Health, Wellness, & Covid-19

“I believe the plan articulated in this document strikes the right balance between the need to protect the health of students, faculty and staff and the critical need to provide a meaningful educational experience that fully engages students in their learning goals. During this difficult year, I’ve been impressed with the manner in which Timothy Christian Schools have operated. I applaud them. Their experience provides a model as we move out of the pandemic and plan for the year ahead.”
—Dan Cronin, Chairman, DuPage County Board

“The investment and commitment demonstrated by Timothy Christian Schools to assure the safety and health of their school community while providing a robust educational experience is remarkable. The ability to take those resources and generate enthusiasm and investment across the students, staff, faculty and families has been an equally impressive achievement that provides a solid base to move into this upcoming school year with excitement and anticipation.”
—Karen Ayala, Executive Director, DuPage County Health Department

“Timothy Christian Schools has demonstrated a concerted effort to ensure the health and well being of their students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your commitment to excellence during an unprecedented year is to be commended. The students and families you serve are indeed fortunate to have you on their side! The DuPage County Regional Office of Education wishes you all the very best as you look forward to the 2021-2022 school year.”
—Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, Superintendent, Dupage Regional Office of Education

“I applaud you and the Timothy community for successfully navigating through the 2020-21 school year in a very positive way. The thoughtful approach to the 2021-22 year is exemplary. I appreciate your investment in the students and the teachers.”
—Dr. Paul Merrick, Chairman, DuPage Medical Group Board of Directors

“While I am not personally qualified to evaluate the Plan from a medical or epidemiological perspective, I am impressed by the qualifications of the school’s Health Task Force Members and the thought that has gone into the Plan. COVID-19 has presented a unique set of issues and constraints that Timothy Christian Schools has committed to addressing in a manner that balances educational needs with public health care concerns.  I commend the thoughtful planning that has been undertaken for the coming school year.”
—Scott M. Levin, Mayor, City of Elmhurst

“Congratulations to Timothy Christian Schools on successfully navigating the 2020-2021 school year by conducting in-person school the entire school year. Kudos to the administration, staff, families and students who all accepted responsibility for taking appropriate safety precautions for this to be possible.  I have reviewed the plan for the 2021-2022 school year and expect similar outcomes for student engagement during the school day and for all extra-curricular opportunities. We are proud to have Timothy Christian High School as a member of the IHSA gaining all of the benefits of sports and activities participation.”
—Craig Anderson, Executive Director, IHSA

“I have had the opportunity to review the Timothy Christian Schools readiness plan.  In short, it is well considered, rooted in clear research and empirically established observations of what is truly happening in schools relative to Covid-19, and masterfully written.  As superintendent of the largest private school in the southwest United States, I affirm the plan and certify that nearly identical strategies, deployed this last year within our school, resulted in a safe, strong, in-person school year.  I applaud the families and faculty of Timothy Christian for their commitment to Christian unity within their community, in-person education, and Biblical worldview.  I am looking forward to connecting with Mr. Davidson throughout the upcoming year--the best is still ahead for your school!”
—Geoff Brown, Superintendent, Northwest Christian School; Phoenix, Arizona

No. We have consistently reported this since March. However, 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.

Yes. But at this time, Timothy will not require the daily reporting form that was in place last year. Even so, let’s continue to be strict in keeping sick students home -- the single most important part of our plan. We need everyone’s cooperation!

• Yes. Covid-related questions and reporting will continue to be submitted to covid@timothychristian.com. Our nursing staff and health team members will closely monitor the inbox.
• In place of the daily reporting form, we will continue to track all absences due to illness, so please report any illness/symptoms to covid@timothychristian.com or to the appropriate building secretary and a member of our health team will follow up.

• Yes, that is the plan. We have consistently reported this since March 2021. All staff, students, and parents, whether wearing a mask or not wearing a mask, will equally be a part of Team Timothy with dignity and respect. This works both ways, and we will not allow this to become a divisive matter in our school. You can help in reiterating this in your homes. Thank you!
• Many states, districts, or schools (and the list is growing!), including those directly bordering Illinois, have already announced mask optional policies.
• We have been in communication with schools in other states that have been mask optional for quite some time and even some who have been mask optional all year. They have all experienced success.
• We have a few teachers at a higher risk due to health issues. Timothy will support these teachers and require students to wear masks in those respective classrooms. We’re asking everyone in our community to support this. Remember: 100% of our classroom teachers marched into work for the 2020-2021 school year so our students could have in-person instruction and learning.

• We are anticipating full sports seasons this year; however, we are awaiting direction from the IHSA for high school athletics. Depending on the direction we receive from the IHSA, we may have pivots in our health plan for the high school. We have always placed a high value on our relationship with the IHSA.
• Protocols for our middle school sports programs will be directed primarily by our athletic conference.

• Upon notification of a positive Covid case, the health team will notify by email the classroom(s), bus route (if applicable), and club/team (if applicable) of the positive case; however, we will not specifically identify close contacts. Families will be aware of any positive cases in their child’s classroom(s) and can make determinations for their own child. If a family decides to voluntarily quarantine their child, the quarantine cannot exceed 14 days.
• We will not uniquely contact trace every student who was within 6’ or 3’ of a positive case during the day. Please do not ask our health team or teachers for this information. Rather we will generally contact trace with these notifications outlined in the bullet point above. This is similar to the procedure Timothy has used for a diagnosis of strep in the classroom, etc. We also believe this portion of our health plan will remove peer pressure barriers to getting tested.
• Reminder: Timothy saw more than 450 students in quarantine during the 2020-2021 school year, and only 8 of them reported symptoms (1.8%) -- several of which noted close contacts/exposure in places other than school, too. To state this differently, more than 98% of all close contacts by definition never got sick during the 2020-2021 school year. Our expert health team has kept all of this data to help inform future planning and decision-making.

• No. Timothy will not require or track this. However, at this time, you will see some shortcuts in the health plan for families who volunteer this information.
• The Health Task Force would also like to note that vaccines have shown effectiveness. Consider talking with your personal physician about whether this vaccine is right for your children.

• 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.

• If anyone in the student’s household tests positive for Covid, the student must quarantine for 14 days. 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 our health team, as the health team will not ask.

• For an exposure outside of the student’s household, assuming your child does not have any symptoms, we are largely leaving it up to the home -- he/she may return to school. We simply ask that you closely monitor your child for symptoms...and all children in the household stay home if symptoms develop. You are also welcome to voluntarily quarantine your asymptomatic child in these circumstances for any period of time up to 14 days.

• Please report all positive (and negative) test results to covid@timothychristian.com or 630.782.4087.

• Upon reporting the positive test to the health team, 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 our health team, as the health team 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 Timothy education during quarantine, although significantly different and more simplified than the plan for the 2020-2021 school year.

In general, we do not plan to continue this practice, but may if needed.

In general, this will not be a consistent practice, but may implement it if needed.

• The free lunch program has expired and is no longer available.
• For the most part, we will discontinue lunch in the classrooms and return to our designated lunchrooms on campus.

• We will continue with nightly cleanings using approved and effective products. We have contracted with a professional company for this once again.
• We also will continue to maintain our hand sanitizing stations throughout the campus and encourage regular handwashing. Good hygiene practices will be a regular topic with our students.

• Yes. We will continue this practice daily.
• On a related note, where and when possible, we will continue to open windows and find time to be outdoors.