Health & Wellness

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

We are developing and updating health and safety practices in accordance with the CDC guidelines, state and local recommendations, and independent expert guidance. There will likely be changes over the school year based on the health of the community and evolving standards. As our practices shift, we will communicate any updates to students and families.

All community members will wear face coverings in classrooms and in common indoor spaces, as well as outside whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained. Frequent hand washing will be required. Hand-sanitizing stations will be installed across campus. Facilities will be cleaned with increased frequency by school staff. Additional appropriate, effective cleaning supplies will be made available for individual use.

Classrooms and common areas will allow for physical distancing with a minimum of six feet of separation.

MONITORING OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS

All community members will monitor their health daily, logging their data into our online health monitoring software. Temperature-check kiosks will be installed in dormitories and in the Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC). If a community member registers a high temperature, they will immediately visit the SHWC.

COVID-19 TESTING

COVID-19 tests are available on an individual basis with a doctor’s prescription at local labs and retail drug stores.

George School is working with a vendor to obtain a supply of COVID-19 testing kits. Due to the nationwide shortage, we may not receive them until the spring. Should we receive testing kits, we will have the ability to implement a randomized testing program and testing for symptomatic individuals to further ensure community safety.

CONTACT TRACING

Members of the SHWC staff and other community members have been certified in contact tracing. In coordination with local officials they will act to identify those who may have been exposed to the virus and work to contain the spread of infection. In the interests of limiting any potential spread of infection, all community members should understand they may be contacted by representatives of the school’s tracing program should this be necessary.

QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION

Quarantine refers to separating students who have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, or who have traveled from a hot spot, or who have traveled via public transportation, or who have symptoms but have tested negative. These students will be required to quarantine themselves for 14 days in their home if they are a day student or if they are a boarding student who lives within a fivehour drive of campus. Quarantine on campus will take place in single rooms in the dorms. Quarantined students will participate in classes remotely.

Isolation refers to complete separation of a student who tests positive for COVID-19 or has COVID-19 symptoms. These students will be encouraged to return home if it is within a five-hour drive of campus. Students who cannot return home will be moved to an isolation room. If they are significantly ill, students will be transferred to the hospital. If their health permits, they will participate in classes remotely.

MENTAL HEALTH

The service provided by our team of counselors will be more critically important than ever to the emotional and mental health and well-being of our students. We are developing strategies for outreach and delivery of support in ways that are both proactive and responsive to student needs.