Revised August 2022

 

The following policies, procedures, and guidelines will be in place for the 2021-2022 school year in order to support the health and wellness of our community. The decisions surrounding our plan are guided by the standards of care, guidelines, and protocols set forth by agencies that are experts in medical science and public health such as the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, the Kentucky Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. We’ve also followed guidelines set forth by the Kentucky Department of Education, and utilized the resources of the Kentucky Association of Independent Schools, Independent Schools Association of the Central States, and National Association of Independent Schools.

We will remain flexible and adaptable as these policies and procedures may change throughout the school year based on new information or modified guidelines.

All employees, students, and their families are required to self-report within 24 hours of a positive COVID-19 test, any symptoms of COVID-19, and/or any exposure to a COVID-19 positive.  Self-reporting is critical to keeping our community safe and healthy.

PREVENTION STARTS AT HOME

PREVENTATIVE STEPS TO REDUCE TRANSMISSION RISK

STAYING HOME WHEN SICK OR AFTER EXPOSURE

WHEN THERE IS A POSITIVE CASE OF COVID-19 AT SAYRE

PROCEDURES FOR ATHLETICS

PREVENTION STARTS AT HOME

Health Attestation

By sending your child to school, you are attesting that they are symptom free.  This pledge also applies to all employees and visitors arriving on campus. If you or your child have any symptoms of illness, please do not report to school.

We encourage employees and students to test for COVID-19 in accordance with the CDC guidelines.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. The CDC recommends that everyone who is eligible stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is strongly encouraged, but not required. Documentation of vaccination is requested. Vaccination status will be kept confidential and will only be used if the situation requires the information for application of appropriate quarantine procedures.

CDC - Your COVID-19 Vaccination

CDC - Symptoms of COVID-19

KPH, CHFS - COVID-19 Testing

CDC - When You've Been Fully Vaccinated (If you don’t meet these requirements below, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated)

PREVENTATIVE STEPS TO REDUCE TRANSMISSION RISK

Sayre is a mask-optional environment, per family preference. We will resume use of our COVID Tracker found at the top of this page. This will document known cases daily. We hope that this will provide your family with the information needed to determine whether you would like your child to be masked at school.

• iWave bi-polar ionization technology is installed in all HVAC units of our buildings.
• Rabbit Air filters are added to designated areas.
• Hand sanitization stations and reminders of how to properly wash hands remain throughout campus.
• Schedule for increased, intensive, routine cleaning and disinfection by a local cleaning company with expanded cleaning staff.

STAYING HOME WHEN SICK

If any individual is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, or nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell, they should not attend school and should seek testing for COVID-19.

In any individual has tested positive for COVID-19, they may not attend school or school-related activities and should contact the school nursing department for guidance. Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 may not return to campus until they have completed a 5-day isolation and are symptom-free. After this five-day period, they will be required to mask for an additional five days.

Sayre School nursing staff should be notified immediately by the family of any individual testing positive for COVID-19. The school nurse should be notified within 24 hours of the positive result. You can reach the school nurse at (859) 244-2646, acomick@sayreschool.org (on leave until mid-October) or lgraves@sayreschool.org. The school nurse will initiate the transition to remote instruction for the isolation period.

Isolation rooms have been established on campus to be utilized for any individual exhibiting signs or symptoms of COVID-19 during the school day. Parents and guardians will be notified if their child is sick. To ensure the health and safety of our campus, we ask that all families be prepared to pick up sick students within 30 minutes of receiving notice from the school.

In the event of a fever, the individual must remain without fever for a period of 24 hours without fever-reducing medications before returning to campus.

In the case of illness, it is advisable that the individual have improvement in symptoms for a period of 24 hours before returning to campus.

If COVID-19 testing is performed, the individual should not return to campus unless a negative test is obtained and symptoms have improved.

The school nurse will be available to respond to medical needs during school hours and provide guidance on steps for a healthy return to school

IF YOU WERE EXPOSED TO COVID-19:

Current guidelines recommend testing for any individual who is exposed to COVID-19. Testing is most accurate when it is performed on or after day five from the last exposure.

Quarantine is not routinely recommended following exposures to COVID-19 for individuals who remain without symptoms. If symptoms develop after an exposure, the individual should initiate isolation and be tested for COVID-19.

*CDC - When You've Been Fully Vaccinated (If you don’t meet these requirements below, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated)

WHEN THERE IS A POSITIVE CASE OF COVID-19 IN THE SAYRE COMMUNITY

In accordance with state and local laws and regulations, we will notify local and state health officials, employees, and families immediately of any case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with federal state law. 

Current guidelines do not require contact tracing when exposures occur in the school setting. However, there may be circumstances that warrant contact tracing. The nursing staff will initiate contact tracing when deemed appropriate. Therefore, under most circumstances, it is up to the family to inform individuals who have been within six feet of the positive individual for 15 minutes or more in the 48 hour period leading up to symptom onset or positive test (whichever comes first).

It is recommended that individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 be tested on day five or later after their exposure to the COVID-19-positive individual.

Quarantine is no longer routinely recommended following COVID-19 exposures if the exposed individual remains without symptoms.

PROCEDURES FOR ATHLETICS

The Sayre athletic program will continue to follow the guidance provided by KHSAA.  

• Coaches are responsible for being knowledgeable of KHSAA Guidelines, Sayre Guidelines, and Kentucky's Healthy at Work Guidelines before leading any groups.
• Coaches and athletes with any symptom of illness should not attend school or athletic events.
• Coaches and athletes must follow Safe at Sayre protocols.
• Coaches and athletes are encouraged to bring their own water bottle labeled with their name.

The Sayre athletic department will require all athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19 to undergo the Return to Play Protocol as described below:

Return to Play Protocol (Revised January 31, 2021)