Covid-19 Safety Protocols for the 2021-2022 School Year

Click Here to view the flyer in PDF format. 

*updated August 17, 2021. Covid-19 Safety Protocols are subject to change.

Face Masks

  • ALL INDIVDUALS (faculty, staff, students and visitors) are required to wear a facemask indoors and on buses.
  • Masks should be a solid color; bandanas and gaiters are not allowed.
  • Any student reporting to school without a mask will be given the option of purchasing one for $1 or will be sent home.
  • Students are subject to disciplinary consequences for failure to comply with the mask mandate.

Distancing

  • Every classroom will maintain an assigned seating chart for contact tracing.
  • During lunch, students will have the option of eating outdoors when weather permits.
  • Students will have access to lockers and athletic lockers.
  • JCA will maintain 3-foot distance indoors whenever possible. Distancing and furniture will not inhibit best academic practices.
  • Executive Order 2021-18 requires that masks be worn indoors by all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to P-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.

Visitors

  • Masks are required for all indoor visitors.
  • Visitors must check in at the main desk.
  • The Spirit Shop is open during school hours.
  • Friday Shadow Visits for 7th and 8th grade students will resume.

Remote Learning

  • All instruction will be in person.
  • JCA will follow the guidance from ISBE & IDPH which applies to all public and nonpublic schools.

Other Strategies

  • Students, faculty and staff should stay home if experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
  • Improve ventilation with open windows/doors.
  • Promote and adhere to hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces in school and maintain healthy environments.
  • Use of water bottles.

These strategies are subject to change pursuant to changing public health conditions and subsequent updated public health guidance.

Reporting COVID Cases, Symptoms and Exposures

  • During the school week, call the Dean’s office to report an absence due to illness
    or exposure.
  • Over the weekend report exposures and positive results to the Health Office atjca-nurse@jca-online.org

Contact Tracing and Quarantine

All families will be individually contacted by the JCA Health Office during regular school hours with follow up instructions.

COVID-19 Positive Cases

  • Students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate at home for 10 days.
    The Health Office will follow up to determine the return to school/ activity date.

Close Contacts

  • The Health Office and building administrators will work with teachers, parents, students and the WCHD to identify and communicate with all individuals exposed to a positive case to determine if they are a close contact.

Close Contacts- unvaccinated

  • Option 1 – Quarantine for 14 days and return to school symptom free.
  • Option 2- Quarantine for 10 days and return with a negative COVID-19 PCR test with no symptoms.
  • Option 3- Quarantine for 7 days, no symptoms developed during daily monitoring AND the individual has a negative SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test (PCR) that was collected within 48 hours of exposure day 7 (starting on day 6 or after).
  • Option 4 – Test to Stay Strategy – This option will be explained by the Health Office.

Close Contacts- vaccinated

  • Asymptomatic –
    Fully vaccinated students with NO symptoms DO NOT need to quarantine. If your student is fully vaccinated please send a copy of their vaccination card to the Heath Office.
  • Symptomatic-
     Fully vaccinated students with COVID-19 symptoms must remain out-of-school until their symptoms subside. They may return to school when symptom free for 24 hours without the use of any medication.

These guidelines are subject to change pursuant to changing public health conditions and subsequent updated public health guidance.

Additional Resources

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

Illinois State Board of Education

Diocese of Joliet Catholic Schools Office

For more information, please contact the Health Office at 815.741.0500, ext. 275 or email jca-nurse@jca-online.org.

Dean’s Office


Find us online