COVID Update from the Head of School

As part of our regularly scheduled COVID testing, we tested 565 students, faculty, and staff. From that total, we had 9 positive results for a positivity rate of 1.6%. This is a significant reduction in our positivity rate from our last round of testing which took place immediately following winter break.

Of the 9 positives, 4 were students already in quarantine because they lived with an adult family member who tested positive. Four other students tested positive: two 12th graders, one 10th grader, and one 2nd grader in Ms. Guyer’s class. All students that tested positive will isolate for 14 days from the date of testing, except in the case of previously quarantined students that showed symptoms. In these cases, the symptomatic students will return 14 days after they first exhibited symptoms and after 24 hours of being symptom free.

There appear to be no connections between the four positive students on campus. We have also notified students deemed to have been in close contact with these positive students and those students will quarantine until Thursday when they will test again.

The final positive test result was for a varsity boys basketball coach. In addition, one of the Upper School positives was a member of the boys varsity basketball program. Both the coach and the student will isolate for 14 days and the varsity boys basketball team will quarantine until Thursday when they will be re-tested.

One of the Upper School students was a member of the swim team so our swim team will quarantine until Thursday at which time they will be tested.

Games and meets will obviously be cancelled.

I am very pleased that we have returned to a positivity rate that is more in keeping with our history last fall and I thank our families for the good choices they are making. It is difficult to stay focused but we must remember that this is a dangerous disease and while students do not seem to suffer serious symptoms, the older generation is quite at risk. To illustrate this point, we have had four parents or in-laws of faculty/staff pass from COVID over the past three months.

The vaccine is around the corner and our faculty/staff have already begun receiving their vaccines. Let’s keep doing the good work and get through to our next milestone, spring break. Our next regularly scheduled test date is Thursday, February 4th.