Please find below a number of the steps we are taking to promote health and safety while students are on campus. These guidelines have been developed utilizing CDC recommendations, and in consultation with our expert advisory group, the Baltimore County Department of Health (BCDH), and our Director of Nursing Services. We will continue to adjust our protocols and practices as required.
Central to our ability to run school safely are the essential components of face coverings, physical distancing, and hand hygiene.
Face Coverings
All students, employees, and parents and other visitors will be required to wear a mask while inside and outside of Park buildings (except while eating/drinking with appropriate distancing).
All masks should be multi-layer. You may choose a multi-layer “medical grade” mask, a multi-layer cloth mask, or combine a cloth mask with a medical grade mask. Many experts are recommending KN95, N95, or similar. (www.projectn95.org is one of the trusted sources for procuring masks.)
For any child that arrives at school with an insufficient mask, Katie Ackley will provide a medical grade mask for the day.
Last year, our students did a fantastic job in adhering to our masking protocols on campus. We will reinforce these protocols again this year, providing support and encouragement in a range of settings. At lunch and during snack times, we will work with students to ensure that they maintain appropriate distancing while maskless.
For all students, we will look for opportunities for outdoor “mask breaks” over the course of the day.
Face coverings must fit snugly over the mouth and nose, and must be multi-layered. Coverings made with mesh material or a fabric with holes, masks with a valve, gaiters, and bandanas are not suitable for use in the building. Teachers will reinforce the use of appropriate hygiene practices prior to putting masks on. Masks cannot be shared with friends. The school will maintain a supply of disposable masks at every divisional desk and the front desk, which will be made available as needed.
The use of masks may pose a particular challenge for some people with disabilities and special health needs. In those circumstances, the school will make accommodations accordingly so as to provide appropriate guidance and health and safety. If a family has a particular concern, please reach out to the school nurse.
Physical Distancing
In classrooms, students will be seated with at least three feet of spacing. With the active guidance of school employees, physical distancing will be supported throughout the buildings, on campus, and on buses.
Hand Hygiene
Hand sanitizing stations will be available at every building entrance, in classrooms, and at other locations throughout the buildings. Additional washing stations will be available outdoors near our athletic fields. Handwashing with soap and water will be required at multiple intervals throughout the day, including at the transition to lunch.
COVID Testing
We have scheduled on-campus testing for our students and employees prior to the start of school. Full information regarding August 27 testing is available here.
In light of the spread of the Delta variant, we will be aggressively monitoring for infection among our entire school population — regardless of vaccination status — with weekly surveillance testing to begin September 8. Testing has been built into students' weekly schedules and does not require a separate trip to campus. Results are shared with families and directly with our school nurse. (In the event a student is absent for a weekly test, or does not get tested on campus for any other reason, the family must submit a negative PCR test by 5 p.m. on Sunday before the start of the school week.)
Self-screening
All students (Pre-K-12) and employees will be required to complete a morning health screening by 8 a.m., prior to coming to school each day, and all families and employees will signal completion via the Magnus Health online app prior to entering the building or boarding school buses. Please see our Magnus Health FAQ page for help with accessing the app. Those who have a fever above 99.5º, have flu-like symptoms not associated with allergies, and/or have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will not be permitted on campus (all CDC guidelines will be followed in this regard).
Health Support
The Health Suite will have separate areas for well-visits and the treatment/isolation of ill patients. Students, faculty, and staff on campus must contact the school nurse immediately if they begin to experience COVID-19-like symptoms. The school nurse will follow all protocols recommended/required by the Baltimore County Department of Health (BCDH).
In the event of a suspected or diagnosed case of COVID-19 in the community, the school will follow the Maryland State Department of Health. Because this is an issue of health and safety, we intend to take a conservative and aggressive approach in requiring any individuals who have been in close contact with a student or employee presenting symptoms or confirmed to have COVID-19, to isolate according to state guidelines.
