Family Health and Safety Guidelines:

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

Updated 10/3/2022

The health and safety of our staff, apprentices, students, and their households is of the utmost importance. In responding to the Covid 19 pandemic, we have worked diligently to adapt our school year class offerings with new procedures and protocols based on the latest directives and recommendations provided by the CDC, Contra Costa County Health Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Cal/OSHA. We thank you in advance for doing your part to keep our staff, apprentices, students and their families safe!

The following guide outlines Sienna Ranch’s approach to operating our in-person classes during COVID-19. Please note that due to the shifting nature of the pandemic and the changes in recommendations, this policy/guide is subject to change. Parents are encouraged to check the Sienna Ranch website for updates throughout the session.

Current County Guidelines

Contra Costa County Health Services has issued revised health orders as of 1/12/2021. Please make sure to visit https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/health-orders for the most up to date health ordinances.  

Sienna Ranch families are required to adhere to county and state guidelines including any travel restrictions.

Sienna Ranch COVID Policy Overview

On Site Policies

While some Sienna Ranch procedures may look different, our staff of dedicated instructors and land/animal stewards are hard at work creating a safe experience within the new parameters so that all students can still safely enjoy the Ranch, our nature and specialty programs, and the surrounding natural places. Some of the new protocols include:

• Daily Health Screening: All students and staff must be screened prior to arriving for their program. Anyone exhibiting a temperature of 100.4 or higher or other symptoms of illness will not be permitted to attend programs. Also anyone showing signs of respiratory illness (regardless of whether or not it is COVID, will be required to stay home. Students showing symptoms of respiratory illness during a class will be required to be picked up.

• Symptoms include:

• Fever or chills (100.4 degrees F or higher)
• 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

• Limit visitors. We will endeavor to reduce/minimize the number of people on site. As a result parents and other visitors will require special, advanced approval from Sienna Ranch Admin before visiting any area of the ranch with the exception of the parking lot.
• Increased Handwashing: More frequent handwashing breaks and enhanced disinfecting procedures are being implemented. Students are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer in their backpacks as well.
• Increased cleaning/disinfecting between classes: Instructors will clean and disinfect activity spaces after each use. Common/shared areas (bathrooms and handwashing stations) will have increased cleaning schedules.
• Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures: Arrival and departure times will be staggered to limit the number of students in the drop off/pick up zones.

• Parents of PreK-K will park and escort their student to the main entrance where they will be dropped off to their instructor.
• Older Grades (1 and up) will go through a drive through drop off.  Parents and guardians will remain in their cars during drop-off and pick-up with a member of our staff accompanying each child to their class locations.

• Social Distancing: Physical distancing provides protection by reducing risk of exposure and limiting the number of close contacts when someone is infected with COVID-19. When possible, groups will endeavor to promote physical distancing.
• Face Coverings Overview:

Our goal throughout the Covid-19 pandemic is to balance meeting the evolving stages and recommendations outlined by local health officials while also protecting our students and staff. Sienna Ranch strongly recommends that all persons (e.g., students, parents, and staff) continue to wear masks per the CDPH face mask guidance but it is not required. 

Meal Times:

Students will still be required to social distance (spread out 6 feet apart) during snack and lunch activities.

Mask Guidelines:

Face coverings may be cloth coverings, bandanas, or surgical masks. Most important is that they are easy to put on and take off, and are comfortable. See CDC Recommendations for Face Coverings. Per the Contra Costa Health Guidelines: Any mask that incorporates a one-way valve (typically a raised plastic cylinder about the size of a quarter on the front or side of the mask) that is designed to facilitate easy exhaling is not a Face Covering and may not be used to comply with this Order. Children under the age of 2 years should not wear cloth face coverings.  

COVID Exposure: If a participant is exposed or test positive for COVID, they will be required to follow masking requirements as outlined in the COVID Isolation/Quarantine Policy For Sienna Ranch Participants section below.

Required Reporting of Confirmed COVID-19 Contact

In the period beginning 14 days before class starts until 14 days after class ends if your child or someone in your household is confirmed to have COVID-19 you must contact Sienna Ranch administration immediately by calling the office (925) 283-6311 or emailing admin@siennaranch.net.

Sienna Ranch will follow all reporting guidelines required by the Contra Costa Health Services. Medical information will be kept strictly confidential and will be accessed by our class directors only, except where required by Contra Costa Health Department and State or Federal laws. For more information please visit Contra Costa County Health Services or call the Contra Costa Health Department (844) 729-8410.

Parent Requirements / Tasks

Safety begins before classes even start. We have some additional requirements for our families to complete before the first day of class, and before arriving at class each day. Parents will be required to complete the following tasks:

Adherence to Local Heath Orders

Before the First Day of Session/Class

• Inform Sienna Ranch Administrators of any health or student information updates by emailing them to admin@siennaranch.net.
• Practice washing your hands with your student with this fun Sienna Ranch video. Explain that we will be doing a lot of fun hand washing at Sienna Ranch throughout the session!
• Remind your student that we always keep our hands to ourselves at Sienna Ranch.
• Contact Sienna Ranch on 925 283 6311 or admin@siennaranch.net ASAP if your student or someone in your household is confirmed to have COVID-19. For the protection of our staff and families, do NOT come to class until you hear from us. For more details: see FAQs below.

