Exposure and Testing Positive for COVID-19

Updated January 28, 2022; updated June 1, 2022;

Updated August 2022 to clarify COVID exposure for non-masking but vaccinated students.

In December 2021, the CDC revised guidelines for isolation and quarantining due to testing positive or exposure to COVID-19.  The Glen Montessori School has reviewed these guidelines, which are dependent upon the ability of the infected individual to fully mask, and has adopted the following policies for Glen students and staff. 

The definition of a vaccinated individual and whether or not their vaccination status is up-to-date is defined by the CDC.  Please review the CDC’s guidelines for Staying Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccine.  Proof of vaccination must be provided to the school for an individual to be considered vaccinated. 

 

Testing Positive for COVID-19

Individuals infected with COVID-19 can return to The Glen after 5-days in isolation, as long as they are: 

— Symptom-free for 48 hours

— Able to fully mask for the entire day, except for lunch. 

Per the Allegheny County Health Department’s guidance for Early Childhood Education Programs, this excludes children unable to mask for the entire day, including nappers and children under age 2 as they recover from COVID-19.  Due to the nature of this illness, The Glen Board of Directors and COVID-19 Committee feel this is a necessary precaution to ensure the Glen community’s health and safety and the in-person Montessori school day.

If your Glen student has tested positive, their ability to return to school is dependent upon being symptom-free for a full 48 hours AND their ability to mask during the school day: 

— A student who can fully mask and does not nap may return to school for a full day on Day 6.

— A student who can mask during much of the day but still naps can return to school on a half-day schedule on Days 6-10.

— A student who cannot wear a mask when around others should isolate for ten days.  

 

Exposure to COVID-19

Due to the highly contagious nature of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, The Glen has chosen to segregate exposure to COVID-19 into three categories: In-home exposure, In-school exposure, and Out-of-home exposure. 

In-Home Exposure

If anyone in a Glen student’s (or Glen staff!) household tests positive for COVID-19, please keep your child at home.  The quarantine period for your child will last 5 days beyond the last person’s infectious 5-day period.  

Generally, a COVID-19 quarantine for an in-home exposure will last 15-20 days, depending on how many people are in your household and how the virus spreads.

Please consult with Johnna Valenti (jvalenti@glenmontessori.org) for the length of your child’s quarantine. 

Failure to report a case of COVID-19 in your immediate household endangers the health and safety of others – children and teachers. It will not be tolerated and may cause unnecessary closing of classrooms due to possible exposure of students and faculty.

  

Out-of-Home Exposure

An out-of-home exposure is defined as a one-time exposure or an exposure that is not consistent and unmasked.  A positive fellow student at swimming lessons, a birthday party, or a cousin who lives in a separate household would be an example of an out-of-home exposure.  

Effective June 1, no quarantine is necessary for vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals, assuming the exposure was a one-time exposure (swimming lessons, soccer, etc.) and the individual remains symptom-free.

 

In-School Exposure

Due to the nature of a Montessori classroom, Glen quarantine guidelines are split among vaccination status and the ability to mask:

— Unvaccinated individuals: Students may remain in school as long as they remain symptom-free and can mask following the exposure;  if younger than 2, or when it comes time for lunch or nap, children must move to quarantine (stay home), per CDC and Allegheny County Health Department’s guidance for Early Childhood Education programs.  Testing is still required on Day 5.  

— Vaccinated individuals: Quarantine depends on remaining symptom-free and a child’s ability to mask throughout the day: 

     — A student who can mask fully and does not nap may continue to attend school as long as they remain symptom-free.  

     — A student who can mask during much of the day but still naps can remain in school on a half-day morning schedule. 

     — A student who cannot wear a mask when around others should quarantine for ten days.  

For all exposed students, testing is required on Day 5 to remain in school beyond Day 6. Please note that all students are considered unvaccinated if their vaccination records do not meet the CDC’s up-to-date vaccination requirements.

 

The Glen School Building: Confirmed Case of COVID-19

If a child/faculty member is diagnosed with COVID-19, we will notify all families whose child has had direct contact with the infected individual via email.  We will provide privacy and compassion to faculty and families who reveal a COVID-19 diagnosis to us.

Whenever possible, classrooms will rely on in-person instruction and only shift to virtual instruction when the entire classroom must quarantine, or there is a lack of staffing due to illness/isolation/quarantine. 

If three classrooms must move to remote instruction due to a COVID-19 diagnosis (3 confirmed cases in separate classrooms), The Glen expects to shift the entire school to remote instruction.

 

Campus Closure

The potential of multiple cases of COVID-19 within our student body remains a possibility and could force The Glen to move the entire school community to remote instruction at some point during the 2022- 2023 school year.

A classroom/camp group closure is likely to be abrupt and without warning due to the nature of a COVID diagnosis.

We reserve the right to close The Glen campus if:

— Three classrooms must move to remote instruction due to COVID-19 diagnosis. In this case, the entire Glen community may shift to remote instruction.

— The Glen is unable to meet adult-child ratios due to illness or required quarantining.

— Supply shortages again threaten our ability to acquire needed cleaning supplies or Personal Protective Equipment to mitigate the spread of the virus.

— If the Community spread of COVID-19 in Allegheny County reaches thresholds that indicate it is unsafe to offer in-person instruction, The Glen reserves the right to shift to remote instruction.

The Glen may be forced to close due to a governmental order by Allegheny County Health Department, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Department of Education, or other entities.