Section 9. COVID Policies

Section 9: COVID-19 Protocols | revised 8/1/2021

COVID-19 related policies may change prior to and during the school year based on local, state, and federal guidelines as well as the disease prevalence and overall health of the school community, the surrounding Farmington Valley, and throughout the state/country.

Policies/procedures surrounding return to campus, campus leaves, day passes, and participation in off campus athletics are being reviewed on an ongoing basis and are subject to change at any time based on disease prevalence as well as federal, state, and local guidelines/mandates.

The participation of our students, and support of our families, is essential to the health of our community. The School will provide ongoing education to our students concerning their community responsibilities. It is important that each student understands his responsibilities and follows the health and safety standards, that may be modified throughout the year, to mitigate impact to the campus.

Repeated or willful violations of COVID-19 procedures by a student represents a health and safety issue to the entire School community. If a student continues to be non-compliant with the clear standards, he will be directed to a Dean’s Inquiry that more likely will result in discipline. In addition, he may be sent home until he is able and willing to comply with the community expectations.

Repopulation

Non-Vaccinated: Pre-arrival testing will be required for those who are not vaccinated prior to returning to campus at the start of school and after long breaks or as determined by the School. The cost of this testing will be the responsibility of the family.

Vaccinated: Currently, students who are fully vaccinated will not be required to submit a pre-arrival test prior to returning to campus or participate in testing on arrival to campus

All students who travel should refer to and follow, to the best of their abilities, the CDC’s travel recommendations that can be found here:

Domestic Travel International Travel

Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) has travel-related guidance consistent with CDC recommendations and can be found here. We ask that students and their families who return to/visit campus follow these guidelines whenever possible.

Masks

Masking requirements are being reviewed on an ongoing basis according to federal, state, and local mandates. Specific masking requirements will be communicated as needed. Masks can be worn by anyone who feels more comfortable doing so.

According to current Founders League policies, students who are not vaccinated will be required to wear masks while playing any indoor sport.

The Heads of the Founders League schools agree that vaccination is our surest means to mitigate the risk of infection and spread of the SARS-CoV2-virus. In order to return to a full schedule of contests among Founders League schools for the 2021-22 school year, the Heads agree that all Founders League student-athletes, coaches, and trainers must be fully vaccinated in order to participate. Those who have been granted an exemption for medical or religious reasons will be permitted to participate following state and federal guidance but will be required to show a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to competition and will be required to be masked for indoor competition.

COVID-19 Vaccines

All students are required to be fully vaccinated (two weeks after the last dose) with a US EUA-approved vaccine or a World Health Organization approved vaccine prior to arrival on campus.

The only exceptions to this requirement are students who have a valid medical or religious exemption according to Connecticut State law on file with the Health Center or international students who do not have access to an approved vaccine prior to their arrival in the US. All students with exceptions to this policy must get clearance/approval from the Health Center before arrival.

For international students: If a valid medical or religious exemption is not on file with the Health Center, students must have a plan in place through the Health Center to get vaccinated as soon as possible after their arrival in the US.

If COVID-19 booster shots become recommended, based on federal, state, local and Founders League guidelines, the school may require students to get a COVID-19 booster shot.

Testing

Testing requirements will be determined by the school based on federal, state, and local guidance.

Surveillance Testing: Students with a valid religious or medical exemption and who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 will be required to participate in weekly (sometimes twice a week according to Founders League rules) PCR testing through a laboratory determined by the school. Additional testing requirements may apply for those who are not vaccinated. The cost of any surveillance testing for unvaccinated students will be the responsibility of the family.

Symptomatic Testing: Students who present at the Health Center with symptoms consistent with the COVID-19 and/or influenza viruses will be tested for COVID-19 as well as influenza. Generally, students will be tested using a rapid/antigen test for COVID-19 as this type of test is very accurate when used on those who are symptomatic. A PCR test may be sent as a backup for those students who are not vaccinated and/or who have a high suspicion of being COVID positive.

