Dear Community Member,

The Alliance Française de Seattle is working on a partial reopening for adult courses in Fall 2021. Please read carefully below for our updated policies as well as guidelines for on-site and online courses. 

Our Fall 2021 course brochure will be available in our August newsletter; our member presale opens on August 5 at 8am (more info).

Updated School Policies

The cancellation fee of $40 will be charged for unenrollments less than 14 days before the start of a course starting in Fall 2021.

On-Site Guidelines & Policies

Administrative Office

• AFSeattle will not be holding office hours on-site at the moment. For administrative requests and questions, please contact us via email: info@afseattle.org. 

Mask Policy

• Masks will be mandatory for all staff and students on-site regardless of vaccination status.
• Not wearing a mask on-site will result in removal from the classroom, followed by unenrollment from the course (including a cancellation fee).

Pedagogical Guidelines 

• For pedagogical reasons, only courses at the level B1 and above can be offered on-site.
• All A1 and A2 level courses will be offered online in Fall 2021.

Vaccination Policy

• All staff members and instructors on-site have been vaccinated.
• For privacy reasons, AFSeattle will not request proof of vaccination to its clients. We kindly ask that you do not inquire about your classmates' vaccination status while attending a course in our facilities.

Cleaning Protocols and Classroom Occupancy

AFSeattle will follow reinforced hygiene measures:

• Classrooms will be disinfected after and before each course (tables, chairs, doorknobs, light switches, etc.).
• Each classroom is equipped with HEPA-filter air purifiers, and windows will be open during and in between classes.
• Hand sanitizers and masks will be available for staff and students.

Classroom occupancy will be limited in order to respect social distance.

Illness and Travel

AFSeattle will actively monitor the health status of their on-site staff. Students and members will be required to self-monitor their health status and to answer "no" to all of the questions below. These questions can change in accordance with the Public Health authorities recommendations.

1. Have you tested positive for COVID-19 or are you awaiting results of a lab test for COVID-19?

2. In the past 14 days, have you had close contact with an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days? (Close contact is defined as living in the same household, caring for, being within 6 feet or, or coming into direct contact with the secretions of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.)

3. Have you or a member of your household been asked to self-quarantine in the past 14 days?

4. In the past 14 days have you had any of the following symptoms: 

• Fever or chills 
• Cough 
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
• Fatigue 
• Muscle or body aches 
• Headache 
• New loss of taste or smell 
• Sore throat 
• Congestion or runny nose 
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Diarrhea 

5. Have you traveled in the past 14 days to a region with high rates of COVID-19?
 

Private Courses

Current Students

• You may request to move to an on-site course at your next package purchase, but not before.
• You may discuss this option with your current instructor.
• Instructors are not required to accept on-site class requests; if that is your preference, we may propose a different instructor.
• Not all on-site requests can be accepted due to limited instructor availabilities for on-site courses.

New Students 

• You may indicate a preference for on-site, online, or both when requesting a new private course.
• Not all on-site requests can be accepted due to limited instructor availabilities for on-site courses.

Kids, Youth & Teens Courses

All kids, youth, and teens courses will be online in Fall 2021.

However, AFSeattle reserves the right to move these courses on-site in the following quarters (Winter 2022 and/or Spring 2022) to complete the academic year program, depending on the public health situation.

This decision was made due to several factors:

• An overwhelming number of requests from parents for the online program;
• The fact that there is no vaccine available for the young learners;
• The fact that our youth students come from different schools and "pods";
• Public health recommendations and guidelines for non-essential educational establishments.
  
  

Library Hours

That's right—our French-language library is reopening!

AFSeattle will have weekly library hours available starting in September 2021; the schedule will be available soon.

Please note:

• Masks will be required at all times in our facilities for all individuals above the age of 5 (no exceptions).
• You must be an AFSeattle member to borrow books. 
• You will not be able to purchase or renew your membership at the library. Please purchase a membership online before coming to the library.
• You can browse our catalogue of books ahead of time, but there are no reservations available.