Mustangs (re)Unite

We know that the health and safety standards and practices are most effectively implemented in partnership with our families. The Family Health Commitment is a new form required for all families upon return to school stating that you will join the entire community in doing your part to keep our community safe. The form will be included in your required forms in our new Health portal in Magnus Health.

We ask that all families check the temperature of their children as part of their daily health screening prior to depart for school each day. If your student has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, they must stay home and be monitored for the following 24 hours. If the child is experiencing COVID-like symptoms, they will follow the recommendations listed below under "Symptoms-Based Approach." 

Students with symptoms should stay home and ideally seek PCR testing from their healthcare provider. They should remain home until: (1) fever free for 24 hours AND (2) respiratory symptoms are improving, AND (3) it has been at least 10 days since symptoms started. 

We are using a symptoms-based approach to identifying cases in our community and not implementing routine testing throughout our community. (Updated October 1)

There are several different COVID-19 tests that are available to families today. If your child is symptomatic, you may seek either a Rapid Antigen Test or a PCR test. 

Rapid Antigen Test
Antigen testing can identify people who are in the peak period of infectivity, which is typically when the person is presenting with COVID-like symptoms. If your child is symptomatic, you may pursue this type of test.

PCR Test
A PCR Test is another diagnostic test that is highly accurate and typically does not need to be repeated. Results have this test can take up to a week (or longer if demand is high) but is the most common test due to its accuracy.

Families can schedule tests by following one of the paths below:
Contact your Primary Care Provider
Families may contact their primary care provider to obtain testing. A copy of the test result must be forwarded to healthreporting@breckschool.org. 

Contact Breck's partner for testing and case management MedExpress
As a secondary alternative, for your convenience, Breck has identified four nearby MedExpress Urgent Care locations that can also provide an evaluation and schedule testing. These centers are open 8am to 8pm every day – no appointments are needed and you can visit when it is convenient for you. 

If you choose to visit any of these locations, it is important that you please inform the staff at MedExpress that you are with Breck School during check-in.

Nearby MedExpress locations that can provide an evaluation include:

MedExpress Urgent Care – Columbia Heights    
4880 Central Ave. NE, Suite 100                    
Hilltop, MN  55421                                                        
763-571-4536                                                         

MedExpress Urgent Care – Eden Prairie
16490 W. 78th Street
Eden Prairie, MN 55346
952-934-5332

MedExpress Urgent Care – West. St. Paul    
1963 Robert St. S., Suite 200        
West St. Paul, MN 55118             
651-457-2628                                                               

MedExpress Urgent Care – Andover
2134 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW, Suite 100
Andover, MN 55304
763-754-4396

Following an evaluation with either your primary care provider or MedExpress, you will receive next steps on returning to school. Please report test results to healthreporting@breckschool.org. Please also don’t hesitate to contact your Breck School nurse with questions.

We will, however, recommend testing if an individual presents with COVID-like symptoms. They will then follow the decision tree for staying home guidance as directed by the MN Department of Health. We will continue to review and revise this guidance as testing becomes more widely available.

When a student or staff member presents with symptoms and/or tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracing is an important part of our process to reducing community spread. Our School Nurse staff, along with our COVID response team, will implement the contact tracing process. Look for more information regarding Decision Trees when Someone Gets Sick in our COVID Handbook.

We are identifying fun and child-appropriate health and wellness campaigns to communicate information about hand hygiene, physical distancing, traffic/walking patterns, and symptoms of COVID-19.

As part of our daily health screening for students, faculty, and staff, we introduced a health tracking tool through the UnitedHealth Group called ProtectWell. This functionality allows families to check for symptoms before coming to campus and input their information to share with the school nurse. If families elect not to use the daily app, a health screening card is also available by visiting our security desks. Daily completion of a screening is required. Upon arrival to campus, students, faculty, and staff will review their information with on-site screenings and be welcomed to campus for the school day.

Students, faculty, staff who may have pre-existing conditions or weakened immune systems are at higher risk for a severe reaction if exposed to COVID-19. While we cannot mitigate every risk in our environment, we have a thorough and comprehensive plan to prepare for our community's return. For these families, mitigation efforts are incredibly important. Our COVID Team, specifically our school nurse and division leadership, will work with families who identify as high-risk to plan an appropriate return for the fall. Families should complete the Return to School Survey in Veracross before August 3. All information provided will be protected by HIPAA and FERPA.

