Prince Avenue Christian School is committed to providing a comprehensive college-prep education with a biblical worldview in an environment that is responsive to the current demands for safety in the midst of COVID-19.
The key to the success of our safety protocols is the cooperation of all members of our family-school community – especially students, parents, and our faculty and staff. While it is impossible to foresee every conceivable scenario, the design of these protocols reduces the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and provides flexibility to make changes as needed.
We will consistently review this plan as the year progresses and when necessary, changes will be made that will ensure the health and safety of the Prince community.
- Click Here for the PACS Positive COVID-19 Test Self-Reporting Form
- Click Here for the PACS Known Exposure Self-Reporting Form
Pandemic Safety Plan
All PreK-12 students, faculty, staff, and visitors are not required to wear masks, but they are welcome to do so if they feel it is in the best interest of their safety.
The choice to be vaccinated is an individual family decision. We have no plans to document vaccinated and unvaccinated students, faculty, or staff.
Any student, faculty member, or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 will be quarantined at home consistent with CDC guidelines, which is typically five days from the onset of symptoms.
If a student/faculty/staff tests positive for COVID:
- Go to the Prince Portal and report the positive COVID case within 24 hours.
- Once the case is reported on the Prince Portal, it goes directly to the School Nurse, Head of School, and the principals.
- All COVID communications and contact tracing information is sent out through the school nurse’s office. Please, do not notify principals, teachers, and parents separately through email or phone. COVID positive cases are considered part of an individual’s personal medical information and should be handled with care and discretion.
- After you have reported, you will receive an email from the school nurse and/or the principal with the next appropriate steps to follow.
- The specific principal for that student is the main contact for all virtual learning requests.
Returning to school after a COVID positive test:
- Per the new 2022 CDC guidelines, the student/faculty/staff member should remain at home and isolate for 5 days from the initial COVID symptoms and can return to school after 5 days as long as he or she is symptom-free.
- It is recommended that the students/faculty/staff mask for 5 days post isolation, but it is not mandatory.
- Each COVID positive case is unique, so we will monitor each case as closely as possible and work with students/faculty/staff in regards to symptoms and severity.
- PACS policy does not require a COVID negative test to return to school after a confirmed positive.
If a student or faculty/staff member is exposed to a COVID positive person within his or her household:
- First, go to the Prince Portal and report a positive exposure for that specific student/faculty/staff member.
- PACS policy does not require an individual to isolate for a known exposure, but it does require the parent or faculty/staff member to monitor for COVID symptoms each day before coming to school for the recommended 5 days post-exposure.
- Symptoms of COVID can be reviewed HERE at the CDC website.
Any student, faculty, or staff who has a “known exposure” to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 may continue to come to school. Students with a known exposure should monitor symptoms daily at home for the five days following exposure. Parents of students who have a known exposure at school will be notified by telephone and email.
All-day trips, overnight trips, and assemblies will resume this year, and campus visitors are welcomed.
The campus will continue to be equipped with hand sanitizer stations, and we will emphasize handwashing with students.
