How will students learn about Existing and evolving health and safety protocols and expectations?
Students and parents/guardians receive regular communications, the most recent being an email titled Important COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols for School Opening. Orientation included training on safety protocols for our students, and regular guidance is provided throughout the year. In addition, this webpage will be updated with any new information.
Have Faculty and Staff been vaccinated?
Considered essential workers in the State of Maryland, all faculty and staff were first offered access to the vaccinations beginning in February 2020. As of August 2021, close to 90% of our community is vaccinated. Boosters are encouraged.
ARe vaccinations required for students?
Not at this time. However the vast majority (90%) of our community is vaccinated. To protect the health and safety of our community, all Oldfields students will be required to be fully vaccinated (meaning they have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible) prior to the opening of the 2022-2023 school year (August 19, 2022 for all students.)
Oldfields understands and respects parental/familial choice in this matter. Medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If a student is not fully vaccinated by the opening day of school and has not been approved of a medical or religious exemption by August 19, 2022, they may not continue to be enrolled at Oldfields School. This policy is intended to comply with federal and state law and is subject to the limitations of federal and state law. This policy may also be affected by the availability of the vaccine. Requests for a medical or religious exemption will be considered in the following circumstances:
Medical contraindications to vaccination documented by a primary care provider.
Sincerely held religious objections documented by a religious leader.
Temporary international exemption due to lack of access to the vaccine.
Do students, faculty, and staff need to have a COVID-19 test before Returning to school after breaks?
Regardless of vaccination status, all Oldfields students, employees, and campus residents are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 (PCR only) test prior to arrival on campus at the beginning of the year and after major breaks. Any questions pertaining to testing should be directed to the Oldfields Health Center at HealthCenter@OldfieldsSchool.org.
If a situation arises when the Health Center feels a test is required, students, faculty or staff, maybe asked to retest.
Any questions pertaining to testing should be directed to the Oldfields Health Center at HealthCtrNurses@OldfieldsSchool.org
What is a campus departure plan?
Each student is required to have a campus departure plan in place prior to arrival on campus. This plan is enacted for a positive COVID-19 test, other medical situations, or other circumstances that require the student to depart campus within a 24-hour period. Medical determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Health Center staff and/or local healthcare professionals.
What happens if a community member becomes infected?
Oldfields has an action plan to ensure that we are prepared in the event a member of our community tests positive. Steps will be taken to protect the impacted individual, as well as the community as a whole. We are prepared for testing as necessary. Oldfields will follow isolation protocols, initiate the individual’s campus departure plan, and follow local public health procedures for contact tracing.
What if a community member doesn’t feel well?
Each day community members will be required to perform a self-assessment utilizing the Magnus App on their phones prior to arriving on campus or leaving their dorm/residence. If having any symptoms, non-residential community members should remain at home and contact the Health Center. Residential community members should follow the health and safety protocols that were outlined during Orientation.
If a community member becomes symptomatic while on campus, they will utilize the Health Center Annex, a separate location from the Health and Wellness Center (traditional school nurse’s office). Here students will be temporarily isolated from the Oldfields community while they await a formal assessment from the School Nurse. The nurse who will be performing the assessment will follow all CDC guidelines.
At this time, the School Nurse will inform the AOD and necessary members of the COVID-19 Task Force of the situation and assess the potential risk to the community. Should the Health Center believe the student’s symptoms to be serious enough, the student will remain in an isolated location while the nurse contacts the student’s parent/guardian and initiates the student’s Campus Departure Plan to remove the student from campus as soon as possible.
What PPE items are required for students for the 2021-2022 school year?
Each student should bring their own supply of masks and keep one with them at all times. Masks are required when indoors and are encouraged when outdoors, but within 6 feet.
How does a community member reenter after a positive covid-19 test? What is the difference between Isolation and Quarantining?
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After a student, faculty or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, they may only return to campus after they have submitted proof of a negative COVID-19 test and are without symptoms. If symptoms persist beyond 72 hours, Oldfields will recommend that the community member get another COVID19 test and a respiratory panel to rule out influenza, pneumonia, or other viral or bacterial respiratory infections. Medical clearance from a personal care physician or a family doctor will be required to return to school. Click here for detailed isolation and quarantine protocols.
What precautions is the school taking in regards to cleaning, disinfecting, and Air quality?
Academic buildings are frequently cleaned and disinfected. High touch surfaces (including but not limited to door knobs, handles, push plates, bars inside and out, bathroom fixtures, handrails, and classroom desks) are disinfected daily.
Dorms are cleaned and disinfected daily. Bathrooms and high-touch surfaces are disinfected again mid-day. The gym is cleaned and disinfected daily, with additional disinfecting when the schedule for utilization is finalized. This includes the bathrooms, weight room, cardio room, Pilates room, and high touch surfaces. Common areas receive daily cleaning and disinfecting, with high-touch surfaces receiving an additional disinfection mid-day.
The indoor air filtration system in the Rodney Academic Building has been modified to reduce the number of small particles circulating through the building, providing cleaner air. Plans are in place to expand similar filtering systems throughout the dorms and common areas.
What are the best preventative measures for COVID-19 and the flu?
- Wash your hands often.
- Adhere to physical distancing practices of six feet or more.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean and disinfect often.
- Monitor your health daily.
What if I have more questions/concerns about the health and safety of my student during the 2021-2022 school year?
If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Health Center at HealthCenter@OldfieldsSchool.org.