2022-23 COVID–19 Health and Safety Protocols

Updated September 20, 2022

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year. In response to the changing nature of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, our Covid-19 Task Force continues its work to support the health and wellness of our students, faculty and staff, and families. Our COVID-19 respoinse is informed by local, state and national public health guidance and data. The health and safety of our students, employees and their families are our highest priority.

As guidance continues to evolve, we will adapt as needed and updates will be shared on this webpage, in our COVID-19 Plan, and by email as needed. Please note that as circumstances continue to change, we will respond quickly and may update our policies as needed. The COVID-19 task force will continue to meet weekly and as otherwise needed

For questions about our policies, please contact Diane Murphy, our school nurse at healthteam@lincolnschool.org

Masks

Vaccinations

How to Stay Up to Date on Vaccinations and Boosters
For the best protection against COVID-19, stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. This means getting all recommended doses—including booster doses.

Students
We expect that all students age five and older submit proof of vaccination or notify us of their vaccination plans. To do this log in to the Veracross Portal, click the orange upload vaccination documentation button, and go to the child's Student Health Tracker. Click to edit the immunization record, answer yes and upload a photo or pdf. Detailed directions are here.

Please upload:

Proof of vaccination for COVID-19 (e.g. photo or scan of vaccination record)
Students who uploaded vaccine documentation using our online form last year do not need to re-upload, but we do need updated information about boosters.
Notice of planned vaccination dates (e.g., screenshot of appointment confirmations);OR
Submit a form for a religious or medical exemption.

Faculty and Staff
We expect that all Faculty & Staff submit proof of vaccination/boosters or notify us of their vaccination plans. Go to the Faculty Portal and click on the orange Upload Faculty/Staff Vaccine Documentation button. Once you have logged in, click on Edit next to COVID-19 and follow the prompts to upload a jpeg of your card. Detailed directions can be found HERE.

For faculty/staff who have children enrolled at Lincoln, please note that you have a different login for the faculty section of Magnus. If you have forgotten your login information, click on Are you having trouble logging in for prompts.

Symptoms and Screening

Parents and Visitors

Parents and visitors are welcome in our school buildings and at school events.
It is our expectation that all visitors to campus are symptom-free and up to date with vaccinations. If they have symptoms of COVID-19 or other illness, they should reschedule their campus visit. If they are not up to date with vaccinations, it is our expectation that they will wear a mask.
At this time masks are optional for visitors on campus who are up to date with vaccinations.

Little School and Early Childhood Case Protocols

Positive Results

Vaccinated or Unvaccinated individuals who test positive and are able to wear a mask

5 day isolation and return on day 6 if:
- Symptoms improved or resolved
- Fever free x 24 hours without fever reducing medication
- Wear a well fitting mask through day 10
- Mask can be discontinued after 2 negative antigen tests 48 hours apart
- Recommendation is that 1st antigen test is on day 6

Vaccinated or Unvaccinated individuals who test positive and are unable to wear a mask or are immunocompromised or are experiencing moderate or severe illness:

Should isolate at home for a full 10 days* and return on day 11 if
- Symptoms improved or resolved
- Fever free x 24 hours without fever reducing medication

* Please note that the 10 day isolation period can be shortened if the individual has 2 negative serial antigen tests 48 hours apart, the first test being given on day 6 (at the earliest) and the second test 48 hours later.

Vaccinated, Unvaccinated or Not up-to-date exposed individuals

Do not need to quarantine
- Monitor for symptoms x 10 days
- Recommend testing 5 full days after exposure, sooner if symptomatic
- Consider serial antigen testing 48 hours apart in a 7 day period
Mask x 10 days strongly recommended if possible

Household close contacts can continue to come to school, however they must follow the applicable guidance below:

If able to separate from the COVID positive household member:

Monitor for symptoms 10 days
- If symptoms develop, stay home and get tested
- Wear a high quality, well-fitting mask x 10 days (age 2 and above)
- Get tested after 5 full days after exposure (on day 6)

If unable to separate from COVID positive household member:

Monitor for symptoms and wear a high quality, well-fitting mask during the household members isolation period (at least 5 days) then an additional 10 days (i.e., at least 15 days total from the positive case’s isolation date)
- If symptoms develop, stay home and get tested
- Get tested on day 6 and again on day 11

Please Note: RIDOH strongly recommends serial antigen testing (i.e. COVID-19 rapid testing every 48 hours) throughout the 15 day period for household close contacts who are not able to separate from the COVID positive household member.

