COVID-19

A ‘Health Safety Committee’ was created at our School to ensure an effective protection and quick intervention during Coronavirus and suchlike epidemic process.

We kindly request you to provide information to epidemic@hisarschool.k12.tr address, which is created to follow up the process and support you, when necessary, in case of suspicious case description, quarantine, diagnosis and treatment processes related to your family or the people you are in touch with regarding Coronavirus.

Health Safety Commission Members

• pec. Dr. Müge Kardaş, Hisar School Doctor
• Ezgi Çebi, Preschool Vice Principal
• Hüseyin Çelebi, Primary School Vice Principal
• Beray Kömürcü Kotan, Middle School Vice Principal
• Mustafa Bozkurt, High-School Vice Principal
• Hürriyet Erkmen, Personnel Affairs and Compensation Manager
• Sedat Çağlayan, Procurement and Supplier Management Representative
• Sinan Türkan, Occupational Health and Safety Expert

Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that have been known in scientific circles for a long time. Some of these viruses occur only in animals. Most people come into contact with these viruses at some point in their lives and have the disease as a mild or moderate upper respiratory tract infection. However, these viruses can cause severe symptoms by causing severe bronchitis or pneumonia in risk group individuals and in some cases. Young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk.

With the Scientific Committee established in January 2020 by the T.R Ministry of Health, it has had a successful period in protection from this epidemic and in the fight against the epidemic since March 11, 2020, when the first case was seen in our country. However, due to the continuation of the pandemic and the peak of the number of patients with new variants in the period from that date to the present, it is essential that we continue to meticulously implement the prevention measures recommended by the Scientific Committee in our daily life and work environment in order to control the disease.

Covid-19 strains undergo periodic mutations. Currently, the Omicron Variant (BA4 and BA5) is dominant all over the world and in our country. Due to these mutant viruses, which cause the contagiousness of the disease to increase, travel arrangements and additional measures can be taken from time to time in our country and around the world.

Currently, travel restrictions have ended. However, it is very important that you follow up-to-date information on international travel requirements, which may change for different diseases in the light of new developments, from your travel agency and the representatives of your country of citizenship: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php

The primary protection methods recommended by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization are as follows:

• Use of Masks: Compliance with the use of masks is an important method of protection in preventing the spread of the epidemic. The obligation to use masks for our students, teachers and employees in all buildings within the school has ended. People who show signs of an infectious disease such as fever, cough, runny nose should wear a mask in school. Masks will be given to people who are under follow-up in our school infirmary. It is strongly recommended that people in the risk group due to chronic diseases use masks in closed and crowded environments. People who prefer other than these conditions can continue to use masks.
• Physical Distance: Avoiding crowded environments and close physical contact is an effective method of prevention for all infectious diseases and is recommended for disease prevention.
• Hygienic Protection Methods: We recommend paying attention to maximum hygienic protection methods in our living spaces and personal cleaning.

Efforts to develop vaccines against Covid-19 in different countries around the world for eight months yielded results and the mass application of these vaccines started on January 14, 2021 in Turkey. The Covid-19 vaccine, which will be administered as two doses with an interval of 28 days, is applied to everyone over the age of 12 as of September 2021. It is essential for the continuation of the protection that the reminder doses of the Covid-19 vaccines are made at intervals of 4-6 months.

You can access the detailed information about Coronavirus by clicking the links on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guide containing the detailed protection methods, Pandemic Management and Study Guide, and Vaccine Information Platform prepared by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health.

• COVID-19 Guide
• Contact Follow-up, Outbreak Management, Home Patient Monitoring and Filiation
• The Ministry of Health Vaccine Information Platform

Covid-19 Precautions and Legal Practices in Hisar:  

It is recommended that everyone get vaccinated, except for people who have had Covid in the last 20 weeks or have received a booster dose. Vaccination is even more critical for people with chronic diseases, using immunosuppressive drugs or pregnant women. 

It is very important that people who show symptoms of the disease (fever, sore throat, runny nose, voice change, loss of taste and smell, cough, nausea, diarrhea) are isolated by wearing a mask and directed to the examination stages quickly. Our employees who show symptoms are required to go through the examination stages at health institutions on the same day before coming to school and report the result to the relevant school “epidemic” address. Our employees who develop symptoms of the disease in the school will be taken to the school infirmary with a mask and will be taken from the school quickly and directed to the diagnosis and treatment stages.  

