Our COVID-19 Measures

Masks:

• The authorities have confirmed that masks are not required for children in Pre-school or Primary. If parents want their child to wear a mask during school time they are welcome to send them to school with a mask.
• Masks are required for all  Secondary students (Grade 6 and above) both outside and indoors, including in classrooms. Parents need to provide these masks.
• Please note that masks are required for ALL children on our school buses with the exception of Pre-school only.
• All staff are required to wear masks at all times, including in the classroom.
• You can find useful information on how to find the right masks and wear them correctly here.
• We encourage social distancing even if wearing masks, i.e. 1.5m distance wherever possible.

Hand-washing and Hand-Sanitiser:

• Students are required to wash their hands or use sanitiser on arrival on campus, after breaks, before and after meals/snacks, after using the toilets, when boarding school buses.
• There is hand-sanitiser available throughout the campus (in Pre-school this is more directly controlled by the class teachers).
• There is hand-sanitiser at the entrance to both the Léman and Eiger cafeterias and in the entrance of each building in secondary school and inside most classrooms in Primary and Secondary.
• We are continuing with our education efforts, including posters around school and constant reminders from teachers:
  • Frequent, proper handwashing and hand-sanitising.
  • Special attention on before/after toilet use, and before/after snacks and meals.
  • No hand-shaking.
  • Coughing or sneezing into the crook of your elbow.

Cleaning:

• Every evening there is a campus-wide clean by our professional cleaners. In addition, toilets are being cleaned multiple times a day. Frequently touched common surfaces (e.g. door handles) are cleaned at least once a day in addition to the evening cleaning.
• The toilets have at least one sink, with soap and single-use hand towels.
• Disinfectant spray is available to the class teachers, in all classes, to clean surfaces throughout the day.

Physical distancing

• The 1.5m distance is to be applied at all times, even with a mask, between adults and between adults and students where possible.
• There is no distance required between students. Masks must be worn at all times.

Ventilation 

The premises (classrooms, restaurants, etc.) are ventilated regularly to ensure that the air inside is renewed after each teaching period, during breaks and at the end of each half-day. Students should be dressed warmly.

• All sports are allowed during physical education lessons and masks are not required during practice among students.
• Competitions and inter-school meetings are not allowed.
• Cultural activities are all permitted with adaptations according to the age of the students.
• Day trips are permitted throughout Switzerland.
• Academic trips will be kept to day outings for the moment. Boarding trips will be operated in line with the safety measures in place and within the community of the boarding family.
• Trips abroad are not permitted with the school.

• Students and staff must wash hands before entering the school restaurant, Panthers café or picnic areas.
• Secondary students (Grade 6 and above) and adults must wear a mask until they are seated.
• Students may sit in anywhere they wish.
• Adults and students eat separately (adapted for Pre-school).
• Eating and drinking must be done sitting down.
• Self-service is forbidden and only the catering staff can serve the children. Food is protected and accessible only to the catering staff.
• The tables are cleaned between each service.

• The cantonal authorities do not foresee systematic and regular testing in the schools of the canton of Geneva.
  • However, for Middle School students (Grade 6 to 8), the Geneva Cantonal Medical Officer can set up a protocol in case of an epidemic outbreak (several cases) in a class. A mobile unit to test children and teachers directly in schools was created and is operational. The aim of this policy of testing in schools is to avoid closing classes, by monitoring the evolution of a potential cluster as closely as possible. These guidelines apply to classes from 6ème/Grade 6/Bil6 to 4ème/BIL8/Grade 8.
  • The tests carried out by these teams are in the form of a mouth swab or saliva swab and are therefore less invasive in nature than PCR tests, while still being effective.
• Following guidance from the Geneva Department of Education we have developed flow charts to help parents understand what to do next if their child has any COVID-19 type symptoms. These are split by age groups: under 6, 6-12, over 12.

In order to know what to do in case of symptoms, you can download the flowcharts here:

• COVID-19 Guidelines for children under 6 
• COVID-19 Guidelines for children aged 6-12
• COVID-19 Guidelines for children over 12

Please note that if you have been in contact with a positive person and you have been vaccinated for less than 12 months or have recovered from COVID-19 less than 6 months, and you have no symptoms, you do not have to quarantine. However, you must continue to wear the mask. 

