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UPDATED COVID GUIDANCE
Katie Botha • August 15, 2022
DIOCESAN SCHOOL COVID GUIDANCE
Effective July 19, 2022
- Pursuant to VDH guidance, masks are no longer required or recommended in any school setting (indoor/outdoor) except for isolation purposes after testing positive for COVID. In those cases, persons who test positive for COVID should stay home for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or the day of a positive test. Once symptoms resolve/improve and the individual is fever-free for 24 hours, they may return on Day 6. Masks are recommended through Day 10. While a negative test is not required to return to school on Day 6, it is recommended for individuals who do not wear a mask from Day 6 through Day 10.
- Quarantine is no longer required for anyone exposed (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period or having direct contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person) to someone who has tested positive, regardless of vaccination status, so long as the exposed individual is asymptomatic. Masking is encouraged for those exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID.
- Contact tracing will only be done for those in close contact in a prolonged instructional classroom setting, not for lunch, recess, athletics, or other incidental situations. The school will only notify those individuals who were in direct close contact with the person who tested positive.
- This guidance could change at a local school level if a particular school experiences an outbreak of COVID.
Congrats to our Classroom Winners & School Winner, sixth grader, Will H.!
Tips & Strategies from Mrs. Slagle
Faithful Citizenship Resources In anticipation of Election Day on November 5, the Virginia Catholic Conference has prepared voter education resources to help Catholics confidently vote with an informed conscience. Those resources can be found on the Catholic Diocese of Richmond's website . School Day Reminders This year, Election Day is a regular school day with a regular bell schedule at Saint Mary's Catholic School. In prior years, it has coincided with Parent-Teacher Conferences resulting in a day-off for students; however, that is not the case this school year. Many of our students across all grade levels are aware of the importance of Election Day. We anticipate the days leading up to Election Day and those following it will provide topics of conversation that students may choose to engage in both inside and outside the classroom. If necessary, our teachers may offer age-appropriate explanations of the day's events and results. As family members, we encourage you to guide your children as they navigate their thoughts and feelings over the coming weeks and months.
Lessons in World Culture and Catholic Tradition
Middle School Students Prepare to Serve
Let's Give a Mighty Hand to Appalachian Flood Victims
Saint Mary's Team selected for 2025 HERC Challenge
Reminders from Mrs. Slagle and Mrs. Bisese
Orientation is Oct. 26th & 27th
Get Ready to Read
