• Does my child have to wear a mask in class?

Yes, all students, K-12, must wear masks while on campus, indoors, and outdoors. The only exception is the lunch break when students are seated 1.5 meters apart. 

• What should the mask be like? Are cloth masks ok? 

Hygienic, surgical, EPI, and cloth masks are acceptable, but we would prefer that students and staff avoid cloth masks.
Masks with valves and masks where a child’s features can clearly be seen through the mask are not acceptable.

• Does my child have to wear a mask while doing outdoor activities?

Yes. Every student must wear a mask while taking part in outdoor activities, as per the Spanish health authorities’ regulations.

• Does my child who is under the age of 6 have to wear a mask on campus?

While Spanish law does not require children under the age of 6 to wear masks, we ask that our youngest students do. With extra precautions, we limit the number of close contacts. 

• Is one mask per day enough?

We remind you that ALL masks should be changed every 4 hours. We ask that parents pack 2 masks each morning.
 

• Is social distancing still being observed in classrooms and common areas?

Yes. Observing social distancing has been one of the pillars of ASM’s strategy to keep everyone on campus safe. We ask that students respect a 1.2-meter distance between desks and each other. Outside classrooms the recommended safe distance is 1.5 meters.

• Are classrooms still being ventilated on a regular basis?

Yes. Classrooms are ventilated throughout the day and, weather permitting, windows remain open during class. In the Middle School, the windows do not open but the air is renewed every eight minutes.

• Does my child need to bring hand sanitizer to school?

We recommend that each student pack hand sanitizer in the morning, but students will find hand sanitizer dispensers have been placed all around campus, notably at the entrance of each building. We recommend that students wash their hands with soap and water instead of using hand sanitizer, if possible.

Examples of when hand sanitizer should be used:

When entering/exiting a classroom
After sneezing or coughing 
Before/after lunch
Before/after touching a mask to put it on or remove it

• Does ASM carry out temperature checks?

No, we do not. We ask that you regularly monitor the temperature of your child at home. A reminder that your child should stay at home if her/his temperature is above 37.2 Celsius.

• What should I do if my vaccinated child is feeling unwell off-campus?

If your child is in LS, please notify the homeroom teacher and Nurse Mamen. 
If your child is in MS or US, please notify the relevant secretary and Nurse Mamen.
Recent months have taught us that even vaccinated children and adults can pass on COVID. We would appreciate it if you could send proof of vaccination to Nurse Mamen. This will enable her to determine far quicker if a student who is a close contact needs to quarantine or not.

• What should I do if my unvaccinated child is feeling unwell?

If your child is in LS, please notify the homeroom teacher and Nurse Mamen. 
If your child is in MS or US, please notify the relevant secretary and Nurse Mamen.

• If my child has been off sick, what do I need to do before my child can return to school?

In order for a child who has been sick with Covid to return to class, he or she must have the go-ahead from Nurse Mamen. More information below.

• Any changes to the symptoms of COVID?

Symptoms include: 

1. Fever
2. Low-grade fever ( >37.2 C)
3. Cough
4. Nasal Congestion
5. Sore Throat
6. Difficulty breathing
7. Chest Pain
8. Headache
9. Tummy Ache
10. Vomiting/Nausea
11. Diarrhea
12. Muscle Cramps
13. Feeling run down
14. Skin Rash
15. Taste/smell lack or difficulty
16. Chills

• Who can my child speak to on-campus if she/he is feeling anxious about COVID?

Students can reach out to the counseling team if they need to talk about COVID-related issues, and if they have specific medical questions they should go to Nurse Mamen.

• How do I know if my child is considered a close contact?

A close contact is someone who has been in close contact (without a mask and less than 1.5 meters away for more than 15 minutes) with a positive COVID case in the two days leading up to symptoms or two days before the test (for asymptomatic cases). More information below.

• Are parents allowed on campus during the school year?

Like last year, only Lower School parents are allowed to come on campus to drop off and pick up their children, as well as parents who have an appointment. There will be a limited number of on-campus events with parents, depending on the needs of the community of each division.

• Are there any additional considerations in the event of returning from international travel?