According to the current procedure of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of National Education, people who are diagnosed with Covid-19 by examination and test (PCR or rapid antigen tests) are required to obtain a doctor’s report. After 5-7 days of home rest, which is usually 5-7 days, these students and employees can return to school with a doctor’s report or a negative test result stating that there are no signs of infectious diseases. 

It is strongly recommended to use masks in services, classrooms, workshops, ceremonies, etc. The anti-transmission effect of the mask has been proven in our school. 

In our classrooms and all indoor areas on campus, attention is paid to keeping windows open and natural ventilation.  

Regular and effective disinfection and hygiene practices continue sensitively in our school. All surfaces that are touched by hand are cleaned and disinfected every 3 hours, and toilets are cleaned and disinfected at regular intervals during the day. 

Covid positive cases among our school employees and students can be followed up on the HisarNet Parent Portal as before. 

There are disinfectants that our staff and students can use in the school. If you have any questions, please direct them to the school email address. 

• Preschool: epidemicpre@hisarschool.k12.tr
• Primary School: epidemica@hisarschool.k12.tr
• Middle School: epidemicb@hisarschool.k12.tr
• High School: epidemicc@hisarschool.k12.tr

The new education period 2024-2025, which started on Monday, September 9, 2024, has started with new regulations in addition to the existing measures and practices in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Health and Hisar Schools Science Board. In our school, daily, weekly, monthly and holiday cleaning processes and work plans are monitored, evaluated and improved when necessary within the scope of OHS (Occupational Safety and Occupational Health).

As you know, our school was re-inspected by TSE on October 7, 2023, during the renewal process of the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) “My School is Clean” Certificate, which the Ministry of National Education has made mandatory for private schools. We are pleased to announce that we have had a very successful audit process and that our TSE “Our School is Clean” Certificate has been renewed.

It has been proved that the criteria list consisting of 250 items is complied with within the scope of the “Cooperation Protocol for the Improvement of Hygiene Conditions in Educational Institutions and the Prevention of Infection”, which the Ministry of National Education put into effect in order to improve hygiene conditions and to maintain infection prevention and control processes with a consistent, valid, reliable and impartial understanding. With this document, it has been approved by the Turkish Standards Institute that the health safety of all our students, employees and every individual on campus is guaranteed.

In the new school year, an application was made to TSE for the renewal of the “My School Clean Certificate“.

2024-2025 Academic Year

Entrance To The School Buildings

• Temperature measurements are constantly carried out with thermal cameras actively working at a total of 16 points at the entrance to the school and on campus. 
• Students or employees with a fever above 37 degrees will be detected instantly with the alarm application. 
• People with high fever will be checked by the infirmary staff with manual thermometers as soon as possible; If the fever is above 37 degrees again in the second measurement to be made at 15-minute intervals, if the person with high fever is a student, the parent will be contacted as soon as possible, and if our employee is a student, the transfer will be planned and directed to a health institution to go through the necessary examination and treatment stages. 

General Hygiene Measures

• Hand sanitizers have been placed at school entrance points, cafeteria/cafeteria entrances and all sinks. Regular checks are made to ensure that they are always full.

• Cleaning, disinfection and ventilation processes are carried out continuously and regularly in school buildings, especially in classrooms and offices.

• In our school, drinking water needs are met from water dispensers with sensors.

• At the end of each recess, toilets and floors are disinfected with bleach (sodium hypochlorite).

• Disinfection of all door handles and frequently touched common areas is done with spray disinfectants every 3 hours.

• A different color cloth is used on each surface, and the cloths that can be washed at the end of the day are disinfected with sodium hypochlorite or another disinfectant.

• Elevator buttons and panels are disinfected every 3 hours during the day. The maximum number of people who can use the elevators at the same time is written and indicated with bookmarks. Our students can only use elevators with permission for medical reasons and under the supervision of an adult.

• Filter maintenance in air conditioning systems, fan maintenance in elevators and air conditioning filter maintenance of service vehicles are carried out regularly.

• Used masks, visors, glasses and gloves are thrown into “medical waste bins” placed at various points in the School.

• External corporate cargo, package, envelope, etc. documents are sterilized in the sterilization device located at the security main entrance.

• Regular trainings and audits for the employees of the cafeteria, service, cleaning and security companies ensure that they comply with the working and hygiene criteria of the institution.

• It is provided by training and warnings that cleaning workers pay attention to personal hygiene, use of masks and gloves and how often they should be changed.

