Pace Health - Pace Academy

Responding to COVID

Pace Academy successfully operated in-person school during the 2020-2021 school year. In consultation with medical professionals and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Pace began the 2021-2022 school year in person on Aug. 18, 2021.

Like the CDC, we understand that schools play a vital role in children’s development and overall well-being. Our goal continues to be to maintain the health, safety and mental wellness of our entire community while providing the nurturing and academically rigorous school environment unique to Pace.

Our success during the 2020-2021 school year hinged on the Pace community’s adherence to strict protocols and the willingness of our faculty, staff, students and parents to receive COVID vaccinations. Our ability to remain open during 2021-2022 once again requires the full commitment of every member of our community. We expect our faculty, staff and parents to lead by example, modeling proper behavior and good judgement for the children in our care.

We ask for patience, understanding and flexibility as we continue to navigate ever-changing circumstances, and we thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Our Shared Commitment

Operating school safely requires universal cooperation and commitment. Pace takes seriously the health risks associated with COVID and expects all community members to do the same.

Faculty, staff and students who are not well should remain at home and return to Pace when symptom- and fever-free (temperature less than 100.4F) with no fever-reducing medications for 48 hours prior to return.

COVID EXPOSURE TREE

Our Advisers

We continue to follow the guidance and guidelines set forth by public health officials. In addition, an advisory group of experienced healthcare professionals within our community shapes our policies and practices. Our COVID Response Team includes two full-time nurses and a full-time athletic trainer, all certified in COVID contract tracing by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The COVID Response Team maintains student, faculty and staff health information and monitors absences. Individuals are notified of possible exposure to illness and/or cases of COVID should they or their student(s) be impacted. The COVID Response Team maintains patient confidentiality.

Vaccine Status

As of Feb. 12, 2022, 99% of our faculty and staff are fully vaccinated; 84% of Middle and Upper School students have received vaccines; and 70% of Lower School students are vaccinated.

We ask that all students, faculty and staff provide documentation of vaccination to assist with decision-making regarding COVID policies. Parents should upload student COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards as soon as the vaccination process is complete via the Document/Files link in MYFAMILY. Our COVID Response Team maintains a running list of fully vaccinated students, while our Human Resources department handles faculty and staff records.

In addition, the Pace COVID Response Team strongly recommends flu vaccinations for all Pace families. In an effort to reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the pandemic, it is more important than ever to protect all members of our school community.

Hybrid Learning

Given the availability of vaccines and the hardship hybrid learning places on teachers and students, we are not offering a virtual-learning option for the 2021-2022 school year. Only students in quarantine or isolation may learn remotely. Those awaiting COVID test results or otherwise absent cannot be virtual.

OUR PROCEDURES & PROTOCOLS

* Please note that these guidelines are subject to change as the situation unfolds and additional information becomes available.

YOUR COVID SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Face Covering: Find a mask that suits your sense of style. Cloth masks are appropriate and should cover both your nose and mouth. Please make sure that masks are comfortable but fit snuggly and do not slip off the face. Masks with respirators are not allowed. Mask chains are highly recommended, particularly for our younger students. Always carry an extra face covering in your backpack.
Sanitizers: We provide hand sanitizer and hand-sanitizing stations throughout campus. Feel free to carry a personal supply of hand sanitizer or hand-sanitizing wipes with you as well.
Water Bottle: Bring a clean, reusable water bottle to avoid sharing water sources.

CONTACT OUR COVID response TEAM

Morgan Miller, B.S.N., R.N.
Lower School Nurse

Megan Turner, B.S.N., R.N.
Middle and Upper School Nurse

covidresponseteam@paceacademy.org