Throughout the summer, we will work collaboratively across the school to build out and support a COVID response team who will be responsible for initiating communication through our contact tracing process and managing health symptoms of any positive cases in our community. Additionally, this team will be monitoring the latest data and information to inform our decisions for the future.

A few of the recent research studies we are using include:

American Academy of Pediatrics

Harvard Healthy Buildings

We know that wearing a cloth mask over your face and nose can slow the spread of this disease and others. Therefore, all students and faculty will wear a face covering in accordance with the Governor's Executive Order 20-81. Children age 5 and under will be encouraged to wear masks whenever physical distancing is not possible while indoors. Students will be provided a Breck mask at the start of the school year, however they may choose their own mask each day. There is no requirement for masks color or design within our uniform code. 

A ​recent scientific study (8/7/20) lists the effectiveness of 14 different kinds of facial masks. The study revealed that knitted masks, bandanas, and neck gaiters (e.g., buffs) do not provide effective protection and are not acceptable mask alternatives. Based on this recommendation, knitted masks, bandanas, and neck gaiters/buffs are not acceptable mask alternatives for use at Breck School. Therefore, we've revised our acceptable face covering list below:

Types of Face Coverings:

• Types of face coverings can include: 
  • paper or disposable mask 
  • cloth mask
• A face covering must cover the nose and mouth completely.
• Other:
  • Masks with valves, mesh, openings, holes, visible gaps or vents are not allowed
  • Face shields - not recommended at this time. 

Persons Exempt from Wearing a Face Covering:

• Children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old - 
  • Not required to wear face coverings, but are encouraged to wear a face covering when in public
• Persons who have:
  • Medical or other health conditions that prohibit them from wearing one safely.
  • Disabilities or mental health developmental, or behavioral needs that make it difficult to tolerate wearing a face covering.
  • Trouble breathing, is unconscious, sleeping, incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.

When is it Required to Wear a Face Covering:

• In all public indoor spaces and businesses-
  • including when waiting outside to enter the public indoor space or business.
• When riding on public transportation such as buses 
• When working outdoors in situations where- 
  • social distancing (i.e., maintaining physical distance of at least six feet from other individuals who are not in the same household) cannot be maintained.

When is it not Required:

• When outdoors or participating in outdoor recreation
  • exercising, walking, gardening for private purposes.
• Other:
  • Workers are required to wear face coverings when working outdoors in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained.

When can a Face Covering Be Temporarily Removed (as long as social distancing can be maintained at all times):

• When participating in an activity in which the face covering will get wet.
• While eating or drinking
• While communicating with someone where communication with that individual while wearing a mask would be difficult 
• During practices or performances in an indoor space when a face covering cannot be used 
  • While playing a musical instrument
  • Singing
  • Public Speaking
  • Organized sports where the level of exertion makes wearing a face covering difficult.
• When alone
  • In an office
  • In a cubicle with walls higher than face level 

Businesses’ Obligations:

• Require that all persons, including their workers, customers, and visitors, wear face coverings as required by Executive Order 20-81 and take reasonable steps to enforce the requirement.
• Post one or more signs that are visible to all persons—including workers, customers, and visitors—instructing them to wear face coverings as required by Executive Order 20-81. https://mn.gov/covid19/media/share-message/for-businesses/index.jsp
• Accommodations to persons who state they have a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the person to maintain a face covering. Accommodations could include permitting use of an alternate form of face covering—a face shield, for example—or providing service options that do not require a customer to enter the business.

Key Messages about Face Coverings:

• Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth while wearing face coverings or face shields to prevent potential contamination.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before putting on a face covering or face shield.
• Remove your face covering or face shield carefully and wash your hands thoroughly after removal.
• Wash the face covering or face shield after each use.
• Wearing a face covering or face shield does not replace the need to continue frequent hand washing, avoiding touching the face, and practicing social distancing, which are our best tools to help prevent the spread of illness.
• Face coverings and face shields do not provide adequate protection for others if a person has symptoms compatible with COVID-19. Ill persons should stay at home.
• Face masks should be made with multiple layers of tightly woven fabric. Please see CDC guidelines on how to make a cloth face coverings.
• If outdoors, persons should still carry face coverings to be prepared to wear when no longer alone.
• Other: Please understand that these guidelines are a source control measure, meaning the mask only prevents the wearer from infecting others and does not prevent the wearer from being infected by another person. It is not considered personal protective equipment.