Testing of Close Contacts: Any unvaccinated students will be quarantined and tested using a PCR test if they considered a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. Students who are vaccinated may or may not be tested if they are deemed to be a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.

Antibody (serology) Tests: At this time, antibody testing will not play a role in any of the School’s COVID-19 policies. In addition, we cannot accept antibody titers in lieu of proof of vaccination.

Students (day and boarding) who are vaccinated against COVID-19 who are at home should not come to campus if they are feeling unwell and should not return to school until they are fever free for 24-hours and symptoms are resolving. Vaccinated students may be asked to submit a negative COVID-19 test prior to their return and should contact the Health Center for guidance prior to returning to campus.

Students who are not vaccinated for COVID-19 will be required to submit a negative PCR COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus if at home and feeling unwell with COVID-like symptoms. Please call the Health Center prior to your son’s return to campus for further instructions.

Quarantine

Unvaccinated students and employees who have been identified as being a close contact of a positive or suspected positive COVID-19 case will be required to quarantine off campus based on CDC and Connecticut DPH’s quarantine guidelines which can be found here. Students who are required to quarantine must be picked up by a parent/guardian or emergency contact within eight hours of notification that a quarantine has been deemed necessary by our trained contact tracing team. The student will remain in isolation in the Health Center until the arrival of the parent or guardian.

Students and employees who are required to quarantine must be cleared by the Health Center prior to returning to school/work.

Currently, fully vaccinated students do not have to quarantine if they are identified as being a close contact of a positive or suspected positive COVID-19 case. They may, however, be required to undergo a PCR test.

Isolation

Students who test positive for COVID-19 or who are assumed positive by clinical presentation and confirmed by our medical director or another doctor or practitioner (despite vaccination status) are required to isolate off campus until ALL of the following requirements are achieved (CDC isolation requirements):

• 10 days since the onset of initial symptoms OR 10 days since a positive test result if asymptomatic AND • 24 hours with no fever (and no antipyretic medication) AND • COVID-19 Symptoms are improving AND • Obtain Health Center approval to return to campus

Per the School’s Communicable Disease Policy, students are required to be picked up within eight hours of being notified by the Health Center or Deans of Students’ Office and isolate off campus. The student will remain in isolation in the Health Center until the arrival of the parent or guardian.

Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 are required to get medical clearance from their primary care doctor prior to returning to athletics.

Off-Campus Athletics

Currently, students are allowed to participate in any/all off campus activities as long as the student’s leave from campus has been approved by the Dean of Students Office. No additional testing or quarantine will be required. See Return to Campus policy for additional details.

Currently, students who are not vaccinated may return to campus after sports-related activities without additional testing/quarantine requirements as long as they are not experiencing any symptoms and have had no known exposure to COVID-19.

Weekend Leaves

At this time there are no restrictions to weekend leaves. See Return to Campus policy for additional details, especially in regards to traveling.

Return to Campus Policy

Travel: Before and after travel, please refer to the CDC’s recommendations on international travel here and CDC’s recommendations for domestic travel here. Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) has travel-related guidance consistent with CDC recommendations and can be found here. We ask that students and their families who visit campus or who are returning to campus follow these guidelines whenever possible.

Currently, after repopulation, students who are not vaccinated may return to campus after travel, sports-related activities, family gatherings, etc. without additional testing/quarantine requirements as long as they are not experiencing any symptoms and have had no known exposure to COVID-19. They will resume regular weekly COVID-19 testing upon their return.

Visitor Policy

Currently, we recommend that all visitors to campus who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 wear a mask or face covering. Anyone who is feeling ill should not visit campus. Anyone who has a known or suspected exposure to COVID-19 in the last 14 days should not come to campus.

If you are traveling to campus from outside of Connecticut, please refer to the following documents and follow the guidelines/recommendations:

CDC’s international travel guidance CDC’s domestic travel guidance State of CT’s travel guidance (consistent with CDC)