• The relevant cleaning company being worked on has the “Protocol-V-Safe” certification from an international certification company, which shows their expertise in preventing exposure to viral pathogens, including measures against Covid-19.

Administrative Regulations

• Due to health safety reasons, visitors are not accepted to our school except for pre-planned and announced parent meetings and compulsory cases. 

• Meetings that are not suitable to be held online due to their subject and content can be held physically in a controlled manner by completing the necessary precautions and preparations in the relevant place beforehand. 

Regulations Regarding Classes

• Classrooms are frequently ventilated. 

• At the end of each day, daily cleaning and disinfection of the classes is carried out with appropriate cleaning materials and disinfectants. 

Regulations on Infirmary

• Our Main Infirmary is divided into two different entrances and places as “Student Infirmary” and “Employee Infirmary”. Students and staff are examined and treated separately from each other in the infirmary areas.

• Except for emergencies, people who apply to the infirmary will be met by the infirmary officer at the station in front of the infirmary gate, and their temperature will be measured and evaluated for the first time. People with signs of disease will be accepted to the infirmary by filling out a form.

• Non-specific routine and minor treatments, ice applications, etc. that our students should take during the day. The treatments will be held at the station outside the infirmary. Students or employees who do not need intervention or treatment in the infirmary will not be admitted to the infirmary in order to minimize the risk of disease transmission.

• Except for emergencies, a patient examination will be made by appointment at the infirmary (with 15-minute intervals). For an appointment, the infirmary staff can be reached by calling 212 or via the address infirmary@hisarschool.k12.tr.

• Our infirmary staff always accepts and intervenes in patients by following mask and disinfection rules.

• It is mandatory to disinfect hands using hand disinfectant before entering and leaving the infirmary.

• The infirmary environment is ventilated frequently.

• The paper towels on the infirmary beds and stretchers will be thrown away after each patient, and regional disinfection will be done after each patient.

• Infirmary floor and table top cleaning will be done with 10% sodium hypochlorite every 3 hours, frequently touched surfaces and medical devices that are not suitable for using sodium hypochlorite will be disinfected with appropriate disinfectants every 2 hours/after use.

• Medical wastes are kept in special bags/containers in an isolated area on the school campus and delivered to the municipality at least once a week.

• Our students and staff who have symptoms of illness such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, conjunctivitis, sneezing, weakness, loss of taste and smell, diarrhea should not come to school in this situation, apply to a health institution within the same day, and submit their diagnosis and rest reports on the same day. It is obligatory to notify the school doctor and the relevant deputy principal or the administrator they are affiliated with and the relevant school epidemic@hisarschool.k12.tr address.

Regulations on Dining Hall

• In our cafeteria, meal times are divided and organized in order to apply the physical distance rule between our students, teachers and employees and to provide a seating arrangement accordingly.

• Our High School students and employees eat their meals in the High School Cafeteria. There are two canteens, one in the High School cafeteria and one in the garden, for our High School students who want to use the school canteens.

• Our Preschool students eat their lunches with their teachers in the B-Block Preschool Dining Hall.

• Our Primary and Middle School students and employees eat their meals at the B-Block Cafeteria at the times reserved for them.

• Those who receive cafeteria service from our High School students eat breakfast and lunch in the High School Cafeteria.

• Aprons, bonnets, visors, masks and gloves are provided for all cafeteria employees without exception.

• After each use, cleaning and disinfection of the table tops and after-meal food service areas are provided.

• At the end of the day, detailed cleaning and disinfection is done with bleach and disinfectant in the cafeteria and canteen.

• All vegetables and fruits entering the cafeteria are washed with appropriate systems, and the packages of all packaged foods are wiped.

• Regular water and food sample checks are carried out.

• In order to minimize contact during meal purchase, an upgrade was made in the section where the food is taken, leaving only enough space for the plate to pass through.

• Adjacent food service waiting areas are separated by plexiglass.

• Open water service will not be provided during this period, it will be presented in closed packages. We have non-contact water dispensers in various areas in A-Block, B-Block and High School. Forks, spoons, knives, napkins and toothpicks are single-use, individually packaged, and spices are distributed in single-use small bags.

• The buffet for salad and yoghurt has been removed. Salad varieties, yoghurt and diet menu, along with other varieties, are served by the cafeteria staff upon request.

• All of our cafeteria employees have been vaccinated and the relevant company providing food service has TSE Covid-19 “Safe Production Certificate”.

