Homeschool Groups and Coronavirus / COVID-19

Has your homeschool co-op addressed hand-washing and reviewed sick policy recently?

We are a part of two educational enrichment communities.

One has already been doing the following for weeks:

• implemented hand sanitizer stations at the entrances,
• asked people to use these before entering,
• reminded people to wash for 20 seconds with soap and water after touching face or using the bathroom,
• sent home weekly hygiene reminders,
• spoke directly with students about the COVID-19 situation,
• addressed hand washing in class each week,
• reminded people not to touch eyes, nose and mouth,
• reviewed sneezing and coughing best practices,
• required people to notify leadership if they have traveled internationally,
• asked people to go home if they are symptomatic, and
• asked people to stay home if they have any symptoms.

The other has not.

I cannot volunteer as CGO (Chief Germ Officer) due to my NICU grad — I have stayed off campus since Lochlan was born in August — but I can speak up.

Will you speak up in your community?

If you’re involved in any way at a school, paraschool or homeschool group, you should know the CDC is asking school staff to

• “Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, light switches, countertops)”
• “Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (e.g., keyboards, desks, remote controls) can be wiped down by students and staff before each use.”

Is this being done where you are meeting?

COVID-19 Guidelines for Homeschool Groups

Here is the full list of hygiene guidelines for schools in communities without confirmed COVID-19 and communities with confirmed cases. Be sure to scroll down to read the sections in light grey and yellow, respectively. These are written specifically for school admin, and will help keep kids safe at school (or homeschool groups, in this case). Please consider reading, implementing, and sharing this post with your local homeschool group.

FREE Posters to Encourage Handwashing for COVID-19

This is not about fear; this is about common sense. Consider sending these these free posters to your homeschool group leadership, or better yet — volunteer to print and hang them up in the halls and bathrooms where your homeschool group meets.

These 8.5×11 ones print well with a black and white printer:

• Germs are Everywhere 8.5×11 PDF (we printed this one as a coloring page!)
• Wash Your Hands 8.5 x11 PDF
• One Trillion Germs in a Gram of Poop 8.5 x11 PDF (I’m aware COVID-19 is not spread in fecal matter; however, this is a highly effective poster!)

Here are larger printable versions of these posters,  plus different posters, stickers, videos, and more educational materials to promote handwashing.

Don’t be afraid to speak up…

…or stay home.

“Community-based interventions such as school dismissals, event cancellations, social distancing, and creating employee plans to work remotely can help slow the spread of COVID-19. Individuals can practice everyday prevention measures like frequent hand washing, staying home when sick, and covering coughs and sneezes.”
–Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities

Bottom line? COVID-19 or no COVID-19, these are common sense guidelines which should be followed anyway! Good hygiene is never wasted.