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Cold Spring School

2022-2023 Health and Safety Guidelines

Our team of physicians on the school’s Pandemic Response Team (PRT) continue to guide us as we systematically and thoughtfully work through every detail for a smart and safe school year. 

The health and safety policies listed below are based on current available guidelines and best practices and also reflect the current transmission rate of COVID-19 in the local community. You will notice that some of the protocols from the 2021-2022 school year remain in place and others have been modified or lifted altogether. A careful reassessment of protocols has been done. Changes for the 2022-2023 school year are noted in bold italics.

  • Masks will remain optional for all students and vaccinated adults on campus.

  • Unvaccinated adults will be required to wear surgical or N95 masks when indoors on campus for drop-off, pick-up, or other reasons.

  • Melina will continue to guide families through protocols for close-contacts and isolation rules for positive cases according to the guidelines set by the PRT.

  • Group events will resume on campus with modifications as necessary.

Throughout the year, members of the PRT will continue to carefully monitor COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, local and state health statistics, guidance from the Connecticut Department of Health and the CDC and may adjust these recommendations as needed.

Health & Safety Guidelines

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. HEALTH AND SCHOOL
  2. PROTOCOLS FOR STUDENTS WITH POTENTIAL OR CONFIRMED COVID-19
  3. ENHANCED HEALTH & SAFETY MEASURES

 

1: HEALTH AND SCHOOL

As always, students who feel ill should not come to school. Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19, to other people. 

For any COVID-19 like symptoms, it is recommended that students get tested for COVID-19 and consult with their pediatrician. Students undergoing testing should remain home until they have results.

Parents who are unsure of whether or not to keep their student home should discuss this with their pediatrician or the school nurse before bringing their child to school.

  • FEVER: 

    • Students must stay home if they have a fever. These students may not return to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine.

    • If a student has a fever, we recommend they get tested for COVID-19.

 

  • RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS OR COUGH:

    • Parents who are unsure about COVID-19 testing recommendations in this case should contact the school nurse and/or your child’s pediatrician.

    • Students with upper respiratory symptoms so severe that they are unwell, can't participate, or want to go home should not come to school.

    • Students may wear a mask at school if they have mild upper respiratory symptoms (sneezing, runny nose) and should do so if they have a cough.

 

  • VOMITING AND/OR DIARRHEA:  

    • Students must stay home if they have any vomiting or diarrhea. These students may not return to school until they have been without any GI upset for 24 hours.

 

  • OTHER INFECTIONS AND ILLNESSES:

Students with any of the following should also stay home from school and follow the recommendations of their pediatrician.

  • Confirmed non-COVID viral infectious disease (Eg. Influenza or rhinovirus)

  • Bacterial infections requiring treatment (Eg. Strep throat or pink eye)

 

  • VACCINATION

As with other vaccines, it is recommended that students receive the COVID-19 vaccine as indicated for their age group by the ACIP/CDC

 

2: PROTOCOLS FOR STUDENTS WITH POTENTIAL OR CONFIRMED COVID-19

  • CLOSE CONTACTS:

    • Students who are close contacts of COVID-19 cases outside of school must follow current CDC guidance for close contacts. 

      • Please contact the school nurse to notify her of the situation.

      • Students who are close contacts can continue to attend school if they are asymptomatic. 

      • Students who are close contacts must wear a high-quality mask while indoors for 10 days. 

      • If students who are close contacts become symptomatic, we recommend they get tested for COVID-19. In this case, students should remain home until either their test results have come back or their symptoms are significantly improved. The school nurse will follow up.

 

  • POSITIVE CASES:

    • If a student has confirmed COVID-19, they should isolate per current CDC guidelines 

      • Please contact the school nurse to notify her of positive test results.

      • Students who are positive must spend 5 days at home

      • Students  who are positive may return to school and wear a mask indoors for 5 additional days so long as their symptoms are significantly improved.

      • Students who are positive must be fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication to return to school.

 

3: ENHANCED HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES

  • Cold Spring School’s air purification systems continue to be used. 

  • Classroom windows will be open whenever possible, weather permitting.

  • Hand washing procedures will be maintained at school when returning from being outside, after using the bathroom, before and after eating and when hands are visibly soiled. 

  • Any student exhibiting symptoms of illness during the day will be sent to the nurse’s office. When deemed necessary, a student may need to be picked up immediately (as soon as possible, but no more than 30 minutes after a call to a parent).

 

PANDEMIC RESPONSE TEAM

Our planning efforts continue to be guided by the thoughtful work of our Pandemic Response Team, a task force composed of administrators and physicians. We continue to closely monitor the pandemic and modify protocols.