Covid-19 Letters and Videos from PACS Head of School
- Letter to Families – COVID-19 Update: Wednesday, August 25, 2021
- Letter to Parents: Friday, July 30, 2021
- Letter to Parents: Tuesday, March 3, 2020
- Letter to Parents: Thursday, March 12, 2020
- Letter to Parents: Friday, March 13, 2020
- Letter to Parents: Sunday, March 22, 2020
- Letter to Parents: Wednesday, March 25, 2020
- Letter to Parents: Friday, March 27, 2020
- Letter to Families: Monday, April 6, 2020
- Letter to Families: Sunday, April 12, 2020
- Letter to Parents and Students: Sunday, April 19, 2020
- Letter to Parents and Students: Sunday, April 26, 2020
- Letter to Parents and Students: Wednesday, April 29, 2020
- Letter to Parents and Students: Sunday, May 3, 2020
- Letter to Parents and Students: Sunday, May 10, 2020
- Letter to Parents and Students: Sunday, May 17, 2020
- Letter to Families: Sunday, May 24, 2020
- Letter to Families: Sunday, July 12, 2020
- Letter to Families: Sunday, July 26, 2020
- Letter to Families, Sunday, August 2, 2020
- Letter to Families, Friday, August 7, 2020
- Letter to Families, Sunday, August 9, 2020
- Letter to Families, Sunday, August 16, 2020
- Letter to Families, Sunday, August 23, 2020
- Letter to Families: Sunday, August 30, 2020
- Letter to Families: Sunday, September 20, 2020
- Letter to Families: October 25, 2020
Resources:
- Georgia Department of Public Health – Return to School Guidance After Covid-19 Illness or Exposure 1/22/21
- Oconee County Covid 19 Update May 11th
- Oconee County Covid 19 Update April 24th
- Oconee County Covid 19 Update April 22nd
- Governor Kemp’s K-12 April 24th Closure Order
- Oconee County COVID 19 Emergency Order 3/26/20
- Statement from the Oconee County Board of Commissioners Regarding COVID-19
- World Health Organization (WHO): This website has general information on the novel coronaviruses, a video, and an infographic about preventing the spread of viruses.
- The Centers for Disease Controls (CDC): This website covers symptoms and diagnosis, transmission, presentation in children, and prevention and treatment. It also has travel updates.
- Johns Hopkins Interactive and Updating Outbreak Map
- U.S. Department of State
- Georgia Department of Health
- Athens Georgia Area Northeast Georgia District
Frequently Asked Questions
The health and safety of our students, staff, and families is our top priority. While PACS monitors other school closings including the greater Athens area, PACS makes decisions independently based on our school’s unique needs and situation, as well as guidance from external agencies.
In the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in our community, we will work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Northeast Georgia Health District to determine the best course of action.
If a case of COVID-19 is identified in the PACS or surrounding community, we will follow local and/or state health authorities’ recommendations or orders to close. We may, out of an abundance of caution and in consideration of the school’s unique needs and situation, close even if health officials don’t deem it necessary.
We encourage you to follow this advice:
- Plan alternative childcare arrangements for children in case school is dismissed early and/or closed.
- Talk to friends, neighbors, and other parents about sharing childcare duties if your children are well, but school is closed.
- Talk to your employer about working from home or shifting schedules in the event of a school closure.
We will make decisions about holding or canceling events based on the updated information from health officials. Please watch for messages from the Head of School with important updates. Any changes will also be noted on our school calendar. In the event of an outbreak, to increase your chances of staying healthy, it is best to avoid crowded settings, especially if you are over sixty years of age or have chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or a weakened immune system.
Because the situation is very dynamic, we encourage you to stay up to date with the latest information and recommendations from health officials (see list of Health Organizations, above).
Our faculty is working on ways to prepare lessons, assignments, activities, resources, etc. that will allow our educational program to continue as much as possible in the event of an extended school closure.
Do not send your child to school if you suspect he or she may be ill or has exhibited any of the following signs or symptoms:
- An elevated temperature of 100 degrees or more during the last 24 hours.
- Vomiting within the last 24 hours.
- Repeated episodes of diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
- Chills, loss of appetite, unusual fatigue, and/or lingering headache.
- A significant amount of nasal discharge, particularly if the discharge is yellow or greenish in color.
- A persistent cough.
- A significant sore throat.
- An earache.
If you suspect that you or your child has a serious communicable disease, you must notify the school so we can comply with reporting requirements.
While we usually monitor ill students for a period of time, given the circumstances, parents will be immediately called to pick up their child as quickly as possible.
The CDC recommends the following actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water when your hands are visibly dirty.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick (and do not return to school until you are fever-free for 24 hours without medication). We ask you to strictly adhere to this policy.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.