Please check the following website: International Travel and COVID 19

When a student/staff does not come to school or is sent home due to feeling unwell the following actions should take place prior to returning to school:

• Visit the doctor for examination and diagnosis.
• If symptoms are NOT COVID-related: a medical note of wellness allowing the student/staff to come back to school due to not being contagious must be sent to  Nurse Mamen prior to returning to school. Once validated by Nurse Mamen, the student/staff will be allowed to come back to school.
• If symptoms are COVID-related: a negative lab (test) result and a  medical note of wellness ( stating that they are not contagious) are required before the student or staff member can come back to school. These documents must be sent to the School Nurse prior to returning to school. Once validated by the School Nurse, the student or staff member will be allowed to come back to school.

COVID Close Contact Definition

• Less than 1.5 meters 
• For more than 15 minutes
• Without a mask
• Two days prior to the onset of symptoms of the COVID+ case or two days prior to the testing date for an asymptomatic person (this is the actual test date, not when results may have been received)

COVID Close Contact Procedure

• Mandatory quarantine for 10 days
• There is no mandatory testing for close contacts in school settings unless they show symptoms. Testing can be a PCR or a fast antigen test.
• Students or staff who have been quarantined for 10 days and do not show symptoms can return to school at the end of the quarantine period without further documentation. 
• Students or staff who show symptoms and are tested while in quarantine with negative results still need to finish the 10 day quarantine period.
• Students or staff who have had a confirmed COVID infection within the previous 3 months will not be required to quarantine. This must be 
  confirmed by presenting the lab results.

The administration of prescription or over-the-counter medication by school personnel to students in school shall be done only with written authorization and direction of a licensed medical or osteopathic physician or dentist.

• A Medication Administration Form must be filled out, signed by parents, and provided to the school’s nurse together with the Doctor’s signed prescription.
• Prescription medication must be in the original container with the pharmacy label attached. Over-the-counter medication must also be in the original container.
• Parents should bring their child’s medication to the school nurse or have it delivered by the pharmacy. If the medication is sent with your child, please call the school nurse or send her an e-mail to notify her of the amount you are sending.
• Students are only allowed to take medication in school when it is administered to them by the school nurse. Exceptions will be made to students with asthma to carry an inhaler or MS/HS students with life-threatening allergies to carry their medication when a written permission request is received by the school.
• Prescriptions are only good for the current school year. No medication will be kept at school through the summer months. Any medication left will be discarded.
   

Most children with food allergies are happy and attend school safely every day. That safety and happiness is the result of careful planning and communication. The partnership between parents, school, and the family physician is the key to success in managing the situation effectively. It is important that new families with children with food allergies meet with the ASM nurse before school starts. 
 

There are a number of contagious diseases that can, unfortunately, find a happy home on any school campus. We each need to do our part to make sure that the incidences of these illnesses are minimal and kept under control. In order to maintain a healthy school environment, any child showing symptoms of the following conditions must remain home until they are symptom-free. This required isolation period is considered an excused absence from school. You can find more information below on some of the more common culprits.

We will alert the general ASM community through our Nurse’s Blog about any incidence of these illnesses as they occur.

Please note: Any student or staff member with a fever or exhibiting other flu-like symptoms must remain at home until at least 48 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of flu without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

Healthy Habits to Help Prevent Flu

Gripe, Communidad de Madrid

At ASM, the well being of each and every student is valued and supported. We aim to cultivate the best in individuals. We want our students to develop a growth mindset and become well rounded and contributing members of society. Developing well being means supporting the whole child, not only an academic achievement, but cognitive, social, emotional and physical well being. Growing evidence shows that student well being is an integral part of student success. Elevating student happiness and well being is at the heart of our mission to provide the very best 21st Century education.  

In addition to having a balanced PE curriculum, our students learn to recognize the positive impact exercise has on well being. They identify the benefits of an active lifestyle. We provide learning opportunities for our students to understand the importance of eating healthily and how a balanced diet affects growth and development.

Caring, connection, and belonging for our students is an integral part of school and schooling. Mindfulness, empathy, and self-reflection are skills that help students connect better with themselves and those around them. By providing safe spaces for our students and opportunities to collaborate on class projects and activities, participate in honest discussions in groups, or talk one to one with our counselors, we help students develop the coping skills and strategies that they will use to problem solve and find balance in their lives.

We are dedicated to supporting our students as they develop socially and emotionally. Attention is given to group dynamics and finding ways to help our students act with kindness and empathy towards each other. Building bridges between friends and family is one of our character-building themes and essential to creating positive relationships.

Being responsible and taking action and responsibility for our environment is an integral part of the ASM program. Enabling students to feel connected to our planet and passionate about finding solutions that positively impact the environment are developed in projects and classes.