The boarding students benefit from all of the 'whole school' measures outlined above. This section provides a more detailed breakdown of our boarding specific measures.

Travelling to CDL

• We are requiring all students coming to campus from abroad to have a COVID- free medical certificate, taken within 72 hours of travelling. This must be sent to boarding@cdl.ch before arrival.

• We are testing all students upon arrival on campus with Rapid 15 minute tests.

  • Please note: All tests that we provide are charged at the regulated price of 130 CHF per test. (This does not apply to the initial test taken on arrival at CDL). You may wish to enquire with your insurance provider to see if they can cover this.

• Those travelling from countries where quarantine is specifically required are able to do so safely under our care. We will test on arrival and re-test after 9 days (making 10 days of quarantine in isolation in total).

• Those arriving from within Switzerland will not have further tests beyond the 72 hours referenced above. Please note that in order to qualify as coming from within Switzerland, students must have been in the country for 10 days before arriving on campus.

• Collection arrangements have been put in place to ensure safety back to school, using only our transport to school and we have made clear quarantine procedures.

• Going off-campus for boarders is strictly controlled. We have measures to ensure students can leave the site only with the permission of parents and staff.

• We continue to have elevated levels of cleaning of all school indoor environments, including bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and classrooms.
• Soap and disposable paper towels are available in all washing areas. 
• We remind our students and staff about the importance of regular hand washing. 
• Hand sanitiser stations are provided at key points in the House and around the campus. 
• We have reinforced enhanced daily cleaning procedures in the boarding houses and school. 
• Ventilation of the Houses has been increased to ensure a constant supply of fresh air.

Masks and protective equipment:

• Student visitors in the Houses (including parents) have to wear masks, and only stay in special areas, to protect the community.
• Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been provided for any staff performing roles which will require it. 

Social distancing:

• We require appropriate social distancing in all areas of the school.
• We are following the state guidelines to ensure safe occupancy levels of all facilities and areas, including dining rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and classrooms.
• Equipment sharing is not possible between students, other than when appropriate cleaning has taken place. 
• Cooking shared meals in the House is not possible. House Parents will only allow supervised individual food preparation.
• We have ensured laundry procedures are clear and safe for students. 

Health checks and measures:

• Temperature checks are performed 3 times a day for all students.
• We provide Vitamin C tablets to boost the immune system every day at breakfast.

• All our overnight trips are risk assessed to ensure maximum safety and compliance to regulations.
• Risk Assessments include a COVID consideration to ensure that fresh air and contact is limited.
• Contact sports are limited to House activities.
• Going off-campus for boarders is strictly controlled. We have measures to ensure students can leave the site only with the permission of parents and staff.
• Boarding Assemblies take place with students sitting in Houses (as a family) and wearing masks. 

Medical Centre:

• Our Medical Centre is staffed by 3 qualified nurses and our experienced doctor, with a combined experience of over 60 years of medical service.
• We have trained staff in the safe management of boarding houses under new guidance and school procedures and in COVID-19 nursing for appropriate staff.
• We have adapted our medical procedures to ensure compliance with the recommendations of public health bodies.
• We are conducting regular temperature checks of all students and staff and any visitors, including parents. 
• Students are encouraged to wear masks or face coverings (other than for activities where this is not advised). Staff and students over 12 are required to wear masks when social distancing is not possible.
• We have set aside suitable isolation areas to care for students who show symptoms and/or test positive. 
• We have access to the latest generation 15-minute tests.
  • Please note: All tests that we provide are charged at the regulated price of 130 CHF per test. (This does not apply to the initial test taken on arrival at CDL). You may wish to enquire with your insurance provider to see if they can cover this.
• We ensure that staff do not work (or have contact with students) if they are unwell.

Wellbeing:

• Our Wellbeing programme is targeting the specific stresses of the current Covid situation, focussing on how to cope with the restrictions.
• The Prefect student committee regularly discusses the situation and rules in place, to ensure that the Student Voice is heard.
• Our dedicated counsellor is available for all stress-related issues.
• Clear notices explaining new procedures are displayed in Houses.

