Kamehameha Schools Preschools

Health and safety measures

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on almost every facet of our lives.

We commit to delivering in-person learning, while we continue to move forward living with COVID-19, focusing on the health and well-being of our entire community. We also recognize the guidance on COVID-19 continues to evolve and our health and safety approaches must be flexible and may need to shift quickly to ensure we can incorporate any new best practices into our school environments.

The program and operational changes are specific to COVID-19 and align with the following regulatory expectations:

Safety measures	What is happening?	How?	Why?
Face coverings	It is optional for adults and keiki to wear a face mask, although they should when returning from isolation (Days 6-10).		Mask use can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in certain situations.
Personal hygiene and handwashing	Increased hand washing, coughing/sneezing into tissues or your elbow, not touching your face are all examples of good preventive hygiene and respiratory etiquette and will be incorporated into the school day routine.	Awareness through signage and videos that demonstrate proper hand washing behaviors, and additional training for staff. We will continue our standard practice of teaching children how to properly wash their hands at the start of the school year as part of the orientation period. Staff and students will be encouraged to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, throw used tissue in the trash, and wash hands immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.	Proper hygiene is another level of protection against the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses. Following CDC guidelines on hygiene is a good practice to reinforce.

Safety measures

What is happening?

How?

Why?

Face coverings

It is optional for adults and keiki to wear a face mask, although they should when returning from isolation (Days 6-10).

Mask use can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in certain situations.

Personal hygiene and handwashing

Increased hand washing, coughing/sneezing into tissues or your elbow, not touching your face are all examples of good preventive hygiene and respiratory etiquette and will be incorporated into the school day routine.

Awareness through signage and videos that demonstrate proper hand washing behaviors, and additional training for staff.

We will continue our standard practice of teaching children how to properly wash their hands at the start of the school year as part of the orientation period.

Staff and students will be encouraged to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, throw used tissue in the trash, and wash hands immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Proper hygiene is another level of protection against the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses. Following CDC guidelines on hygiene is a good practice to reinforce.

Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting

Classrooms and common areas will be appropriately cleaned, sanitized, and disinfected as directed by guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Safety measures	What is happening?	How?	Why?
Enhanced cleaning of surfaces	Cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks).	A schedule and checklist for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting will be followed by all staff. In addition, at the end of the day, all preschools will receive regular cleaning by the custodial staff.	Cleaning protocols are informed by CDC Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidelines.

Communication, training and coordination

An informed school community is a safer school community. By providing appropriate signage and collateral materials in key areas and by sharing COVID-19 resources with our campus ‘ohana, our students and staff become advocates for maintaining a healthy environment.

Safety measures	What is happening?	How?	Why?
Communication	Throughout the school year, various forms of communication will be used to keep parents and employees informed of program and operational changes as the conditions evolve with COVID-19.	Parents are responsible for providing the school with the most current contact information as it will be used to provide important emergency announcements, program information and updates. Individual kuleana is to remain maka‘ala for these announcements and follow them accordingly.	Reinforcing positive behaviors and providing stakeholders with the necessary details to follow proper protocols is important to ensure those protocols are followed.
Training	All staff are required to complete annual training at the start of the school year that addresses health and safety requirements for KS preschools. During the orientation period, teachers and leadership will provide children and parents with opportunities to learn about the program adjustments and new procedures to support a safe and healthy environment for all children, families and staff.	Here is a list of the training staff will complete at the start of the school year to meet DHS and KS requirements: Snack and Food Preparation Training Staff Health and Safety Training KS Returning to Work Safety Training Personal hygiene Employee health guidelines and kuleana Cleaning and disinfecting Employee support	Required training will help equip our employees to implement and maintain good health and safety practices.
Coordination	Preschool leaders will be responsible for making sure systems are aligned and coordinated, and will oversee any emerging gaps, adaptation needs, and troubleshooting.	Communication with enterprise Health and Safety and organization leadership on updates to system guidelines. Any updates will be addressed and documented.	Coordination is key to consistency.

Safety measures

What is happening?

How?

Why?

Communication

Throughout the school year, various forms of communication will be used to keep parents and employees informed of program and operational changes as the conditions evolve with COVID-19.

Parents are responsible for providing the school with the most current contact information as it will be used to provide important emergency announcements, program information and updates. Individual kuleana is to remain maka‘ala for these announcements and follow them accordingly.

Reinforcing positive behaviors and providing stakeholders with the necessary details to follow proper protocols is important to ensure those protocols are followed.

Training

All staff are required to complete annual training at the start of the school year that addresses health and safety requirements for KS preschools.

During the orientation period, teachers and leadership will provide children and parents with opportunities to learn about the program adjustments and new procedures to support a safe and healthy environment for all children, families and staff.

Here is a list of the training staff will complete at the start of the school year to meet DHS and KS requirements:

Snack and Food Preparation Training
Staff Health and Safety Training
KS Returning to Work Safety Training
- Personal hygiene
- Employee health guidelines and kuleana
- Cleaning and disinfecting
- Employee support

Required training will help equip our employees to implement and maintain good health and safety practices.

Coordination

Preschool leaders will be responsible for making sure systems are aligned and coordinated, and will oversee any emerging gaps, adaptation needs, and troubleshooting.

Communication with enterprise Health and Safety and organization leadership on updates to system guidelines. Any updates will be addressed and documented.

Coordination is key to consistency.