January 13, 2022

Dear Parents,

We are happy to welcome your sons back to campus for the 2022 Winter Term.

In light of the recent increase in COVID cases, we would like to share important information about the School's current Health and Wellness protocols for students who test positive for COVID or have had close contact with COVID-positive students.

In order to maintain the health and safety of the Trinity-Pawling community and to ensure that we can optimize our in-person teaching and learning experience, the School has been conducting community-wide COVID testing. Through this increased testing protocol, our Health and Wellness Center has identified a number of positive COVID cases since last week's return to campus.

Given that the Omicron variant is incredibly infectious, it makes it impossible for us to have absolute control over its spread. Despite our efforts with a layered approach to mitigation strategies, such as wearing masks inside school buildings, improved ventilation, hand-washing, remote all-school gatherings, and increased lunch periods, the Omicron variant continues to be a threat, as it is everywhere.

As a reminder, the School's Health and Wellness protocol when a student either tests positive or is identified as having close sustained contact with someone who tested positive, follows:

Students who test positive for COVID:

Students will be informed by a school administrator and immediately taken to the Health and Wellness Center to isolate.
Parents will then be notified by the Health and Wellness Center. Due to the immediate nature of communication, we apologize if you may hear from your son before the Health and Wellness Center has an opportunity to notify you.
A parent or guardian will need to pick up the student as per arrangements made with the Health and Wellness Center.
Those students who are unable to go home or leave with a guardian will be placed with Student Health Advocates - a professional Guardian and Concierge Service. Costs associated with this service will be the responsibility of the student's family.
Students will need to isolate off-campus for up to 10 days, with day zero being the date of the positive test.
Students must contact the Health and Wellness Center to arrange for their health assessment and be cleared for return. Students may not enter any other school buildings before checking in with the Health Center upon their return.

Students who are identified as having had close, sustained contact with a COVID-positive student:

Students will be informed by a school administrator and immediately taken to the Health and Wellness Center.
Parents will then be notified by the Health and Wellness Center. Due to the immediate nature of communication, we apologize if you may hear from your son before the Health and Wellness Center has an opportunity to notify you.
A parent or guardian will need to pick up the student as per arrangements made with the Health and Wellness Center.
Those students who are unable to go home or leave with a guardian will be placed with Student Health Advocates - a professional Guardian and Concierge Service. Costs associated with this service will be the responsibility of the student's family.
Students will need to quarantine off-campus for 5 days, with day zero being the day of exposure.
Students may return when symptom-free, with a negative PCR test taken at the 5th day of quarantine or later.
Students must contact the Health and Wellness Center to arrange for their health assessment and be cleared for return. Students may not enter any other school buildings before checking in with the Health Center upon their return.

All parents will receive a follow-up email from the Health and Wellness Center to confirm the school protocols for returning to campus.

This Health and Wellness protocol is in keeping with the purpose of the School to create a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment in which our students can learn, grow, and thrive. Because of the communal nature that distinguishes a boarding school education, Trinity-Pawling will continue to focus on building and protecting the common good of our community. Should you have any questions or concerns at any time, please do not hesitate to reach out and speak with one of the nurses in the Health and Wellness Center.

Warm regards,

Trinity-Pawling Health and Wellness Center