COVID-19
The Fay School’s COVID-19 Task Force has invested an extraordinary amount of time evaluating our best course of action to remain open to in-person learning. As a school intent on providing your child with authentic and meaningful learning experiences through project-based learning, we have approached the school year with this same framework, using these driving questions:
- How do we keep our community members safe and healthy?
- How do we balance the varying perspectives within the community?
- How do we remain open to 100% in-person learning?
- How do we take steps to return to more normalcy and sustainability?
We ask that you all remain flexible and patient with us as we navigate the year ahead. These policies and procedures are subject to change, especially as new information and guidance from local, state, and national health officials become available. The Fay School reserves the right to change, modify, or adjust any of these procedures and policies at any time and without notice.
2021-2022 COVID-19 Policy Update Emails
Spaces, Scheduling, and Activities
School Events and Extracurriculars
- We will aim to pursue in-person group events, gatherings, and activities which include field trips, assemblies, special performances, and school-wide parent gatherings.
- All adults and students are required to securely wear a face mask while indoors.
- All employees who have not shown proof of vaccination for COVID-19, non-students, and non-employees of Fay that enter Fay’s campus are always required to securely wear masks at all times while on campus.
- Masks may be removed by campus visitors only if the individual is outside and practicing social distancing, alone in a classroom and/or office, or if the campus visitor has submitted proof of vaccination to covid19taskforce@thefayschool.org.
Food
- Children and Fay employees are required to eat lunch and snacks picnic-style in outdoor spaces (covered outdoor spaces if inclement weather) while ensuring social distancing. In addition, we have made updates to several outdoor spaces to increase the availability of comfortable outdoor dining.
- We will continue to partner with Simply Fresh as they offer individually packaged meals in disposable packaging.
- Having your child bring their own meals is still permitted.
Hygiene Practices
Masks (cloth facemasks)
- All adults and children must wear a securely fitting face mask inside campus buildings.
- Mask are optional outside for all students and employees who have submitted proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
- All adults, including parents and third-party vendors, must wear properly fitting facemasks while inside any campus building. Volunteers, parents, or third-party vendors who will be supervising children while outside are required to wear masks while outside unless they have submitted proof of vaccination to covid19taskforce@thefayschool.org.
- Masks can be taken off inside if the adult is alone in a room and/or office with the door closed.
- The school will provide an unused mask for every Fay Employee or permitted adult who does not have one.
- The neck gaiter style of face mask is not permitted.
- Personalized mask patterns and designs are encouraged for everyone, but neither the pattern nor design should cause disruption. If it does, the school reserves the right to require a less disruptive mask. Masks referencing any politics are not allowed by anyone.
- Masks should not be placed on children younger than two years old, on anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, or anyone incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
- The Fay School reserves the right to update this policy at any time and with short notice.
Personal Hygiene
- We will teach and reinforce hand washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water and increase monitoring to ensure adherence among students and Fay employees.
- If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used (for Fay employees and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer).
- We require that Fay Employees and students cover coughs and sneezes with the crook of their arm instead of a tissue. We will also teach and encourage the replacement of soiled masks with clean ones.
Cleaning and Disinfection
- We will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g., playground equipment, door handles, sink handles, drinking fountains) within the school daily and between uses.
- We will ensure the safe and correct use and storage of cleaning and disinfection products, including storing products securely away from children.
- Cleaning products should not be used near children, and Fay employees should ensure that there is adequate ventilation when using these products to prevent children or themselves from inhaling cleaning product fumes.
Enhanced Ventilation
- In addition to our enhanced outdoor learning spaces, The Fay School has installed MERV-8 max air filters throughout the school and Alen BreatheSmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifiers in each classroom.
Sickness and Community Interaction
Navigating Sickness in the School Community
- Fay employees and students are not permitted at Fay and should notify the school immediately if they or their child becomes sick with COVID-19 symptoms, tests positive for or is diagnosed with COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms or a confirmed or suspected case. To notify the school, log in to My Portal, click "Resources," and click "COVID-19 Self Reporting."
