Aspire’s approach to our health and safety is based on Ministry of Health’s guidelines and laws as well as from the growing literature on COVID-19, including those provided by the Ghana Health Service’s and the World Health Organization (WHO).
- safety protocols
The following is a set of safety measures in place to support the return of adults and students to our campus. Access to our Campus, for students, staff and visitors, shall be granted based on positive answers to the following questions, has the person entering the Aspire Campus:
- experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms in the last 14 days, including fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, respiratory illness, loss of smell or taste, and/or difficulty breathing?
- had close contact with or cared for someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days?
- In addition to answering the questions above entrants will have their temperature checked prior to entering. If an individual’s temperature is 37 degrees Celsius or above, the individual will not be allowed to enter campus. Such individual will be advised to contact health professional promptly.
- Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 Case
On Campus Employees and students who test positive for COVID-19 will require a quarantine period. This may extend to employees and students who are symptomatic of COVID-19 or have close contact with someone who is positive or symptomatic for COVID-19. Guidelines around this will be in line with the MoH and WHO recommendations and regular updates will be given to Students, Parents and all visitors. The following will currently be adhered to:
- Confirmed COVID-19 CASE – Employees and students who test positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed on campus and will be required to quarantine for the recommended period issued by the MoH and WHO at the time of testing positive which is currently fourteen 14 days.
Access back to campus will require a doctor’s note stating the individual is no longer contagious.
- Close Contact With A Confirmed COVID-19 CASE – Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case will be required to self-isolate for the recommended period issued by the MoH and WHO at the time of testing positive which is currently fourteen 14 days.
Access back to campus will require a doctor’s note stating the individual is no longer contagious.
“Close contact” means that you had face-to-face contact within 1 metre or were in a closed space for more than 15 minutes with a person with COVID-19. This contact happened while the person with COVID-19 was still ‘infectious,’ i.e., from 2 days before to 10 days after the symptoms began.”
This would also apply to any close contact outside of school, including immediate family members, household help, and any other extended family members and/ or friends. Aspire’s measures at school are structured to purposely limit the amount of close contact any one individual has with another. Areas used by a confirmed COVID-19 case will be closed off for a deep-cleaning. In most cases, closure of campus for a positive case will not be necessary.
The decision to close a portion of campus (class, grade level, and/or division) or all of the campus and move to virtual learning will be context-specific and in collaboration with the Health professionals and MoH guidelines.
Suspected Case of COVID-19 When an employee or student appears to be sick, displays symptoms of COVID-19, such as dry cough, high fever, respiratory distress, or shortness of breath, or reports a sore throat, the individual will not be allowed on campus.
If the individual is already on campus when symptoms present, parent/guardian will be contacted promptly to be picked-up or he/she will be sent home and will be required to consult with a medical professional.
Any employee or student who presents COVID-19 symptoms cannot return to campus until 48 hours after symptoms end and will require a doctor’s note to return.
- Specific COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
- Attendance is mandatory for all pupils, unless permission is granted under certain circumstances and on the advice of a health professional
- Students who cannot attend school at the start of the term due to sickness or self-isolation requirements will be allowed to join their class online (this will be based on prior agreement with parent/guardian).
- Where necessary we shall offer pupils of some class a part-time timetable so that they don’t need to come to school throughout the week. New online measures will ensure that they don’t miss out on teaching and learning in such circumstances.
- The school will have a staggered closing time to allow for effective social distancing (details will be provided per class)
- Anyone who is unwell and displaying symptoms of Coronavirus will be asked to stay home for at least seven days
- Robust hand and respiratory practices will be encouraged and enforced
- The government test and trace system will be actively used and followed
- Large gatherings will be avoided, e.g. assemblies and etc.
- Contact between year groups will be avoided
- Classroom will be arranged to allow for social distancing
- Student will be asked to always remain at least arm’s length away from members of staff
- Eleven (11) additional toilets have been provided at three different locations and students will use them per allocation or as directed by their teachers
- A spacious dining area has been provided to ensure good social distancing
- Student are required to have Personal Protective Equipment such as face mask, shields etc.
Should any of the above protective measures change at any time, including need to close the school due to lockdown, we will contact you via WhatsApp as soon as possible.
Parents will be required to increase monitoring of children and if a child becomes unwell the need to inform the school promptly to follow the government protocols.
If a child becomes unwell at school and develop new symptoms, including continuous cough, high temperature, loss or change in normal sense of taste or smell parent will be contacted to arrange prompt pick-up of child and necessary medical advice sought.
Parents are required to provide additional contact numbers including those for close family to ensure that we can always reach a relevant person when needed
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In addition to the measure provided by the school, parents/guardians must provide students with the following compulsorily. (All students without them will not be allowed into the school)
Every child will be required to wash their hands before entering the school building and at regular intervals as will be directed by a class teacher.
The school has provided a new water treatment plant to ensure that there is clean water at all times.
All students are expected to vacate the school premises promptly after closing and parent who pick their ward are advised to hold themselves in readiness to pick them at the time of closing.
We understand that some students may find this transition back into school and new routine challenging or stressful, however we are committed to provide the necessary support to our pupils as they return to school.
We look forward to working with you and developing a relationship that will assist in the growth of your child/children and once again welcome you to an outstanding learning center where everyone is dedicated to a high standard of excellence.