The Foundation for a Meaningful Life
Kindergarten - Grade 9 in Southborough, MA
About
Health & Safety Protocols

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Fay School’s health and safety protocols are updated periodically in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).  You can read our full health and safety protocols here.

Please continue to check this page for new information and updates.

Health & Safety

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  • What are your health and safety protocols?

  • Are vaccines required for flu, RSV, or COVID?

    Vaccines for flu, RSV, and COVID are recommended but not required.

     


  • Can boarding students get vaccines for flu, RSV, or COVID in their home countries that are different from the vaccines that are currently approved in the United States?

    Yes. Boarding students may get vaccines in their home countries that are different from the vaccines currently approved in the United States for ages 12-17. Proof of vaccination must be provided in English.

  • Are masks required on campus?

    Masks are optional, with the following exception: 

    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.


  • Does Fay conduct testing for flu, RSV, or COVID on campus?

    Because boarding students live in a congregate setting, Fay may conduct rapid antigen testing of boarding students if they appear to be symptomatic.

  • What happens if a student tests positive for flu, RSV, or COVID?

    • 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.

  • What is your policy regarding close contacts?

    • 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.

  • What is your policy for 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.

Additional Fay School Resources

Fay School's Health Office
Welcome New Students Web Page

Early Learning Center - FAQ

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Academic Year 2024-2025 - Boarding Life

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  • Do boarding students need to have Local Emergency Contacts for potential quarantine and off-campus residence in emergency situations?

    Yes. All boarding students must have a Local Emergency Contact that is provided by the student’s parents. A Local Emergency Contact should be someone within the continental United States who can arrive to campus within 24 hours of notification. The School will contact the Local Emergency Contact in the event of:

    • The student’s positive test for flu, RSV, or COVID or a presumed positive case based on symptoms assessed by the School’s physician
    • A campus closure as a result of a health emergency
    • Travel restrictions that prevent the student from returning home during school breaks or campus closure
    • Additional reasons as identified by the School
    Boarding parents must supply Fay with the name and contact information of the Local Emergency Contact no later than August 1. If the Local Emergency Contact is not available, it is the parent's responsibility to make alternate arrangements.

For Prospective Families

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FaySummer

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For questions about:

Enrollment
Beth Whitney, Associate Head of School
bwhitney@fayschool.org

Student health, testing, and screening
Diane Byrne, Assistant Head of School for Finance & Operations
dbyrne@fayschool.org

Academic Program
Judi O'Brien, Assistant Head of School for the Educational Program
jobrien@fayschool.org
 
International student visas
Jake Sumner, Head of Upper School
jsumner@fayschool.org
48 MAIN STREET
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA 01772
main number 508-490-8250
admission 508-490-8201