Touring a new school for your child can be daunting enough at times, but with COVID still a threat, it is even harder to go through a tour. However, there are ways to make tours safer and take the necessary COVID precautions. It is crucial to make the parents and children feel safe at all times. If you want parents to consider your school, it is essential to show them that you take COVID seriously and will protect their children at all times! Here is a complete guide to conducting a campus visit during COVID.
Is it Safe to Conduct Campus Tours During COVID?
Yes, it is! Campus tours are a great way to show parents that your school is safe for their children. Scheduling a campus tour can show parents that your school is safe, despite the COVID outbreak. It will also give you a chance to talk about how your school protects students and encourages them to speak up if they feel ill.
A campus tour during COVID helps parents establish for themselves whether or not the school is safe. Once you have completed the tour, they will have a better idea of how well-protected your students are. The biggest pitfall to avoid when touring schools during COVID is not informing parents about what precautions you take in protecting your students. So, make sure you can prove to parents that your school is aware of the dire situation and takes the precautions that are needed!
An online campus tour is also always an option! If parents and students are still wary about touring in large groups and being in public, you should have the option to do an online tour. Some people also may not be able to travel when you have tour schedules, so this is always a good option for families to have!
Follow These Safety Tips to Ensure a Virus-Free Campus Visit During COVID
Here are five campus COVID safety tips that can help you ensure a safe and healthy tour!
#1: Plan Ahead
Planning ahead of time is key to conducting a successful campus tour during COVID. Before you book the tours, it is important to talk with teachers and parents about what they can expect on campus. Ensure that you give them all of the information they need to feel safe!
#2: Arrange Accessibility
If you are inviting parents onto campus, they must have access to the restrooms before the tour. This will ensure that they do not need to leave their children alone to use the bathroom during a potentially stressful situation. Easy access stations for disinfecting hands and surfaces are always good to have.
#3: Teach Staff Members Proper Protocol
Ensure staff members know all of the COVID procedures and how to handle situations related to the virus. Students need to have a sense of security and confidence in learning that their teachers know what they are doing if a COVID situation should arise during a campus tour!
#4: Prepare Students for a Campus Tour
During COVID, it is essential to prepare students for what they can expect during campus tours. Parents may be nervous about bringing their children onto campus, which is completely understandable! Make sure that you have a plan in place if a COVID situation arises and that students know what to do in case they see someone showing symptoms of the virus.
#5: Keep Parents Informed During Campus Tours
During a campus tour, it is important to keep parents informed about what you are doing and why. They might worry about their children’s safety if they think things are out of the ordinary. Make sure that you explain to them what precautions you are taking and why.
There are many benefits to conducting campus tours during COVID, despite the threat of the virus. The most important thing is to make sure parents and children feel safe during the tour! If you follow these guidelines, you should have no problem making your campus tours virus-free.
How to Prepare for Campus Tours
Finally, it is time to look at four steps that can help you prepare for your campus tour.
Step 1: Relay Information to Parents
You must relay all the information about campus tours during COVID to parents. It would be best to let them know what precautions your school takes and why so that they feel safe having their child on campus.
Step 2: Serve Refreshments
Parents will likely be nervous about bringing their children onto a potentially dangerous campus. It is important to show them that you have everything under control. Serving refreshments can be a great way to do this without making parents feel uncomfortable. However, make sure the refreshments are COVID friendly. No open cookies or parfaits! You can go with small packs of chips, crackers etc. Anything that comes in small packages works for these times.
Step 3: Create a Plan for COVID Situations
It is a great idea to create a plan for what you should do if a COVID situation arises during the tour. This can provide reassurance to parents and students. Make sure your plan is well-thought-out and can answer any questions that may occur. Ensure parents that you will always put your student’s safety first.
Step 4: Prepare Students for the Tour
Finally, it is important to prepare students for what they can expect during campus tours. Parents may be nervous about bringing their children onto campus, which is completely understandable! Make sure that you have a plan in place if a COVID situation arises and that students know what to do in case they see someone showing symptoms of the virus. This will help them to feel safe when they are on campus regardless of any COVID situations that may arise.
Follow these four steps to prepare for campus tours. Be prepared for any questions or concerns that parents may have as well!
Campus tours during COVID can provide an excellent opportunity for you to connect with the parents of your students. Parents will likely be nervous about their children’s safety, so you need to reassure them that everything is under control and that they can trust you with their children. Campus tours during COVID provide a great opportunity for your students as well. They will have the chance to learn more about where they go to school and share experiences. By following these five steps, you can prepare yourself and your students for a virus-free tour!
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