"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

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Dear St. Gabriel’s Families,

 

The Task Force has continued to meet weekly since May 2020 with the health of our community as its priority. This group remains abreast of local and national concerns regarding COVID-19 and considers all information while responding to our own campus needs. Our goals are unwavering: prioritize the emotional and physical safety of our community, stay together on campus where learning and growing are optimal, and allow for as much individual choice as possible given ongoing conditions. 

 

Thus, as the pandemic evolves, so too, do we. It is essential to the health of our campus that parents monitor their children for any of the symptoms listed below. Students determined to be close contacts who exhibit no symptoms can continue coming to school, but will need to wear a mask or face shield for a designated period of time. We will continue to monitor close contact individuals for symptoms while on campus; we will reach out if we determine a test is necessary.

 

List of Symptoms:

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

Headache

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

 

If your child develops any of these symptoms, please keep them home and contact your pediatrician, your Division Head, and Nurse Tracy. Your commitment to this request is significant for the health of our community.

If your child is symptomatic and/or positive for Covid at home, please:

 

1.    Contact your pediatrician for a test and/or advice specific to your child’s symptoms. Our tests are now limited in number and will be reserved for symptomatic individuals on campus.

2.    Contact your Division Head – Mrs. Glenn (Lower School) or Dr. Snyder (Middle School). They will help facilitate your child’s asynchronous experience while home.

3.    Contact Nurse Tracy so we are able to accurately track cases within our community.

 

If your child develops symptoms while at school, we will offer a Covid test. If your child is positive for Covid, you will be asked to pick him or her up from school as soon as possible to remain home 5 full days from the positive test date. Assuming symptoms have improved and there is no fever with or without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours, the student may return to campus on the 6th day wearing a mask for the next 5 days. 

 

I know we are all so tired of thinking and talking about COVID-19. It is challenging to feel a sense of a lack of control over this issue – its duration, severity, and the variety of responses and approaches throughout society to living with the virus; responses with which we may or may not agree. This uncertain feeling along with real worries over the economy and the welfare of our children can lead us to heightened levels of stress and reactions that are larger than we might otherwise have. St. Gabriel’s is a safe haven, a place apart, rising above as we always do. By focusing on our core values of Integrity, Caring, and Excellence, as well as remaining calm and measured, together we will continue to thrive, regardless of the vagaries of this virus. Of course there will be times we may have questions or concerns, and I want to hear them. Please reach out to me directly so that I may address them with you in a timely and fulsome manner.

 

Thank you for your continued support as we Forge the Future, Together!

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All my best,

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Mrs. Colleen Lynch, Head of School