COVID Policy

Since the beginning of the pandemic, CircEsteem has made every effort to keep our community's best interest balanced with recommended and reasonable safety precautions at the forefront of our decision making and policy development procedures. CircEsteem has heard feedback from our staff and community requesting us to move slowly in our response to COVID guidelines as recommended by the CDC and CDPH. We did this by requiring masks throughout the summer for all of our summer programs.  Additionally, we convened a COVID Task Force made up of several staff members and a board member (and Alumni) with medical expertise.  This Task Force has met throughout the summer to discuss various guidelines and recommendations and how they fit into CircEsteem's programming.   

The COVID Task Force has come up with the following guidelines, in accordance with CDC and CDPH guidelines, for CircEsteem.  

• Masks will be optional for all students and staff.  We hope that our community will keep in mind the agreement of "Respect yourself and others", which includes respecting others' choices to mask, or not to mask.  Both options are welcome and will be respected by all staff, students, and families.  
• If a student or staff member is experiencing symptoms, they must stay home.  We recommend taking an at-home COVID-19 test.  
• If a student or staff member has been exposed to COVID-19, a mask must be worn for 10 days and the individual tested on day 5 after exposure.
• COVID-19 self tests are available for use if a youth or staff member is experiencing symptoms.  If a parent/guardian does not want their youth to be given a self-test at CircEsteem, they must email the program coordinator of that program to opt-out.
• All employees of CircEsteem will be fully vaccinated.
• Hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and masks will be readily available throughout the building.

Thank you for being part of this community and we look forward to continuing to grow together!