Coronavirus 2021-2022

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Dear MA Community,

School is back in session, and we are delighted to see our students back. The current COVID-19 surge has pushed us to work quickly to keep our community safe, and we appreciate your patience as we share another COVID-19 update. Our website and communications provider, Finalsite, is experiencing a major outage impacting thousands of schools worldwide this week. This has not affected MyMA or Canvas; you may still log in using these links. We expect our website, online calendar, and communications platform to be restored shortly, and in the meantime, we are all still available by phone and email. 

Yesterday, Marin County Public Health put together a valuable presentation on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and the new updates to school safety policies. I strongly encourage you to view it here. 

We are pleased to announce that we have added new options to support our students who cannot attend class due to COVID-19. Beginning on Monday, students who have been required to stay home because of either COVID-19 exposure or a positive test will have the option to passively Zoom into class. Students who feel ill or don't find it helpful are not required to attend class this way; this is offered as an option for those who are feeling well and wish to join classes virtually as observers. This option is only for those who are out due to COVID-19 and have been instructed by the school to stay home. To make this arrangement, students or parents should email teachers directly noting that the school is requiring them to stay home, and they are well enough to Zoom into class. They must request the Zoom link no later than the night before class. Again, Zooming into classes is an option, not a requirement, and is designed for those who feel otherwise healthy but cannot attend in-person due to COVID-19. 

As I mentioned in my last correspondence, on-campus visitors are limited to masked, asymptomatic, fully vaccinated, and boosted (at least 14 days prior) essential visitors. There is a slight change for athletics spectators. For indoor athletic events (basketball), only the legal parent/guardians of a student playing on a team will be permitted to attend the game as long as they are masked, asymptomatic, fully vaccinated, and boosted. For outdoor athletic events (soccer), a limited number of parent/guardian spectators will be permitted. We will send more information about the sign-up process that will be in place to pre-register. Additionally, beginning Monday all student-athletes will be tested once weekly.

Finally, due to the new COVID-19 guidelines, we can no longer hold X-Day on January 14. Next Friday will now be a day off for students. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope students will use this day for further rest and restoration. 

Thank you again for your ongoing support. If you need to review our last COVID Update please do so here. We truly appreciate your flexibility as we navigate this ongoing situation guided first and foremost by the safety of our students and community. 

Warm regards, 

Travis

Dear All,

Once again, as we navigate quickly changing guidelines and prioritizing the health of our students and community, I seek and appreciate your patience. We have learned that circumstances and plans may have to adjust with short notice, a practice that we have almost perfected at MA! We are aware that rapidly changing guidance and therefore policies and practices can cause frustration, but we will get through this as a community. We have, and we will! 

The Omicron variant has caused a surge of COVID-19 cases and exposures in our community and beyond, and we are pivoting quickly again. Please take your time to read the entirety of this communication as there are several new changes to share. 

• Testing: Today is the day to submit your second test result through Primary.Heath. Please follow the instructions here, and note photos should include a slip of paper with the i-health cartridge with the following: Name, DOB, Date of Test, Start Time of Test, End Time of Test End (15 minutes), Student Signature, and Parent Signature. With the current surge of COVID-19, many people are finding that both home and PCR tests are in short supply. If your student has been exposed or has a scratchy throat or runny nose, they should stay home and take a test as soon as possible. Contact Brett Laronde if you are unable to get a test. PCR tests are no longer required to verify antigen test results, although if medically advised, Marin Academy can also provide PCR testing. We are keeping a close eye on the updated guidance on test effectiveness. 
   
• Masking: California Public Health has updated its masking recommendations due to the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant. Cloth masks are now considered the least effective option for protection against COVID-19. Marin Academy is requiring N95, KN95, KN94, a surgical mask with a well-fitted cloth mask over it, or a single surgical mask when other options are not available. We understand that supplies are limited; if you do not have a surgical mask, please stop by the Front Office to pick one up. Please note masking in carpools is also required.
   
• Boosters: Marin County Public Health Guidelines require that eligible unboosted individuals must follow similar isolation and quarantine requirements as unvaccinated individuals. You are considered boosted 14 days after your booster shot. If you have not already done so, please schedule your booster shots as soon as possible. Boosters will be required for students and staff by March 1, 2022.
   
• Events, Athletics, and Assemblies: At this time we are unable to host in-person events on campus, including all concerts and performances. On-campus events will be postponed until further notice, and visitors will be limited to essential visitors who have been boosted only. No spectators will be allowed for indoor sports, and limited spectators will be allowed for outdoor sports. This week's assembly will also be postponed as we pivot back to virtual assemblies.
   
• Travel: After retuning from travel, either out of state or out of the country, we require a COVID-19 test on day 5.
   
