March 17, 2022
Dear Escuela Families,
Spring Break is almost here, and we hope you are planning a fun and relaxing week with your children. Before we head off for break, we wanted to make you aware of some updates to our Covid Operating Plan. Last week NMPED released its updated Covid toolkit making substantial changes to how schools should proceed. We have reviewed the PED updates and have updated our guidelines. As always, some of our policies are more stringent than those in the PED guidelines. Here are our changes:
- Test-to-Stay is no longer required by PED. However, our funding will allow us to continue the Test-to-Stay program through the end of the school year. Starting next school year, it is unlikely we will have access to these resources, and unvaccinated on-campus close contacts will be required to quarantine following a Covid exposure.
- Surveillance testing is still required, and will continue weekly through the end of the school year. Register your student here.
- Students who have been kept home due to illness may return to school if they are fever free and have displayed reduced symptoms, without the use of symptom reducing medication, for at least 24 hours and provide a negative PCR test, two at-home rapid antigen tests taken 24-48 hours apart, or a note from a medical professional.
- Following a positive test, individuals returning to school after five days of self-isolation must submit a negative antigen test and wear a mask from Day 6-10.
- In the event of an on-campus close contact, we will initiate Test-to-Stay and all students who are close contacts will mask indoors.
- At-home rapid antigen COVID tests may be used for all testing requirements when accompanied with a signed assurance. We are working on incorporating this into our illness return form for your convenience.
- Non-essential visitors, community gatherings, field trips and Going Outs are now allowed. However, campus remains closed to parents between 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
- Unvaccinated individuals are now allowed on campus, but must fill out a Community Health Screening Form before entering campus.
These guidelines will continue:
- Vaccinated individuals who are off-campus close contacts are not required to quarantine, and may come to school as long as they remain asymptomatic. We require that they take an antigen or PCR test on Day 5 or 6, and mask for five days following the last day of exposure. In the case of continuous close contact (i.e. living in the same household) Day 5 is considered the last day of exposure.
- Unvaccinated individuals who are off-campus close contacts are required to quarantine for five days. In the case of continuous close contact (i.e. living in the same household) they will be required to quarantine for 10 days.
If you have any questions about the updated policies, please contact Escuela Covid Officer Elizabeth Marcilla.
Regards,
Kate Chavez ~ Executive Director
Elizabeth Marcilla ~ Administrative Director & Covid Officer
