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In Pursuit of Wisdom

Grace Christian Academy

All summer, we have patiently watched the many iterations of the ISBE/IDPH COVID policies and how that will affect the opening of school this fall. The following plan takes into consideration current guidance, what other regional RVC schools are doing, and our local COVID situation.
  • GCA will be open fully for in-person learning for all student attendance days for the 2021-2022 school year. School hours for elementary are 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., and secondary are 8:30 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.
  • GCA will start the school year in compliance with the Governor's mask mandate.
  • The school will use the following mitigation measures to begin the school year:
    • Continue with increased cleaning/disinfecting
    • Continue increased hand washing/sanitizing
    • Ensuring that sick and symptomatic students stay home
    • Continue with contact tracing and quarantine procedures set forth by CDC and IDPH
    • Limiting access to the building. Arrival and Dismissal procedures will remain the same as last year. Students will be welcomed and, if needed, escorted to the gymnasium in the morning. Elementary students will be dismissed when their parents arrive in the parking lot starting at 3:10 p.m.  Secondary students will be dismissed at 3:25 p.m. Any parent meetings/appointments should be scheduled ahead of time for access to the building.
  • Remote Learning will only be offered to those students under a quarantine order by a local public health department or the IDPH. The remote learning experience will be at the discretion of the individual teachers.
  • Individuals will not be required to disclose their vaccination status to the school. However, GCA will use this information during contact tracing. Parents, students and staff may wish to voluntarily disclose their vaccination status to avoid a mandatory quarantine for close contact with a COVID-positive person.
  • Students and staff who are not fully vaccinated should quarantine after recent exposure to someone with COVID-19.  Fully vaccinated people in close contact with someone who has tested positive do not need to quarantine or be tested if not showing symptoms.  Quarantine policy is made and communicated by Kankakee County Health Department officials.
  • GCA will continue to monitor local health data and consult with local public health officials. Should local health data require increased mitigations (i.e., mask mandate, increased social distancing, changes in lunch, remote learning, etc.), GCA will make such changes to ensure the health and safety of all students and staff.
​WILL GRACE REQUIRE STUDENTS TO WEAR MASKS INDOORS?
Yes. On August 4 Governor JB Pritzker and IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike announced masks will be required for students, teachers, and staff at pre-kindergarten-12th grade schools and day cares across the state. GCA will comply with the order. Please see ISBE'S UPDATED SCHOOL GUIDANCE and the GOVERNOR'S ORDER for more information. ​
WILL GRACE OFFER A FULLY REMOTE OPTION FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR?
No. We will be consistent with our offerings from last year. We will have a practical and user-friendly education plan for those students who are out of school for an extended period due to Covid. This plan will closely resemble conventional plans from previous years for extended sickness or other reasons.
WILL FAMILIES BE REQUIRED TO CONTINUE TO DAILY SELF CHECK THEIR CHILDREN FOR SYMPTOMS?
Yes but not formally.  We will continue to be strict in keeping sick students home -- the single most important part of our plan. We need everyone’s cooperation!
WHAT ABOUT SPORTS FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR?
We are anticipating full sports seasons this year; however, with much of same COVID precautions of last year. For more information, you may read more about IDPH's guidance for sports this year.
​WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A CLASSROOM CLOSE CONTACT?
Students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student are not considered close contacts and do not require quarantine as long as both the case and the contact were consistently masked (see question number 1 above). GCA will provide for the maximum space possible between students and between students and staff, within our physical capabilities. Individuals who are solely exposed to a confirmed case while outdoors will not be considered close contacts.

For all individuals where exposure occurred outside of the classroom setting and for teachers, staff and adults in the indoor P-12 classroom setting, CDC defines a close contact as an individual not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. For students in the indoor classroom setting, contacts who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student do not require quarantine as long as both the case and the contact were consistently masked. If they were not consistently masked, then close contacts are classroom students who were within 6 feet of the infected student for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.

In general, individuals who are solely exposed to a confirmed case while outdoors should not be considered close contacts.

​The longer a person is exposed to an infected person, the higher the risk of exposure/transmission.The infectious period of close contact begins two calendar days before the onset of symptoms (for a symptomatic person) or two calendar days before the positive sample was obtained (for an asymptomatic person). If the case was symptomatic (e.g., coughing, sneezing), persons with briefer periods of exposure may also be considered contacts, as determined by local health departments. Persons who have had lab-confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days or those fully vaccinated who remain asymptomatic, according to CDC guidelines, are not required to quarantine if identified as a close contact to a confirmed case.​
​WHAT IF MY CHILD IS SICK? HOW SOON CAN HE/SHE RETURN TO SCHOOL?
  • Students with a fever, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, and/or body aches will require clearance from a medical provider before returning to school. For these specific symptoms, vaccinated students may return after 24 hours of no symptoms.
  • Students with a cough, runny nose, vomiting, and/or diarrhea will require 24 hours of no symptoms before returning. This is true for all students, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Siblings without symptoms may come to school.
WHAT IF MY CHILD TESTS POSITIVE?
  • Please report all positive (and negative) test results to Darcie Marshall or (815)-939-4579.
  • Upon reporting the positive test to the school, you will receive specific instructions for your child, which may include isolation of your child and quarantine of others in your household. As a reminder, fully vaccinated children in the same household will not need to quarantine if they are without symptoms. This information would have to be confidentially volunteered to the school, as we will not ask. 
  • While your child or anyone in your household waits for test results, please stay home.
  • Your child will be able to continue with their education during quarantine. Teachers will be informed and will make plans with your child.
​WHAT ABOUT CLEANING AND HYGIENE PROTOCOLS?
  • We will continue with daily cleanings using approved and effective products. Our cleaning company does a fantastic job keeping our school look good.
  • We also will continue to maintain our hand sanitizing stations throughout the campus and encourage regular handwashing. Good hygiene practices have always been a regular topic with our students.
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Grace Christian Academy
2499 Waldron Rd. Kankakee, Il 60901
(815) 939-4579
Consider supporting the educational ministries of GCA with a monthly donation.

A ministry of Grace Baptist Church
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© 2021 GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Private, Christian Education in Kankakee County
Grace Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, nationality, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to GCA students. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of our educational policies, admissions procedures, tuition assistance awards, athletic and other school administered programs. We do, however, reserve the right to deny admission to any individual who cannot benefit from enrollment based on past academic achievement, disqualifying disability, or whose personal life-style is not in harmony with the stated philosophy and purpose of Grace Christian Academy.