Please see our FAQ for more detailed information, as well as the health sections below on this page.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Cleaning and disinfecting of door handles, high-touch surfaces, and restrooms will take place throughout the school day. Each classroom will be equipped with cleaning and disinfecting supplies for use following any student transitions, and as needed. Deep cleaning and disinfecting of all areas will take place nightly.
Ventilation and Fresh Air
An outside group conducted a review of every HVAC system on-campus; maximum air dilution as well as effective filtering systems have all been addressed. We’re using the highest level filters our systems will allow, while at the same time adjusting air vents to allow for optimal flow of outside air into our buildings. In a limited number of spaces where we cannot address airflow issues, we have installed air purifiers with the highest rated filtering systems. Teachers will liberally utilize Park’s abundant outdoor spaces, including designated spaces prepared for classes and other activities.
Materials
Extra supplies and equipment will be made available to limit the sharing of items (e.g. art supplies, technology, lab equipment). Items that must be shared will be cleaned and disinfected between uses.
Water
All students must have a water bottle on campus each day; drinking fountains will be used as bottle filling stations only.
Early Drop-off, Extended Day, and After Day
We will provide Early Drop-off, Extended Day, and After Day this fall, with Lower School maintaining cohorts by grade-level. (See more about these services on divisional Back-to-School pages.)
Parents and Visitors on Campus
We will be limiting large-scale in-person gatherings and we will utilize outdoor spaces to the greatest degree possible.
All visitors to campus will be required to provide either proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test within three days of their visit. See the Visitors section below for more detailed information.
Visits to campus with forgotten lunches, musical instruments, athletic gear, etc. are welcomed. Please contact the appropriate divisional office to arrange a front-desk or “curbside” pick-up/drop-off.
Our Back-to-School Nights will be virtual this year, and we will keep the community apprised on the status of our fall schedule of events.
The Athletic Department will be sharing any updated guidance regarding fan attendance for fall athletic events. As of this writing, we ask that you be mindful of the number of family members attending (keeping it to a minimum), but know that you are welcome to attend home games. Attendance policies may be different at away games as home teams are determining their approaches.
The school has established student health isolation pods for any students or employees who present with COVID-19 symptoms. Students, faculty, and staff on campus must contact the School Nurse immediately if they begin to experience COVID-19-like symptoms. If the school nurse confirms these symptoms, a parent/caregiver will be called. A parent/caregiver is required to arrive within 60 minutes of notification of their ill child. Plan for another person to be contacted if you are unable to arrive within 60 minutes of notification. Upon arrival on campus, call the health suite and the nurse will meet you at the Lower School main entrance (back of the school, at the circle) to pick up your child.
When a student tests positive for COVID-19, the school nurse will contact the Baltimore County Health Department as required for reporting, contact tracing, and instructions. Depending on distance and duration of contact, the Health Department will determine who, if anyone, in the student’s class, cohort, division or family needs to be notified of possible exposure and next steps.
In the event of a suspected or diagnosed case of COVID-19 in the community, the school will follow the Maryland State Department of Health (click here for more information). Because this is an issue of health and safety, we intend to take a conservative and aggressive approach in requiring any individuals who have been in close contact with a student or employee presenting symptoms or confirmed to have COVID-19, to isolate according to state guidelines.
COVID Testing
The school will provide weekly on-campus PCR COVID testing for all students (Pre-K-12) to take place during the school week.
In the event a student is absent for a weekly test, or does not get tested on campus for any other reason, the family must submit a negative PCR test by 5 p.m. on Sunday before the start of the school week.
Self-screening
All students (Pre-K-12) and employees will be required to complete a morning health screening by 8 a.m., prior to coming to school each day, and all families and employees will signal completion via the Magnus Health online app prior to entering the building or boarding school buses. Please see our Magnus Health FAQ page for help with accessing the app.
Those who have a fever above 99.5º, have flu-like symptoms not associated with allergies, and/or have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will not be permitted on campus (all CDC guidelines will be followed in this regard).
