CURRENT SCHOOL COVID-19 STATUS:
LEVEL TWO | LASTS AT LEAST 14 DAYS
School is under restrictions due to rising or high COVID-19 transmission rates in the local area or limited cases on campus.
- The mask mandate will be strictly enforced and will include all indoor spaces, including classrooms, gym, dormitories, and the dining hall.
- No inter-dorm visitation. Students cannot enter any dorms besides their own. Teachers will offer office hours to facilitate access to extra help during study hall hours.
- Day students may not spend the night on campus during this period and should plan to leave campus no later than 10:15pm if they choose to remain on campus for study hall.
- Limited seating at dining hall tables.
- No interscholastic sports competitions.
- No travel to Mohawk Mountain
- Equestrian travels to Brook Run Farm
- No off-campus Community Service or weekend trips.
- Boarding students will not be permitted to take weekends home.
- Visitation to campus is restricted. Only necessary pre-approved visitors are permitted; visitor form required.
Additionally, we plan to make up the majority of lost instructional time caused by the postponement of our January return. We will conduct a full day of classes on both Wednesday, January 12 and Wednesday, January 19. The long weekend break (scheduled for early February) will be canceled, and classes will be held on Friday, February 4. (Classes will not meet on Saturday, February 5, but this weekend should not be considered a “break.”)
The tabs below outline important additions and clarifications to our school’s COVID-19 information and expectations. Please be reminded that these protocols may be adjusted at our discretion based on national and local guidance and conditions.
HELPFUL COVID-19 CAMPUS INFO:
VACCINATION STATUS
MASKS
ISOLATION vs. QUARANTINE
CLOSE CONTACTS
*CALCULATING THE “EFFECTIVE” DATE
*UNDERSTANDING HOW AND WHEN TO QUARANTINE OR ISOLATE
VACCINATION STATUS
At Marvelwood, our distinction between the terms “fully vaccinated” and “partially vaccinated” will be defined as follows:
Fully vaccinated: Individual has had the full primary vaccination series AND the booster, if eligible.
Partially vaccinated: Individual is following the primary vaccination series but is not yet past the two weeks OR has not had the booster if eligible.
Unvaccinated: Those very few community members, including on-campus resident families, for whom the school’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate has been waived due to age, medical status or approved exemption.
MASKS
A cloth mask alone is NO LONGER PERMITTED
- Masks must be fitted properly, meeting our revised and updated standards:
KN95 or N95, OR
Double masked with surgical + cloth, OR
Well-fitted surgical mask alone
- “Well-fitted” means:
Nose and mouth covered at all times, from the bridge of the nose to below the chin.
Metal clip used to make sure the mask fits snugly over the bridge of the nose.
No gaps at the sides. It is often effective to twist the earloop before fitting it over the ear.
Advisors will speak with students upon return to ensure they know how to wear a mask effectively and to the school’s standards.
ISOLATION vs. QUARANTINE
Isolation: Individuals confirmed positive with COVID-19 must isolate at home or off-campus with an emergency contact. We are unable to care for students in isolation on campus.
- Quarantine: Some individuals identified as close contacts will be required to quarantine (see chart below). With on-campus quarantine space extremely limited, we will expect that any student requiring quarantine will go home or to their emergency contact. Students will not be permitted to quarantine in their own dorms or dorm rooms.
CLOSE CONTACTS
A close contact is someone who has been within 6 feet of a confirmed individual with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes when health and safety measures were not in place or were insufficient.
If individuals were spaced at 3-6 feet distancing and correctly and consistently masked, such as in a supervised and masked classroom, they are NOT considered a close contact.
*CALCULATING THE “EFFECTIVE” DATE
In order to determine the proper length of any isolation, quarantine, or re-testing, it is vital to determine the “effective” date, which we will refer to as “day zero.” For our purposes, our guidance will be:
- “Day zero” for asymptomatic individuals testing positive is the date the test was administered.
- “Day zero” for symptomatic individuals testing positive is the date of the onset of symptoms.
- “Day zero” for close contacts is within 24 hours of contact with a confirmed positive individual.
- “Day zero” for asymptomatic individuals testing positive is the date the test was administered.
*UNDERSTANDING HOW AND WHEN TO QUARANTINE OR ISOLATE
The chart below indicates quarantine or isolation guidelines for fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and unvaccinated community members.
