This document is for general guidelines only. If you have specific questions related to your child’s situation please direct them to Nurse Maxwell, 454-688-5400 or amaxwell@sainthelenaschool.org
COVID-19 Mitigation
GOAL – To decrease the transmission of COVID-19 while in the school setting.
When to Notify the School
- An SHS student tests positive for COVID-19
- Someone living in the same household as an SHS student tests positive for COVID-19
- An SHS student was identified as a close contact to a positive case
Principal – Denise Britt; dbritt@sainthelenaschool.org
Nurse – April Maxwell; amaxwell@sainthelenaschool.org
Testing
SHS strongly recommends that at-home testing be followed by a rapid antigen or PCR test performed by a practitioner. We have found the at-home tests produce both false positive results and false negative results at times. Additionally, only a positive Rapid or positive PCR test given by a practitioner will exempt your child from further quarantines in the 90 day period.
Quarantine, Isolation and Masking guidelines
- An SHS student tests positive for COVID-19
- All students who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate and be excluded from school and extracurricular activities for 5 days after the onset of symptoms or the swab which led to the positive result.
- The student will be required to wear a mask while in school and while participating in CYO and extracurricular activities on days 6-10 after isolation is complete
- A negative test is NOT required to return to school
- Someone living in the same household as an SHS student tests positive for COVID-19
- Regardless of vaccination status, students who have a household family member who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 5 days AFTER their last exposure to the positive family member.
- If the positive individual is able to isolate in the home then the SHS student will begin their 5 day quarantine period the day after the positive individual enters isolation
- If in-home isolation is not an option then the SHS student must quarantine during the positive individuals isolation period PLUS an additional 5 days which will begin the day after the positive individual is released from isolation.
- The use of a face covering while continuing to utilize common areas of the home does NOT meet the requirements for in-home isolation
- The student will be required to wear a mask while in school and while participating in CYO and extracurricular activities on days 6-10 after quarantine is complete
- A negative test is not required to return to school if the student remains asymptomatic during their quarantine period. If the student does develop symptoms the school nurse should be notified and the student will be required to test prior to returning to the classroom.
- Regardless of vaccination status, students who have a household family member who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 5 days AFTER their last exposure to the positive family member.
- An SHS student was identified as a close contact to a positive case
- If exposure was a one-time, isolated event, such as exposure at a baseball game, and the student is asymptomatic they may continue to attend school but must wear a mask for 10 days after they were exposed.
- If the close contact develops symptoms they must stay home and be tested for COVID-19.
Criteria for Positive Case Reporting
Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH) requires that schools provide a broad based notification after an in-school positive case is identified in order to notify individuals of the potential exposure. The purpose of broad based notifications is to provide awareness of COVID-19 cases to allow families to make decisions surrounding prevention strategies.
- In School: An in-school positive case is defined as a student or staff member who was physically in the school building during the 48-hour infectious period prior to becoming symptomatic or testing positive. Student/staff attendance is reviewed, and “close contacts” are informed individually. After close contacts are informed, families are notified via email about an in school positive case.
- Out of School: An out of school positive case is defined as a student or staff who was not physically on campus during the 48-hour infectious period. These students/staff will be provided with guidance related to isolation but the case will NOT be reported to the school community.