The CDC and other agencies strongly recommend that all eligible students and staff be vaccinated for COVID-19. Beginning last January, we promoted vaccination by providing our faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to receive a vaccination through community and local initiatives. Vaccines continue to be readily available and we estimate that a high percentage of students and staff have been fully immunized. 

Information about vaccinations is available on Oakland County's Vaccination website.  

• The CDC and other agencies recommend the use of masks as a prevention strategy. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) strongly recommends masking for students, staff and visitors regardless of community transmission rate or vaccination status. 
• We recognize that for some individuals mask wearing can be difficult. However, given the current recommendations from the CDC and MDHHS we will require all students and staff to wear a mask while in the school building.
• Students are required to wear masks - covering nose and mouth - at all times indoors unless eating or drinking.  They should wear their own cloth or disposable masks each day.   
• Looser fitting face coverings like bandanas or scarves, and masks with vents, are not allowed.
• Students will be sent home for mask noncompliance.
• Non-disposable face masks must be washed daily. Disposable masks should be appropriately discarded at the end of the day.
• We will have a ready supply of masks for anyone who requests them. 
• While we will begin the year with mask required guidelines, we understand the benefits face-to-face interactions have on communication, classroom discussion and learning exercises, and the ability to fully engage in social interactions. As this is a fluid situation, we hope to be able to shift to a more flexible option as recommendations for face coverings in schools evolve.

• The CDC recommends at least 3 feet of physical distancing between students within classrooms to reduce transmission risk. Classrooms will be configured to accommodate our pre-pandemic class sizes, and, in nearly all cases, this will provide 3-feet of physical distance between students.  

• We will encourage the use of outdoor spaces, while the weather permits.

• FJA’s spaces will continue to be thoroughly cleaned each afternoon/evening; we will discontinue the intermittent cleaning of surfaces (desks, doorknobs, shared items, etc.) throughout the school day.

• We will encourage and support students in frequent and thorough hand-washing, and the use of hand sanitizer, as needed, throughout the school day. 

• We will ensure the availability of appropriate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors (e.g., soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, disinfectant wipes, and tissues) and strategically place supplies in areas where they may be frequently used.
• While FJA will have hand sanitizer available for student use, we strongly suggest that students bring their own small supply of hand sanitizer each day.  
• Practicing good hygiene like washing hands, using hand sanitizer, and coughing or sneezing into your elbow (even when wearing a mask) are important steps that each person can do to prevent the spread of illnesses.  

• To increase circulation and airflow, the JCC has enhanced ventilation and introduced more outside air into the building.

• The HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system has been fitted with upgraded filters.

• According to current guidelines, a vaccinated (and symptom free) individual does not need to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19 and no contract tracing is required because of such exposure. Therefore, vaccinated students (who are symptom free) are most likely to remain in school even if exposed to COVID-19.

• An unvaccinated individual will need to quarantine for a minimum of 7 days pending consecutive negative COVID tests.

• Depending on the progression of COVID 19 nationally and locally, and associated mandates, these guidelines could change.

At the start of school, during the school day we will continue to welcome only students and school staff in the buildings, and limited guests by appointment only with administration approval.  This will allow our teachers and staff to focus fully on returning to robust in-person programs for our students.  We will re-evaluate this limit once we re-establish our daily routines.