• Face Coverings: State officials are requiring all T3-12 students, staff, and guests (regardless of vaccination status) to wear face coverings inside school buildings this fall. Face coverings are optional when outdoors and may be removed when actively eating/drinking. Students in grades 1-12 may wear any solid color mask without adornments. Neck gaiters are not allowed. UA masks or masks that are monogrammed with a student’s initial are acceptable.

• Physical Distancing: Classrooms have been arranged to maximize physical distancing between students, while still ensuring all children have access to a comprehensive, full-day experience. Younger students will remain in static groups when possible. Students should attempt to maintain distancing to the greatest degree possible during passing, while eating, and in common areas. When needed, larger classes will move to a larger space in order to provide for proper physical distancing.

• Eating and Drinking: To ensure a safe eating experience, CDC-recommended physical barriers will be placed between students while eating indoors. Students will be socially distanced during outside lunchtime. Sage meal services will be available to students. Water fountains will only be available for bottle filling. Students are encouraged to bring approved water bottles daily. 

• Hygiene: Hand washing or hand sanitizing is required of all students as they enter each classroom and before lunch and recess. Sanitization access will be available throughout campuses and classrooms. Hand sanitizer is placed in every classroom. Classroom surfaces and high-touch surfaces will be cleaned twice per day. Each classroom will have cleaning supplies.

• Health Screening: Students, faculty, and staff must stay home when sick. Students/families are expected to check for symptoms daily at home before coming to campus. Click here to report a student's close COVID exposure, symptoms, or diagnosis.

• School Closure: On-campus, in-person learning will take place every day. There is no all-virtual instruction model for individual students. Students will engage in virtual learning in the event of a government-mandated closure or if the school deems it necessary to close. Ursuline will not offer a virtual instruction model for individual students. 

• Early Childhood Learning Center - an Essential Business. Our Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC 6, weeks-PK4) including Lily House, will operate as an essential business if there’s a mandated closure. ECLC and Lily House will continue serving our families and make educated decisions based upon information and recommendations from the Governor’s Office and the New Orleans Department of Health.

• Contact Tracing and Quarantining:  Our School Nurse Janea’ Dillon will contact families of students who are close contacts and will coordinate the appropriate timeline for quarantine and testing if needed. Students who are close contacts of a positive COVID case will be required to quarantine if the close contact is not vaccinated. Vaccinated individuals who are close contacts are not required to quarantine according to CDC, LDH, and LDE guidance. Close contact continues to be defined as contact within six feet for 15 cumulative minutes or more within a 24 hour period. For specific questions regarding contact tracing and quarantining, please contact nurse Janea’ Dillon or Jennie Guidry, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction.

• Faith Formation and Mass: Spiritual formation and faith development is a core value at Ursuline Academy. Our Campus Ministry team is providing resources for spiritual support and hope through the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regular school-wide celebrations of the Eucharist, retreats, and other opportunities to pray, study, worship, and serve may be modified or adapted as necessary.

• Extracurricular Activities & LHSAA Athletics: Extracurricular and co-curricular clubs and activities will continue but must adhere to maximum group sizes, physical distance protocols, and all other safety guidelines as necessary. LHSAA Athletic activities will adhere to the recommendations put forth in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Guidance.