BCHS Parents

March 4, 2020: The following message is informational for Bishop Chatard High School Staff, Parents, Students, Stakeholders, and Deanery Schools.

1. Each classroom will be provided with hand sanitizers, Clorox Wipes, and hospital-strength room disinfectant spray.
2. All educators and staff are advised to spray the Disinfectant in their classrooms on Mondays after school, after all students have exited the classrooms. Face masks will be supplied per request by the Nursing Office for those educators who have issues with the Disinfectant Spray.
3. Clorox wipes will be provided for all classrooms. Educators are advised to wipe down all desk tops and door knobs within their classroom. This should be done on Wednesdays and Fridays after your last period.
4. Educators will be asked to post Hand-Washing Direction in their classrooms.
5. The Nursing Staff will place numerous hand-washing signs throughout the school building.
6. All guidelines concerning flu/coronavirus will be reviewed and acted upon as disseminated from the Marion County Health Department and the Center for Disease Control.
7. All questions concerning areas of Health and Wellness should be directed to the Bishop
   Chatard High School Nursing Office, at mmeyer@bishopchatard.org, jagostino@bishopchatard.org and /or the Director of Safety and Wellness, Vincent Lorenzano 317-251-1451 or vlorenzano@bishopchatard.org

What is a Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually cause mild respiratory illnesses such as the common cold. Some coronaviruses have caused more severe illness, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus that was not identified in humans before December 2019.

What are common symptoms of COVID-19?

Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It takes 2 to 14 days after a person gets the virus in their body to become ill. COVID-19 is a new disease, and we are learning more each day about its symptoms and how it is spread.

How does the virus spread?

Most often, it is spread from person-to-person via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how flu and other respiratory pathogens spread. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
It’s currently unclear if a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. Often, with most respiratory viruses, people are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).

Who should seek medical evaluation for COVID-19?

Students, staff, and volunteers who are:

• Ill with a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have traveled outside the United States in the last 14 days.
• Ill with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have been identified by public health officials as a recent close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case or had recent close contact with someone who is being evaluated for COVID-19 infection.

What should I do if I suspect a student, staff member, or volunteer is at risk for COVID-19?

If a student, staff member, or volunteer meets the above criteria, it is important to place them in a private room away from others and ask them to wear a face mask. Immediately notify Bishop Chatard High School Administration and the School Nursing Office. They will provide you with guidance.

What can I do to prevent COVID-19 infections in my school?

Schools do not need to take any special precautions beyond what is normally recommended to prevent the spread of viruses in schools. You can help students and staff reduce their risk for getting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including the flu and the common cold, by encouraging them to take simple steps which will also prevent COVID-19. These include:

• Individuals should stay home when they are sick.
• You should do frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after you sneeze or wipe your nose. Help young children do the same. If hands are visibly dirty, use soap and water to clean hands.
• If soap and water are not readily available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Advise students and staff to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Follow the school’s routine cleaning and disinfection program. Emphasize students and staff to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer (if soap and water are not readily available).
• Urge students and staff to get a flu shot during the flu season.
• Provide adequate supplies for good hygiene, including clean and functional handwashing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol‐based hand sanitizer.

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The following guidelines pertain both to the Flu and Coronavirus:
These steps should be followed ALL the time and not only during a flu pandemic.

• Educate and encourage students and staff to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze. Also, provide them with easy access to tissues and running water and soap or alcohol-based hand cleaners. Remind them to cover coughs or sneezes using their elbow instead of their hand when a tissue is not available.
• Remind teachers, staff, and students to practice good hand hygiene and provide the time and supplies for them to wash their hands as often as necessary.
• Send sick students, teachers, and staff home and advise them and their families that sick people should stay at home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
• Clean surfaces and items that are more likely to have frequent hand contact such as desks, door knobs, keyboards, or pens, with cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas.
• Move students, teachers, and staff to a separate room if they become sick at school until they can be sent home. Limit the number of staff who take care of the sick person and provide a surgical mask for the sick person to wear if they can tolerate it.
• Have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks available and ensure the equipment is worn by school nurses and other staff caring for sick people at school.
• Encourage early medical evaluation for sick students and staff at higher risk of complications from flu. People at high risk of flu complications who get sick will benefit from early treatment with antiviral medicines.

In the event of bad weather, school closings or delays will be available on the following local T.V. stations: Channel 4 (CBS), Channel 6 (ABC), Channel 8 (CW), Channel 13 (NBC) and Channel 59 (FOX). School closings will also be posted on the school website and sent via phone, text and email using the phone numbers and email addresses available. We will also announce school closings via various twitter accounts including @BishopChatardHS and @BCHS_Principal and the school’s Facebook page.