Our buildings and grounds team have measured and designed every learning space to allow for physical distancing. Classroom teachers are now working in partnership with our building and grounds team to reduce classroom materials, move desks to 6' in distance from one another, and identify strategies for keeping their classroom communities safe. This work is ongoing and a preview of a classroom used at Breck Summer Programs is below:

Each classroom will be equipped with a classroom cleaning kit that includes supplies for students and teachers to take an active role in regular disinfection of high-touch areas of their classrooms and materials. While we will make every effort to eliminate shared supplies among students and staff, we know this won't be entirely possible. Therefore, we will provide tools and resources to clean and disinfect shared objects while also allowing supplies to be at rest if cleaning and disinfection after every use is not possible.

If we are made aware of a confirmed positive case in a classroom, we have procedures in place to leave the space at rest, clean, disinfect prior to the return of students or faculty/staff in that space.

We know that washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is an effective prevention method to reduce transmission of COVID-19. When soap and water is not available, students will use hand sanitizer. We recommend that students and staff get in the habit now of frequent hand washing at home: before and after meals, before touching your face, after using the bathroom, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Students and classes will also incorporate hand washing practices throughout the school day depending on their activities and lesson plan.

Another preventative method we will implement for the 2020-2021 school year is reduced class sizes while students are physically on campus. Smaller classes and cohorts allows for us to practice physical distancing strategies more effectively and improve air dilution. Lower School classes are projected to be approximately ten students per class; Middle and Upper School classes may range from 9-15 students on average depending on the classroom square footage availability. At this time, we are also measuring, designing, and scheduling our large gathering areas to determine the possibility of a small number of expanded classes in those spaces. We have not made a determination as to the level of usage of these spaces as of July 30, 2020.

We have contracted with McGough to guide our HVAC-related decision-making, based on industry standards and best practices, and to implement proven solutions, including implementing improved outdoor air dilution and HVAC filtration systems. De-densifying our classrooms is also an effective way to improve air dilution. We are also working with McGough to evaluate the best, proven solutions for supplemental air cleaning, disinfection, ionization, and/or filtration to aid in the improvement of air quality. Furthermore, we are anticipating longer-term actions including implementing improved controls systems and monitoring to continue safeguarding the health and wellness of students, faculty and staff. 

An update to their work can be found here.

Upon return to campus, students will find updated restroom usage guidance. At this time, we are planning to maintain a capacity level based on an every-other-stall approach. We will also add lids to the toilets in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in these spaces. You can read more about the science behind this decision in this article: Can a toilet promote virus transmission? From a fluid dynamics perspective.

Since mid-March, we have implemented new cleaning and maintenance procedures for our building. As with all our practices, we continue to update the training and practices of our staff as we learn more about this virus.

We are proud to partner with Healthcare Services Group for an additional layer of support for our cleaning team. Healthcare Services Group is the leading provider of environmental services, HCSG has been on the front lines battling COVID-19 since the onset back in January.  As a national provider of environmental services, HCSG has over 44 years of healthcare-grade deep cleaning and disinfection experience in healthcare settings.  Our commitment to maintaining a healthy campus is unwavering with infection prevention and control being a key to our success. To that end, Breck School has partnered with Healthcare Services Group (HCSG) to amplify current cleaning practices and protocols.

HCSG's cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing policies and procedures have proven successful in heavily regulated medical settings. We have tailored our services to educational environments' needs while still adhering to the rigorous requirements that we are accustomed to. Using our proprietary training and development platform, we focuses on current and evolving CDC, MDH, and HHS guidelines. 

With the assistance of our in-house Board Certified Infection Prevention and Control Specialist (member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology), we work to create specifically-tailored solutions and protocols designed to mitigate the risks associated with community-acquired infectious diseases such as COVID-19.   These dynamic cleaning and disinfecting processes and procedures are designed to help prevent and contain this dangerous infection. 

