HAT ACADEMY OPERATIONS PLAN 2022
SUMMARY AND ASSUMPTIONS:
Since 2016, arts education and learning has been an essential part of our programming. With the threat of COVID-19, the Highland Arts Theatre and affiliated HAT Academy have spent the past year rigorously re-defining our practices and procedures and developing new guidelines for operations that will ensure the safety of all involved.
After a successful Fall 2021 Semester, we are thrilled to have received confirmation from Dr. Strang and the Health Authority of Nova Scotia that after-school programmes will be able to continue operating and the following is our current plan for re-opening.
In the weeks leading up to the start of classes we undergo training with any new Staff to ensure everyone is thoroughly prepared. We are confident that our team will have what is needed to keep everyone safe and operate these programmes to the highest standards of public health while ensuring a fun creative learning environment for all involved.
We present this plan under the umbrella of the public health guidelines for Nova Scotia.
Each week, there will be multiple classes operating independently within their own isolated classroom of the Academy building.
We understand that in putting our plan in place, it will be vital throughout our daily operations to ensure proper handwashing, good hygiene, contact traceability, and stringent recordkeeping, by all.
While we want everyone to have a good time, we must be explicitly strict about the guidelines and practices covered in this plan. We will have a “Two Strike” rule firmly in place: if any Participant deliberately disobeys a Staff Member on matters of health, they will be asked to correct their behaviour once and if it happens again they will be required to go home. See our Behaviour Policy and Refund Policy for more information.
Finally, we want to affirm that these policies are a living document. We will revise as necessary based on new information that is revealed about the nature of COVID-19 and on-going updates from national and provincial health guidelines. We recognize that if there is an increase in cases in the province, any operations may be required to cease.
CONTACT TRACING
We will ensure all families understand that attendance at classes means that they may be part of contact tracing information provided to the government.
Infection Mitigation Coordinator:
Coordinate with, communicate, and help implement public health guidelines.
Develop and implement event health plans.
Ensure that existing safety plans are modified for compatibility with new health plans.
Oversee Staff training that applies current information about hazards and infection control measures, including social distancing, handwashing, and disinfecting high-touch surfaces.
Determine if a Staff member or Participant may safely enter the event space when there is a health concern.
PROVINCIAL GUIDELINES
We will be following Provincial guidelines at all times when operating our Winter Semester of classes. We are aware that these guidelines can change at any time and our Operations Plan and practices will be updated to reflect this.
Current guidelines that are relevant to our programmes:
Requirements for Self-Isolation
You’re legally required to self-isolate if you:
are waiting for your COVID-19 test results
have tested positive for COVID-19
have tested negative for COVID-19, but had close contact with someone who has COVID-19
have been told by Public Health that you may have been exposed and need to self-isolate
There are different guidelines based on your personal situation, so please check the guidelines for yourself.
(https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/restrictions-and-guidance/#self-isolation-requirements)
Childcare and Education
Before and after school programs (indoor and outdoor) can operate with up to 15 people (including staff and volunteers) in each individual group without social distancing or multiple groups of 15 people each with social distancing between groups and need to follow Public Health guidance for school settings. Each group needs to be a consistent group. Wearing a mask is required indoors for staff, volunteers and participants.
(https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/restrictions-and-guidance/#business-restrictions)
POLICIES ON ILLNESS IN OUR FACILITY
Staff Members
All Staff must notify the Education Coordinator and stay home from work if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 that are not explained by another medical condition.
If a Staff Member exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival to work, or becomes sick during the class time, they will be given a rapid test and isolated until they receive results.
The Education Coordinator will document the Staff Member’s illness to help with contact tracing, as applicable, by filling out an Incident Report form (Appendix E).
Anyone who has been in close contact with a person known to have been exposed to COVID should follow Provincial guidelines.
Returning to Work: Staff with symptoms of COVID-19 may return to work after a negative COVID-19 test result. Staff who test positive for COVID-19 may return to work after their isolation period is over and symptoms have improved.
We will ensure Staff understand that they will be fully supported if they need to remove themselves from scheduled work without fear of reprisal.
We will ensure Staff privacy during such times.
We will have alternate Staff on call and available as necessary to avoid disruption of programs as best we can.
Participants
• If a Participant exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival to camp, or becomes sick during the day, an Incident Report (Appendix E) will be filled out, the family will be immediately called for pick up.
• Any family with an ill child will be given options to ensure they do not hesitate to keep their children at home if they are ill. See our Refund and Credit Policy for more information.
• We will ask the family to inform us if symptoms persist and if there is a diagnosis of COVID-19, we will immediately follow guidance from public health and provide contact tracing information.
RESPONDING TO CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19
If a Staff Member or Participant is confirmed to have COVID-19, they will immediately notify the Education Coordinator, who should do the following:
Determine what areas of the building were visited by the positive Staff Member.
Notify all Staff and Participants that may have had contact with an positive Staff Member and should follow Provincial Public Health Guidelines and Protocols and be tested for COVID-19.
STAFF MEMBERS
General
Staff will be required to remain on-site during class time.
All Staff will be required to adhere to the physical distancing guidelines.
The Education Coordinator will be responsible for making sure that these guidelines are being adhered to.
