campus, and will also work well should we need to pivot to distance or hybrid learning. Best characterized as a block schedule, it has the following distinctive features:
  
  

  • 8 Blocks on a Four Day Rotation: This schedule creates an additional block that makes space for new and important student programming and allows us to hold more classes in larger rooms should COVID-19 protocols change. We encourage students to use unscheduled time to meet with teachers, converse with friends, or get ahead in their homework, freeing up their evenings and cultivating balance in their lives. 
  • Community Block: Four days a week, a block adjacent to lunch will be used for community programming. 
  • Early Dismissal Wednesdays: All days begin at 8:15 am, however every Wednesday features an early 2:30 pm dismissal and no Community Block.

  With construction of The Hill Project scheduled through October, and the continued possibility of COVID-19 or fire-related closures, our community needs to remain flexible. This daily schedule can accommodate these potential situations.

• Lunch

  The majority of our students bring their own lunch to school. College Prep will continue to work with Choice Lunch, the outside lunch provider with whom we worked in the past. Students who order lunch this way will be able to pick up their selections on the Main Campus in P1.

   

  Students are strongly encouraged to eat lunch outside. If weather conditions require them to move indoors, students should practice physical distancing.
  
  

  There is limited access to vending machines and refrigerators. Microwaves will not be available until The Hill Project opens.

• Technology

  Although school will open in-person, should circumstances change and distance or hybrid learning need to be implemented, our Tech Team is prepared. Students and teachers will be well supported with the technology and programs that work best for our classes and programs.

• Athletics

  During the 2021-22 school year our goal is to run a robust athletics program. The health and safety of our students is our utmost priority. We will follow the guidelines set by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), North Coast Section (NCS), and Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPH).

  
  

  For current information, please visit the 2021-22 Athletics Updates page.The Athletic Department will also be in direct contact with students and families.

• After School Programs

  The availability of all after school programming will be determined using guidance from the CDC, California Department of Public Health, and the Alameda County Public Health Department. We plan to open the school year with full programming. Students should leave campus no later than 30 minutes following the conclusion of their program.

List of 4 items.

• Visitor Policy

  We will open the 2021-22 school with as few restrictions regarding access as possible. If pandemic conditions change, protocols, such as non-essential visitors on campus or masking directives, will be determined using guidance from the CDC, California Department of Public Health, and the Alameda County Public Health Department.
  

  
  Visitors During the Academic Day
  Prospective families for admission tours, guest speakers, mail/delivery services, facilities vendors, and anyone other than the core community of students, faculty, and staff must check-in at the Main Office to complete a health questionnaire and understand campus safety policy. Visitors must be vaccinated and prepared to show proof of vaccination. Exemptions are granted on an individual basis. If vaccinated, masks are only required indoors. If unvaccinated, masks are required both indoors and outdoors.
  
  

  Visitors After School & Weekends
  Sports teams, sports fans (Cougars and competition), Admission, Parents' Association, and Advancement events do not require an official check-in. Event coordinators will include School safety protocols in invitations and communications. If vaccinated, masks are only required indoors. If unvaccinated, masks are required both indoors and outdoors.

• Parents’ Association and Other Community Events

  The Parents’ Association engages the community in large and small events and activities. Each event has been evaluated and will proceed as usual, be modified, or be cancelled. As the school year unfolds, please check the school calendar on the website, as well as PrepWeekly, for information.

  
  

• Prospective Students and Families

  Throughout the fall and winter, College Prep hosts a variety of events for prospective students and parents to get to know our community. Please check here to learn more and to register for these events.

• College Visit Program

  During the 2021-22 school year, seniors will meet with college representatives virtually. The College Counseling Office will inform students about the dates and times of these virtual meetings and will provide a space for them to Zoom with the respective colleges during class blocks. There will be no in-person college rep visits.
  
  Please visit the College Counseling section of our website (college-prep.org/academics/college-counseling) for more information.

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