IF YOU ARE: | YOUR PROTOCOL IS: |
Vaccinated & Boosted COVID Positive |
|
Partially Vaccinated COVID Positive |
|
Unvaccinated COVID positive |
|
|
Vaccinated & Boosted OR Partially Vaccinated Direct contact | Students:
Faculty/Staff:
For all:
|
|
Unvaccinated Direct contact |
|
MARVELWOOD COVID MITIGATION LEVEL SYSTEM
LEVEL FIVE | NORMAL
School has sustained a period of strong campus health and feels confident with CT and surrounding states as to the validity of low transmission rates.
- Masks not required unless governmental mandate
- Daily health screening required
- Athletics
- All sports and activities proceed as normal
- Community Gatherings (Same as Level IV)
- All in person meetings resume
- Community Service (Same as Level IV)
- All on and off campus placements function normally
- Dining
- Residential Life
- Interdorm, hallway, and room visits permitted
- Day students may sleep over
- Visitors
- Visitors permitted
- Visitor form required
LEVEL FOUR | LASTS AT LEAST 7 DAYS
School deems CT and surrounding states to have low to no transmission rate and the campus has no cases of COVID-19.
Masks not required unless governmental mandate
Daily health screening required
- Athletics
Low and moderate risk sports may practice and compete in full with no restrictions on travel
High risk sports can hold full practices and compete if conditions allow
Recreational Skiing/Snowboarding travels to Mohawk Mountain
Equestrian travels to Brook Run Farm
Spectators allowed (with masks in all indoor locations, regardless of vaccination status)
- Community Gatherings
In person meetings resume
- Community Service
On and off campus placements function normally
Dining
- Residential Life
Interdorm visitation resumes in Common Areas only
Day students may sleep over
- Visitors
Visitors permitted
Visitor form required
LEVEL THREE | LASTS AT LEAST 7 DAYS
School deems the surrounding local area to have low to no transmission rates and the campus has no cases of COVID-19.
Masks required indoors only
Daily health screening required
- Academics
Students may see extra help from faculty on duty in other dorms
Classroom densities increased
Use of outdoor learning spaces is still encouraged
- Athletics
Low risk sports (XC, Tennis) may practice and compete in full
Moderate risk sports (Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball) hold modified practices with full teams, broken up into smaller groups and can compete if schools have no COVID cases on either campus
High risk sports (Wrestling) hold modified practices with full team, broken up into smaller groups. Can compete if conditions allow.
Recreational Skiing/Snowboarding travels to Mohawk Mountain
Equestrian travels to Brook Run Farm
Spectators allowed (with masks in all indoor locations, regardless of vaccination status and seated in designated section)
Theater resumes with restrictions on singing
- Community Gatherings
All in person meetings resume
- Community Service
On and off campus placements resume
Off Campus placements required to wear masks
- Dining
Masks remain on until seated
- Residential Life
Interdorm visitation resumes in Common Areas only
- Visitors
Pre-approved visitors permitted
Visitor form required
LEVEL ONE | LASTS AT LEAST 14 DAYS
School on lockdown due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in the local area or on campus.
Masks required on campus
Social distancing enforced
Daily health screening required
- Academics
As inter-dorm visitation will be suspended, faculty will meet with students via virtual office hours for extra help/tutoring
Classroom densities are decreased
Faculty will be encouraged to use outdoor learning spaces
- Athletics
No games
Activities broken up into 10 or more small groups with a 9 to 1 faculty ratio.
- Community Service
Community service activities will take place on campus with appropriate social distancing
- Community Gatherings
Community Meetings, of any size, will meet via Zoom
Staff/Faculty Meetings, of any size, will meet via Zoom
- Dining Hall
To decrease capacity, there be two lunch and two dinner rotations
Seating at tables will be reduced and traffic patterns through the dining hall will be adjusted and regulated to achieve safe social distancing
Faculty and students are expected to wear masks until seated
The dining hall terrace will be used to increase seating capacity while maintaining appropriate social distancing
Used dishes will be placed on racks located in the dining room to eliminate traffic in and out of the dishroom area
Faculty will not be permitted to take students off campus for meals
- Residential Life
Day student overnights suspended
Boarding students are required to stay on campus
No interdorm visitation
Cohort by hallway
No outside food deliveries
No weekend trips off campus
- Visitors
Alumni visitation to campus is restricted.
College Admissions counselor visits suspended indefinitely
Necessary pre-approved visitors only
Visitor form required
