Dear Mount Alvernia High School Community,

The health and safety of the members of the Mount Alvernia High School community remains our first priority as we navigate through the 2021-2022 school year knowing that Covid-19 unfortunately at this time remains a public health concern.

Mount Alvernia High School has an adaptive plan regarding reopening this fall. The plan must always incorporate the input of various agencies, such as federal, state, and local agencies. It must also involve ongoing discussions and approval from the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and the MAHS Board of Directors. Please be aware that plans are subject to change at any time based on the information forthcoming from the aforementioned agencies. In addition, each part of the plan is monitored, evaluated, and assessed frequently, and is part of ongoing discussions. We appreciate your understanding as we consider guidelines and recommendations from a variety of agencies and work together to establish the safest course of action for our school community.

Reopening

  • School will occur 5 days a week, in person.
  • Lunch will be served Monday through Friday (including pizza Fridays).
  • Increased spacing and protective barriers in eating areas will be utilized as much as possible.
  • Encouragement of virtual meetings (i.e. parent meetings or group meetings) whenever possible.
  • Each public event will be considered on a case by case basis and will be communicated to families.
  • The water fountain will be available for water bottle refill only.
  • The sharing of classroom materials is allowed.
  • Students can choose to wear either the uniform skirt, polo, and knee socks/tights free of holes/tears or the Friday uniform (blue jeans free of holes/tears and an MAHS t-shirt or sweatshirt).

Face Coverings

  • Regardless of vaccination status, all faculty, staff, and students will be required to wear a face-covering throughout the day except while eating, drinking, or outside. This includes after school activities and indoor sporting events.
  • Mask breaks will be implemented as needed.
  • As was the case during the 2020-2021 school year, for those for whom it is not possible to wear a face-covering due to medical conditions, disability impact, or other health or safety factors, please submit a doctor’s letter to the Wellness Center.
  • By federal public health order, all students, faculty, and staff are required to wear masks on school buses at this time. All faculty, staff, students and visitors must wear masks while in school health offices.
  • All visitors will be required to wear a face-covering in the building, except while eating, drinking, or outside.

Vaccinations

Sanitation

  • Frequent hand washing is encouraged throughout the day.
  • Hand sanitizers will be available in classrooms, hallways, and shared spaces.
  • Desk cleaning spray will be available for student use.
  • Overnight sanitation of classrooms, restrooms, and high-touch surfaces will continue to occur.
  • Windows and doors will remain open to increase ventilation.
  • School ventilation system will be on.

Student Health

  • If your daughter is not feeling well, or exhibits the following symptoms, she is to remain home and we ask that you contact the Wellness Center for further directives.
    • Fever (100 F or higher), chills, shaking chills
    • Cough (not due to other known causes, such as a chronic cough)
    • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Muscle aches or body aches
    • Sore throat (when in combination with other symptoms)
    • Headache (when in combination with other symptoms)
    • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (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 and when in combination with other symptoms)

Please contact Mrs. Brancato, our school nurse regarding your daughter’s absence if it is due to an illness.

Isolation and Quarantine

  • All individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for a minimum of 10 days after symptom onset (or specimen collection date if asymptomatic). Return to school should be based on time and symptom resolution. Repeat testing prior to return is not recommended.
  • Close contacts are defined as individuals who have been within 6 feet of a COVID-19 positive individual while indoors, for at least 15 minutes during a 24-hour period. This definition applies even if both the close contact and the case are wearing face coverings.
  • Some close contacts are EXEMPT from quarantine and testing protocols:
    • Asymptomatic, fully vaccinated close contacts (symptomatic fully vaccinated individuals are required to stay home and get tested).
    • Bus close contacts, so long as both individuals were masked and windows were open.
    • Close contacts who have had COVID-19 within the past 90 days.
  • Asymptomatic close contacts who do not develop symptoms and do not meet any of the above exemptions will do one of the following:
    • Quarantine at home for 7 days returning to school with a negative PCR test.
    • Quarantine at home for 10 days returning to school without a test.
  • Symptomatic individuals who experience COVID-19 symptoms may return to school with a negative PCR test, alternative medical diagnosis, and improvement of symptoms/fever-free for 24 hours.
  • Academic plans will be arranged for quarantine cases.

Mrs. Brancato, our school nurse will work closely with families to help guide you through the process of any required quarantining/isolating related to a Covid-19 diagnosis or possible exposure.

The Mount Alvernia High School community looks forward to the upcoming school year and we thank you for your support and cooperation as we work together to support the health and safety of all.

Pax et Bonum,
Ms. Jillian Boudreau
Head of School

Massachusetts Travel Information may be accessed through the following website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel. 

Please consult the CDC pages within this link to review the requirements related to domestic and international travel. We will continue to monitor and update these requirements should any new information be brought forward from the state.    

Please contact the Wellness Center with any planned travel throughout the 2021-2022 school year.

Click Here to Download the 2021-2022 Covid-19 School Re-Opening Plan