HEALTH & SAFETY

These guidelines are dynamic and may be updated as deemed necessary by the School based on current advice and guidelines. 

Families are asked to partner with the school to ensure strict adherence to our health and safety procedures and policies.

A child will be considered well and allowed to attend school if they meet all of the following daily health observations:

• They have a temperature reading of 99° or lower.
• They have not had a fever of 100° or higher within the past 24 hours
• No cough.
• No shortness of breath.
• No body rashes or eye discharge.

Before morning drop-off parents must submit a completed daily health questionnaire for their child in the Magnus app.

• Parents will need to say goodbye outside the building as only enrolled students, faculty, staff, and essential visitors will be permitted to enter any school building unless by special invitation. 
• Students will wash their hands upon entering the room and before they engage in activities.

 

24 HOUR EXCLUSION POLICY

If a student is identified with the following symptoms, they will be excluded from the program for 24 hours starting the next day of exclusion:

• Fever of 100.0° or higher (during the school day).
• Continuous cough.
• Shortness of breath.

Students will be able to return to school once:

• Fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.
• Absence of continuous cough for 24 hours without cough suppressants.
• Absence of shortness of breath for 24 hours.
• The day the child is sent home from school is day 0.
• The day the child is free of symptoms (full day) without the use of medication is day 1 and the child can return on day 2 without symptoms or fever-reducing medication.
• COVID -19 regulations are different. Please see the information for COVID protocols below.

Students will be excluded from the program for 24 hours starting the next day of exclusions if they have any of these symptoms:

• Vomiting (without known cause).
• Diarrhea (loose stools 2-3 times during the day).

Students will be able to return to school once:

• Vomit-free for 24 hours.
• Diarrhea-free for 24 hours.

In addition, the following practices will be followed:

• An unvaccinated student cannot be on campus if they have a pending COVID-19 test due to exposure or symptoms
• A vaccinated student cannot be on campus if they have a pending COVID-19 test due to symptoms
• An unvaccinated student cannot be on campus if anyone in their household has a pending COVID-19 test due to exposure or symptoms.
• A vaccinated student can be on campus if someone in their household is getting tested for whatever reason
• A student can be on campus if anyone in their household has a pending COVID-19 test but has no known exposure and does not have symptoms (i.e. test for travel, or work)

If a parent is called to come to pick up their child due to illness, they must be at school within one hour. No exceptions.

If a student is sent home, they MUST remain home for 24 hours (2 days) following the date they were excused. Doctor's notes will not shorten the exclusion policy for any reason. COVID -19 regulations are different. Please see the information for COVID protocols.

Two Nurses will be on campus, one primarily dedicated to the Big School and one primarily dedicated to the Little School.  

If a child presents with any symptoms that would exclude them from the program, the nurse will immediately take the child into quarantine and notify the parent in writing and/or by phone.

 

ISOLATION FOR SICKNESS

If a child falls ill while on campus they will be removed from the classroom and their parent/guardian will be notified. The child will remain with the school nurse, or other appointed school personnel until the parent/guardian arrives on campus. Parents must arrive on campus within one hour of notification.

 

CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 IN SCHOOL

Upon receiving notification that a child or staff member has received a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, the following actions will take place: 

• School personnel will contact the Fairfax County Health Department.
• School personnel will notify all families of students enrolled in the specified grade or classroom.
• The School will conduct contact tracing of students and teachers in the affected class of a confirmed case of COVID-19 at school and submit a report to the Fairfax County Health Department. 
• The students in preschool and junior kindergarten who must quarantine may participate in asynchronous learning, and students in kindergarten-grade 8 may participate in synchronous learning until it is determined it is safe for them to return to school for in-seat classes.

 

COVID-19 QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS

Updated April 28, 2022

 

Big School (Kindergarten-Grade 8)

Quarantine Guidelines for Positive Cases:

Students who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status or symptoms are required to quarantine for five (5) days. A negative test is not required to return to school. The student must also wear a mask for five (5) days when they return to school.

Quarantine Guidelines for Direct Contacts:

Fully vaccinated students who had direct contact with a positive case do not need to quarantine if they do not have symptoms. It is highly recommended that they take a PCR or Rapid Antigen test on day five (5) after contact. The student must also wear a mask for five (5) days when they return to school.

Students who are not fully vaccinated need to quarantine for five (5) days and get tested on day five (5) after contact.  They may return on day six (6) as long as the school nurse has received the negative test result. They must also wear a mask for five (5) days when returning to school after quarantine.

 

Little School (Infants-Junior Kindergarten)

Quarantine Guidelines for Positive Cases:

Students in the Little School who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status or symptoms are required to quarantine for ten (10) days. A negative test is not required to return to school. Students age 2 and older must also wear a mask for five (5) days when they return to school.

 

Quarantine Guidelines for Direct Contacts:

Fully vaccinated students who had direct contact with a positive case do not need to quarantine if they do not have symptoms. It is highly recommended that they take a PCR or Rapid Antigen test on day five (5) after contact. Students age 2 and older must also wear a mask for five (5) days when they return to school.

Students who are not fully vaccinated need to quarantine for five (5) days and get tested on day five (5) after contact.  They may return on day six (6) as long as the school nurse has received the negative test results. Students age 2 and older must also wear a mask for five (5) days when returning to school after quarantine.