COVID-19 Guidelines

Star Academy COVID-19 guidelines

Return to Class procedures & guidelines:

All the guidelines in this email are current as of 26 th June 2020 but we shall amend\develop our guidelines in line with any guideline updates from the Government, HSE and Local Council, where applicable.

All amendments/updates etc shall be posted across our Social Media page and/or via email directly to Parents/Guardians as soon as possible.

Hopefully the Covid-19 numbers keep decreasing and we can increase the numbers of interested childrens in the areas of the arts, music and performance.

So in order for us all to keep playing our part, we respectfully ask that all Parents/Students adhere to all guidelines, at all times.

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Please provide your own water bottles with the Student name clearly marked, towels and where possible personal equipment. We kindly ask you not to share these with others. Personal equipment should only be shared with people from the same household.

Individual equipment provided to participants during our camps/classes etc, is not to be handled! They shall be cleaned and disinfected before and after each activity session.

Sharing of equipment should be avoided wherever possible (unless shared between same household members), as it is generally not permitted in Phase 2 of the Roadmap. If absolutely necessary, equipment should be cleaned and disinfected between use.

We will have access to the building’s bathroom facilities etc so please make sure you cleanse and sanitize accordingly.

Please inform us of any special requirements and if can, we will make provisions.

Any children that are not involved in the camps will be kept under supervision.

If you, a shared household member or one of your Student(s) show any of the Covid-19 Symptoms, please DO NOT ENTER PROPERTY/BUILDING OR GROUNDS.

It is recommended that you refrain from carpooling, and attempt that all students arrive by their own means with either the supervision or permission of their parent or guardian.

It is also requested that if a child’s parent and\or guardian is unable to accompany them at short notice and they are accompanied by a different person, then you should let us know… again for the purposes of contact traceability.

While we shall provide hand sanitizing stations, it is a better practice that Students provide their own means of sanitizing.

 

In order to effectively clean and disinfect equipment before and after use, the

following steps are being taken:

  1. Staff members  shall be designated in charge of cleaning and disinfecting any shared equipment before, during and after all sessions/activities
  2. Any visible soiling on the equipment (Dust, soil, grass, sweat, etc.) shall be removed by using detergent wipes or with soap and clean water.
  3. All/any shared surfaces shall be sprayed with a chemical disinfectant and dried with a clean cloth or paper towel.
  4. All cleaned and disinfected equipment shall be placed to one side to reduce cross-contamination ensuring that clean and unclean equipment does not become mixed.
  5. Cleaning products and equipment being used shall be stored away safely out of the reach of children
  6. All frequently touched surfaces will also be cleaned and disinfected before and after sessions. A schedule for increased, routine cleaning and disinfection of all frequently touched surfaces has been created and will be ready for when the classes commence.

 

Please let us remind ourselves of the Covid-19 Symptoms in the pic below

How we shall manage a Participant with Covid-19 Symptoms

  • All participants should be advised to stay home if they feel unwell and to consult their GP
  • Prior to commencing classes or physical activity, all participants should be assessed by parents and/or guardians against the symptoms of COVID-19
  • If a participant becomes unwell during the activity, they will be isolated from other participants. We shall contact the parent and/or guardian in order to decide what the best course of action is.
  • One of our Staff Members/COVID-19 Officers shall take charge of the management of any persons with COVID-19 symptoms.
  • The designated person managing the situation will maintain at least 2 meters from the person with symptoms while wearing a face covering and washing their hands regularly.
  • The person displaying or complaining of COVID-19 related symptoms from others shall immediately be separated from everyone else and the risk of contamination shall be assessed. 
  • The option to wear a face-covering shall be given.
  • The unwell person will be provided with tissues and hand sanitizer. We shall ensure that all tissues are disposed of in a waste bag that can be tied and marked as separate from other waste
  • If they are well enough to go home, we shall arrange for them to be transported home by a family member, as soon as possible and advise them to inform their GP by phone of their symptoms
  • If they are too unwell to go home or advice is required, the emergency services: 999 or 112 shall be informed that the unwell person is a suspected COVID-19 case
  • All persons who have been in close contact with the suspect case will need to be informed to restrict their movement for 14 days or until further information is available (i.e. a negative test result of the suspect case)

 

Safe Return to Sport and Physical Activity Checklist

In advance of any individuals, groups, teams or facilities resuming activities, the below-checklist shall be reviewed to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance.