Communication:

• Our office is always open to allow students and staff the opportunity to raise any concerns. 
• We have made it clear that any bullying related to the pandemic will not be tolerated.
• Parents have the number of Justin Usher, our Director of Boarding, for any out-of-hours service while any students are travelling. 
• We have assured continued provision of boarding during all the holidays, through the provision of special trips. 

Buses:

• Hand sanitiser is being used when getting on and off the bus.
• Masks are required for the driver and ALL children with the exception of pre-school only (to be provided by parents).

Drop-off and Pick-up:

• We ask parents to use the parking and drop-off areas for the specific school sections (links go to Google Maps):
  • Pre-school: accessible just off Chemin de Montfleury by the playing fields.
  • Primary: accessible just off Avenue Louis-Yung, or via Chemin du Lac
  • Middle and High School: The main school entrance.
• As far as is possible we ask parents to drop off siblings at the appropriate drop-off point for their section so as to reduce movement across campus.
• Parents can come onto the campus only when absolutely necessary (e.g. a pre-arranged meeting with CDL staff) and we ask you not to go into the classrooms and to avoid gathering in groups.
• In Pre-school where one parent can bring their child to the classroom - parents are asked to wash/sanitise their hands before coming in and must wear masks.

Visiting the campus for any reason:

• Visits on campus are currently restricted.
• All visitors must wear masks whilst on campus.
• Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms cannot come onto the campus.
• We ask that all hygiene measures, including frequent hand washing/sanitising are followed.

We have taken detailed advice from the authorities and experts on the actions required in the event of a positive case in our student or staff community:

• In the event of one student testing positive, the school will send a message to the parents of the class concerned to increase the surveillance of the children so that the slightest symptom can be identified as soon as possible. This way, parents can take the appropriate decision according to the flow chart (adapted to the age of the child) below:

  • COVID-19 Guidelines for children under 6 
  • COVID-19 Guidelines for children aged 6-12
  • COVID-19 Guidelines for children over 12

• In addition, if a teacher or assistant tests positive, CDL is now allowed to communicate the information to parents with children in their classes, provided that the person who tested positive has given their consent. 

• We commit to communicating with parents the information that we can share at the earliest possible moment.

It is our collective responsibility as a community of parents, students and staff to follow the COVID-19 health protection measures on this page in order to minimise the chance of COVID-19 transmission and ensure that classroom learning can continue as normal.

Day parents

• We strongly recommend regularly checking the latest government advice on travelling.

Boarding parents

• We strongly recommend regularly checking the latest government advice on travelling.
• Please remember that parents of all arriving students must complete this declaration form. 

We are currently continuing with full face-to-face classroom learning as per guidance from the Swiss authorities.

In exceptional cases, we are currently making our Virtual School Experience available:

• For students that are delayed in their arrival due to COVID if they are newly starting.
• For current students that have to be out of school for more than 2 days due to illness or isolation, or require exceptional travel to a quarantine country (to be pre-agreed).  Parents should consult our flow-charts (see above) for confirmation.

Learn more about Mixed VSE and Full VSE.

Whilst we believe that the measures outlined above will minimise the probability of any classroom closure, should this happen we are well-prepared with the Virtual School Experience. This builds in the learning from parents, students and staff from the last two terms as well as best practice from across our 68 Nord Anglia sister schools.

We take pride in delivering an outstanding education to every student, tailored to their individual learning needs and inspired by the global best practice even in challenging circumstances.

We are ready and equipped to continue inspiring the students with innovative lessons, unique learning opportunities and high-quality teaching as part of our blended learning approach.

Our Virtual School Experience has two key aspects:

• Connected time where students can learn from their teachers ‘live’ using our safe and secure online platform. 
• Guided time where pupils learn independently through tailored tasks set by their teacher.

Striking the right balance between on and offline learning time allows students to make the most of personalised learning from home, no matter what year group they are in.

You can read more about the Virtual School Experience here.