Face Coverings

When Roger Bacon starts school on August 26th, all students, faculty, and staff will be required to have a face covering. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics: “Evidence continues to mount on the importance of universal face coverings in interrupting the spread of SARS-CoV-2.”The Center for Disease Control also recommends the use of face coverings, specifically:

“COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice (e.g., while shouting, chanting, or singing). These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.”

“To reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.”

Several key policies, procedures and expectations regarding the use of face coverings are as follows:

• Roger Bacon will provide every student with a cloth face mask to begin the school year. We anticipate these will be provided to students during iPad pickup. However, each family needs to make sure every student has a clean mask/face covering for each school day. Therefore, other masks/face coverings will be required beyond the one provided by Roger Bacon.
• Face coverings must be worn as soon as you enter the school building and until you leave the building.
• A student who does not have a face covering must immediately report to the Main Office and purchase a disposable mask for $1.
• The face covering may be taken off during times when the student is eating in the lunchroom or when taking a drink from a school appropriate water bottle.
• Any face covering, outside of the one provided by Roger Bacon, must be a solid color. The Administration will be the final judge on any face covering in question.
• Wearing face coverings does not replace the need to continue frequent hand washing, avoid touching the face, and practice social distancing - our best tools to help prevent the spread of illness.
• Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth while wearing face coverings to prevent potential contamination.
• Make sure your cloth face covering:
  • fits snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
  • completely covers the nose and mouth
  • is secured with ties or ear loops
  • includes multiple layers of fabric
  • allows for breathing without restriction
  • can be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

• Any student with documented respiratory issues from a health professional on file with the school nurse will have the option to be exempted from the cloth mask expectation. We will work individually with the student to ensure the student’s safety, as well as the safety of other students, faculty and staff.

Simple cloth face coverings can be made at home. Instructions can be found on the CDC website.

As always, thank you for your assistance and cooperation as we navigate challenges associated with the starting of school.

Most recently updated July 14, 2020