Specifically for the Breck School, our experienced team of EVS professionals, including on-site management, supervisors and staff will be on campus to help oversee, facilitate, and administer cleanings and disinfection throughout the school day. We have already begun working with the team here to develop and implement intra-day disinfecting scheduled and job routines designed specifically to help stop the spread of germs through targeted and thorough cleanings, especially focused on high touch areas. 

As part of this plan, we will be disinfecting public restrooms every hour, disinfecting the hallways/stairwells in between class periods, dining halls in between seatings, classrooms at least once per day and when we are able to during the school day. Our focus will be on high-touch areas. HCSG will also provide a cleaning and disinfecting "Response" team to deploy as needed should any concerns arise. 

HCSG's services will continue through evenings, where extra attention will focus on shared supplies, high volume areas, dining halls, gyms, and other high-touch surfaces and sections.

Through the strength of its national supply chain relationships, HCSG utilizes only the highest efficacy disinfectants and cleaners and state-of-the-art equipment such as electrostatic sprayers. Recognized as a "priority" partner, HCSG extends its supply chain integrity to us, ensuring consistent procurement of difficult to source products. 

The primary disinfectant we will be using is Ecolab Peroxide Multi Surface Cleaner and Disinfectant. It is a hydrogen peroxide based chemical that is very aggressive in killing microorganisms (with a contact kill time of 45 seconds for Covid-19), but not corrosive whereas the manufacturer does not suggest us needing to use any personal protective equipment when using the product. 

We will also be using Victory Electrostatic Sprayers, state-of-the-art equipment designed for highly effective and efficient treatment of surfaces.  We will give a demonstration as to the use of the electrostatic sprayer [Ally will use the electrostatic sprayer for a few seconds to show what it looks like and how it’s used).

Empowering Faculty and Students

Though this situation is challenging, it does provide the opportunity to teach our students valuable life lessons. Being socially responsible is a critical element in our quest to remain healthy. Resources will be provided for students to clean their own spaces in feasible ways by age. From our Lower School to our Upper Schoolers, understanding that we are all in this together is an important lesson that will serve them throughout life.

Additionally, each of you will be counted on to help our overall efforts of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for each and every member of the Breck community.

In accordance with the Governor's Mask Mandate, the Breck community will wear a cloth face covering during their time in hallways and common spaces. We will provide hallway signage and information regarding recommended walking paths and also make stairwells, when feasible, one directional. 

A critical element in our plan for reopening is the work of our buildings and grounds team, specifically our facilities team. We are incredibly proud of the commitment to excellence put forward by this team. They are working around the clock to design cleaning schedules and routines to keep our community safe. A critical element in their work is preparing them appropriately for the work they must accomplish. We will provide personal protective equipment and COVID-specific training to help them mitigate risk to themselves and others. We cannot be a successful school without their partnership.

Since our hybrid schedule is based on the assumption that we will have a group of students on campus and a group of students in remote learning, we are developing training and support for our faculty to lead classrooms in this new style. We have also invested in assistive technology to allow students who are at home the ability to feel as though they are sitting in on class during a routine day. Many of our classrooms are now equipped with built-in camera systems or mobile streaming devices such as the Owl and Swivl technology.

While we love hosting and supporting parents association groups and events, volunteers, and other events on campus, we will begin the year with our focus on student and faculty return. All previously scheduled in-person events on campus will likely occur virtually. Parent-student-teacher conferences scheduled for October 12-13 (based on the new Semester 1 Calendar), will also be held virtually.

We are exploring virtual options for our signature fall events like Homecoming and Grandparents Day. Earlier this year we celebrated the Class of 2020 in a socially distanced - and quite unforgettable - commencement ceremony. We are confident we will re-create these important moments for our school's culture in this new environment. More information will follow.

The performing and visual arts are critical components of the student experience at Breck. While we are still learning how to effectively preserve these aspects of our curriculum, it is our priority to find a way to offer these opportunities for students.

