COVID-19 Resources for Educators

Screening 

Daily screening for students, staff, and visitors before leaving for school or work is recommended. Students and staff should self-screen every day before attending school or work. 

• School and child care screening (français) -  Ontario Ministry of Health
• School and child care screening tool (français) - (PDF) KFL&A Public Health 

Masking and staff personal protective equipment 

Although masks are no longer a requirement, many students and staff may choose to continue to wear masks at times, or consistently while at school. It’s important to support every person's decision around masking. Respecting others’ decisions and modeling empathy will help create environments in which all students feel safe.

Eye protection for staff is not required but is available through schools for staff who choose to use eye protection.

• High-quality masks are available at school for staff and students who choose to use them.

Masks should be worn:

• Following self isolation
  • Students returning to school should wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools and child care) and avoid activities where they would need to take off their mask until 10 days after their symptoms started or from positive test date.
• When you are a household member or close contact
  • You should wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools and child care) for 10 days from your last exposure to the person with symptoms or a positive test result. 
• Under federal travel requirements

If you are required or choose to wear a face covering:

• How to safely wear a face covering (PDF) - KFL&A Public Health

Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette 

Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfecting 

Schools and school vehicles are encouraged to continue with enhanced cleaning protocols.

High-touch surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected twice during the day. At a minimum, at the end of each day and when visibly dirty. Examples of frequently touched surfaces include doorknobs, handles, locks, light switches, phones, individual desk surfaces, touch screen surfaces, faucets, sinks, and toilet handles.

• Cleaning and disinfection for public settings (PDF) - Public Health Ontario

Vaccination

Screening tools 

• School and child care screening (français) -  Ontario Ministry of Health
• School and child care screening tool (français) (PDF) KFL&A Public Health 

School and child care guidance for children and students with symptoms of illness

Schools are recommended to have protocols in place to manage ill individuals while at school. Schools/school boards are to continue to monitor their own absence rates and to communicate with KFL&A Public Health should absenteeism exceed what is expected for the school.

• School and child care guidance for children or students with symptoms of illness (français) - (PDF) - KFL&A Public Health
• Absence reporting protocol for schools (français) (PDF) - KFL&A Public Health

 Instructions for families and care givers of students with symptoms of illness

If a student develops symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness at school, they will be sent home with the following instructions:

• Student with symptoms of illness letter (français) (PDF) - from KFL&A Public Health

Supporting students' mental health 

• New Beginnings: Support for the Mental Health of Young Learners (PDF) - School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) - A mental health resource for educators that acknowledges the stress of COVID-19 pandemic and offers strategies to support students as they return to school.
• Start well (PDF) - (SMHO) - Help minimize the impact of stressors your students may feel as they return to school. This comprehensive resource offers five days of ready to use activities to connect, calm and begin your day.
• Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource - Elementary - SMHO - These evidence-informed mental health practices are quick and easy to implement in the classroom. It includes activities for public school as well as faith-based learning.
• Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource - Secondary - SMHO

Handwashing videos and resources

Lesson plans

• Scrub Those Bugs Handwashing Resource Kit - Kindergarten to Grade 3 - PDF
• Scrub Those Bugs Handwashing Resource Kit - Grade 4 to 6 - PDF
• Scrub Those Bugs Handwashing Resource Kit - Grade 7 to 8 - PDF

Videos

Kindergarten or Primary

Sesame Street: Washy Wash Song | How to Wash Your Hands – Sesame Street

• Length of video: 30 seconds
• Very catchy tune
• Teaches children how to wash their hands with soap and water “wash your hands for 20 seconds like Elmo” and to dry their hands with a towel.

Wash Your Hands with baby Shark 

• Length of video: 1 min 30 sec
• Teaches children how to wash their hands with soap and water, also highlights covering your sneeze and cough and staying healthy.

Primary or Junior

20 Second Hand Washing - The Science behind it and why it WORKS! – Kid Explorer

• Length of video: 2min 15 seconds
• Highlights the 20 second hand washing rule
• Teaches children why and how hand washing works, and the importance of washing your hands for the full 20 seconds.

Junior and intermediate

How does soap work to fight coronavirus? Why wash your hands for 20 seconds? – CBS 8 San Diego

• Length of video: 1 min 24 seconds
• Talks about the molecules that make up soap (lipid loving side; water loving and fat loving side)

Secondary students and Adults

Which is better: Soap or hand sanitizer? - Alex Rosenthal and Pall Thordarson – TED-Ed

• Length of video: 6 min 15 seconds
• Talks about how soap and hand sanitizer kill the virus