Staff Training
We have added training to ensure all Staff are confident and competent in their roles and responsibilities to keep our community safe through our programs.
We have additional cleaning regimens and have developed new activities to ensure those in our programs have a wonderful time while keeping safe and healthy.
All our Staff are taught and mentored in excellent hygiene, including practicing frequent handwashing, not touching their faces, and practicing good cough etiquette.
Staff are required to complete training before starting work in the form of an Orientation Day.
Staff are required to sign an understanding and compliance document at the completion of their training.
PARTICIPANT PRE-SCREENING
• Pre-screening of Participants will take place in the weeks before classes begin.
• We will ask that the Participants’ parents or guardians adhere to the following instructions:
Self-screening for the presence of symptoms of COVID-19 within the past two weeks.
• If the Participants fail to successfully follow this screening, they will be asked to not come to class until they receive a negative test result for COVID-19. See the Refund or Credit Policy for more information.
DAILY OPERATIONS
Classroom Spaces
• Classes will all take place in the same space to limit the amount of traffic in halls and stairways and the amount of cross-contamination between groups.
• Every space will have a hand sanitizer available as well as a minimum of two washrooms.
• There will be no more than 15 bodies in each space (including staff) and Participants will be under constant supervision.
• As per current Provincial guidelines, Participants do not have to physically distance during class time.
Masks are required in all public spaces.
Physical Isolation Space
• We have designated a specific isolation space should it be necessary to remove any Participant or Staff exhibiting symptoms or due to behaviour. See our Behaviour Policy for more information.
Art, Recreation, and other Supplies
• Any larger tools/supplies will be disinfected between use.
• The organization will have disposable masks in case needed.
• The organization will have a set of full P.P.E. (gloves, mask, and face shield) in case of a Participant or Staff Member falling ill, to allow Staff to transport the Participant to the designated Isolation Space and remain with them until their family can come pick them up.
Transportation
• It will be the responsibility of the Participants' families to transport them to and from class.
• We will advise Participants’ families not to carpool to transport them unless they are following Provincial guidelines.
Participant Sign-In and Out
• Participant Sign-In and out will be held in our lobby, to limit anyone coming into our classroom space that is not a Participant or Staff Member.
• Drop off will be no earlier than 15 minutes prior to class and pick-up must be completed by 15 minutes after class has finished.
• We will restrict drop off and pick up of a Participant to one family member. We require a list of names of who can pick up each Participant under 18 from parents/guardians prior to the start of the camp in order to keep the Participants safe,
• Upon Sign-In and entering the building, all Participants will be required to wash/sanitize their hands.
• Physical distancing will be maintained between groups and Staff will escort one group at a time into their classroom. At the end of the class, one group at a time will be led to the pick up area by Staff in order to prevent congestion.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Our Participants are always required to wash or sanitize their hands before class, before and after any trips to the washroom, and before they leave for the day.
Warm-Up and Cool-Down
• Warm-up and Cool down will be done in a way to adhere to physical distancing protocols if necessary.
• It will include the rules (physical distancing, handwashing, cough/sneeze etiquette) and ways to adhere to them while still having fun.
Classes
• We will not have any classes which require immediate physical contact.
• All instructors have been asked to modify their programs and instruction to allow for physical distancing.
Classroom Clean-up
• All Participants will be asked to put their own tools and materials back into their own bags.
• Each Participant will be required to wash/sanitize their hands.
• At the end of each day assigned cleaning staff will clean each studio for the next day, see Cleaning (throughout and end of day) for more information.
WASHROOM USE
Washrooms will be limited to one person at a time if physical distancing is required, with appropriate methods to encourage a safe line for those waiting. Posters with handwashing techniques are in all washrooms.
CLEANING (THROUGHOUT AND END OF DAY)
Cleaning and Disinfecting (adapted from the Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide)
• High-touch areas will be disinfected.
• End of day cleaning will consist of disinfecting all classrooms and washrooms, after which they will be inaccessible until the next day.
• The Staff room will be cleaned and disinfected at the end of the day.
• The Education Coordinator ensures that cleaning logs are carefully entered and preserved for reference.
BEHAVIOUR POLICY
Due to the severity of COVID-19 and importance of keeping our Participants safe, we are taking our behaviour policy very seriously.
There is a 2-strike system in place: any Participant who purposely puts others at risk will be given one warning which will be documented in an Incident Report (Appendix E) and their parent/guardian will be contacted.
After the first strike, any behaviour that purposely puts another Participant or Staff Member at risk will result in an Incident Report being completed, a parent/guardian called for immediate pick up, and the Participant isolated from the rest of the group until pick up.
In these instances we will not be offering a refund.
We will be guiding this policy (and all policies) from a perspective of compassion and common sense, but we are responsible for the safety of everyone involved and in the case of intentional insubordination we must be strict.
REFUND OR CREDIT POLICY
Any Participant who is identified through pre-screening as not able to come, or who must leave because they become ill will be given the option of joining the class online via Zoom, a credit toward a future class, a tax-deductible charitable receipt, or a pro-rated refund for the time missed.
Rachael Murphy (she/her)
Education Coordinator, Highland Arts Theatre