The Breck Athletics Department is working in collaboration with other athletic departments, the MSHSL, the National Federation of State High School Associations, and is following local, state, and federal guidelines to develop a comprehensive approach to maximize health and safety while engaging in sport activities. The guidelines may change based on current trends, data, and needs. 

As of July 30, the MSHSL has not issued guidance for the fall 2020 athletics season. If, however, the fall season would be cancelled or postponed, Breck Athletics is committed to providing students with athletic training and intramural opportunities. Students will only participate in organized practices or events on the days they are scheduled to be on campus with their cohort.

Student councils, affinity groups, and clubs will also be made available as part of our return to campus. It is in these spaces that students are able to further their exploration of a passion or interest and engage with school life outside of the classroom. As witnessed during distance learning, we will continue to host these activities and events for our students in accordance with appropriate safety practices.

We will continue to provide after-school Extended Day offerings as planned for the 2020-2021 school year. There will be no early drop-off care, however. At the start of the 2019-2020 school year, we conducted a comprehensive review of our extended day programming to incorporate flexibility and small-group opportunities for students. This model is now aligned to our requirements for physical distancing and will provide students a safe and fun space to continue their time at Breck after the school day concludes.

Breck Transportation is taking a multi-layered response to COVID-19. Examples of precautionary measures from a health and wellness standpoint
are as follows:

• Enhanced bus cleaning protocols performed by a professional cleaning company, following MDH and CDC guidelines:
  • Clean all necessary surfaces of the buses.
  • Sanitize all necessary surfaces of the buses and wipe clean.
  • Disinfect the entirety of the bus using an electrostatic sprayer.
• Reduced maximum passenger capacity to allow for more physical distance between passengers
• Consistent cohorts on buses to reduce groups mixing and to allow for contact tracing
• All students will be required to wear a face covering while on the bus and sanitize their hands as they are boarding.
• Buses will have increased ventilation (e.g., open roof hatches weather permitting)

Due to the scope of health and wellness protocols and the need to maintain consistent cohorts of passengers, there will be only one designated stop for each student. We understand there are families with dual households; we will work with individual families to meet these needs. As a result, we anticipate the following distinctive Breck bus services will be impacted for the time being:

• We will not be able to provide Activity Routes for 2020-2021
• We will not be able to accommodate extra stops, after school activities stops, or infrequent stops on bus routes (pay rides). For example, we are not expecting to be able to accommodate playdate stops, friends riding home with friends, etc.
• We will continue to provide for families that come from multiple households.

Frequently asked questions

• Will there be bus transportation this year?  Yes.
• Will there be Activity Routes this school year? Unfortunately, no. Activity routes are scheduled immediately following the after-school routes of another cohort. Activity routes do not allow our drivers and cleaning staff to complete a full sanitation and disinfection process that is a key part of our mitigation strategies.
• Will my student be able to use the bus to go to after school activities or playdates? Unfortunately, no. Because of the need for Consistent cohorts on buses to reduce groups mixing and to allow for contact tracing we are not able to provide for infrequent riders, varied scheduled stops, special stops or after school activities stops.
• Will there be increased cleaning on the buses? Yes, we have enhanced our bus cleaning protocols to include cleaning and sanitizing after cohort rides.
• Will there be health screening on the bus? Students will complete a health screening on our app prior to boarding the bus each morning. Upon arrival to school, students will have their temperature re-checked to ensure they are prepared for the school day.
• How will I be informed if a student is sick on my student’s bus? The Breck Health Center has a thorough contact tracing process which does includes evaluating bus-related contacts. Any close contact to a potential or confirmed COVID case will receive further information from the Health Center.
• Will capacity on the bus be reduced? Yes. We have reduced maximum passenger capacity by over 50% to allow for more physical distance between passengers. 
• Will masks be required on the bus? Yes.
• Will my student be required to sit in an assigned seat? Yes.
• Will my student be on the bus longer because of the changes made? No, we are planning to add routes to accommodate the increased need for physical distancing on bus routes.
• Can my student sit with a friend? No, only students from the same household can sit together on a bus. Students will receive an assigned seat for their route.
• Why can't a parent get on the bus to talk to the bus driver? It is against the law. If you need to talk to the driver, please come to the driver window or call transportation and they will arrange a meeting with that driver.
• Can my child have someone go home with them? Unfortunately, friend riders will not be accommodated for the 2020-2021 school year. 
• Will there be a transportation charge if Breck School is in Distance Learning? Transportation fee credits will be issued for each day transportation is not operating.
• Will there be a transportation charge if Breck School is in Hybrid Mode? Distance Learning? A prorated 50% credit of the monthly transportation fee will be issued to MS and US students when Breck School is in the hybrid mode.   
• If my student can not come to school due to contact tracing or self-quarantine will there be a discount or credit for that period of time? If a student cannot come to school due to the time period needed for contact tracing and/or self-quarantine involving a possible or actual covid case, no transportation fee credit will be issued.
• Will transportation fees increase 2020-2021 due to the increased cost of transportation? While the overall costs of running the Breck bus system will substantially increase this year, the transportation fees will be the same for 2019-20.
• What will the seating look like on a route with families and 50% capacity reduction? Each B is a student assigned to that seat. Two "B"s sitting together in a seat indicate a family unit.