Before Each Day of class

• Take your student’s temperature before arriving at Sienna Ranch.
• Contact Sienna Ranch on 925-283-6311 or admin@siennaranch.net  ASAP if the screening tool indicates respiratory illness, or if your student or someone in your household is confirmed to have COVID-19. For the protection of our staff and families, do NOT come to class until you hear from us.

After Class Ends

• Contact Sienna Ranch on 925-283-6311 or admin@siennaranch.net ASAP if your student or someone in your household is confirmed to have COVID-19 in the 14 day period after class ends.

Other COVID Procedures

Getting in Touch with your Class Instructor or Sienna Ranch Staff

Maintaining direct contact with families is important, but it's going to be a little different this school year. If you would like to speak with a member of the admin team or with your student’s instructor please reach out to admin@siennaranch.net or call us on 925-283-6311. We will arrange a phone call, zoom call, or social distanced in-person meeting as needed.

COVID-19 FAQs

What to expect if your student shows signs or symptoms of infectious disease?

We plan to be extra cautious to protect our staff, families, and community from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. If our staff observe any of the common signs and symptoms of infectious respiratory disease, or if a student reports feeling sick, we will call home and request that your student be picked up within one hour.

Students who show signs or symptoms of ANY infectious disease must stay away from class until 3 days after all signs/symptoms have disappeared or until their family provides a signed note from a medical professional stating that their student does not pose a risk of infection to others. If a student arrives showing signs of infection disease they will be required to be picked up from the program.

What happens if my student or someone in our family has been in close contact/exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

Please see the following table for updated policies for isolation and quarantine for Sienna Ranch Participants:  

COVID Isolation/Quarantine Policy For Sienna Ranch Participants

References:

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Guidance-on-Isolation-and-Quarantine-for-COVID-19-Contact-Tracing.aspx

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/K-12-Guidance-2021-22-School-Year.aspx

**Clinical Spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection can experience a range of clinical manifestations, from no symptoms to critical illness. In general, adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection can be grouped into the following severity of illness categories; however, the criteria for each category may overlap or vary across clinical guidelines and clinical trials, and a patient’s clinical status may change over time.

• Asymptomatic or presymptomatic infection: Individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 using a virologic test (i.e., a nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT] or an antigen test) but who have no symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19.
• Mild illness: Individuals who have any of the various signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste and smell) but who do not have shortness of breath, dyspnea, or abnormal chest imaging.
• Moderate illness: Individuals who show evidence of lower respiratory disease during clinical assessment or imaging and who have an oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≥94% on room air at sea level.
• Severe illness: Individuals who have SpO2 <94% on room air at sea level, a ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) <300 mm Hg, a respiratory rate >30 breaths/min, or lung infiltrates >50%.
• Critical illness: Individuals who have respiratory failure, septic shock, and/or multiple organ dysfunction.

Reference:

www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/overview/clinical-spectrum

Click below to read the following documents:

• Health Order: Mass Isolation Order
• Self-Isolation Instructions for Confirmed Cases
• Home Quarantine Instructions for Close Contacts

All individuals who are diagnosed with COVID-19 must immediately take the following actions:

1. Isolate themselves in their home or another residence following all requirements listed in the “Self-Isolation Instructions for Confirmed Cases.”

• Tell their close contacts that they need to quarantine themselves, following the “Home Quarantine Instructions for Close Contacts.” Close contacts who should be notified to self-quarantine are people who were near them during their infectious period, as further described in the health order below. The infectious period commences 48 hours before symptoms began (or, in the absence of symptoms, 48 hours before the date of administration of a positive test) and ends when the isolation period is over (see Section 4 of the health order below). Close contacts of an individual who has COVID-19 are persons who, during the individual’s infectious period, were within six feet of the individual for 15 minutes or longer.
  

I am fully vaccinated. What if I come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID?

See table above.

What happens if a student tests positive for COVID-19?

If Sienna Ranch identifies a child who tested positive for COVID-19 or we learn they are positive, we will take the following steps:

• Sienna Ranch will immediately notify local health officials (Contra Costa County Health Services).
• Sienna Ranch will follow procedures for notifying the parents of those in the affected stable group based on the recommendations from local health officials.

• Contra Costa County Health Services will perform contact tracing using class rosters and information obtained from Sienna Ranch Administrators.
• Based on local health services recommendations, Sienna Ranch will inform those in the class cohort who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms and to follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop. Even if a student does not have symptoms, CDC guidance for home isolation should be followed.

• Students in the stable group and staff who were in close contact with the affected child will be asked to stay home from Sienna Ranch for a minimum of 5 days. A person is considered to have had close contact if they were within six feet of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes.
• This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting Sienna Ranch and for facilities staff to clean and disinfect the affected facilities.
• Sienna Ranch will work with the local health officials to determine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow the further spread of COVID-19.

