Many changes have taken place in terms of COVID guidance over the last couple of months. With our change in masking policy going into place this week, here also are our current policies regarding COVID prevention at the school. Please note that all policies are still subject to change if and when new and pertinent information is presented. Finally, all policies are determined through collaboration with school administration, Fr. Carter, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, and Lyon County Public Health.

Masks:
Beginning on February 28, masks are required only for those students whose parents have requested that they wear them. All other students are free, but not required, to wear masks while in the school building. Further, all staff are free to chose whether or not they would like to wear masks during the school day.

Isolation:
Any student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate at home for a minimum of 5 days from symptom onset. If the individual would like to return to school between days 6-10, they must have a negative COVID test result. Tests will be administered at school. After the completion of 10 days isolation, all individuals are free to return to school without the need for a negative test.

Quarantine:
In January, Lyon County Public Health, at the direction of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, suspended all quarantine for individuals considered close contacts to someone who had tested positive for COVID-19. We will follow that policy as long as it is in place. Therefore, we will not be contact tracing or asking and students or staff members to quarantine if they are a close contact, regardless of mask usage or vaccination status.

*The one exception to the quarantine policy is for students or staff members who are a household close contact and are not considered fully vaccinated. These individuals will be asked to quarantine a minimum of 5 days with the ability to return on the 6th day if they are symptom free and receive a negative COVID test result.

General Health and Safety Policies throughout the school:
We will continue to do what we can to help keep all students and staff safe and free of communicable diseases. As such, students will still be asked to wash hands regularly, desks and high touch surfaces will be sanitized regularly, and distancing will take place when appropriate. However, the requirement for at least 3 foot distancing will no longer be in place.