HEALTH INFORMATION

Returning Lynden Students to School Buildings

Lynden Schools has established an extensive set of procedures to ensure the safe and healthy return to in-school learning. Use the tabs across the top or scroll to see an At a Glance or a more in-depth A Closer Look viewing of Campus Procedures, Transportation, Food Services and Cleaning and Disinfecting.

How these protocols were developed

Lynden Schools, in cooperation with the federal Center for Disease Control (CDC), Washington State Health Department, Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Whatcom County Health Department, created this series of procedures for Lynden Schools students and staff.

View the Daily Health Attestation

Guiding Principles

Keep ill individuals out of school buildings — students/staff to stay home for any level of sickness.

Cohorts — Conducting school activities in small groups minimizes student mixing.

Physical distancing — Minimize close contact (less than 6 feet) between individuals.

Hygiene — Frequent soap and water hand washing and the use of alcohol-based hand gel.

Protective equipment — Use of face coverings.

Cleaning — Frequent cleaning and disinfecting, especially high-touch surfaces.

Campus Procedures

At a Glance

All students must go through a health screening daily before entering school buildings.

Students and staff with any illness must remain at home. Learn More

Students and staff are required to wear a face covering while inside a school building.

Classrooms will be set up to ensure physical distancing of at least 6 feet.

Drop-off and pick-up will feature physical distancing.

A Closer Look

The daily health screenings will consist of a symptom check for fever (of 100.4 or above), cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, unusual fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, recent loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea as well as being asked if they have been in close contact with anyone with a confirmed COVID-19 case, if they have had a COVID-19 positive test in the past 10 days or been instructed by a public health or medical professional to self-monitor, self-isolate or self-quarantine in the past 14 days.

Click here for a more detailed look at the daily health screenings.

Students K-5 must have parents conduct a temperature screen and symptom check daily. Parents can then place a sticker on the outside of a child’s clothing, easily visible by receiving school staff, showing a student has passed the at-home health screening.

Schools will conduct an additional temperature check before the student enters the school building.

Schools will provide the stickers for use with the home screening.

Students in grades 6-12 must review the daily health attestation (screening) questions and complete a verbal health attestation before entering the school campus.

Students will be allowed back to school after an illness such as the cold or flu once 10 days have passed or the student can produce a negative COVID-19 test.

Face coverings must be worn within school buildings and may be removed when eating and drinking and when physically distanced outside. A mask break will be allowed outside or in a large, well-ventilated room. Physical distancing will still be used when face coverings are worn.

Students will be grouped into cohorts to limit the mixing of students.

All non-employee visitors must have a clear purpose for visiting, must sign in at the entry location and complete a health attestation

Families are responsible for ensuring their student has a face covering each day. If a family does not have a face covering, contact your school.

Transportation

At a Glance

Buses will feature assigned seating for contact tracing purposes.

Students from the same household or school cohort are encouraged to sit in the same area on the bus.

Face coverings are required on the bus.

In an effort to keep air fresh and flowing, windows will be opened as much as possible.

Physical distancing will be encouraged when possible.

A Closer Look

Staff will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, including the tops and back of seats.

All disinfectant sprays, wipes and cleaners are EPA registered and considered safe. For more details, look at the Cleaning and Disinfecting section.

The Lynden Schools bus garage uses a handheld electrostatic disinfectant sprayer to help kill germs, viruses and bacteria.

All previously established Bus Rules of Conduct remain in effect for student behavior.

Food Services

At a Glance

All meals are provided free.

Students will eat lunch with their cohort in a classroom.

School-provided food service will focus on prepared bagged lunches for easy portability and fewer contact points.

Lynden Schools will continue meal distribution for students in Option 2 and Option 3.

A Closer Look

Eating lunch within the student cohort minimizes contact across groups.

A brown-bag breakfast is available for students after entering the school building.

Hot food items will be kept warm in foil bags and placed in brown bags before being distributed to the students.

Lunches will be delivered to classrooms on a rack.

All staff will pass health attestation, engage in frequent hand washing, wear masks and gloves and use physical distancing during food prep.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

At a Glance

Lynden schools is implementing an enhanced cleaning and disinfecting program using best practices to help eliminate the spread of the COVID-19 virus within school buildings.