- If Fay learns that a child tests positive for or is diagnosed with COVID-19, then Fay will immediately notify other members in the grade-level cohort of the positive test while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
- Per CDC guidance, The Fay School will no longer require anyone other than the person who tested positive to quarantine for 10 days.
- If an employee or student has close contact with someone who tests positive for or is diagnosed with COVID-19, submit the "Self Reporting" form found in the "Resources" section of My Portal, and contact your healthcare provider to navigate the proper next steps.
- The following people who are identified as "close contacts" will NOT be required to quarantine:
- Anyone adhering to our indoor masking policy.
- A child who has tested positive may return to campus once the following conditions have been met:
- 10 days since symptoms first appeared
- 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
- Pass a health screening conducted by a Fay Nurse
- If an individual in the household tests positive for or is diagnosed with COVID-19 all Fay community members in that household will need to quarantine and can return to campus once the following conditions have been met:
- 10 days since symptoms first appeared
- 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
- Pass a health screening conducted by a Fay Nurse
- Online learning will only be offered if the majority of a class must quarantine for an extended period.
Navigating Sickness if Someone Exhibits COVID-19 Symptoms on Campus
- We will immediately isolate Fay employees and children with COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, etc.) at school.
- Individuals who are sick should go home or to a healthcare facility depending on how severe their symptoms are and follow medical guidance for caring for themselves and others who are sick.
- We will close off areas used by a sick person and not use them until cleaning and disinfecting are completed.
Visitor Policy
- All adults, including parents and vendors, must wear masks at all times while inside campus buildings. While outdoors, volunteers, parents, or vendors who supervise children must wear masks with students unless they have submitted proof of vaccination. Parents can submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to covid19taskforce@thefayschool.org.
- Parents may visit campus by appointment only.
- To start the school year, we are restricting parents from convenience visits, like eating lunch on our campus with students or stopping in to enjoy the Wolfe Library with your child.
FAQs
What will happen when a positive test for COVID-19 happens within the Fay Family?
- Once a confirmed COVID-19 case becomes known in a person who has been at the school, Fay will complete the following steps:
- Fay will notify the grade level that a positive case has been reported since we are a fully masked school while indoors, the CDC's guidance does not support self-quarantining of other members in that section.
- A child who is required to self-quarantine may return to campus once the following conditions have been met:
- 10 days since symptoms first appeared
- 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
- Pass a health screening conducted by a Fay Nurse
- A child who is required to self-quarantine may return to campus once the following conditions have been met:
- Fay will send a community email to all parents, notifying them that a confirmed COVID-19 case has been identified on our campus.
- We will thoroughly clean and disinfect any frequently used areas by the positive individual.
- Fay will notify the grade level that a positive case has been reported since we are a fully masked school while indoors, the CDC's guidance does not support self-quarantining of other members in that section.
What should I do if my child tests positive for COVID-19?
If you or your child test positive for COVID-19, please log in to My Portal, click "Resources," and fill out the COVID-19 Self Reporting Form.
If your child tests positive for COVID-19 and has recently spent time on campus, Fay will:
- Alert your child's grade (and the parents of your child's Extended Day Program, if applicable) that a positive COVID-19 case was identified in your child's grade. We will maintain confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
- Alert the Fay community that a positive COVID-19 case was identified on our campus. We will maintain confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
- Ask that your child be quarantined return to campus once the following conditions have been met:
- 10 days since symptoms first appeared
- 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
- Pass a health screening conducted by a Fay Nurse
What if a Fay parent or household member tests positive for COVID-19?
- If a Fay parent or a member of your household tests positive, please log in to My Portal and submit a "COVID-19 Self Reporting Form" found in the "Resources" section of My Portal.
- If a parent or member of your household tests positive, their child must be quarantined.
- A child who is required to self-quarantine may return to campus once the following conditions have been met:
- 10 days since symptoms first appeared
- 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications
- Pass a health screening conducted by a Fay Nurse
- A child who is required to self-quarantine may return to campus once the following conditions have been met:
Will you require masks for everyone on campus?
