COVID Information

Overall Goal of School Operations and Protocols

We will strive to keep school open and operating as close to pre-COVID standards in the safest way possible, taking all reasonable steps to limit the spread of the virus in our community. As we enter the third year of the pandemic, we will balance the need for academic, social and emotional development of our students with the safety and health of our community. Our operating protocols are not fixed and will be adjusted based on rate of community spread.

Operating Scenarios

1. Traditional Operation (Pre-COVID)
    
2. Fully in-person with mitigation protocols (2021-22)
   a. All students must learn on campus; no fulltime at-home learning option will be available
   b. Students who are not COVID positive or quarantined but are symptomatic or ill will be encouraged to rest and get better; online learning will not be available.
   c. Students who are Covid positive or quarantined, well enough and able, and verified by campus nurses, will be required to learn synchronously, on-line from home for the duration of the isolation or quarantine.
   e. Students in grades PK – 2 who are positive or quarantined will be provided self directed work to be completed at home and will learn asynchronously.
   f. Students who are Covid positive or quarantined will not be allowed to participate in any in-person school events or activities.
    
3. Hybrid learning with mitigation strategies. (2020-21 school year)
    
4. Fully online. (spring 2019)

Operating Scenario 2 Mitigation Protocols

1. Health Screening
   a. Students and employees will not be required to screen daily but need to stay home if they report any symptoms.
   b. Faculty will be instructed to send all symptomatic students to campus nurse; campus nurses will send symptomatic students home. A note from your doctor is not required to return to school.
   d. If you have any questions or concerns regarding Covid, email covid@Bolles.org.
    
2. Face Covering
   a. Mask-optional policy for grades PreK through 12
   c. Evaluation will use community and school transmission data, aiming for low or moderate transmissions.
   d. Masks can be any color or pattern but may not include inappropriate or controversial words, pictures, or logos.
   e. While we are mask optional, students may be required to wear masks indoors in certain situations.
    
3. Physical Distancing
   a. In the upper and middle schools, students will be spaced as far apart as possible in classrooms, aiming for at least 3 ft.
   b. In the lower schools, cohorting will occur to the extent possible.
   c. Teachers will keep seating charts for contact tracing.
   d. Large group activities will be modified (for example, split into smaller groups, moved outside, shortened in time, etc.) or postponed to reduce the likelihood of close contact.
   e. Activities will take place outdoors when possible.
   f. Students will be distanced during lunch to the extent possible. (for example, utilizing additional seating in middle and upper schools, eating outside, rotating classes in cafeteria for lower school, etc.)
    
4. Hand Hygiene
   a. Sanitizing stations will be available in public areas.
   b. Students will be encouraged to wash hands frequently.
    
5. Sanitation
   a. Classrooms will be cleaned regularly, particularly high-touch areas.
    
6. Contact Tracing

   Given the current state of COVID in our community, we will no longer be contact tracing.  This means that we will continue to isolate students who are positive and quarantine symptomatic students waiting on test results, but we will not contact the families of students who come in close contact with positive individuals at school.  Instead, for the time being, we will treat this illness like we do other illnesses by keeping kids at home.

   • Students who have close contact outside of school and contact the school can still elect to quarantine.  In those situations, students may continue to learn from home with permission. This policy is not changing.
   • Students who test positive, are isolating, and feeling well enough may still learn from home for the designated isolation time. This policy is not changing.
      
7. Visitors
   a. Visitors will be allowed on campus and must abide by all safety protocols established.
   b. When pre-approved, groups of parents may meet on campus following the established protocols (for example, athletic parent meetings, orientations, Parent Association, etc.)
    
8. Athletics
   a. Middle and Upper school athletic programs will follow the guidelines of the FHSAA.
   b. Coaches will not allow symptomatic students to participate and will coordinate closely with campus nurses.
    
9. Arts
   a. Teachers will use outdoor locations and small sectionals when appropriate.
   b. Band students will use additional measures (bell covers, etc…) to reduce airborne droplets.

10. Vaccination
    a. Bolles strongly encourages eligible employees and students to consider getting the COVID vaccine to reduce the likelihood of spread               in our community, keep vulnerable members safe, prevent widespread absences and keep our school open.

11. Covid Symptoms to look for:
    a. Fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell,
     sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.

• A Message from the President and Head of School, COVID Update - January 13, 2022
• A Message from the President and Head of School, COVID Update - January 1, 2022
• A Message from the President and Head of School, COVID Update - October 21, 2021
• A Message from the President and Head of School, COVID Update - October 7, 2021
• A Message from the President and Head of School, COVID Update - September 9, 2021
• A Message from President and Head of School, Mask Mandate Extended - August 26, 2021
• A Message from President and Head of School - COVID UPDATE NOTICE - August 6, 2021