This year, as always, we will focus on the whole well-being of our students and staff. In addition to protocols around COVID, we will be focused on the overall physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our community.

Covid-19 Protocols

As Covid-19 has moved from a pandemic to an endemic, we too are changing our approach to safety at Yavneh. With minor exceptions, we will follow the recommendations of the California Department of Health and Santa Clara County’s Guidance for K-12 Schools. As always, this information is subject to change, and we will keep you up-to-date. Here is what it means as of now:

Key Takeaways

Yavneh will align in most areas with Santa Clara County guidelines
Masks are strongly recommended, but not required except in case of close contact.
We will use antigen tests, instead of PCR tests, in order to try to avoid outbreaks.
Staff members are not allowed to perform a Covid-19 test on your student.
If your student tests positive for COVID they must quarantine 5 or 10 days*. (See Covid Absences below)
Close contacts will be allowed to remain in person at school as long as they are asymptomatic, with a mask for 10 days (or five days masking with a negative antigen test on day 5+)
Should you or your child need a mask while on campus, please stop by our office. We are required and happy to provide high-quality masks to anyone on our campus who would like one.

Testing

Per CDPH’s recommendation, Yavneh will focus on symptoms-based testing using at-home antigen tests:
- Parents will monitor their children at home and use antigen tests whenever their children show possible signs of COVID
- Parents will notify Yavneh immediately when their children test positive for COVID
- When children or staff exhibit potential COVID symptoms on campus, they will be sent home immediately
We will be adopting the State of California’s recommendation for testing students as they return from break. Yavneh defines a break as any break in school activity for a period of 3 school days of more – UPDATED 03/02/23

Masks

Masks are optional but strongly recommended for students and staff
In the case of significant exposures or a rapid increase in infections in our school community or County, or any other circumstance deemed by the administration as a threat to student or staff safety, mask requirements may be reinstated for students and staff in the classroom, grade, or school-wide level.
Substitute teachers will be required to present a negative COVID test or wear masks indoors while on campus.

COVID Absences

Students who test positive for COVID will need to remain at home for 5 days*
The student may return to campus anytime on or after day 5* with a negative antigen test.
On day 10* the student may return to campus without a negative antigen test.
Our first priority, when a student is ill, is that the student rest and recover.
- Students home with COVID will be given access to daily work in the same way we do with any other illness: teachers will provide take-home work that’s available for parents by the end of each school day.
- Parents and teachers can work together to assess student needs as they return to school.

Close Contacts

A close contact is anyone sharing the same indoor airspace for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during an infected person’s infectious period.
The infectious period is:
- For symptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the infected person had any symptoms through Day 10 after symptoms first appeared (or through Days 5-10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later), and 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms have improved, OR
- For asymptomatic infected persons, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date through Day 10 after positive specimen collection date (or through Days 5-10 if testing negative on Day 5 or later) after specimen collection date for their first positive COVID-19 test
Close contacts will be welcome at school as long as they remain asymptomatic and/or test negative.
Staff members will be expected to wear a high quality mask for 10* days or a negative test from day 5*+

Visitors

Visitors will be allowed on campus under the following conditions:

Visitors may enter buildings while children or staff are present after providing proof of a negative COVID antigen test or wearing a mask
Please email antigen test results to [email protected]
Visitors include non-family, non-staff, or non-students.

School Events

We are committed to maintaining opportunities to be together as a community as we strive to keep everyone healthy.

Many of our events will be outdoors
Masks are strongly recommended
Prior to each event, based on current virus conditions and public health guidance, Yavneh will notify families regarding any specific directions (e.g. masks required, etc)

Our Campus Partners

It is imperative that we commit to keeping all our campus families and partners safe through these challenging times and we thank you in advance for your cooperation.

While masking is now optional at the JSV Preschool, they are still limiting their campus to students and faculty only. As such, we are asking our staff and families to NOT go into the preschool areas of our campus. Please do NOT use the preschool restrooms.
Our staff will be required to follow the requirements of JSV Employees while on the JSV side of the campus

*Positive antigen test is considered day 0.

FAQ’s

When and how will you communicate with us about COVID?

We will communicate with you about COVID in four ways:

If we make changes to our COVID protocols, they will be available on the website and we will send a notice to let you know that there has been an update
We will continue to send communication in the event of positive COVID-19 cases but will only alter parents in the event their child(Ren) are considered close contacts – UPDATED 03/02/23
If your child is a known close contact of a student or staff member who tests positive, you will be contacted with next steps
We will send reminders when an antigen test is required to return to school after a break

In what ways does Yavneh’s policy differ from that of the CDPH and SCC?

Our policy differs in two ways:

We are asking our staff and families to use an antigen test before returning to school after breaks (Yavneh defines a break as any break in school activity for a period of 3 school days or more) – UPDATED 03/02/23
Staff are required to mask if considered a close contacts

Why do the Yavneh policies differ from CDPH and SCC?

The CDC has made it clear that we are moving from a time of institutional responsibility to one of individual responsibility for COVID safety. Our goal for is to keep our community safe and healthy. We will continue to assess our policies and keep you posted.

What are the current COVID symptoms?

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

*The day of the positive antigen test is day 0.

