COVID-19 protocols
As of 9/1/2024
Watkinson’s plan for maintaining the health and safety of students and staff continues to follow all mandates, best practices, and current recommendations from the CDC, Connecticut State Department of Education, and the Connecticut Department of Health.
MASKING POLICY
Masking will be optional on campus, unless otherwise specified or requested.
GENERAL LAYERED MITIGATION STRATEGY
Campus-wide, we make use of our outdoor spaces as much as possible for teaching and learning, for lunch, and for activities. We use layered mitigation strategies as reasonable in the classrooms, keeping in mind that we are striving to have both the best teaching and learning for our students while simultaneously adopting recommended health and safety measures. Mitigation strategies include added ventilation, hand sanitizing, and distance between students when sensible is to be used when indicated.
ON-CAMPUS TESTING
There will be no regular COVID testing on campus this year.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR SENDING YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL
For general purposes, when deciding to send your child(ren) to school each day:
- If your student does not feel well, please keep them at home. Contact Watkinson’s school nurse for an assessment and school attendance plans. Depending on the situation, you may be referred to your own healthcare provider for testing and/or care plan.
- Vaccination against respiratory illnesses such as COVID and Influenza for students and staff is strongly encouraged.
SPECIFIC RETURN TO SCHOOL GUIDELINES
Positive Cases
Please continue to report positive cases of COVID-19 to the school nurse. The nurse will provide further health counseling and return to school instructions. Watkinson School follows the updated CDC guidance regarding returning to school and work once symptoms have resolved, including mask wearing upon return.Â
Known Close ContactsÂ
Quarantine is no longer recommended for asymptomatic close contacts, regardless of vaccination status. If you have been in contact with someone who you know has COVID and develop symptoms, please consider the CDC recommended mitigation strategies such as staying home, testing, distancing and masking until symptoms resolve.Â
UPDATES AND COMMUNICATION
CT DPH advises that schools monitor community conditions, and adjust prevention strategies accordingly. Watkinson will continue to monitor evolving conditions and keep all stakeholders informed. Â
Watkinson has discontinued the COVID case dashboard.
Any questions related to COVID can be addressed to our school nurse, Kendra Wiesel at kendra_wiesel@watkinson.org.