Regulations on Shuttles

• The service seating arrangement is fixed for departures and returns, it cannot be changed. The seating plan is included in the service as diagrams in which names and positions are indicated. 

• Cologne/hand sanitizer is available for students and employees in the vehicles. 

• Daily/weekly/monthly/periodical disinfection is provided in the services. 

• The relevant company providing service has a “Healthy Workplace” certificate within the scope of Covid-19 and hygiene practices evaluation criteria. 

In line with the guidelines of the relevant ministries, the rules to be observed in the campus areas during the pandemic process were transformed into poster works. The posters include not only the general information as a precaution against the virus but also the rules determined on the basis of the places within the campus (classrooms, library, hobby rooms etc.).

There are also informative posters prepared by the Ministry of Health on the campus.

You can view all poster works here.

With the normalization process initiated in our country by making a significant progress in pandemic management thanks to the measures implemented, the remote working period in our school since 21 March 2020 was terminated for administrative activities and Hisar Campus was opened on Monday, June 1, 2020.

During the period when our school is closed, our School Principals and Vice Principals as well as the Office of Admissions, Accounting, Information Technologies, Computer Training departments and other administrative personnel have continued to serve and all administrative and academic activities were carried out without delay, as permitted and stipulated by the official authorities.

• Psychological Counseling and Guidance Department carried out special studies to establish a healthy and sustainable communication with students, parents, teachers and employees during the pandemic process. You can find the detailed information about these studies on our Psychological Counseling and Guidance Department Distance Education Program page.

  Our Psychological Counseling and Guidance Department also prepares various informative articles to guide both our students and adults on issues such as managing emotions and dealing with anxieties during the current process. You can access the published documents via the links.

  • We Turn Back Home, Again

  • Suggestions for Students on Adapting to New Situations and Managing Emotions 

  • Suggestions for Adults on Dealing with the Pandemic and Anxieties 

  • Being Psychologically Resilient

  Ministry of National Education Special Education and Guidance Services Publications
  Preserving Psychological Health During Pandemics:

  • A Guide for Families to Help Children
  • Information Guide for Adults

Travels
It is very important that you keep up to date with the constantly changing international travel regulations
from your travel agency and the representatives of your country of citizenship:
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php

Visits
• Shuttle hostesses and drivers, private drivers and other auxiliary personnel will not be able to
enter the School buildings within the scope of health and safety conditions.
• Due to health safety, visitors are not accepted to our school except in compulsory cases. All
interviews are encouraged to be conducted online.
• The invitation and participation of students or adults from outside the school to the activities to be
organized at the school will be evaluated on the basis of the event, with the opinion and approval
of the relevant school principal and our school doctor.
• On–campus roadmap application will be followed for visitors. All appointments are encouraged to
be conducted online. In physical meetings to be held under very mandatory conditions, visitors
with appointments are expected not to stop at any place other than the departure point and not to
pass from building to building by following the entry and exit times through the program used in
security.
• The temperature measurement of the visitors entering the institution during the day will be made
by thermal cameras. In two measurements made 15 minutes apart, visitors with a fever above 37
degrees will be made manually; If the same result is obtained in the second measurement, the
visitor will not be admitted to the school and the daily report will be sent to the infirmary of the
institution.
• Documents such as cargo, packages, envelopes, etc. coming to the institution from outside will be
sterilized in the sterilization device located at the main entrance of the security.

Events
• Our Culture and Arts Center (KSM) has started to operate for concerts and events to be held
outside of school hours.

• The Ministry of Education and Provincial Ministry of Education Notices

  • Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı Avrupa Birliği ve Dış İlişkiler Genel Müdürlüğü’nün 3 Mart 2020 tarih ve 92176967-952.3.4-E.4653192 Sayılı Yazısı: Yurt Dışı Görevlendirme
  • T.C. Eyüpsultan Kaymakamlığı İlçe Millî Eğitim Müdürlüğü’nün 12 Mart 2020 tarih ve  94805359-299-E.5382543 Sayılı Yazısı: Tüm Programların İptali Hakkında

  Other References

  • Dünya Sağlık Örgütü/World Health Organisation

  • TC Sağlık Bakanlığı, Ulusal Pandemi Planı
  • TC Sağlık Bakanlığı, Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü, Koronavirüs Sitesi
  • 11 Mart 2020 tarihli TC Sağlık Bakanlığı, Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü, Koronavirüs Seyahat Sağlığı Rehberi