Community Health Update

03.03.22
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EMAIL:

  • An update from Head of School Kim Samson on this week's positive cases.
  • Masks are required indoors and on buses for all students, faculty, and staff the week following Spring Break (March 28 to April 1).
  • An at-home antigen test is required for all students, faculty, and staff before returning to campus after the break (for students, this date is Tuesday, March 29). Only positive results need to be shared with the Health Office.
  • If you have opted-in to the state program, we have provided you with your at-home antigen test; if you have not opted-in to the program, you will need to acquire your own test.
  • It's still not too late to opt-in to the antigen test program!
NEW INFORMATION
COVID-19 CASES AT A GLANCE
10 new cases
Total new cases since we shared numbers on February 25
More details about these cases below.
2 cases
Total of the above new cases determined from pool testing and on campus rapid testing
0 MS students;
2 US students;
0 employee*
8 cases
Total of the above new cases determined from home testing

0 MS students;
7 US students;
1 employee*
Total cases since the start of school
150 positive cases
(109 student cases; 41 employees)
*The term "employee" encompasses all BVR faculty/staff
(full-time & part-time) as well as contracted workers.
Next community pool testing date
Thursday, March 10, 2022
A NOTE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL KIM SAMSON ABOUT THIS WEEK'S POSITIVE CASES
Dear Families,

As you see above, there has been an uptick in our number of positive Covid cases. The majority of the students who tested positive were part of a group that was in close contact with one another off-campus this past weekend; it is not a direct result of us lifting the mask requirement at school.

We are continuing to be as transparent as possible about the status of our Covid positive cases, and we hope this gives families as much information as possible so they can make good choices with their children about whether or not to mask while at school.

As expected, there has been a mixture of masking and unmasking on campus this week. Adults have shared a wide array of reasons for their choices; students are being as responsible and respectful of one another, as we hoped. The importance of individual choice combined with compassion is visible throughout the Beaver community.

We are in consultation with medical experts about this increase in positive cases. If the number continues to go up over the next few days, we may get to a point where we need to require masks again before vacation. If we do so, it will be a result of advice from medical experts about the most responsible thing to do from a public safety standpoint.

Thank you for your support as we make this transition in our approach to Covid.

- Kim
RETURNING FROM SPRING BREAK
Faculty & staff return Monday, March 28
All students return Tuesday, March 29
WE WILL ALL MASK
From March 28 through April 1, masks are required indoors and on buses for all faculty, staff, and students. Faculty, staff, and students will receive five N95 masks from our previously donated supply the morning they arrive on campus. Here's a refresher on the hierarchy of proper masking from an earlier Community Health Update.

WE WILL ALL TEST AT HOME
Before returning to campus, all faculty, staff, and students are required to take an at-home antigen test. If you have opted-in to the state program, we have already provided you with your at-home antigen test; if you have not opted-in to the program, you will need to acquire your own test. It's still not too late to opt-in to the antigen test program!

  • Please note: only positive results need to be shared with the Health Office.

WE WILL ALL TEST AT SCHOOL
We will have Community Pool Testing on Wednesday, March 30, and we will share these results in our Community Health Update on Friday, April 1. Depending on the results from all our testing, we will then decide whether to return to mask-optional on Monday, April 4 or whether to wait an additional week.
If you have any questions around these protocols, please email the Beaver Health Office