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COVID-19 Vaccination
Vaccination continues to be a critical component of Rye Country Day’s COVID-19 risk management strategy. At this time, the safety and efficacy of vaccination amongst adults have been well established. To further support the health of our community, Rye Country Day School is requiring all employees to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine prior to the start of school.

RCDS also continues to strongly recommend that families vaccinate all eligible students against COVID-19 prior to the start of school. Although many independent schools already have implemented vaccine requirements for students, RCDS has made the decision to await full FDA approval of the vaccine for children 18 and under. The school will continue to monitor health data carefully, but for planning purposes, we want all parents to know that RCDS currently expects to add the COVID-19 vaccine to its list of required vaccinations for eligible students upon full FDA approval for their age group. If and when that occurs, the School will provide families with an appropriate timeframe to provide proof of vaccination. As vaccine eligibility progresses for students younger than 12, the School will carefully consider whether to require the COVID-19 vaccine for those students.   

The School is actively reviewing vaccination status data to inform health and safety policies for the upcoming school year. Vaccinated individuals will be exempt from many ongoing health protocols and policies, such as testing, contact tracing, and quarantining. On the other hand, unvaccinated students may be required to follow additional RCDS COVID-19 risk mitigation protocols related to masking, social distancing, and testing, and they can expect restricted participation in athletics, dining, and field trips.  

Fully vaccinated students, subject to ongoing state and local guidelines, may expect:

• Exemption from contact tracing and quarantine if exposed and asymptomatic
• Exemption from weekly testing and related fees
• Fewer restrictions when dining
• Full participation or reduced restrictions in chorus, band, and other performing arts activities and productions
• Full participation in interscholastic sports
  • Unvaccinated students may not be permitted to compete in interscholastic competition, pending league and opponent school regulations.
• Full participation in school-sponsored field trips and activities
  • External organizations may restrict or prohibit the participation of unvaccinated individuals.

The most recent CDC guidelines for K-12 schools state that vaccination against COVID-19 is “one of the most critical strategies to help schools safely resume full operations.” Science and data support vaccination as the most effective way to support the health and safety of our community. After your student’s final vaccine dose, please ensure you have updated your student's Magnus Health Record (see note below). 

Vaccine Exemptions
Rye Country Day will consider limited medical exemptions for individuals with contraindications to the COVID-19 vaccine, following the guidance of the CDC. The School will also provide the opportunity for religious exemption. Specific information about student exemptions, including required forms and documentation, will be shared after the FDA fully approves the vaccine.

If an exemption is granted, the unvaccinated individual may be required to follow additional RCDS COVID-19 risk mitigation related to masking, social distancing, dining, and testing.

Remote Learning and Teaching
All students and teachers will be required to resume school in person and follow the appropriate COVID-19 risk mitigation protocols according to their vaccination status. Vaccination exemption does not entitle students and employees to remote learning and teaching respectively.

Remote learning and teaching will only be available to those who need to isolate or quarantine due to illness or exposure to COVID-19, upon approval by the School. Hybrid-flex technology will allow students and faculty to remain connected to their classrooms during specific, short short-term situations (ex. isolation or quarantine), but it is not an ideal learning environment for the long-term education of our students.

Weekly Surveillance Testing
All unvaccinated members of the RCDS community will be required to continue weekly pool testing or obtain weekly independent tests. The School will continue to charge a fee for weekly pool testing, which will be covered for vaccine-exempt employees. A communication regarding fees will be sent to families who need to participate in pool testing. Costs associated with independent PCR tests will be the responsibility of the individual.

Vaccinated members of the RCDS community will not be required to test at this time. However, we will continue to monitor and adjust the need for further surveillance testing based on pandemic-related developments and/or reduce testing as appropriate.

Prior to the start of school all unvaccinated individuals will be required to participate in pool testing or provide an independent PCR test. Additional information on testing schedules will be shared closer to the start of school.

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Guiding query: How can we have an active dialogue with all of our community stakeholders so that they feel informed and engaged? How can we manage expectations, ensure confidence, and keep our community engaged with our 2021–22 school year plans—no matter what the future holds?

Charge: Communicate updates and plans to families and employees on a regular basis throughout the spring and summer.

Guiding query: What changes are needed for personnel policies and practices to comply with evolving employment laws resulting from COVID-19? What policies and practices need to be implemented to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the school community?

Charge: Determine the necessary changes to the RCDS Employee Handbook and the Parent-Student Handbook prior to the start of the summer. Communicate tentative policies and expectations to the community before the summer, and set a date for communicating finalized policies and expectations.

Guiding query: What additional financial resources will be needed to implement the School’s comprehensive plan in response to the State guidelines for the reopening of school?

Charge: Develop a detailed budget to fund the additional staffing, technology, supplies, and equipment to support the School’s plans in response to the State guidelines for reopening school.

Guiding query: How can we uplift the physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and spiritual well-being of the children and adults in our community? How can we center morale and well-being? How can we help the community to recharge? How can we begin to rebuild community?

Charge: Develop proactive and responsive community programming for unity, spirit, and wellness. 

Guiding query: Following 2020-2021, what changes and revisions need to be made to the program with regard to each division of the School? What has been the impact of hybrid learning on the pace of the curriculum and students’ mastery of it? What curricular areas need to be bolstered? What additional professional development is needed to support faculty to deliver the program? What have we learned about the schedule, and what schedule will best serve the students in each division in the event that the School has to shift to a hybrid or distance learning program at any point next year? How can we onboard students and employees who are transitioning back from 100% remote?

Charge: Carefully review and assess the 2020-2021 program and prepare academically for a variety of possibilities for learning for the 2021-2022 school year.

Guiding query: Following 2020-2021, what changes and revisions need to be made to the program with regard to each division of the School? What additional professional development is needed to support faculty? What schedule will best serve the students in each division in the event that the School has to shift to a hy-flex or distance learning program at any point next year?

Charge: Carefully review the 2020-2021 program and prepare for a variety of possibilities for the 2021-2022 school year.

Guiding query: What physical changes will be necessary to meet the guidelines recommended by New York State for reopening school? To what degree will we need to ensure social distancing and decrease density throughout the campus? What spaces on campus can return to their normal functioning?

Charge: Explore the facilities options and needed changes to meet the State guidelines.

Guiding query: What additional technology needs do we have re: hardware/software and professional development in order to be prepared to pivot between in-person and hybrid models in 2021-2022?

Charge: Explore available options and make recommendations for summer 2021 installation; provide professional development for faculty and staff in preparation for 2021-2022.

Guiding query: What staffing, infrastructure, medical supplies, and cleaning supplies are needed to be in place to safely reopen and operate school? What changes to our medical and safety policies, practices, and procedures need to be implemented to ensure the health and safety of all students and employees at school?

Charge: Determine the School has what it needs in terms of supplies, equipment, policies, and practices to safely open and operate.

Guiding query: What changes to our medical and safety policies, practices, and procedures need to be implemented to ensure the health and safety of all students and employees at school?

Charge: Serve as a bridge between the Medical Committee and the employees by offering user-end feedback on policies and protocols, sharing employee questions, and posing ideas for consideration.