COVID-19

As of February 28th, 2022, Montgomery School implemented a mask recommended policy as follows:

• Community members (students, staff, and visitors) may make their own, well-informed decisions about wearing masks in all settings on campus. 
• Montgomery School will inform grade levels when there are confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the grade of students who have been on campus within the infectious window. Community members may use this information to guide their decisions about wearing masks.
• Community members who are COVID positive will be required to wear a well-fitting mask upon their return to school until they are 10 days past their initial symptoms/positive test date.  
• Community members who have a COVID positive household contact will be required to wear a well-fitting mask for ten days from the family member's first symptoms or positive test (whichever came first). 
• Community members who have COVID positive contact are required to wear a well-fitting mask for ten days from the last day of contact with the positive person. 
• Required masking remains in place on buses if required by school district or governing authority outside of Montgomery School

Testing options for COVID-19

As of January 20, 2022, Chester County Health Department discontinued contact tracing, regardless of vaccination or COVID status, due to it becoming less effective and practical at the current level of community transmission and recent changes to the CDC quarantine and isolation recommendations. It is still strongly recommended that individuals who test positive notify any known close contacts.

Without a requirement to utilize the daily pre-screening app or conduct temperature checks at drop-off, faculty/staff members, parents, students, and approved vendors and visitors are asked to pre-screen themselves before coming to the School and remain at home if meeting one of the following criteria:

• fever ≥ 100 degrees
• Any symptoms of illness
• diagnosed COVID positive

If an individual is displaying any symptoms of illness (regardless of vaccination status), they must stay home and contact Mrs. Forbes for further direction. If your child does not warrant a COVID test or it is negative, they may return 24 hours after the fever has resolved without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are significantly improved.
 
If an individual is COVID positive (regardless of vaccination status), they must isolate for 5 days, as required by the CCHD, and can return to school masked for the full 10 days if they are asymptomatic or 48 hours after the fever has resolved without fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are significantly improved.

COVID-19 Testing -- The school now has the ability through Concentric by Ginkgo to administer rapid antigen tests for symptomatic individuals who are identified during the school day as well as for known close contacts who would like a test on day 5, supply dependent. It can also be used for pooled assurance testing of asymptomatic individuals during certain periods of increased risk of transmission or around activities with heightened risk. Families are asked to give consent for testing (although no tests will be administered without additional notification/permission at the time of the test).

Individuals with COVID have a range of symptoms, from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-10 days after exposure to the virus. People with any of these symptoms (not exhaustive) may have COVID: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

If symptoms emerge while at school, the individual will be sent home. While waiting to be picked up, if written consent to participate in the schools testing program has already been received, then verbal consent by the parent or legal guardian will be obtained and the symptomatic individual will be tested using a rapid antigen test. Any asymptomatic siblings may remain at school.
 

If an individual is COVID positive (regardless of vaccination status), they must isolate for 5 days, as required by the CCHD, and can return to school masked for the full 10 days if they are asymptomatic or 48 hours after the fever has resolved without fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are significantly improved.

If your child participates in Montgomery Athletics and they have previously contracted COVID-19, there may be an additional level of clearance they need before rejoining athletic participation. Please contact School Nurse Carol Forbes or Director of Athletics Carolyn Blair for more information.  Guidance will be provided for the Student-Athlete in order to resume full participation in Athletics.
 

Montgomery is pleased to provide limited, short-term remote learning access for students if all of the following circumstances are met:

• A student is unable to be on campus for documented medical reasons, or a student is required to quarantine as per school guidance,
• A medical provider’s note has been received by the student’s division head,
• The period of remote classroom access does not exceed two weeks, or is renewed with follow-up documentation from a medical provider.

“Remote Learning” refers to video and audio streaming from the classroom to other places, off campus, where our students can still learn. In some instances, it may include asynchronous learning if connection to the live classroom is not possible. With remote learning, our teachers can ensure that students remain up to date and involved in the core education being delivered on campus. Students who are approved for short-term remote access may not participate in athletics or after-school activities.

Montgomery re-affirms that students who are sick with any illness are encouraged to take a traditional sick day and are not expected to engage in remote learning. Students who are unable to attend school, but have not yet received a note from their medical provider, will also take traditional sick days until medical documentation is received by the school. Remote classroom access will not be approved for family vacations, educational trips, or to accommodate routine doctor appointments or similar absences. 

Montgomery School will continue to follow deep-cleaning and disinfection protocols.

Depending on rates of community transmission and other operational factors, larger group gatherings may be limited or designed to provide additional distance and separation of grade levels and groups. Such times may include but aren’t limited to community chapels, recess periods, and sporting events. This may include holding some events outside. Changes to these events will be shared by teachers and division leaders as they come onto the calendar. 

Parents, vendors, and approved visitors are permitted to come to the School for in person on-campus events. All visitors are to check-in at the Farmhouse. 

Depending on rates of community transmission and other school conditions, the school may at-times limit the number of visitors for special events. Should such measures be in place, community members will be informed of limits and procedures.

The Dining Room is open. Students and faculty/staff members enjoy family-style dining at their scheduled times and assigned tables. 

For any additional questions on COVID Health Policies, please contact School Nurse Carol Forbes at cforbes@montgomeryschool.org. 

Nurse Kim Baggio also continues to work with Montgomery as a member of our Health Advisory Committee. Nurse Forbes and Nurse Baggio may contact families if there is a need for follow-up on any questions or concerns.