LITTLE DOLPHINS COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS

LITTLE DOLPHINS COVID-19

HEALTH AND SAFETY

PROTOCOLS

THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT SUBJECT TO CHANGE REGULARLY

Last Update: September 8, 2020

Little Dolphins By The Sea

1812 Stanford St, Santa Monica CA 90404 | P: 310.998.0011 | E: [email protected] | Facility numbers: 197415833 & 197415834

mailto:[email protected]


Table of Contents

What’s New 3

Logistics 5

Updated Floor Plan 9

Meet the Task Force 10

Face Coverings 11

Cleaning and Disinfection 12

Waiver of Responsibility 13

Testing 14

Return to Preschool Policy 16

Closing 18

Additional Submitted Questions 19

Substitute Teaching 21

Resources 22

Community and Faculty Commitment 23

Screening Questions 24





What’s New

The Little Dolphins by the Sea 2020-21 school year will commence August 20, 2020.

Gov. Newsom’s recent announcement meant that Los Angeles County’s status on the states COVID-19 monitoring list will require all K-12 schools in Los Angeles County to begin the fall entirely via remote learning. However, this does not apply to licensed childcare facilities and preschools.

As we set out to put together this set of scenarios for the 2020-21 school year, there was immediate consensus on two key things.

1. That everyone’s questions and concerns are different. 2. What we know today will change.

The following is the current plan of action ahead of the reopening date:

• BACK ON CAMPUS: Our gates will open in the fall!• LDCC @ HOME: Staying home if your family isn't ready to be back in school• LDCC @ HOME (Mandated): We are prepared in the event of a mandatory shelter in

place order.

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Little Dolphins will coordinate with state and local health officials to comply withregulations and protocols, and in collaboration with our Ad-hoc COVID Task Force and GTHR Safe.

The school will also remain flexible with the plan, allowing it to evolve with the ever changing landscape in this global pandemic. As well as develop a communication strategy to communicate any changes to these plans with its constituents and stakeholders.

We hope that this document demonstrates that we are dedicated to opening our school in as safe and responsible a manner as possible. Our guidelines that we will share with you are based upon the recommendations from the, including the CDC, Los Angeles Public Health Department, Dr. Peter Szilagyi, and the Los Angeles Preschool Partnership to name a few.

As information is constantly evolving related to COVID-19, these guidelines are subject to change and we will update the Little Dolphins plan accordingly.

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Logistics

Our COVID-19 Ambassador • Nick Cheh (Director’s Assistant) is our COVID-19 Ambassador • If you have any questions regarding COVID-19, you can contact him at

[email protected] or 310.998.3377• There is also an internal schedule set to review the effectiveness of this plan regularly

GTHR Safe • We’ve partnered with GTHR Safe to ensure the highest levels of safety and precautions

are taken

Arrival / Pick-up Procedure: • Staggered drop-off and pick-up times (Sample schedule - Click Here)• Each classroom has its own doorway leading outside • Temperature checks at drop-off and pick-up (If your child has a temperature of 100.4℉ or

higher, they will not be allowed to enter campus - if they develop a fever during the day, the child will be removed from class and isolated in the “Healing Space” until they can be picked up)

• Portable hand washing station at drop-off and pick-up• Children wash hands as soon as they enter their classroom• Parents and caregivers will have the option to stay in cars• Walk-up drop off and pick up will have designated markers for lining up• Parents and caregivers will not be allowed inside campus (exceptions are parents /

caregivers of transitioning children and will be required to wear a mask and practice physical distancing)

• There will be safe, designated waiting areas for parents / caregivers of transitioning children (we’ve allocated several parking spots to be a “transition area” that will be under tents with distinct distancing markers. Masks will be required inside)

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http://connect.littledolphins.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Sample-Schedule-Sheet1.pdf

Health Screenings: • We will be implementing a short health check alongside temperature checks every

morning• The purpose is to identify any symptoms of illness, COVID-19, or otherwise and prevent

the from entering the school to reduce risk of exposing others• These checks are not intended to diagnose illness and anyone who presents symptoms

should refer to their medical professional for further evaluation and treatment advice• Screening questions can be found on page 23 of this document

Cohort Information: • Each class will be made up of two cohorts (if class size requires)• Each cohort will have at least one head teacher (possibly with an aid) and a max. of 10• Cohorts (includes students and teachers) will not intermingle physically for health and

safety reasons• Individuals in cohorts will physically distance as often and as best as possible • Outdoor play will be split by cohorts and the yard will be disinfected after each use• Any staff members who must float (such as cleaning staff) have been identified and will

float as minimally as possible (Classes that need to share an aide will have the aide interact and float as minimally as possible)

