Dear Families,
I hope that you are well and continuing to enjoy time with family and friends this summer. My colleagues and I are very excited to welcome our students back to a full five-day schedule of classes on campus for the 2021-2022 school year and we are in the midst of final preparations for our opening day. Faculty and staff are refining curriculum, preparing classrooms, and engaging in professional development. As always, the goal of this work is to provide our students with a rigorous and rewarding learning experience within a vibrant and nurturing school environment.
Once more, we are called to open school within the context of COVID-19; consequently, this letter will focus on policies and protocols designed to secure community health and wellbeing along with the continuity of our program on campus. Happily, we have the benefit of having learned from successful operations last year--and I would like to thank you again for all that you did to help make this possible. Additionally, we have relied on consultation with medical experts, research on school-related data, as well as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and local health authorities.
It bears repeating that COVID-19 conditions are fluid, as we know from the emergence of variants like Delta. The guidelines and mitigation protocols listed below may change during the year as we assess various conditions including the local rate and prevalence of infection, shifting guidance, etc.
VACCINATION
All Berkeley Carroll employees have met our vaccination requirement. As I noted during the last school year, and per this July’s reminder, all students who are currently eligible must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Students turning 12 over the course of this school year should receive the first vaccine dose within a month of their birthday. As eligibility expands to younger age groups, we will expect students to be vaccinated as quickly as possible. Families will receive follow up to this effect as their children become eligible. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the BC Health Team (healthteam@berkeleycarroll.
MASKING
Berkeley Carroll will begin the school year with a universal indoor masking requirement. All students, employees, and any other individuals entering our buildings will need to wear a well-fitted, appropriately constructed mask. Masks with exhalation valves, neck gaiters, and bandanas are not permitted. Lower and Middle School students will need to mask outdoors as well; however, Upper School students will not be required to wear masks outside.
TESTING
For Vaccinated Students and Employees
Vaccinated students and employees will not submit entry or routine surveillance samples to test for COVID-19; however, individuals in this population will be required to undergo PCR testing if they are symptomatic or identified as a contact of a known carrier of COVID-19.
For Unvaccinated Students
Unvaccinated students who are participating in on-campus activities prior to the September 9th opening of school (i.e. visiting day, new student orientation), must submit a negative PCR test taken between August 28th and August 31st and submitted by September 1st. The test submission link will be shared with you in next week’s divisional communications.
We will begin surveillance testing of unvaccinated students during the first week of school. Students in this age cohort will receive a testing kit on Thursday, September 9th, and need to return it for testing on Friday, September 10th. We will continue testing this age group for the first four weeks of school to provide us with initial data regarding our unvaccinated population. The first two weeks of surveillance testing data may heavily reflect summer activities, holidays, and travel rather than conditions in school; nevertheless, this data will help us to identify positive cases, whatever their source. We will monitor internal and external data on the rate and prevalence of COVID-19 to determine whether to shift our approach to testing.
DAILY SYMPTOM ATTESTATION AND SICK POLICY
We will continue to require that all students and employees submit daily symptom attestation prior to entering school (or boarding the school bus). For attestation, we have shifted from Ruvna to School Pass. Each family will be receiving a letter this week from School Pass with instructions for downloading and using the app. Students who are sick should not come to school. Please note that the Health Team has discretion to require students whom they deem unwell to be picked up early from school.
EXPOSURE AND QUARANTINING
In divisional letters next week, we will provide an update on our opening practices regarding exposure and quarantine, including distinctions for vaccinated and unvaccinated populations as well as masked and unmasked exposures.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
The CDC recommends that people not travel internationally until they are fully vaccinated. All students who have traveled abroad must follow the CDC's guidance (Below are their travel guidelines as of August 18th; please always check the CDC website for their current guidelines):
For Vaccinated Travelers: After landing in the U.S., travelers must monitor for symptoms, get tested with a viral non-rapid PCR test 3-5 days after travel, and present proof of the negative test result before attending school.
For Unvaccinated Travelers: Those who are unvaccinated must EITHER:
- A) Monitor for symptoms, and self-quarantine for 10 days before attending school; OR
- B) Monitor for symptoms, get tested with a viral non-rapid test 3-5 days after landing in the U.S., present proof of this negative test result, and self-quarantine for 7 days before attending school.
DISTANCING
We are employing a plan to keep 3 feet of distance between students. In keeping with CDC guidelines, additional mitigation practices will be in effect at all times.
VENTILATION
The school’s central HVAC systems allow for the maximum fresh air ventilation rate and high efficiency filters are in use. Most rooms have functioning windows to the outside and will be opened to allow for air exchange. For the few rooms without windows, air purifiers with HEPA filters will be used to supplement the central HVAC system in use. Our ventilation system is regularly maintained and also checked each summer.
CLEANING
Tabletops, doors handles, backs of chairs, and other frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected using EPA-approved disinfectant.
EVENTS AND VISITORS
At the start of the school year, our buildings will generally be closed to family members and visitors. As we open campus for future events and meetings, all visitors, including family members, must fill out the School Pass attestation and show proof of vaccination upon entry.
Next week, the Division Directors will be in touch with additional, division-specific information. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our Health Team or to the Division Directors. Until we reconvene in September, I am wishing you well.
All Best,
Lisa Yvette Waller, Ph.D.
Head of School