A note on confidentiality:

If there is the possibility that a stable group has  been exposed to COVID-19, Sienna Ranch will notify the families directly. Through contact tracing, the local Health Officials will assess and inform all persons who may be at risk and require quarantine and/or testing. In line with public health practices and medical and student privacy laws, only those who would need to know about confirmed COVID-19 cases for personal health and safety reasons will be informed. To protect students' privacy, all names will be omitted from the correspondence.

What if a parent who is a healthcare provider cared for a COVID-19 patient and is now symptomatic, can the child attend?

No. Children should not attend child care if anyone in the household has symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, whether a health care worker or not.

I am a parent/guardian who will be attending the Ranch Play Class. Do I need to wear a mask?

Adults participating in Ranch Play are not required to wear masks but it is strongly recommended.

Adult visitors and parents/guardians are not required to wear masks when dropping off students, however adults may be asked to wear masks if participating in an in-person meeting with ranch administration or instructors.

What is the Refund, Credit and Make-Up Policy?

For the safety of our staff and families: students who are experiencing signs and symptoms of infectious disease or who may be carrying infection from members of their household may not attend Sienna Ranch classes. In this case, we are not able to issue refunds, transfers, or credits.

For details on our refund policy see: https://www.siennaranch.net/school-year-refunds-transfers-and-credits/

What type of training are you providing Sienna Ranch Staff?

All staff will be trained on social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting (according to CDC guidelines), virus spread reduction practices as well as required hand washing during our fall training week. Each instructor will be responsible for making sure that all program participants as well as staff, adhere to the requirements.

Will children be instructed on good hygiene practices?

We highly recommend that parents discuss proper hygiene practices with their children well in advance of starting your first day.

At the beginning of each session students will participate in an orientation to include a discussion on the need to be attentive to personal space and avoiding close contact, handwashing techniques,, keeping hands away from the face, sneezing and coughing etiquette and respecting others' belongings.

What are your handwashing protocols?

Students and Instructors will wash their hands upon arrival and multiple times during the day. Staff will instruct children how to wash hands effectively, and we ask that you review the importance of handwashing at home (don’t forget to check out our Sienna Ranch Handwashing Video!).

Will hand sanitizer be available?

Hand sanitizer will be provided and used as needed when children and staff are not near a sink. Parents are invited to donate hand sanitizer!

My child has health issues. Is coming to Sienna Ranch a good idea?

We cannot offer an opinion on whether or not participating in Sienna Ranch programs is a good fit for your child. This is a personal family decision that should be evaluated based on recommendations from your primary care physician. We can assure you that, following the guidelines we have been provided, we are doing everything we can to provide the safest environment possible for students and staff.

What are the pick-up and drop-off logistics? What will health screening look like?

• This year we will be using a pick up and drop off windows for both the half day and full day classes. Timing will be staggered by last name. 
• Parents/guardians are required to take their student’s temperature at home prior to attending programs. If you do not have the ability to take a temperature at home, Sienna Ranch will have a thermometer onsite at the front entrance that may be used.

Daily Health Screening Questions to be asked at home before coming to the Ranch

• Does your student have any of the following?

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

• Does anyone in your household have signs and symptoms of an infectious respiratory disease?
• If yes then, in the past two weeks has anyone in your household had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19?

PreK/K classes:

• Park in the main lot, then walk with your student to check in and check out at the family waiting area. For returning students, this is the same check in and check out location as in previous years.
• Please form a socially-distanced line to check in and check out.
• Adults must physically escort students to the gate (students may not walk from car to gate unaccompanied).
•  If you have older siblings, please drop them off/pick them up first using the directions below.

1st Grade and Up:

• Follow directions for drive-through drop-off/pick-up by driving up the shady driveway, which is straight ahead of you after you pull into the Ranch, to the right side of the old white Ranch house
• Drive slowly, and please turn your engine off while waiting in line.

• AT DROP OFF: Once you arrive at the top of the driveway, one of our friendly staff will greet you at the drivers-side window to check you in.
• Please have your student ready to jump out of the car to ensure our check in process runs quickly
• One of our friendly staff will help your student(s) to find their class meeting place each day

• AT PICK UP: Once you arrive at the top of the driveway, one of our friendly staff will greet you at the drivers-side window and direct you to your student’s pick up location.
• After pick up, please get your student settled into the car and strapped in as soon as possible to ensure our check out process runs quickly.

Pick up and drop off details will be sent to parents/guardians the week before the start of the Session. It is important that you review the procedure carefully as some details and class locations may change.

Reference Links:

• Contra Costa Active Health Orders
• CDC Community Guidelines for Child Care and K-12
• COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School Year 
• Current Camp Guidelines from CDC
• CCHD Frequently Asked Questions
• California’s Limited Stay-at-Home Order

• Full Order
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Safer Holiday Celebrations