Symptomatic students

If a student develops a single non probable symptom while at school
- monitor,
- recommend masking if appropriate
If a student develops any symptom after known exposure
- they may be sent home
- Parents will monitor for further symptoms and test if appropriate; Student may return after 24 hours
  - if symptoms improve or resolve
  - Student is fever free x 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
  - They have a negative COVID-19 test result
If a student develops 2 non-probable symptoms or a single probable symptom, and symptoms are not related to another diagnosis or an already vetted illness.
- Student will be sent home
- Monitor symptoms x 24 hours
- Test for COVID19 or other testing per PCP’s recommendation
- Student may return to school if
  - if symptoms improve or resolve
  - Student is fever free x 24 hours without fever reducing medication
  - Student has a negative COVID test result

Kindergarten–Grade 12 Case Protocols

Positive Test Result

Vaccinated or Unvaccinated Individuals who test positive and are able to wear a mask:
- 5 day isolation and return on day 6 if
  - Symptoms improved or resolved
  - Fever free x 24 hours without fever reducing medication
  - Wear a well fitting mask through day 10
  - Mask can be discontinued after 2 negative antigen tests 48 hours apart
    - Recommendation is that 1st antigen test is on day 6
Vaccinated or Unvaccinated individuals who test positive and are unable to wear a mask or are immunocompromised or are experiencing moderate or severe illness:
- Should isolate at home for a full 10 days

COVID-19 Exposure

Vaccinated or Unvaccinated exposed individuals (non household exposure)
- Do not need to quarantine
- Monitor for symptoms x 10 days
- Recommend testing 5 full days after exposure, sooner if symptomatic
  - Consider serial testing antigen testing 48 hours apart in a 7 day period
- Mask x 10 days strongly recommended
- High transmission OR an outbreak - Test to Stay
  - Test on day 2 and 5
  - Mask x 10 days

Symptomatic Students
- If a student develops a single non probable symptom while at school
  - monitor,
  - recommend masking if appropriate
- If a student develops any COVID-19 symptom after a known exposure
  - they may be sent home
  - Parents will monitor for further symptoms; Student may return after 24 hours
    - if symptoms improve or resolve
    - Student is fever free x 24 hours without fever reducing medication
    - COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result is negative
- If a student develops 2 non-probable symptoms or a single probable symptom, and symptoms are not related to another diagnosis or an already vetted illness.
  - Student will be sent home
  - Monitor symptoms x 24 hours
  - Test for COVID19.
    - Student may return to school if
      - symptoms improve or resolve
      - Student is fever free x 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
      - COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result is negative

Household close contacts can continue to come to school, however they must follow the applicable guidance below:

If able to separate from the COVID positive household member:

Monitor for symptoms 10 days
- If symptoms develop, stay home and get tested
- Wear a high quality, well-fitting mask x 10 days (age 2 and above)
- Get tested after 5 full days after exposure (on day 6)

If unable to separate from COVID positive household member:

Monitor for symptoms and wear a high quality, well-fitting mask during the household members isolation period (at least 5 days) then an additional 10 days (i.e., at least 15 days total from the positive case’s isolation date)
- If symptoms develop, stay home and get tested
- Get tested on day 6 and again on day 11

COVID–19 Antigen Testing Consent Form

COVID–19 Case Notification

Little School/EC
- Continue with close contact emails to parents
- Report COVID test results obtained at Lincoln School via RIDOH reporting portal
- Only report outbreaks to RIDOH (outbreak = 10% or 3 or more in a classroom)
Lower, Middle and Upper School
- Close contact emails will be sent to parents only if there is an outbreak or cluster, or if there is an immunocompromised child.
- Weekly case count will be updated on dashboard.
- Report COVID test results obtained at Lincoln School via RIDOH reporting portal
- Only report outbreaks to RIDOH (outbreak = 10% or 3 or more in a classroom)

COVID–19 Task Force

Sophie Glenn Lau ’88, Head of School

Peter Brooks, Director of Upper School

Meaghan D’Abrosca, Camp & Extended Day Coordinator and College Counseling Office Coordinator

Sue Farnum, Director of Admission and Financial Aid

Kara Gilligan, Dean of Students, Middle and Upper Schools

Kirsten Hammann, Director of Marketing and Communications

Debbie Hanney, Director of Middle School and Interim Director of Lower School

Ianthe Hershberger Director of Lower School

Brenda Konopelko, Chief Financial Officer

Kim Lough, Director of Little School

Diane Murphy, School Nurse

RI Department of Health Guidelines

COVID-19 Dashboard

Click here for a monthly record of reported cases by grade level.