Our Covid Measures

The COVID-19 virus is still causing havoc on our local and global society, posing major health and economic risks. Our goal at Swiss International Boarding School Leukerbad is to provide as much face-to-face education as practical while ensuring a healthy, safe atmosphere for all members of our school community.Regarding COVID-19, we respect all Swiss federal and Canton ofValais requirements for schools.

What should I do if my child tests positive?

If your child tested positive with an antigenic test at home, please take all necessary precautions to prevent infection and consult your doctor or the Covid helpline for instructions, following which you should notify your child’s section office.

The steps in place:

As advised by the Swiss authorities, we have implemented the following measures concerning the usage of masks and hygiene, the airflow of rooms and the cleaning of surfaces.

With the rise in instances owing to the Omicron strain, every parent should keep a close eye on their wards on a daily basis for any symptoms that could indicate a Covid virus and must be tested. As a community of parents, students, and staff, it is our common obligation to meticulously implement the Covid health protection procedures outlined below in order to reduce the risk of Covid spread and maintain regular classroom learning.

Masks, Hygiene and Sanitization

Indoors, all students must wear masks. These masks must be provided by the parents. These can also be found on our campus.
Indoors, all educators in all classes must wear a mask at all times
Even when wearing masks, we recommend social distancing, i.e. 1.5m distance wherever possible.
Masks aren’t required outside, although they’re encouraged if the 1.5-meter distance isn’t followed.

When arriving in the school, after breaks, before and after meals/snacks, after using the restrooms, and during/after boarding school transportation, students must wash their hands or use a hand sanitizer.
Sanitizers are accessible all across the campus
We’re keeping up our educational efforts to make students aware, which include placing posters throughout the school and continuous reminders from teachers:
Washing hands and hand sanitising on a regular basis.
Take extra care before and after using the restroom, as well as before and after snacks and meals.
There will be no handshakes.
Coughing or sneezing into your elbow crook.

Our skilled cleaning staff clean the entire campus every evening. Additionally, toilets are cleaned several times per day. At least once a day, frequently handled common surfaces (such as door handles) are cleaned.
There is at least one sink in each toilet, with soap and single-use hand wipes.
In all classes, class teachers have access to disinfectant sprays to sanitize surfaces during the day.

Ventilation and Physical Distancing

Sports,Cultural activities and Trips

All sports are permitted, and masks are not necessary during student practise.
All cultural activities are permissible with modifications.
Day visits are allowed all around Switzerland.
For the time being, academic tours will be limited to day excursions
Boarding trips shall be conducted in accordance with existing safety procedures and within the boarding family’s community.
Trips abroad are not permitted with the school.

Meals

Before accessing the dining area, students and employees must wash their hands.
Until they are seated, students and adults must wear a mask.
It is necessary to eat and drink while seated.
Self-service is prohibited, and the kitchen staff is the only ones who can feed the children. Only the kitchen crew has access to the food, which is kept safe.
The tables are cleaned between each service

Boarding

All of the ‘total school’ initiatives listed above assist boarding students. This section on our boarding-specific metrics provides a greater detail.

Travelling to SIBS, Leukerbad

All international students arriving on campus must have a COVID-free medical certificate obtained within 72 hours of their arrival. Before arriving, please send this to maureen@sibss.ch
Those visiting from countries where quarantine is necessary can do so safely under our supervision. We will test when we arrive and then again after 9 days (making 10 days of quarantine in isolation in total).
We have developed explicit quarantine measures and have made student collection procedures to assure safety back to school, using only our transportation to school.
Off-campus travel for boarders is carefully regulated. We’ve taken steps to ensure that students can only leave the region with the approval of their parents and teachers.

Hygiene

All school internal facilities, including rooms, kitchens, restrooms, and classrooms, continue to be cleaned to a high standard.

In all washing facilities, soap and disposable paper towels are available.
We emphasize the significance of washing hands to our students and staff.
Sanitizer stations are strategically placed throughout the Residence and on campus.
In the boarding house and school, we have enhanced routine cleaning processes.
The Residences’ airflow has been improved to ensure a consistent flow of fresh air.

Masks and protective equipment:

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 room, bedrooms, bathrooms and classrooms.
Equipment sharing is not possible between students, other than when appropriate cleaning has taken place.
We have ensured laundry procedures are clear and safe for students.

Activities

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.

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 Maureen Guerin, our Head 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.

In the event of a positive case

At present, the frequency of contamination is significant, and the entire community, as well as schools, are impacted daily. As a result, it is critical that each parent attentively examines their children’s possible symptoms on a regular basis in order to prevent sending their ward to school, if required, and avoiding any possible spread of infection.

If a teacher or assistant tests positive, SIBS 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.
If your child tested positive with an antigenic test at home, please take all appropriate measures to avoid contagion and contact your doctor or the Covid hotline to find out what to do and then inform your child’s section office.
It is our collective responsibility as a community of parents, students and staff to follow the Covid health protection measures on this page in order to minimise the chance of Covid transmission and ensure that classroom learning can continue as normal

Our Covid Measures