JUMP IN Far Hills Country Day School’s Updated COVID-19 Protocols Effective: 03/07/2022
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL March 4, 2022 Dear Parents, As you are aware, New Jersey’s school mask mandate is lifted, effective Monday, March 7, 2022. Last week, the CDC eased its masking recommendations. On February 22, 2022, the New Jersey Department of Health updated its recommendations for COVID-19 protocols in schools. And Far Hills Country Day School has not had a case reported within our community in three weeks. All of these factors together mean that beginning Monday, March 7, 2022, Far Hills Country Day School will be mask optional. For nearly two years, we have gathered critical information from public health experts to guide us through the pandemic. This circumstance is no different. The experts we spoke to agree that moving to a mask-optional policy starting March 7 makes sense at this time, given the precipitous decline in positivity locally, as well as the decrease in the severity of the infection. Understandably, the move in this direction is welcomed news for many but concerning to others. There may be members of our community who will prefer to remain masked, and of course, we will respect that decision. Students will be instructed to treat one another with respect regardless of their family’s decision regarding masking. The Governor’s announcement about lifting the mask mandate in schools as of March 7 is one more indication that schools are moving toward more normal operations while continuing with other commonsense measures to keep our communities healthy. You will find all of the updated guidelines outlined in this COVID-19 Protocol document. If you have any questions, please contact our Health Office. We continue to be cautiously optimistic as we head into the third trimester of the year. The safety and health of Far Hills Country Day School’s students, employees, and families will continually be our top priority. We appreciate our entire community’s efforts and dedication during this time. Thank you and be well,
Georgia S. Zaiser Head of School
MASKING
SCREENING
As of Monday, March 7, 2022, Far Hills Country Day School is mask optional. This means that it is up to each individual whether or not they mask when inside our school building. We recognize that this is a family decision. Peer pressure, bullying, or any other behaviors not aligned with our Pillars of Character will not be tolerated.
Every student and employee must complete the SchoolPass screener daily. If the SchoolPass screener is not completed, the student or employee will not be allowed to enter the building. This applies to if you are dropping your child off to school late, as well.
The mask-optional policy applies to classrooms, hallways, locker rooms, bathrooms, gathering spaces, athletics games and matches, visitors, after-school events, and buses. It is important to note that if our community returns to a High Community Level of COVID-19, the CDC recommends mandatory indoor masking.
LUNCH We will continue to encourage and enforce social distancing measures with our food service. There will be a covered space outside where students can eat.
Students/employees should stay home if they have two or more symptoms of any illness, not just symptoms of COVID-19.
QUARANTINE Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will quarantine days zero to five. They may return to Far Hills Country Day School on day six, if asymptomatic. However, they must mask days six to ten. They will eat lunch separately from other students and employees until day eleven.
WHEN SYMPTOMS ARE PRESENT If a student or employee presents with two or more symptoms of any illness, they will be sent home. The student or employee may return to school when symptoms resolve, or a doctor provides an alternate diagnosis (example: allergies). If symptoms resolve at home and the student or employee did not go to the doctor, they will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test result. If your child is sick or absent for any reason, please call or email the Health Office.
EXPOSURE If a case arises in the school community, the Health Office will contact you if your child is considered a close contact. The Health Office will walk you through any next steps. As a reminder, a close contact is defined as someone who was within six feet of the person who tested positive for more than fifteen minutes. If a student or employee is fully vaccinated (see VACCINATED, DEFINED), they will not need to quarantine if a case arises in the school community. If person is unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated (see VACCINATED, DEFINED) and has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the school community, they will receive specific instructions from the Health Office.
POSITIVE HOUSEHOLD MEMBER Regardless of vaccination status, a student or employee with a household member who has tested positive should stay home for five days from the last contact with the household member who is positive for COVID-19. The student or employee will test on day five to return to Far Hills Country Day School on day six with a negative result. The student or employee will continue to wear a mask for ten days from the date of their last close contact. The student or employee should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for ten days from the exposure date.
VACCINATED, DEFINED For children ages five to eleven to be considered fully vaccinated, they must complete a primary series of the vaccine: two doses of Pfizer. For children ages twelve to seventeen to be considered fully vaccinated, they must have two doses of Pfizer and be up to date with any eligible boosters. For adults to be considered fully vaccinated, they must have two doses of Pfizer/Moderna or one dose of J&J and be up to date with any eligible boosters.
PRESCHOOL-SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS If someone tests positive for COVID-19 in a Preschool classroom, all students and teachers in that classroom will be required to test immediately and again on day five. They will not be excluded from school; however, they will be required to wear a mask for ten days.
WHEN MASKING WILL BE REQUIRED Anyone who is sent to the Health Office exhibiting symptoms related to COVID-19 will wear a mask while in the Health Office and will remain masked until they are picked up by a parent/guardian to protect anyone else present at that time.
VISITORS Far Hills Country Day School’s campus will be open to parents and visitors once again. We will remain cognizant of crowds and social distancing; however, we do plan to host events in-person moving forward.
MITIGATION STRATEGIES • We will continue to encourage social distancing, three or more feet apart. • Faculty and staff are encouraged to open windows to increase circulation in classrooms and gathering spaces. • Faculty are encouraged to take students outside for learning opportunities. Please be sure students arrive to school with the proper attire for the weather. • We will continue to encourage hand washing or sanitizing during all transitions or at least once per hour. • High-touch surface areas will be cleaned during all transitions. • Bathrooms and classrooms will be disinfected each evening by a professional cleaning service.
LOOKING AHEAD If this virus has taught us anything, it’s that everything can change, and it can change quickly! Far Hills Country Day School asks our families and community to remain patient, understanding, and flexible. Our top priority is to keep our community safe and healthy so that extraordinary learning can happen. We will continue to watch county and state trends and adjust our protocols as needed.