General Safety Measures: • Each cohort will have their own classroom• Each classroom has its own doorway leading outside• Host instruction outside as much as possible (face covering, cohort separation, and

physical distancing will still be observed)• All office spaces and classrooms will be reorganized to maximize physical distancing,

and office desks will have plexiglass installed in front of them • Provide PPE for all staff (masks, face shields, gloves, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer,

and cleaners)• Gloves will be used for the following needs: Food support (only if necessary), bathroom

accident, cleaning, etc.6





• Designated kits / materials (for both school and home) for each student that may not be shared

• Shared equipment on the yard will be limited to items that can be used independently and / or disinfected after each use

• Our open play structure will be used and limited to an occupancy that supports physical distancing. Children will wash their hands and the play structure will be disinfected after use

• During TK rest time, children will rest spaced apart from one another and positioned alternating head-to-toe or vice versa. Each rest area will be sanitized after use

• Install hands-free hand washing stations around campus • We will be installing the highest MERV air filter that our resources allow and keeping it

on “Fresh Air Mode” as much as possible• Children will bring own supplies as often as possible• ALL meetings will be held virtually (if you need to schedule a meeting with Daniel,

please contact Nick and Daniel)• We will have a designated isolation area called the “Healing Space” for anyone who

presents symptoms or needs to be isolated on campus

Slow Rollout / Staggered Start Dates: • We were already scheduled to start two weeks early to focus on health & safety, so the

timing works out perfectly!• The youngest children will have a later start date so that they can receive our full

attention while we smooth out any bumps in the road earlier• Their start date actually aligns with what our normal start date to the school year

would have been• These are our staggered in-person start dates:

• Thur, Aug 20 - TK begins instruction• Mon, Aug 24 - Mtn. Lions join instruction• Fri, Aug 26 - Eagles join instruction• Mon, Aug 31 - Coyotes join instruction• Wed, Sept 9 - Quails join instruction

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Meal Times: • Most meals will be held outside (unless external events prohibit us)• All meals must come from respective homes (tentatively no more Family of the Day)• Gloves are required if and when teachers need to assist with any food handling (we

want to emphasize that we will only be intervening when absolutely necessary)

Communal training and awareness: • Enhanced sanitation practices• Physical distancing guidelines• Proper use, removal, and washing of face coverings - CDC Information• Personal Hygiene• Screening Practices• COVID-19 specific exclusion criteria • Social Agreement Plan • Parent Travel Expectations• Rainy / smokey day schedule (GTHR to follow up)• Inside instruction will be held while maintaining all physical distancing protocols -

lunch included• Proper use and removal of PPE staff• Training for staff on all Little Dolphins policies, protocols, standards, and updates

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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html


Updated Floor Plan

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Meet the Task Force

Little Dolphins has appointed a COVID-19 Task Force to provide guidance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This task force is composed of Trustees, members of the school administration and faculty, parents from each class, and experts in the fields of medicine and science.

• Dr. Peter Szilagyi (Vice Chair for Pediatric Research at UCLA)• Winston Chappell (Board Chair)• Scott Marlette (Board Member / Purple Room Parent)• Stephanie Schafer (Purple Room Parent)• Sherri and Jack Kolodny (Blue Room Parents)• Kristin Davis (Blue Room Parent)• Jessica Scott (Purple Room Parent)• Gaz Alazraki (Green Room Parent)• Miles and Jaymie Beckett (Red Room Parents)• Serena Minikes (Red Room Parent)• Angela Vassallo (Epidemiologist Consultant CEO, The Safe Set & Chief Clinical Advisor,

COVID SMART)• Daniel Krivoy, MD • Neil Desai, PhD (CEO, Aadi Bioscience Inc.)• Dalit Toledano (Founding member of the NOCOVID coalition nocovid.us)• Daniel Asres (Preschool Director)• Kara Silverman (Admissions and Communications Director)• Amy Marston (School Manager)• Nick Cheh (Director’s Assistant)

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http://nocovid.us/

Face Coverings

According to the CDPH, while face coverings are required for 3rd graders and above, children 2 years and older are recommended to wear one. For that reason, we expect all children to wear a mask and will be working with them gently throughout the day to help them with this. We will take this opportunity to guide children in a loving and friendly way.

We are asking you to send 3 clean masks with your child every day to school.

We respectfully reserve the right to turn adults away if they are not wearing a face covering.