• What will the transportation fee structure for families look like? While the overall costs of running the Breck Transportation system will substantially increase this year, the transportation fees will be the same for 2020-21 as they were for 2019-2020 to acknowledge the above adjustments needed. The 20-21 fees and route map are HERE  https://www.breckschool.org/student-life/transportation.

Additionally, bus fee credits will be provided for the mode of learning that is in place as follows: 

• • Distance learning - Transportation fee credits will be issued for each day transportation is not operating. 
  • Hybrid learning - A prorated 50% credit of the monthly transportation fee will be issued to MS and US students when Breck School is in the hybrid mode and students are on campus in cohorts.   

If a student cannot come to school due to the time period needed for contact tracing and/or self-quarantine involving a possible or actual COVID case, no transportation fee credit will be issued.

Parking fees will be billed monthly this school year.  Students will be assigned to parking lots and will park in those lots on a first come basis, there will be no assigned parking spaces.

Parking fee credits will be provided for the mode of learning that is in place as follows:

• • Distance learning — Parking fee credits will be issued for days not on campus. 
  • Hybrid learning — A prorated 50% credit of the monthly parking fee will be issued to MS and US students when Breck School is in the hybrid mode.   

If a student cannot come to school due to the time period needed for contact tracing and/or self-quarantine involving a possible or actual COVID case, no parking fee credit will be issued.

From: John Chesnut, Director of Dining Services, Flik Independent School Dining

Our staff, Chef Liz and I are all excited to get back on campus and create delicious, healthy meals. The path to reopening involves deploying a multitude of resources that have been pulled in to begin operations in compliance with the latest standards and guidance. We are striving for the most normal dining experience possible with touchless service and physical distancing in mind. Flexibility will be our focus before, during and after reopening. 

What does that mean? 

• We are devising a strategy to allow, as much as possible, for students and faculty to eat together, though distanced, in our spacious dining rooms. For students not eating socially-distanced in the dining rooms, they will be served meals in their classrooms.
• We plan to deliver the same high quality, crafted meals with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. 
• Upon returning, students will first be served on environmentally friendly compostable wares that are single-use
• When restrictions are lifted we will return to normal plates and flatware. 
• Though the popular soup, salad and panini stations will not be available in their regular format, those items will be offered in regularity on the menu or packaged for individual consumption to complement the entree offerings we are serving that day. 
• While we will strive to make each student's dining experience as normal as possible, there are expected to be circumstances where individually packaged meals will be appropriate. 
• Finally, we are also working on contingency plans that would afford for individual meal delivery to all classrooms should the need arise. 

Know that we are finding creative ways to meet the recommendations from health officials to deliver a safe experience from the first bus arrival to the last practice each and every day.

From the Business Office:

2020-2021 school year lunch credits

Credits will be provided for the mode of learning that is in place as follows:

• Distance learning — Lunch fees will  credited $5, $6 and $7 per day for LS, MS and US respectively
• Hybrid learning — Lunch fees will be credited at 50% of $6 and $7 per day for MS and US respectively
• 100% on campus for all divisions — no lunch fee refund

If a student cannot come to school due to the time period needed for contact tracing and/or self-quarantine involving a possible or actual covid case, no lunch credits will be issued.