For the safety and well-being of all students, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis has instituted safety protocols by which all employees and volunteers of its Catholic schools must abide. All adults who will be volunteering in any Bishop Chatard activity at which students are present are required to participate in this online safety training program. Please complete the Safe and Sacred Training program before you volunteer.

Have you completed Safe and Sacred at your parish?

If you have completed this program at your parish, you don’t need to complete it again. We will receive notification from the Archdiocese if you list BCHS as a primary or secondary institution when you take the test, or you may email Deacon Rick Wagner at rwagner@bishopchatard.org to let him know you’ve already taken it. You will also be able to download a certificate of completion.

Start the Program

This program is online, taking about 45 minutes to complete. The program can be accessed at safeandsacred-archindy.org

Questions?

Bishop Chatard appreciates your willingness to volunteer. If you have questions about this program, please contact Deacon Rick at rwagner@bishopchatard.org.

Any parents who believe their family may qualify for the Free and Reduced School Meal Program and other benefits such as textbook assistance may apply for this program at any time throughout the school year.
Learn More about the program and application procedure

If you qualify for free/reduced school meals, contact BCHS Guidance Counselor Pam Nixon (pnixon@bishopchatard.org) for information about SAT/ACT test fee waivers and possible college application waivers.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

Summer Community Food Program

The BCHS Technology Department recommends your student set up a personal email account that you can then use to contact him/her during the school day. (Bishop Chatard student email accounts do not receive emails from anyone outside of the BCHS system.) Students who need help setting the iPad to view a personal email account are encouraged to contact the school Tech Counter.

Healthy Fences – Engage – Equip: Read this Archdiocese Safe Environment Newsletter on the vulnerabilities of using smartphones and how you can create a safe environment for your student and his/her use.
Archdiocese Safe-Environment Newsletter (pdf)

Updated June 2020

Students in grades 6-12 are required to have certain immunizations and Indiana high schools (BCHS included) are required to keep that specific student immunization information on file. If you are unsure as to whether your student has had the shots required, please contact your family physician. If a student has a vaccine exemption, by law, BCHS needs a copy of that exemption.

View Immunization Requirement Chart for 2020/2021

Seniors Class of 2021: All 12th grade students are required by the state to have on file with BCHS documentation for the Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) as well as the booster before the start of the 2020/21 school year . Meningococcal Serogroup B, is only recommended for grade 12, but may be required for college. Please see the above chart for all requirements. Please provide proof of the immunization to the Bishop Chatard High School Nursing Office. Records may be faxed to 317-251-3648 or emailed to either school nurse, Jeanne Agostino jagostino@bishopchatard.org or Monica Meyer mmeyer@bishopchatard.org.

Seniors Class of 2020: Please follow up with your child’s physician for any missing immunizations. These will be needed for college. Some students were missing documentation for various immunizations, specifically hepatitis A and Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4). Meningococcal Serogroup B (a different meningitis vaccine) is only recommended for grade 12, but may be required for college. (Note: the above chart holds for Class of 2020 requirements also.)

Please contact Jeanne Agostino (jagostino@bishopchatard.org) or Monica Meyer (mmeyer@bishopchatard.org), school nurses, if you need clarification or have questions.

As required under 410 IAC 33, Dan Thompson, Director of Business Operations, is designated as the Bishop Chatard High School Indoor Air Quality  Coordinator. Questions, complaints or concerns dealing with indoor air quality are to be directed to Mr. Thompson, at 317-251-1451 Ext. 2251 or at dthompson@bishopchatard.org. A copy of the basic state regulation and the Bishop Chatard High School supplement are on file in the main office. Employees, parents and students may review the regulation there or read the regulation online at the Indiana Government website: www.in.gov.

Asbestos Notification
The Bishop Chatard High School school building is known to have asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) in various locations that are maintained in a safe condition with ongoing surveillance, re-inspections, and an ongoing operations and maintenance program according to law.

Indiana Non-Public Education Association (INPEA) brings to the forefront public policy and societal issues affecting non-public schools and families.

The INPEA is anticipating a somewhat contentious 2019 Indiana legislative session that may include challenges to programs important to Catholic schools. Visit www.inpea.org for more information.

All BCHS students are covered by an insurance plan that provides secondary coverage to existing family plans. Students are covered coming to and going from school as well as all school-sponsored activities. Further information can be obtained from Dan Thompson, Director of Business Operations, dthompson@bishopchatard.org or 317-251-1451, Ext. 2251.