• Exposure and Isolation Policies have also been updated; please see below: 

• • Updated isolation guidelines for COVID positive persons:
    • Isolation begins the day of the test, which is Day 0 (zero)
    • Day 5:
      • A negative antigen test allows for return to school IF you are:
        • Fever free for 24 hours, without fever reducing medications
        • Symptom-free
      • A positive antigen test or ongoing symptoms requires continued isolation and test on Day 7
    • Day 7:
      • A negative antigen test allows for return to school if your symptoms have resolved and you are fever-free for 24 hours
      • A positive antigen test requires continued isolation until Day 11 with no test needed to return
         
  • If you have been exposed to COVID-19 :
    • For fully vaccinated and boosted people:
      • Monitor symptoms for 14 days
      • Test on Day 5 
    • For partially vaccinated (including those who have not had a booster) or unvaccinated people

      • You must immediately quarantine at home for 5 days and test on day 5

Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to returning to classes tomorrow. 

Warm regards,

Travis

Dear MA Families,

Winter break is upon us, and we have much to celebrate. Over the past few weeks, we have been fortunate to gather together as a community for our fall dance performance, the rhythm/harmony music concert, and our senior arts assemblies in our Performing Arts Center. We have also been entertained and enlightened by senior speeches in the gym. We do not take these opportunities to see our students in action for granted, having missed out on these incredible live events over the course of the last year and a half. 

We would not be able to host these in-person events without your continued partnership in following our safety protocols. We realize it can be challenging to keep up with the constantly revised guidance from the Marin County Public Health and California Department of Public Health, and we thank you for your efforts to do so. We are excited to share some additional procedures we are implementing to ensure the safety of our school community.

At-Home Testing Kits

All students and school employees will get free iHealth At-Home COVID-19 tests to use before re-entry to campus after the break.  

Step 1: Get the Materials.

• We will hand out the test kits to students on Wednesday, December 15 at assembly and lunch. Each box contains 2 tests.
• Register for Primary.Health. If you are already registered, you do not need to register again!

Step 2: Test Your Student prior to returning to campus.

• Take test #1 three days before returning to school: January 3, 2022.
• Take test #2 one day before returning to school: January 5, 2022.
• You can watch this video on how to test. 
• These tests are ONLY for use on January 3 and 5 for re-entry to campus following winter break.
• If you DO have any COVID-19 symptoms and/or you have HAD had a known exposure to someone with COVID-19, please contact the COVID-19 coordinator, Brett Laronde at 415-482-3317 for next steps before you return.

Step 3: Share Your Results on Primary.Health. 

• Primary.Health is a secure website that reports your results to the school and the Health Department.
• After you have registered on Primary.Health they will send you an email with a personalized link to upload your results. Please be on the lookout for that email.
• No internet? Call Primary Health Call Center with your results at (650)275-5419. 
• More questions? Email support@primary.health.

Travel Protocol Reminders: 

• If you have traveled out of state, you should test for COVID-19 on day 5 after your return. 
• If you have traveled out of the country, we require a COVID-19 test on day 5, AND you are required to complete the above testing on January 3 and 5.
• If you are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated there are different requirements. Please check with the COVID-19 coordinator, Brett Laronde.
• If your student is presenting any signs or symptoms of any illness they should not come to school. If you become symptomatic at any time you should immediately test. 

New Visitor Sign-In System: 

Upon our return from break we will be implementing a new visitor sign-in system to increase the safety of our students, faculty, and staff and assist us with emergency management. All visitors to MA will be required to sign-in at the front desk iPad and present their vaccination card. 

Thank you again for your commitment to keeping our school community safe! We hope you have a wonderful, much-deserved winter break.

Warmly,

Hello MA Basketball Families,

There have been updates to the Marin County Public Health (MCPH) and California Public Health (CDPH) guidance for indoor sports that will affect our basketball program beginning on Monday, December 6. As basketball is considered a high-risk sport, we will begin on-campus molecular testing for all MA basketball players weekly. Every Monday, right after school and before practice, we will hold a quick testing clinic. We appreciate your continued support; our partnership with MCPH, CDPH, and our MA families has been invaluable as we navigate the ever-changing landscape of this pandemic. 

Both MCPH and CDPH have made it clear that indoor mask use remains a critical layer in protecting against COVID-19 infection and transmission. Marin County Public Health shared , when actively practicing, conditioning, or competing in indoor sports, masks are required by participants even during heavy exertion, as practicable. The introduction of the phrase “as practicable” allows individual districts, schools, and groups to determine what is “practicable” during heavy exertion. For MA, this means that everyone will remain masked indoors, including spectators, coaches, and players on the sidelines. Masks may be removed during active game play, although players can remain masked if they choose. We will be rolling this process out slowly and cautiously, so please note that there will be some limitations based on the situation and location, for instance practices in the old gym will require masking due to air flow and ventilation. 

To reiterate, for basketball at MA:

• Masks are required for all spectators, observers, coaches, etc.
• Participants who are not actively practicing, conditioning, or competing must wear masks. Masks are also required indoors while on the sidelines, in team meetings, and within locker rooms and weight rooms. 
• Participants who are actively competing at heavy exertion levels may remove masks during game play.
• All MA basketball players will participate in mandatory weekly testing.

Please contact our COVID-19 Coordinator, Brett Laronde, with any questions, and thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our community safe.  

Thank you again,