Notification
When a student tests positive for COVID-19, the school nurse will be in contact with the Baltimore County Health Department as required for reporting, contact tracing, and instructions. Depending on distance and duration of contact, the Health Department will determine who, if anyone, in the student’s class, cohort, division, or family needs to be notified of possible exposure and next steps. The school will contact those who are determined to be close contacts.
While we will not be notifying the community at large whenever we quarantine a cohort/class/grade/ or division, we have created a summary sheet that we will update daily. Please refer to your Veracross parent portal to view the summary sheet if you have questions about the situation on campus.
The school employs the services of a registered nurse during regular school hours. Please inform the school nurse of your student’s special needs and medications, as well as any contagious illness.
If your child falls ill with symptoms that are not related to COVID-19, wellness visits, or any other injuries, the health suite will be available to them, separate from the isolation area.
Students should remain at home if they have a temperature over 100◦F. They may return to school when they have been fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medication. Students should also remain at home for the following symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, diagnosed contagious illness, a widespread rash, or a persistent severe cough. Students may return when they have been symptom free for 24 hours. After an illness or injury, a student will be expected to participate in all activities unless the student has a doctor’s note specifying any restrictions.
If a student does not have all the requirements completed on Magnus Health Student Medical Record, they will be restricted from participating in school activities such as gym class, after school sports, or after school activities.
All prescription and nonprescription medication (including vitamins, cold medicine, children’s Tylenol, etc.) given in school require a Physician Medication Authorization form signed by a parent and student’s physician. This form is available in your Magnus Health portal, and must be uploaded into your portal after completion.
Students are not permitted to carry prescription and nonprescription medication during school hours or on school trips. Students are only authorized to carry emergency medications such as inhalers and Epi-Pens with a completed medication authorization on file in Magnus Health, and a student/nurse contract is on file in the health suite.
If a student becomes ill or has an accident during the school day, the nurse will assess the situation and, if necessary, notify the parents. Students who need to go home are required to be picked up by a parent or other designated person within one hour of a call from the nurse. Have an emergency plan so that should you receive a call during the school day, the student can be picked up in a timely manner.
Park School requires all students to be immunized against childhood illnesses according to the Maryland State Immunization Requirements and the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The only valid exemption from childhood vaccinations is a medical contraindication documented yearly by your child’s physician.
As part of Park School's Community Agreement - Policies Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, all students and employees will be expected to receive the seasonal flu vaccine (by October 31). At this time, the school continues to strongly recommend that all students receive a vaccination for COVID-19 when eligible.
Pre-K and Kindergarten drop-off is at the Kindergarten building.
Lower School students (Grades 1–5) will be dropped off at the Pearlstone entrance (a.k.a. The Lower School entrance or the “bus circle”) on the back side of the main building. Middle and Upper School siblings of Lower School students can be dropped off at the Athletic Center.
Middle and Upper School drop-offs will take place at the front-of-school. Students in Grades 6–8 will enter through the main entrance doors; students in Grades 9–12 will follow the path along the pond and enter the building through the stairwell at the end of the Blaustein Science Building (closest to the Athletic Center) or through the atrium doors nearby.
Please see your divisional Back-to-School page for any specific drop-off and pick-up procedures, including for the Kindergarten building.
The Kindergarten main entrance is accessible.
The Lower School main entrance and other designated Lower School entrance doors (first, second, and third grades) are accessible.
Middle and Upper School students requiring an accessible entrance should use the Wyman Arts Center door and follow the main hallway to the Middle and Upper Schools (use the elevator to access the Upper School).
Middle and Upper School students and all employees will have the option of either purchasing lunch (including hot options) from the cafeteria or bringing food from home. The cafeteria will be open from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. with snacks available for purchase throughout the day. Middle and Upper School students will eat in the cafeteria space, in classrooms, in other designated indoor areas, or outdoors.
Lower School families will have the option to pre-order lunch from the cafeteria, as students will be eating in their classrooms for the time being. To order lunch, parents will complete an online form at least 48 hours in advance. If a student forgets their lunch, the cafeteria will provide a bagged lunch. If any Lower School students are able to return to the cafeteria during the 21-22 academic year, parents can expect to hear an update about lunch options.
