Dutch government guidance Summer/Fall 2020

For the purposes of this compilation, any reference to differing ages of students are defined as follows. Given the ages of ASH students compared to the Dutch system, primary school students means ASH grades from pre-school to up to and including grade 6. Secondary school students means ASH grades from grade 7 up to and including grade 13.

	Students	Staff	Parents/other adults
Access to campus	All students fully on campus except those in officially recognized high risk categories or in short-term quarantine.	All staff fully on campus except those in officially recognized high risk categories or with family members in those officially recognized high risk categories (though they may choose to attend in both cases). Staff should not be required to provide both on-campus and distance education beyond standard work duties.	No access to campus unless invited by school administration, which should be extremely rare. In addition, adults must declare health conditions and adhere to all regulations in order to be admitted to the school grounds. The government advises online interaction between parents and school to the greatest extent possible.
Transportation	Come by foot, bicycle, private car, or school bus. Avoid public transport as much as possible.	Limit public transportation as much as possible. Follow all regulations for public transport. Wear a mask at all times when on school transportation.	Arrange for safe transportation for students, limiting public transport (as requested by government).
ANY cold symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat)* NOTE: Temperature is specifically excluded by regulations. If ANYONE has a fever, they do not come to campus; however, a lack of a fever does NOT mean they CAN come to campus.	Please refer to this flowchart if your child is up to and including age 12. Please refer to this flowchart if your child is between ages 13-18.	Do not come to campus, or go home immediately if symptoms develop at school.	Do not come to campus, or go home immediately if symptoms develop at school.
1.5 meter distance	Not required.	Required between staff members (i.e. staff members stay 1.5 meters apart from each other). Staff members stay 1.5 meters away from secondary students if possible. No distance requirement between staff members and primary students.	Required between all adults when on campus.
Hand hygiene	Hand sanitizer available in entrances, cafeteria, hallways, and classrooms. Required to be used on entry to school in the morning,  and regular hand-washing for all ages required and supervised throughout the day.	Hand sanitizer available in entrances, cafeteria, hallways, and classrooms. Required to be used on entry and regular hand-washing required.	Hand sanitizer available in entrances, cafeteria, hallways, and classrooms. Required to be used on entry and regular hand-washing if and when on campus.
Movement within the school	Follow all clearly marked guidelines for one-way traffic direction in all hallways, stairways, and common areas.	Follow all clearly marked guidelines for one-way traffic direction in all hallways, stairways, and common areas.	Follow all clearly marked guidelines for one-way traffic direction in all hallways, stairways, and common areas if and when on campus.
Mouth Masks	We require all students in grades 5 to 12 to wear masks throughout the school day. This is to go above and beyond current Dutch guidelines in order to maximize the on-campus health and educational experience for all.	Required on school transportation, as there are other adults present. Provided by school as part of the safety equipment and required to wear a mask on campus.	Required if and when on campus. Must bring your own mask.
Music education	Permitted with no restrictions for elementary school children. In the secondary school, 1.5 meters must be maintained between singers as well. The guideline also calls for organizing the singers in a zig-zag pattern as opposed to lined up in overlapping rows (like a traditional riser configuration).	Permitted, and staff should try to maintain 1.5 meters distance from students in the secondary school as much as possible.	Not applicable. Private music lessons should be held online as much as possible.
Physical education	Permitted indoors and outdoors.	Permitted, and staff should try to maintain 1.5 meters distance from students in the secondary school as much as possible.	Not applicable.
After School Activities	Available for students who have attended school that day, but only those options offered by ASH employees or providers with ASH contracts (e.g. sports coaches, Croco Club).	Follow same guidelines as for in-the-school day activities.	Not applicable.
COVID-19 Testing	Available through municipal health authorities (GGD). If a test is positive, the GGD issues specific required measures for each case.*	Available through municipal health authorities (GGD). If a test is positive, the GGD issues specific required measures for each case.*	Available through municipal health authorities (GGD). If a test is positive, the GGD issues specific required measures for each case.*
Cafeteria	Available for student use, with requirement for good hand hygiene.	Staff must maintain 1.5 meters distance from each other when purchasing and eating items from the cafeteria.	Not applicable.

Other symptoms that may signal a concern include a cough, an increase in temperature, difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest, sudden loss of smell or taste (without obvious nasal congestion). HOWEVER, the minor cold symptoms should be the FIRST trigger to indicate any person 13 years old and above stays home and does not come to campus. Do not come to school with an elevated temperature or a fever. An elevated temperature is 37.5C or 99.6F. A fever is 38.0C or higher, 100.4F or higher.

In general, the guidelines stipulates that any staff member or student who tests positive for COVID-19 must stay at home for at least 10 days after the beginning of the symptoms or illness and cannot return to school until he or she has no complaints for 24 hours after the 10-day time period. The GGD may advise different measures depending on circumstances. In the case of a test for a student or staff member, the school is informed of the result and any further measures to be taken by the school, in addition to the measures taken by the family. Examples of measures might include quarantines, contact monitoring, disinfection, closure of classes or parts of the school, and others.

 

CAMPUS ORGANIZATION AND MAINTENANCE

In all cases, we continuously monitor and adhere to any changes in regulations and advice from the Dutch government health authorities.
 

• Traffic patterns in hallways, common areas, stairways, etc. clearly marked.

• Hygiene requirements are clearly indicated by signage and supervised for children as required.

• Hand sanitizer in constant supply at multiple clear locations.

• All contact surfaces regularly cleaned and disinfected according to RIVM guidelines. This means door handles, stairwell railings, toilet flush handles, sink knobs, etc.

• The school building is cleaned and disinfected each day according to RIVM guidelines.

• Each classroom is supplied with disinfectants, towels, hand sanitizers to be used by staff and students throughout the day.

• Classrooms, offices, and service areas are all fitted with plexiglass barriers to limit exposure of adults to each other and staff with students in addition to distancing measures required, especially in secondary school.

• Classroom ventilation has been assessed and meets the guidelines set forth for schools in prevention of infections.

• Bus drivers are required to wear mouth masks at all times in carrying out their duties, in adherence to the health regulations for the transport industry.

• All materials used by students are cleaned regularly according to RIVM guidelines, which stipulate they be cleaned each day.

• School excursions and trips will be carried out advisedly and in strict adherence to Dutch government regulations. International travel will be suspended for the foreseeable future; however, we will strive to conduct travel within Europe for sports and activities in ways that maximize health and safety for students and staff and in compliance with Dutch and other national and association guidelines.