COVID-19 Response

Shore is taking proactive measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Check this page regularly for FAQs, news, and updates about Shore's response.

ON-CAMPUS OPENING OF SCHOOL SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

Shore will open in-person school on September 1, 2021, with staged arrival of students by grade through September 3. School will be in session five days per week beginning the week of September 13.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR RETURNING TO SCHOOL

The following guiding principles, in order of importance, are the lenses through which Shore will make all of the decisions related to opening school for the coming year:
  • The safety of the children, families, and employees of Shore is the number-one priority in each decision.
  • In-person learning is a Shore education at its best.
  • Finding normalcy will happen in stages (that are not always linear) as guided by the medical community and based on our best knowledge of the science behind transmission risk.
  • Shore will do what is in the best interest of the community. We understand that families will ultimately be responsible for determining if Shore is the safest fit.  

COVID-19 TASK FORCE

The Shore Board of Trustees created a COVID-19 Task Force to partner with the school's administrative team in designing a plan for re-opening, monitoring safety protocols, and serving as a resource for addressing the non-educational aspects of the back-to-school plan. The members of the COVID-19 Task Force include: Gustavo Carrera, Patrick Curley, Dr. Khoa Do, Dr. Caitlin Fawcett, Ann-Marie Flynn, Sara Knox, Blake Liggio (Chair), Kathleen Saunders, R.N., and Clair Ward.

FAQ

Included below are frequently asked questions (FAQs) for students and families as of August 23, 2021. They are subject to change as the CDC, State of Massachusetts, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education release additional guidance.

Beginning the School Year with In-Person Learning

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  • When will the school year begin? Will it be in person?

    Shore will initiate on-campus learning for all students beginning on September 1. We are starting with a staged arrival of students over the first three days of school to properly acclimate all students and employees not only to their teachers and classrooms, but also to our new safety protocols.

  • Has the school adjusted its health policies and protocols?

    We have adjusted our policies and protocols in accordance with state guidelines and COVID-19 best practices to keep our community safe. This includes, but is not limited to, policies and protocols related to student and employee attendance, the adoption of safe school behaviors, and enhanced cleaning protocols. We will continue to update our policies and protocols as additional guidance is released and/or if safer alternatives are identified.

  • Are there any requirements prior to the planned start of school on September 1?

    Shore is not requiring testing or quarantining in advance of the start of school. Families traveling out of the country should follow U.S. requirements for re-entry. Surveillance testing at school will begin just after Labor Day. Consent for testing is due by September 1; complete the consent form here.

Health and Safety Protocols for In-Person Learning

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  • What are the guiding organizations that Shore is following in developing and monitoring Shore’s in-person learning plan?

    Shore Country Day School Administrators and the COVID-19 Task Force are using the guidance of the organizations listed here in developing Shore’s back-to-school plan. In addition, Shore will continue to work closely with our consulting physician.

    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
    • Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
    • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
    • Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)
    • Beverly Department of Public Health
    • Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE)

  • Will there be on-campus COVID-19 testing this year?

    Yes. Students and employees will be required to participate in on-campus surveillance testing every Tuesday beginning on September 7. Testing will be provided by CIC Health in partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The testing will be anterior nasal testing. Since testing is required, all families will need to complete the online consent form through CIC Health for each child. Consent forms are due by September 1. Complete the consent form here.

  • Will students and adults be required to wear masks?

    Students and adults will wear masks indoors (regardless of vaccination status) but can remove masks when eating or drinking if they are in an approved location. Teachers are required to monitor and enforce mask wearing. Signage throughout the buildings will remind students and adults about safe behaviors including the importance of wearing masks.

  • What kind of mask should my child wear?

    Medical grade or double-layer masks are required for individuals wearing masks. Families will need to experiment with a mask that fits well and is comfortable for their child. This includes making sure the straps do not irritate the child’s ears and that the mask does not ride up while the child is talking. In the weeks prior to school, we recommend that you have your child practice wearing and not touching the mask. Masks required to be worn must fully cover the nose and mouth. Students should bring two masks to school each day. Should students forget their masks or if masks become wet or damaged, the school will make masks available as needed. Consistent with CDC guidance, face shields are not suitable protection in lieu of a mask.

  • If students or adults have symptoms of illness, can they come to school?

    Please do not send your student to school if they are not feeling well and exhibit any of these symptoms:
    • Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
    • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Muscle aches or body aches
    • Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
    • Sore throat when in combination with other symptoms
    • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
    • Headache when in combination with other symptoms
    • Fatigue when in combination with other symptoms
    • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

  • Will there be daily symptom screening and/or health attestations?

    Families will be required to make daily health attestations for their children using the MyMedBot app. You will receive a notification to download the app prior to the start of school. This app will send notifications to your phone each morning before the start of school asking pertinent questions related to the health of your children and family and whether or not it is safe to come to school that day. Please understand that your child cannot attend school for the day or board the bus in the morning until this attestation is complete. All Shore employees will also make daily health attestations.

  • How will my child know how to practice appropriate hygiene and distancing?

    During the first week of school we will focus on educating, practicing, and reinforcing safe behaviors in school to help students understand what compliance looks like and make students comfortable with the new environment. Here is a short video your student can watch about handwashing.

  • What if my child's in-school COVID-19 test is positive, but my child is asymptomatic without a known exposure?

    If an individual receives a positive result from Shore’s testing program but remains asymptomatic without a known exposure, we will allow retesting as an option to return to school. It is important to note that an individual must have two subsequent negative COVID-19 PCR tests, 24 hours apart, in order to negate the original positive test result.

Classrooms and Social Distancing at School

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Employees

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Procedures for an Outbreak

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Transportation

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Meals and Snacks

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  • Will lunch be provided?

    The Shore Dining Hall and Servery will be open this year! We have built the daily schedule to accommodate three lunch periods in order to have the dining room at 50% capacity at all times. It is our intention to do assigned seating to limit exposure in the event of a positive case. All adults not supervising students will be required to eat in another location.

Athletics and After-School Programs

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Off-Campus Activities

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Parent-Attended School Events and Meetings

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Visitors to Campus

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  • What is the campus visitor policy?

    Visitors are welcome to campus for scheduled appointments and events only. All visitors must be masked indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Cleaning Practices

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  • How often will the school be cleaned?

    The school will be cleaned on a daily schedule. Frequently-touched surfaces will be disinfected multiple times throughout the day.

  • What cleaning products will be used?

    The virus that causes COVID-19 can be killed with the right products. The EPA has compiled a list of disinfectant products that can be used against COVID-19, including ready-to-use sprays, concentrates, and wipes. Each product has been shown to be effective against viruses that are harder to kill than viruses like the one that causes COVID-19. Shore will use cleaning products approved by the EPA and on List N. Shore is also using electrostatic disinfectant equipment as a supplement to standard cleaning regimens and solutions.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Circulation

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Recommendations for Families

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  • What can Shore families do to help?

    • Help your child find comfortable face coverings before the start of school.
    • Send your child to school with clothing that makes outdoor learning possible even on rainy days.
    • Establish good health and safety habits: put mask wearing into practice before the start of school.
    • Encourage good hand hygiene at home.
    • Please consider flu shots for your family this year.
    • Follow guidance from the CDC and Massachusetts to keep our community safe.

Essential Info

COVID-19 Testing Consent

Outside Resources

More Info