Health & Safety Protocols

Current Health and Safety Protocols

INFORMED PREPARATION

Fay's health and safety protocols are based on guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

We modify our plan periodically to reflect updated guidelines. As always, our goal is to limit the spread of infection while preserving the spirit and structure of the Fay experience.

TRAVEL GUIDELINES

Parents of all students must understand and comply with any travel restrictions and quarantine requirements mandated by the state of Massachusetts. These requirements may change at any time, and we will update our website if and as needed. When making travel plans to campus, parents ensure that their travel plans are flexible should there be changes in the guidelines.

VACCINATION FOR FLU, RSV, and COVID

Flu, RSV, and COVID vaccinations for all Fay and ELC community members are recommended but not required.

MASKING

If an individual tests positive for flu, RSV, or COVID, they are strongly encouraged, though not required, for the health of other students, to mask for 5 days. Boarding students are required to wear a mask for the next five days.

POSITIVE CASES

If an individual tests positive for flu, RSV, or COVID, they must remain at home if they have fever or are symptomatic. They may attend school if their symptoms are mild. Boarding students are required to wear a mask for five days after returning to class.
Boarders who test positive with mild symptoms may remain on campus. Any boarder with significant symptoms of flu, RSV, or COVID may be asked to leave campus with their Local Emergency Contact. They may return to campus after 24 hours of being fever-free. Boarding students are required to wear a mask for the next five days.
Individuals must be cleared by the school nurse in order to return to campus.

CLOSE CONTACTS AND QUARANTINES

Fay does not conduct contact tracing, and the School does not notify parents if they receive news of a positive case of flu, RSV, or COVID in the class. Parents may notify their child's close contacts if they wish.
A close contact is defined as an individual who has been within three feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period during the two days prior to the onset of illness or a positive test.
Close contacts are not required to quarantine. They should monitor for symptoms, and if they become symptomatic they should stay home and get tested.
While we do not require health attestations, we remind all families of day students to keep their children home if they are symptomatic or ill. If faculty or staff are concerned about a student’s health, they will send the child to the Health Office for an evaluation.

STUDENT ABSENCES

Any student who is absent from school due to illness of any kind for three or more days is required to provide the school nurse with a doctor's note in order to return. Upon reviewing the specifics of the absence, the school nurse may also require a negative rapid test. Families of day students are required to report their children’s absence at fayschool.org/attendance.

VISITORS

Visitors should be in good health, should not recently have tested positive for flu, RSV, or COVID (as explained above under “Positive Cases”) and should be fever-free for at least 24 hours before the visit. Masks are optional unless required as explained above under “Masking.” We are happy to reschedule visits.

MONITORING AND RESPONDING

The School will continue to monitor situations locally, nationally, and globally in order to assess the implication of new restrictions and guidelines on student and employee safety, and our boarding students’ ability to leave and return to campus. Plans will be adjusted if and as needed, and the School will continue to update the parent community.