A vital part of our health and safety measures continues to be the mitigation of the COVID-19 virus. We are fortunate to have a beautiful campus, which has been modified to support enhanced ventilation throughout to provide more fresh air to our classrooms and common areas. In addition to enhanced ventilation, hand sanitizer and masks are readily available throughout campus for community members and visitors. Classes also have the ability to utilize our outdoor spaces when weather permits. These mitigation efforts are supported by the high percentage of students, faculty, and staff who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. If you or your daughter are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, we encourage you to visit your local clinic so that you, too, can benefit from this added layer of protection. We will open this school year with masks remaining optional for everyone, including visitors. Should national, state, or local agencies mandate any changes throughout the course of the year, we will be in touch with you to communicate any adjustments to our protocols. During periods of high transmission, testing may be required for overnight trips and high-risk activities such as indoor sports and co-curricular programs. Please review the details below for additional information related to masking and quarantine.
Masking
- Masks remain optional for all community members and visitors. As a community, we will respect individuals’ decisions related to mask wearing.
- Masks should fit snugly over the nose, mouth, and chin. Avoid single-layer cloth masks, or those made of thin fabric that don’t block light. To learn more, see this guidance from the CDC.
- Masks are required for community members returning to campus during days 6-10 of their recovery from COVID-19.
- Masks are recommended for those who have been in close contact with a positive case of COVID-19.
Vaccinations
Vaccines are the best layer of protection against severe illness from COVID-19, and they are widely available. We encourage everyone to make sure they are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations as eligibility allows.
Quarantine and Reporting
Please test your daughter if she is symptomatic and report positive cases via our COVID-19 Online Reporting Tool located on our COVID-19 dashboard. Following your submission, Nurse Jen Scheiderer (formerly Nurse Price) will contact you to clarify quarantine and return dates. If your child is out with ill symptoms that last longer than 24 hours, a negative test result or an alternative diagnosis must be provided. Test kits are widely available at your local pharmacies and grocery stores. CSG maintains a small inventory of tests; please contact Nurse Scheiderer if you are unable to obtain a test from your local stores, and she will supply you with one depending on availability.
If your daughter is symptomatic, please keep her home until a negative test result is received.
If your daughter tests positive for COVID-19, she must:
- Isolate at home for five days from the date of the onset of symptoms (day 0) or from the date of the positive test if she was symptom free.
- If she has been fever free for 24 hours, she may return to school on day 6, wearing a mask through day 10. Nurse Scheiderer will work with your family to help you determine these dates as well.
Since those testing positive for COVID-19 may still be contagious during their five-day return period at school, they will be provided with a separate dining space. Teachers will provide students who miss more than three days of school due to isolation with class notes on Canvas for Middle and Upper School students and learning activities for PYC and Lower School students.
Decision-making
Our COVID-19 Response Committee, consisting of school administrators and Nurse Scheiderer, meets regularly to discuss local, national, and international trends to plan for any surge or change related to the virus. The information collected by the team is shared during regular meetings with the full administrative team to determine whether or not adjustments are needed to our protocols. The team is also in regular contact with other local schools, the Ohio Department of Health, Franklin County Public Health, and Columbus Public Health.
Communication
COVID-19 cases on campus are updated weekly every Friday during the school year via our COVID-19 Dashboard. In alignment with Franklin County Public Health guidance, we will also continue to communicate via email if we have two or more cases within a cohort group, such as a classroom, club, or athletic team.
General Health and Wellness
As always, we will continue to monitor other health issues as they arise. Families can help us in these efforts by ensuring that students stay up to date on all vaccinations and wellness visits.