- Masks are required for all adults and students while they are indoors on campus. All masks are required to fit well and cover the nose and mouth securely.
- Masks are optional outdoors for students.
- Masks are optional outdoors for employees who have submitted proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
- Employees, volunteers, parents, or vendors who supervise children while outside are required to wear masks with students unless they have submitted proof of vaccination to COVID19taskforce@thefayschool.org.
- There are only two scenarios where a Fay Employee who has not provided proof of vaccination is not required to be securely wearing a face mask:
- When alone in an office or classroom with the door closed.
- When outside and socially distancing.
Will The Fay School offer any sort of refunds or tuition credits if the school cannot offer In-person Learning for any amount of time?
- The Fay School will be unable to offer any sort of tuition refunds or credits if the school does not offer in-person learning for any amount of time during the 2021-2022 school year. This is because we are contractually bound to our Fay employees and many third-party vendors.
Will the school conduct contact tracing in the event of a positive test?
- No. The CDC guidance for a fully masked school while indoors does not require contact tracing and quarantining.
- We will, however, notify the entire grade level that a positive test has occurred (while maintaining the privacy of the individual). We will also notify the entire Fay Family that a positive test has been reported.
How often will Fay sanitize classrooms?
- Cleaning and sanitizing classrooms will happen throughout the day and at varying levels. Each evening, though, our custodial services clean and disinfect all frequently used areas on campus.
- Adequate ventilation will be assured and frequently touched non-porous surfaces will be cleaned with disinfectant solutions. Cleaning supplies will be stored securely away from children and will never be used near children.
Did the school engage professionals to gather more perspectives and input?
- Fay has officially formed a consulting partnership with Hamilton Health Box for an additional layer of community safety and protection during this pandemic. In this role, Hamilton Health Box will provide ongoing healthcare consultation to The Fay School to help keep our community healthy and safe. Hamilton Health Box will consult with us to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information to make the healthiest decisions for our Fay Family.
- Fay has created a Fay's Medical and Community Health Advisory of current parents, healthcare professionals, and alumni parents to counsel Fay's COVID-19 Task Force.
How do I keep up with what Fay is thinking and doing?
- Each Thursday afternoon, The Fay School emails the Fay Flyer to all families. All school-wide critical information is included in the Fay Flyer. We work to streamline this weekly email for quick reading, providing families with the information they need. We ask that all families read the Fay Flyer to coordinate all institutional needs. Although we work to streamline our communications, please know that should critical information need to be shared with our community, an email will be sent as quickly as possible.
- Follow The Fay School on social media!
- Instagram: @the_fay_school
- Facebook: @thefayschool
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-fay-school/
- Read Fay's Blog
Are prospective parents allowed on campus for school tours?
- Conducting individual tours with prospective parents is part of conducting an essential business function. Please know that the majority of each tour is held outside. Also, all tour guests must wear a face mask at all times. Tours guests are also accompanied by a Fay employee 100% of their time on campus.
The Governor of Texas has mandated that public schools cannot require masks in schools this year so why is The Fay School not following this mandate?
- The Fay School is an independent school and is not required to follow the governmental orders surrounding operating or educating children. Had we followed the public school system last year, we would have only offered online learning for most of the school year. Our independence is one of our most valuable assets!
The Fay School has communicated that someone in my child’s class has tested positive, is my child required to get a COVID-19 test or to quarantine?
- No. The Fay School is following the guidance of the CDC and not requiring the other classmates to quarantine or test. It is up to the individual family on how to proceed, and The Fay School encourages that you seek the advice of your family’s health care provider.
Why isn’t The Fay School offering online learning this year?
- Offering a hybrid model is unsustainable for The Fay School, and we want to keep as many children engaged with in-person learning as possible.
When will The Fay School Update its policies and procedures to reflect even more normalcy?
- We will continue to monitor the impact of the ongoing pandemic and the Delta variant and will communicate steps when appropriate.
Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Independent Schools, Harris County Public Health, Fay’s COVID-19 Task Force, Fay's Medical and Community Health Advisory, and insights from heads of school across the world have informed these policies and protocols.