Required: • All teachers and staff• All external parties coming within a close proximity to or entering the campus• All children

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Cleaning and Disinfection

We will be following the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines to ensure everyone’s health and safety. All our cleaning products will be on the EPA's List N: Disinfectants for Use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

What we’re doing: • Provide PPE for all staff (masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and

cleaners) • Hiring full time support to clean and disinfect our campus throughout the day• Training and creating awareness of enhanced cleaning, disinfection, and personal

hygiene practices • All rooms will be cleaned every 2 hours (including the yard - swings, slides, steering

wheel)• Toy containers will be placed around campus to be disinfected after each use (toys may

be reused only after their disinfection)• Disinfect bathrooms after every class usage or every 2 hours - whichever is more

frequent• Each cohort will have 2 designated hand washing stations • Washing our hands ALL DAY LONG (including before and after eating, after cleaning

(for staff), and at least once every hour)• Cleaning schedule (work in progress)

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https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19

https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2-covid-19



Waiver of Responsibility

Prior to coming back to campus you will be asked to sign a liability waiver for your child to engage in on-campus instruction. This agreement states that we all acknowledge and accept the risks of starting school in-person, and understand that these are personal decisions.

Below is the document:Little Dolphins Waiver of Responsibility

Please sign and return before our reopening date of August 20, 2020.

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http://connect.littledolphins.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Little-Dolphins_-Student-Notice-Informed-Consent-Waiver-COVID_stafffaculty-.pdf


Testing

To help ensure everyone’s safety, we are looking into pool testing as a viable option for our teachers and staff.

Communication: The community will be notified if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Plans of Action:• Taken from CDPH guidelines - Click Here• Contact Tracing plan - Click Here• What to do when someone has:

• COVID-19 Symptoms - COVID-19 Symptoms• Send home • Recommend testing - Teachers will be required to get tested• More in-depth safety precautions - Click Here

• Close Contact* with a Confirmed COVID-19 Case • Send home• Quarantine for 14 days from last exposure CDC Discontinuation of Isolation• Recommend testing - Teachers will be required to get tested• School / classroom remain open

• Confirmed COVID-19 Case • Notify the local public health department• Isolate case and exclude from school

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http://connect.littledolphins.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CDC-Covid-19-Symptoms-Contact-Diagnosese.pdf

http://connect.littledolphins.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Contact-Tracing-plan.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

http://connect.littledolphins.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/COVID-19-related-responses-Attachement-for-protocols-1.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html


• Identify contacts, quarantine & exclude exposed contacts (likely entire cohort) for 14 days after the last date that the exposed contact was exposed to the confirmed case

• Recommend testing of contacts, prioritize symptomatic contacts• Disinfection and cleaning of classroom and primary spaces where case spent

significant time• School remains open

• Tests Negative After Symptoms • May return to school 3 days after symptoms resolve• School / classroom remain open

* Close contact is considered less than 6ft for 15 minutes or longer

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Return to Preschool Policy

If individual had symptoms and did not get tested, they cannot return to preschool until: - 10 days have passed since their symptoms began - AND 24 hours have passed since their last fever without any fever reducing medication- AND symptoms have significantly improved (i.e. Loss of taste can linger for weeks)

If individual tests positive for COVID-19, they cannot return to preschool until: - 10 days have passed since their positive viral PCR test (if they had no symptoms)- OR 10 days have passed since their symptoms began (if they had symptoms)- AND 24 hours have passed since their last fever without any fever reducing medication.- AND critical symptoms have significantly improved

If an individual tested positive for COVID-19 and was hospitalized, they cannot return to preschool until:- 20 days have passed since their symptoms began- AND 24 hours have passed since their last fever without any fever reducing medication- AND symptoms have significantly improved

If an individual had symptoms but they are not COVID-19 related, they cannot return to preschool until:- Documentation from medical provider confirming such is provided

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If you find that your situation isn’t represented by any of these "if, then..." scenarios, please reach out by calling or emailing Daniel at [email protected], or our COVID ambassador, Nick, at [email protected]. Note that we will reach out to GTHR as our primary contact, as well as seek a second opinion should we find the situation is unique. That said, we will always err on the side of caution. Also keep in mind that you may be asked to keep your child home during this period, as well as a potential 14 day quarantine in the case of possible exposure (your keeping your child home would be part of the 14 day quarantine). We understand that this can be a less than ideal situation, but please respect that it is for the entire community’s health and wellbeing.

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Closing

These procedures are in accordance with CDPH guidelines.

We will close when: • There are multiple cases in multiple cohorts• At least 5% of total teachers / students / staff are cases within a 14-day period

We will reopen 14 days after: • Cleaning and disinfection• Public health investigation• Consultation with the local pubic health dept.

