School Closure Information

1. What food sources are available for families?
Breakfast and lunch will be available for children 18 years and younger from 11:30am-12:30pm at all NUSD schools, including WCS. For more information, please read this page.

1. Will the school year be extended or summer be shortened?
We will continue to work with all appropriate entities to answer this question. We will answer this as soon as we know.

2. Will this closure be extended until the end of the school year?
As you may know, we originally announced that we would be closed through April 5th. Given the order issued on April 3rd, 2020 by the Sacramento County Office of Education, we will now extend this closure through the end of the school year.

3. What are the plans for Spring Break?
We will still observe Spring Break, as scheduled, from April 10th to April 17th, during which time there will be no Distance Learning offered.

1. What is distance learning?
We are asking our staff to create opportunities for students to continue to engage in learning from home during this closure. We do not expect to replace school or even match instruction hour for hour, we just want to extend an opportunity for our students to stay connected, create some normalcy and combat isolation.

2. Does my student have to be available to learn 8:30am-3:00pm everyday? What are the expectations?
No. Distance Learning is being designed so that time can be used flexibly.

3. Will students be required to log in or be on a video chat?
We are not recommending that students engage in live video chatting as a part of distance learning.

4. Will digital learning results be part of grading?
Distance learning is a focus on extending the opportunity to learn and stay connected to our school community. We are working with teachers to develop our protocols, however we would like to reduce the focus on grading to reduce anxiety and create equity while our students are in this time of transition.

5. What if my student doesn’t have access to the internet or a chrome book?
Any family who needs support with access to the internet or a device can email [email protected] to request support.

1. What can I do to keep myself and my child healthy?
General Reminders for staying healthy during the cold and flu season:

To help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including the Coronavirus and Flu, follow these important tips:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home when you are sick. As always, students, staff and campus visitors must stay home when ill with a cough or other flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, muscle aches, sore throat)
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Individuals with chronic health issues and/or individuals experiencing severe symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional

2. How do we help prevent the spread of the virus?
It is recommended that when washing hands, wash them thoroughly for 20 seconds with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. It is also recommended to cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away in the trash. Clean frequently used objects and surfaces daily. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

In addition, laminated posters with hand washing instructions and “cover your cough” are posted in classrooms throughout campus.

3. What are you doing about hand washing in school?
In an effort to continue to prevent the transmission of germs, our teachers have reinforced healthy hand-washing through lessons taught during morning meeting and advisory. Some hand-washing reminders you can share with your students are:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails
• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them

1. What is Westlake Charter doing about the Coronavirus?
We will continue to closely monitor the Coronavirus situation. Westlake Charter School is working closely with the Natomas Unified School District, the Sacramento County Department of Health Services, and other partners to closely monitor the situation and establish and communicate protocols in the event that Coronavirus does spread in our area.

2. Are additional cleaning/disinfecting measures in place?
Ensuring that we keep students and school learning environments safe and clean is a top priority. Westlake Charter School has a tiered plan to respond to combat the spread of the flu and possible Coronavirus in our school with the use of proper cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting agents. Classrooms and common spaces on campus are cleaned and sanitized daily.

3. Are alcohol-based hand sanitizers allowed at Westlake Charter School?
Yes. For more details from the California Department of Education please visit their website.

4. My child says the school bathroom is out of soap. What should I do?
Anyone who finds an empty soap dispenser should report it to the office. The custodian will take care to refill dispensers. There is an adequate supply of soap and paper towels available for increased use over the next several months.

5. What if I want to keep my student home as a precaution against Coronavirus/COVID-19? Will the absence(s) be excused?
Unless your child is currently sick or has a Doctor’s note excusing them from school for medical reasons, the absence is considered unexcused. California Education Code determines what type of absences are considered excused versus unexcused and what conditions must be met to consider an absence excused. For additional information on attendance, view the California Education Code as it relates to Attendance.

6. My student has flu-like symptoms, what should I do?
First, you should contact your child’s physician and inform them of the illness. Second, email [email protected] or call 916-567-5760 to inform Westlake Charter of the absence. Third, consider keeping siblings home from school.

7. My child has a compromised immune system. Should I send them to school?
Please consult your medical provider for guidance.

8. What are our schools doing to combat discrimination during this outbreak?
We are aware that there have been reports of students and others facing discrimination as a result of this outbreak and measures of prevention. Westlake Charter School will continue to ensure student and staff privacy to help prevent discrimination. We encourage all of our community to continue to show kindness, respect and compassion in what can be a stressful situation.

9. Where can I learn more about the Coronavirus?
Watch for updates on this page, as well as:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
California Department of Public Health
Sacramento County Public Health. To assist with general questions, the Sacramento County Public Health has set up a general information phone number: (916)-498-1000 and recently posted a video that provides additional facts about the COVID-19 virus.