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COVID-19 Handbook Fall 2024 

Revised 6/30/24

Please read and agree to the Covid-19 Health & Safety protocol for in-person instruction

Covid-19 Protocol Agreement

Introduction 

Kairos Music Academy continues to monitor the evolving public health guidelines created to support schools and afterschool programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This handbook covers Kairos’  policies intended to support our goal of providing a safe working and learning environment for our students, staff, and visitors. Kairos will continue to adjust policy and guidance based upon the latest public health information, regulatory guidance, and peer best practices.

These policies are subject to guidance published by the City of Berkeley, and recommendations made by the County of Alameda, State of California, and the CDC

COVID-19 Point of contact for Kairos:
Asher Witkin – asher@kairosmusicacademy.org
Laura Kakis Serper – laura@kairosmusicacademy.org, (510) 332 1108

Communications
The following practices will be utilized to disseminate information when appropriate: EMAIL and SMS messages.
All Kairos employees and families are subscribed to our EMAIL LIST, as well as the SMS system Myattendancetracker.com. Kairos will use EMAIL, as well as SMS messages to provide time-sensitive notifications to the community of any COVID-19 incidents. Please make sure you receive our EMAILS and SMS messages. If you haven’t received an email in the last week from us, it’s possible you need to check your SPAM folder and add our email address (kairoschoir@gmail.com) to your address list.

If you are not receiving our SMS Messages, please get in contact with us and let us know what is the best mobile number we can use to send you SMS.

General Community Responsibilities
We ask that every person at Kairos follow safety guidelines during meetings as well as at home by acting according to these guidelines. 

Vaccination
Vaccination is the most effective strategy to stop the spread of COVID-19. Kairos strongly encourages all eligible people to be vaccinated. In accordance with CA state requirements, all Kairos employees who work on campus are required to submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19, or submit to weekly COVID tests. In addition, all age-eligible Kairos students are asked to inform us of their vaccination status by providing proof of vaccination, if applicable. Vaccination forms can be submitted in person or via email to kairoschoir@gmail.com. 

Testing
If benefiting from weekly testing offered by schools, we ask our community to share their test results with us. There are many other COVID testing locations in the community, including those listed on the City of Berkeley website

Self-Screen, Stay Home
Students and staff must stay home and seek medical guidance if they are feeling 3 sick. Report any symptoms to Kairos. 

COVID-19 Symptoms in Adults and Children :

  • Fever or chills 
  • Cough  
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing  
  • Fatigue  
  • Muscle or body aches  
  • Headache  
  • New loss of taste or smell  
  • Sore throat  
  • Congestion or runny nose  
  • Nausea or vomiting  
  • Diarrhea 

Returning from Travel
Kairos requires that all staff members, students, parents, and visitors observe California state guidelines when returning from travel. Those guidelines may include self-quarantining at home and monitoring of symptoms for a period of time, depending on the travel destination and the group of people traveling. 

Symptomatic Individuals
Symptomatic students and staff must stay home. Staff will monitor students throughout the day for signs of illness. If a student is exhibiting symptoms, the student will be isolated (under adult supervision) until they are able to be picked up. Likewise, staff or faculty members exhibiting symptoms should leave the campus. Regardless of vaccination status, the student or staff member must get tested promptly and Kairos should receive follow-up from the family or staff as soon as possible.

Returning to Rehearsals after Symptoms
Any student or staff with COVID-like symptoms should not return to work or school until they have met all the following criteria: 

  • Symptoms are improving  
  • They have had no fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicines 
  • Provide a negative test result or a healthcare provide note showing alternative diagnosis 

Positive COVID Case
Staff or students who test positive must notify Kairos and isolate at home, following isolation guidelines. They can return to rehearsals after they have met all the following criteria:  

  • 10 days since symptoms first appeared if symptomatic  
  • 7 days after positive test if asymptomatic at time of test  
  • 24 hours with no fever  
  • COVID-19 symptoms have improved. 

Exposures and Close Contacts
In the event of a confirmed positive case among Kairos students and staff, the school will identify and be in touch with all close contacts and require that they all quarantine following modified quarantine guidelines

When students are wearing a mask in any setting in which students are supervised by Kairos staff, unvaccinated students who are close contacts of a student with confirmed COVID may continue to attend rehearsals but must fulfill all of the following:  

  • Provide a negative test result before returning to rehearsals
  • Are asymptomatic  
  • Continue to appropriately mask, as required  
  • Undergo at least twice weekly testing during the 10-day quarantine, and  
  • Continue to quarantine for all extracurricular activities including those that take place at Kairos

Vaccinated individuals with an exposure to someone with confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have no symptoms. They must provide a negative test result to return to rehearsals and they participate in twice weekly testing for 14 days following exposure. In the event that a student or staff member was exposed outside Kairos rehearsals, they must quarantine following quarantine instructions for 10 days from last exposure. Following guidance, the student or staff member must get tested 5–7 days after exposure and provide results to the school. If no symptoms and a negative test result, they may return to rehearsals 8 days after exposure.

Social & Emotional Support for Children & Families

These are unique and challenging times. We will get through this!!! Kairos Choir staff members are prepared to support the emotional needs of children during this time providing tools for dealing with stress and fear through powerful tools found in the arts. Additionally, each session will focus on how to find and to utilize one’s creative power for survival and individual growth as well as to contribute to positive changes within our community.