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Additional Submitted Questions

• If someone doesn’t wear a mask, then... • First, we will explain that we have implemented face coverings as part of school

policy, a “school rule” very much like “we don’t share food” • Second, no one will be sent home, we will clarify the importance of wearing a mask

and how individual choices can affect everyone and provide a mask if they need one

• If a sibling or parent gets sick, then… • Refer to our LD Health & Safety Protocols (pg. 10) • “Close Contact* with a Confirmed COVID-19 Case

• Send home • Quarantine for 14 days from last exposure CDC Discontinuation of Isolation • Recommend testing - Teachers will be required to get tested • School / classroom remain open

• *Close contact is considered less than 6ft for 15 minutes or longer

• If a cohort or the whole school has to close, then… • Anyone whose school schedule is shifted due to COVID will have the option to

participate in online learning • Teachers and children will meet in respective cohorts online - a refined version of

what we did towards the end of last year

• If a teacher or student were to run out of PPE, then… • We will be providing our teachers with everything they need (Several masks - 5 for

each day of the week, face shields, gloves, sanitizer, disinfectants, etc.)

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http://cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html

• We will have backup masks for both students and teachers if they get wet, damaged, etc.

• If a lead teacher needs to step away for whatever reason, then… • Teacher aides will be there in a support role, only stepping in when a Lead teacher

needs to be pulled away for any reason • They will keep their distance as best they can, but if intervention is necessary they

will step in

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Substitute Teaching

When a teacher is missing for any non-COVID related reason, Nick will step in as the teacher or aide for that time frame. If a second class is in need and the timeframe is within two weeks of his last time with a class, the aim is to have Daniel sub for that class. Should a third class need a sub within two weeks, or Daniel not be available for either the second or third week, Nick will be the sub for that class as well. Should anyone test positive in either class during the two weeks from him being in there, both classes will be moved to quarantine and online meetings.

Each time Nick or Daniel have stepped in to a class or come in contact with students, we will share that information in the COVID News that week.

If we have any information before a substitute is required, we will send those details out as soon as we can.

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Resources

CDPH Resources: • California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing, Child Care Page:

Click Here• California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA): Click Here• California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources: Click Here• California Department of Pesticide Regulation Health Schools Act information: Click Here• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Click Here• California Department of Public Health COVID-19 Guidance Update (CDPH): Click Here

CDC Resources: • CDC Print Resources: Click Here• Schools and Childcare Programs Checklist - for Teachers: Click Here• Schools and Childcare Programs Checklist - for Parents: Click Here

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https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-carelicensing

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/Coronavirus/COVID-19-InfectionPrevention-in-Childcare-Programs-Guidance.pdf

https://covid19.ca.gov/

https://apps.cdpr.ca.gov/schoolipm/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schoolschildcare/guidance-for-childcare.html

https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-childcare--en.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/print-resources.html?Sort=Date%3A%3Adesc

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/schools-checklist-teachers.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/schools-checklist-parents.pdf

Community and Faculty Commitment

In a communal effort to keep everyone’s health and safety a top priority, we need to really keep in mind how our decisions, in both our personal and work lives, can greatly impact those around us in both circles. In essence, the school is an extension of your home and should be respected as such. As a member of our dear Little Dolphins community and by entering our campus, you acknowledge our expectations for best practices while at home and at school:

Most importantly for everyone keep in mind that this is for our entire community’s well-being, and that our health and safety can only be prioritized if this is a unilateral effort. So please, continue your best isolation and physical distancing practices, wearing a mask, as well as hygiene, while at home and when applicable.

Before school starts and if you are able, we would highly recommend and greatly appreciate you and your family get tested before we start in-person instruction in the fall - our entire LD staff will be tested before instruction as well as during the school year.

Once school starts, and if you must see other members of our community outside campus, please make a strong effort to see those within your respective cohorts as to not intermingle and possibly cross-contaminate.

Lastly, one of the hardest but most important parts of this is consistency. We need to hold ourselves and our fellow Little Dolphins community members responsible and accountable for upholding and maintaining these guidelines to the best of our ability, for as long as we need. We greatly appreciate and love you all.

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Screening Questions

Pre-Arrival Screening:1. A secure web portal or application - Click here2. A designated staff member who is positioned at the entrance to school each day3. A paper survey that is delivered to a designated representative each school day

Screening Questions: 1. Have you or anyone in your house tested positive for COVID-19? 2. If yes, how long was the exposure? Was anyone wearing a mask? How far apart were you from

the COVID-19+ person during the exposure? 3. We will refer to our exposure matrix (in progress) to decide whether to allow the child to come to

school today4. Do you have symptoms of COVID-19?5. Have you been within 6 feet of a person that tested positive for COVID-19 for more than 15

minutes in the last two days?6. Have you had a fever in the last 2 days?7. Have you had a new cough in the last 2 days?8. Have you experienced any of the following symptoms in the last 2 days?

A. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathingB. ChillsC. Repeated shaking with chillsD. Muscle pain (not related to exercise or exertion)E. HeadacheF. Sore throatG. Loss of taste or smell

* If a person answers YES to ANY of the questions, DO NOT allow temperature check and send home

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https://stopcovid19together.org/student

LITTLE DOLPHINS COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS

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