COVID-19 Policies & Procedures Guide
Updated August 22, 2022

Keeping the Whitby Community Safe

Keeping the Whitby community safe and healthy while teaching in-person continues to a top priority. Below you will find our COVID-19 Policies and Procedures based on the current CDC Guidelines.

Our policies and procedures are subject to change  as advised by the CDC, the State of Connecticut Health Department, or local town health department officials.

Mask Wearing

  • Mask wearing is optional for all faculty, staff, and students.
  • Faculty/staff will support fair treatment of students who elect to mask or not mask.
  • If a student or faculty/staff member chooses to wear a mask, the CDC recommends KN95, N95, or similar grades. 

Class Cohorts

  • Classes will no longer be required to cohort, which applies to indoors and outdoors.

Outside Visitors

We welcome parents back on campus. However, at this time, parents are not permitted inside classrooms during regular school hours. The exceptions would be limited assistance with special classroom events that are coordinated with the classroom teachers.

Parents are invited to participate in other activities that would include: pre-arranged meetings with teachers or administrators, curriculum nights, athletic events, parent social gatherings in designated/approved areas, and workshops. 

Stepping Stones Exception

Stepping Stones parents are allowed inside the school to drop off students.

Vaccination Card Submission

It is important that we understand the vaccination landscape of our student community. Please email the school nurse a new or updated copy of your child's vaccination card so it can be added to their immunization record.

COVID-19 Testing Options

PCR Test: Lab test taken in a clinic or hospital setting. Allow at least 48 hours to receive test results.

Rapid Antigen Test (test site or at-home)

COVID-19 Symptoms

People with COVID-19, vaccinated or unvaccinated, have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

  • 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

Source: CDC

 

COVID Exposure

Students are no longer required to quarantine at home when exposed to a COVID-positive person.

Parents should watch their child(ren) for COVID symptoms. If the child exhibits symptoms, they should remain at home and test. If the test is positive, contact the School Nurse immediately.

In-School COVID Exposure: All Students

When there is an in-school exposure to a COVID-positive person, we will take the following steps:

  • The parents of students in the class with the COVID-positive case will be notified via email and asked to monitor their children for symptoms. 
  • If any classmate exhibits symptoms, they should stay at home, test, and if positive, contact the school nurse immediately.
  • Classmates are not required to quarantine.

Student Tests Positive: Primary-Grade 8

  • Contact the School Nurse as soon as possible.
  • Isolate at home for at least five (5) days.
  • The student can return to school on Day 6 if fever-free for at least 24 hours and symptoms are significantly improved. Day 1 begins the day following the date of the positive COVID test.
  • The student must continue to consistently wear a mask for Days 6-10 when around others.

Student Test Positive: Stepping Stones

COVID-Positive Stepping Stones (SS) Student 

  • The student will isolate at home for 10 days (due to inconsistent mask wearing) and may return on Day 11 provided the student is fever-free for 24 hours, and symptoms have dissipated.

COVID-Related Remote Learning Support

Remote learning will be provided by teachers when a student is required to isolate while recovering from COVID.

COVID Communications

Our goal is to be transparent and share COVID-19 occurrences with parents while maintaining the privacy of students, faculty, and staff. 

Classroom  Parents. When a COVID-positive occurrence is reported, the parents of the impacted class will receive an email with class-specific information. 

All Parents. We have created a COVID-19 Tracker that is available to all parents. This tool shows each positive occurrence by date and by class for the 2022-2023 school year.

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Whitby School
969 Lake Avenue Greenwich, CT 06831 203.869.8464
Whitby