The below list is not exhaustive and specific measures relevant to sporting activities shall be reviewed and included where necessary.

 

Before

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  • All attendees should, in advance of attending, complete an electronic Attendance Sheet for all sessions
  • Precautions shall be put in place on arrival and for the duration of sessions.
  • Signs shall be visible to ensure that all are fully aware of all symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Participants should arrive ‘ready for class’ and not require the use of a changing area prior to the activity commencement
  • Encourage individuals not to carpool, to wait in their car or outside the venue until just before the beginning of a practice, warm-up, or game, instead of congregating with others prior to starting
  • Please enter the building/studio areas as per the designated section and instruction.
  • We have designed shorter sessions which will have groups of 15 . Once you have been allocated a group, we ask that you do not mix into another one. (we shall do our best to keep friends and siblings together if requested)
  • Close shared spaces such as changing rooms, locker rooms, dining rooms are not available
  • The only access to the building shall be for the use of a designated medical room in order to access a defibrillator or other medical supplies if required.
  • All equipment shall be cleaned prior to use. Please try to remember to not handle any equipment by hand unnecessarily
  • First Aid kits will be updated to include additional face masks, surgical gloves and sanitizers.
  • Each class will include all precautions that will be implemented throughout the session i.e. maintain social distancing etc
  • Please keep 2 meters between individuals for the duration of the session and when rules or drills are being explained. This is most important when there is a break or when the sessions are over. Please stay vigilant.
  • Students shall be organized into small groups or pods that remain together who shall work through stations, rather than switching groups or mixing groups.
  • Students are to refrain from spitting or clearing their noses in the presence of others. Please also be mindful that there is an etiquette to coughing and sneezing that should always be followed.
  • Please refrain from unnecessary physical contacts, such as high fives, handshakes, fist bumps, hugs, or huddles, and ensure that celebrations or greetings don’t involve physical contact.
  • Communicate any concerns you have during the session to ensure issues can be addressed quickly

 

After

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  • Please sanitize both your hands when you finish the session.
  • Please clean all/any gear/equipment thoroughly when you get home.
  • Any/all gear should be brought home by the individual who used them.
  • Immediately at the conclusion of the class, ensure attendees exit via the designated exit route while maintaining social distancing and not congregating into groups post-session i.e. in the carpark

 

Ensure facility and equipment is returned to pre-session cleaning standards

 

Now for the non-COVID-19 Terms and Conditions

  • It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure their child has the appropriate clothing/equipment. If children do not have this equipment, they will not be allowed to attend. So please help us to avoid disappointment and ensure your child is ready.
  • It is also imperative that you the Parent/Guardian inform Stary Academy of any health issues that your child may have in the case of emergency.
  • We are aiming for a mobile phone free environment but if calls need to be made to parents or guardians, your child simply needs to ask a member of Staff we will allow. 
  • We will however not permit or condone the inappropriate use of mobile phones.
  • The safeguarding of children is of the utmost importance. We always aim to provide a safe and civil environment for all concerned whilst closely adhering and referring to HSE’s/Government Codes of Ethics.
  • We will inform parents/guardians of any incidents that may arise promptly, appropriately, and accordingly.

Finally, I have included the detail from HSE/Sport Ireland about the role of the: Covid-19 Return to Safety Officer

Where possible, clubs, community groups, facilities, and organizers should look to appoint a competent individual/s to act as a COVID-19 Officer to support the safe return to sport within your own setup.

Details of the COVID-19 Officer/s should be circulated to all club members with contact details provided to ensure that they can be kept up to date of any incidences or procedural breaches regarding COVID-19 safety measures.

This will help to ensure that there is a standardized approach taken across all activities within your setting and that there will be a central point of contact for all COVID-19 related matters. The COVID-19 Officer shall not bear sole responsibility for ensuring all hygiene and public health advice is followed – this responsibility will be shared by all.

 

All the above is necessary but I think it important to stress that we do endeavor to apply common sense, please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call me. I shall always do my best to fulfill requests and requirements as well as ensuring that we are all up to speed with the necessary Covid-19 guidelines and Health and Safety requirements.

 

Regards

Sinead O’Carroll

Star Academy

087-653 0611