Reopening Campuses Safely in the Next Normal
This August, we have gradually welcomed school communities back to their respective campuses, while following clearly outlined Government directives, and adhering to Sodexo’s approach: Rise with Sodexo, a practical, data-driven methodology to help schools and universities reopen safely and address the needs of our new reality.
Preparation for the Next Normal
As further preparation for the new school year, Sodexo Schools & Universities prepared a schools-specific reopening plan to ensure that we safeguard the wellbeing of our school communities. EduCARE by Sodexo highlighted the important aspects that needed to be assessed to prior to re-opening campuses.
These include:
- Ensuring social distancing in the canteens or café within the campus;
- Carrying out disinfection activities;
- Making sure that the campus environment is disinfected;
- Preparing and serving healthy and nutritious food safely; and
- Equipping the staff with the right training and knowledge to keep the campus environment safe for students and faculty for the academic year.
Normally, a campus has multiple areas which have the potential to aggravate the spread of the virus. Among these areas are the classrooms, washrooms, cafeteria, corridors and staircases, the library, indoor sports areas, and buses. Sodexo assessed these risks and their impact, and thus prepared plans to mitigate and control the spread of the outbreak at each of these identified vulnerable points.
The Next Normal: New Measures in Campuses
New measures are in place in our school campuses this year. Leveraging Rise with Sodexo, our teams prepared to welcome students back into the school dining halls over the summer, with a new approach to our service models, while reviewing our health and safety methodologies to ensure that we operate with the best practices in infection prevention and control.
Our new school canteens have several new protocols in place, including:
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SafeEntry and temperature checks. Temperature of the staff are checked twice a day and logged regularly. We have stricter rules for all types of deliveries inside the campus. |
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Mandatory handwashing and sanitisation. All the staff wash their hands with more frequency than usual, using liquid soap, and with intense scrubbing for 20 seconds. Several 75% ethyl alcohol-based hand gels are also available all over the campus, especially near top-up kiosks and water dispensers. |
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Wearing of masks. All Sodexo staff wear masks at all times. Masks are only removed when eating.
Queue management and safe distancing. Sodexo has implemented a set of rules to reduce the spread of contaminants based on our risk analysis. Among the new methods are: adjusted canteen seating; queue management; social distancing markers on floors, tables, lifts and lobbies; and restricting the flow of traffic.
Online ordering and cashless payment options. All our campuses have already set up an online ordering system, as well as classroom delivery services for junior students. We are gradually transitioning into a cashless and contactless payment environment, encouraging school communities to pay using their school ID cards, PayPal, PayNow, credit/debit cards or EZ-Link card.
Convenient, pre-packaged food. Sodexo has done away with buffet, self-service models. In its place is a simplified, nutritionist-validated, pre-packed menu and tasty take-away options to ensure food safety and support the school community to socially distance themselves.
Preventive disinfection and cleaning. Trained Sodexo Staff conduct regular preventive disinfection and cleaning in our canteens, cafes, bakeries, kitchen and other common areas. Each contact surface is also disinfected after every meal service.
Health and safety communication. We utilise existing and new channels online and on-site to drive awareness and behavioural change around social distancing, hygienic measures and well-being initiatives; and for reassurance.
Spotlight on Healthy Living
As a responsible food provider, we’re deeply committed to the health of the school communities we serve. We believe that happy, healthy students perform better at school. Thus, we make sure that every student has access to delicious and nutritious meals, based on a wholesome and well-balanced diet that is low in fat, salt and sugar. Our school meals are nutritionist-validated.
In addition, we have rolled out several immune-boosting recipes and menus for the school communities. These immune-boosting food offers are part of our commitment to encourage students to increase their intake of vitamins and minerals in their daily diet by incorporating all types of colours of fresh fruits and vegetables to protect the body from infection and inflammation – especially at a time when we need it most.
We have also gradually rolled out meatless burger alternatives in some of our campuses. Our meatless burgers are all-natural, sustainable ingredients and sold at a price that is affordable to everyone in the community.
Creating Wonderful Experiences this Academic Year
Despite the pandemic, the Sodexo Schools & Universities team is committed to creating wonderful experiences for the students through authentic flavours, healthy options, fantastic food, and of course, outstanding service every single time.
We have several events, promotions and engagement programmes lined up for the school communities. The teams are doing their best to bring something exciting for the students to look forward to, amid the new protocols. Ensuring a vibrant, enriching campus dining experience is important for Sodexo, and we will continue to find ways to do so, without compromising health and safety, under the next normal.
The Sodexo Edge
Sodexo’s edge lies in our genuinely committed, highly-trained people; the strength of our supply chain services, our global processes, as well as our monitoring, control and communication practices, which are observable as we reopen some of our campuses.
If you want to learn more about preparing your campuses for the next normal, check out these articles: