Covid-19 Plan

Are you requiring students to self-quarantine if they or someone in their household has traveled to a high-risk destination?  How will this be monitored and/or enforced?

This is a question currently under review with the Health Department.  As you have pointed out, enforcement of any requirement would be a challenge.  Much of our success with reopening will come down to the extent to which all families cooperate.  We do request that a 14-day  quarantine  be observed after traveling out of state to a high risk area.

Face masks-  How will they be enforced?  Is there progressive disciplinary action associated with repeated failures to comply with Middle and Upper School students?

I (Christopher Hayes- Head of  School) wearing face masks as a health and safety issue, therefore covered in the Student Handbook as  warranting a disciplinary response.  For someone not willing to consistently meet the expectation, full distance learning is an option. 

For Faculty and staff, I am not yet aware of anyone unable to wear a mask.  That said, at faculty request, I have ordered 50 plexiglass face shields with attached fabric cowls.  In some cases, faculty members wanted students to be able to clearly see their facial expressions to enhance communication.  In other cases, particularly for language teachers, they wanted students to be able to see and emulate mouth shape.

Who will make sure that all faculty and students have completed the self-screening protocol before entering the building? If this has not been completed, will students be turned away at the door? 

After quite a bit of discussion, the Covid Task Force decided against attempting to monitor the self-screening protocol at home, instead opting to duplicate the temperature screening at the schoolhouse door.  All students and faculty will be checked at the door with a no touch thermometer. A student or faculty member running a temperature of 99.5 or higher will immediately be rechecked for confirmation and then sent home asap.

Will a student presenting with symptoms in the Middle or Upper School be sent to Lower School to nurse’s office?  

Yes, using the outside door directly to the Nurse's Office.  An additional adjacent room  will be utilized by the school nurse to enable safe distancing and separation of  students. 

Under what circumstances will visitors be permitted to enter the building and what will be the screening process for those individuals (parents, guardians, delivery, custodians, guest speaker, anyone else)?

We do not anticipate any need for guests, parents, or delivery people going any further than the entry doors.  If a need arises, they will not be permitted past the respective reception desks.  In most cases, I can imagine them being met outside for whatever transfer is necessary.  Our door security system will help with this process as well as plexiglass shields in the reception areas.

How will social distancing be encouraged and enforced?

It will be encouraged using marks on the pavement, signage on doors and wall, and reminders by faculty and staff.  If a middle or upper school student chooses to consistently ignore requests to maintain distancing, then they will be converted to the distance learning option. 

As much as we would like this to go perfectly, I am imagining inclement weather, a sudden rush of twenty students, etc, and I am reluctant to guarantee perfection.  We will do the best we can to keep students  distanced.

Does the school have enough PPE supplies to provide to staff and students who need it?

Yes.  We have extras on hand for students who need them during the day.  We were also able to acquire significant supplies through a grant and expect delivery prior to the start of the school year.  All students are asked to bring 2  clean masks every day, but we understand that there will be times that they will need additional replacements or may have forgotten an extra mask.