COVID-19 Health and Safety

Since the pandemic’s impact was first felt within our community, Yavneh families have shown great strength, resilience and support for one another. This widespread demonstration of care for friends and neighbors will continue to serve us well as students and teachers return to campus in person for the 2021-22 school year!

At Yavneh, we closely monitor all national, state and local health guidelines in an effort to keep our community safe and thriving throughout the pandemic. Members of our faculty and administrative team attend weekly meetings hosted by Santa Clara County public health officials. In addition, Yavneh has a Health and Safety Advisory Panel made up of health care professionals, educators, parents and community members that advise us on health and safety issues affecting our community.

As we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our community, we reaffirm our commitment to providing an exceptional education based on academic purpose, collaborative learning, Jewish values, and a deep commitment to humanity. Our dedication to educating our students is matched only by our commitment to keeping them safe.

Reduce Your Risk
We cannot control the number of cases in our community, but we can take steps to reduce our risk of getting and transmitting COVID. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends these steps to reduce your risk of getting and spreading COVID:

Get Vaccinated – Everyone 5 or older is eligible for the vaccine. Everyone 12 or older is eligible for the booster. Get a COVID vaccine as soon as you can.
Wear a Mask – Masks should be fitted to the face without gaps and should cover both your nose and mouth.
Physical Distance – Stay at least six feet away from people who do not live with you to the greatest extent possible.
Avoid Crowds – Large gatherings, particularly indoors, should be avoided to the greatest extent possible.
Hand Hygiene – Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Types of Tests
There are two types of COVID testing that should be used for specific situations.

PCR tests should be used when:

You have not tested positive for COVID in the past 90 days
You have a COVID symptom
You are individually made aware of being in close contact with a COVID positive person

PCR tests are available through the school every Tuesday from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. Appointments are required (see below).

Antigen tests should be used when:

You have tested positive for COVID and want to end isolation after 5 days
You are an unvaccinated close contact and want to end quarantine after 5 days

COVID-19 Testing

We will be using Global Virus Pass, GVP, as our COVID-19 testing service.

If parents would prefer, they can email the results of a PCR test to [email protected].

DIRECTIONS to CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT (one-time process – use browser only):

Click CREATE ACCOUNT and then click “Join”
Confirm account via email and Log in.
click join (create a profile, enter the info, add insurance)
add family with “my circle”, add insurance
click home button
click my schedule
click by facility
choose “Yavneh Day School Walk-ins”
click PCR test (self-collection)
schedule appointment by date (choose any time, time doesn’t matter)

MAKING AN APPOINTMENT

click my schedule
click by facility
choose “Yavneh Day School Walk-ins”
click PCR test (self-collection)
schedule appointment for the morning of the drop-off date
drop-off between 8:00 am – 10:30 am on the specified date

DAY OF TESTING

Drop off the sample in the contactless drop-off box in front of the building by 10:30 am.
The patient will provide the completed, self-administered test and write the patient’s name and DOB on the collection tube.

ACCESSING RESULTS

Results will be available within 48 hours in your GVP account.

Travel Restrictions

We will follow CDC recommendations for international travel – a 7-day quarantine is required for those who aren’t vaccinated with testing 3-5 days after returning to the United States.
Work will be provided for students who are in quarantine due to travel during school vacations. In addition, teachers will offer daily check-ins on Zoom.

Masks

Masks will continue to be worn both inside and outside by everyone on school grounds.

Testing

We will continue to require PCR testing every week.

Vaccines

We will follow the State mandate of requiring vaccines for students once the childhood vaccines are approved for full usage.

Visitors

Prospective students will be allowed to shadow after showing a negative test administered within 72 hours of the shadow date.
Parents will continue to be invited to outdoor activities/events; masks are required.
Prospective parents will be allowed inside for tours after showing vaccination cards and a negative test within 72 hours of the tour. They can view the classrooms from the classroom doorway. Non-vaccinated parents will be able to have virtual tours and/or can come to campus after-school after showing a negative test within 72 hours of the tour.
Parents whose children are celebrating their Bar/Bat Mitzvah will be able to come to the Torah service with proof of vaccination and a negative test. We will also Zoom the ceremony so that other family members can watch.
Adult-only events can occur indoors with proof of vaccination and masks.
Adult-only events can occur outdoors with proof of vaccinations and may include food.

Additional Resources:

Masks: Types of Masks. Masking for kids
Social & Emotional: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/se/index.asp
Mental Health Resources for Youth: https://www.chhs.ca.gov/childrens-mental-health-resources/
Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids: https://childmind.org/healthyminds/

Public Health Resources for Families

Yavneh’s health and safety guidelines directly reflect the guidance from our federal, state, and county governments. We will continue to assess the guidelines on an ongoing basis to ensure the health and safety of our students and faculty.

Santa Clara County

CDC Guidance

California State

Communication and Questions

We will communicate with families regularly about any updates or changes to our health and safety protocols.

If you have any questions about the safety practices at Yavneh or you have a particular question regarding your child, we encourage you to reach out to us via email at [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

2021/2022 FAQs

Highlights of Yavneh’s COVID 19 Health and Safety Program

Below are some of the highlights of our healthy and safety program. (Click on the image to enlarge.)