The Bruins’ Den, located in the Athletic Center, will be open from 2-4 p.m. for sandwiches, salads, snacks, and drinks to go.
Students can use their student ID number, student ID card, or credit card. Pre-established school store limits will apply. If you have questions, please contact Lisa Quinting at lquinting@parkschool.net.
Our physical school store will remain closed this fall, but apparel will be available for purchase online and can be shipped via UPS or picked up at the school. (There will also be pop-up events throughout the year where apparel can be purchased.) Middle School PE uniforms can be ordered online and will be delivered by the PE department when school starts this fall. Visit the store here: https://parkstoreonline.square.site
Middle and Upper School divisionl desks will hold a limited supply of materials (pens, pencils, paper, etc.), should students need them during the day.
When entering any of Park’s buildings, all parents and other visitors will need to sign in and present a valid government-issued photo identification that will be scanned into Park’s VisitorManagement System (supported by Raptor Technologies). The system provides an invaluable resource for the school in the event of an emergency, for screening of visitors, and communications — including contact tracing. Unless instructed otherwise, parents and other visitors should enter the main Park School entrance. There, the parent/visitorwill be provided with a badge that they will wear for the duration of their visit. At the conclusion of their visit, parents/visitors will be asked to return to the desk where they signed in and sign out.
Note: Visits to campus with forgotten lunches, musical instruments, athletic gear, etc. are welcomed and do not require a sign-in and badge. Please contact the appropriate divisional office to arrange a front-desk or “curbside” pick-up/drop-off.
Parents should self-screen prior to any visit to campus. If you have any COVID-like symptoms or have had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, do not come to campus.
We ask parents visiting campus buildings for an extended period of time (planned classroom visits, meetings, etc.) to present either a proof of vaccination or negative COVID PCR test from within three days upon arrival — or send the record to our designated email address: parentvisit@parkschool.net.
In person, electronic images (including photos/scans) or hard copy forms are acceptable. To email your proof-of-vaccination or test result, please put your last name in the subject line, along with “Vaccination Card” or “Test Result” and attach a photo or scan of your record.
Parents are always welcome to set meetings or conversations up via Zoom with school personnel if preferred.
Parents who need to visit our Business, Development, or Parents’ Association offices should first go to the reception desk in the main building. Our receptionist will notify the appropriate Park School employee that they have a visitor and will direct the visitor to the Lieberman Building lobby where they will be met by a staff member.
Visits to the Kindergarten with forgotten lunches, clothing, or other essentials are welcomed and do not require a sign-in and badge. Please contact the Lower School office to arrange a front-desk or “curbside” pick-up/drop-off. For planned visits to the Kindergarten (classroom visitation, meetings, etc.), you will be directed by the Pre-K/Kindergarten teaching team to first go to the lobby of the main building to complete the sign-in/badge process. The receptionist will notify the Kindergarten team of your arrival, and will meet you at the Kindergarten entrance.
If you have any questions about Park’s visitor policies, please do not hesitate to reach out to Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations Dan Schochor: dschochor@parkschool.net.
We aim to provide closing/delay confirmation by 6 a.m. But always check texts/emails/website prior to departing for school on inclement weather days.
Text Message
In the event of delayed openings, early dismissals, or school closures, the school will send a text message to the SMS-enabled mobile phones we have listed in Veracross.
An email will be sent to parents’ primary addresses. (Please make sure Veracross reflects your correct email address.) Emails will also be sent to Upper School students.
Website
Information will be posted on Park’s website www.parkschool.net. (To be sure you see the most up-to-date information, refresh the page after accessing the site.)
Weather Line
A recorded announcement will be available on the Park School weather line, 410.339.4141.
Media Outlets
In the case of snow, school closing and delayed opening announcements are requested to appear on WBAL-TV, WBAL-AM, WJZ, and ABC2 News.