COVID-19
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic as we operate during the 2023 - 2024 school year. While we will not issue a formal reopening plan, you can continue to visit this microsite for the most up-to-date COVID-19 policies and mitigation strategies. We will communicate with our community through email as new information or guidance emerges.
These policies and strategies will reflect the most current public policy and scientific data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New York State Department of Education, the New York State Department of Health, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other county-level departments of health as necessary.
ISOLATION & QUARANTINE
Isolation for POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS
How long does my child need to isolate if they test positive for COVID-19?
At ECFS, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for five days. The first date of symptoms, or the date of positive COVID-19 test administration if asymptomatic, is considered “day 0”.
If at the end of five days in isolation, the individual's symptoms are improving, they are not immunocompromised, and they have not had a fever in the past 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, they may end their isolation and return to school on day six, regardless of vaccination status. A negative COVID-19 test is not required to discontinue isolation.
If at the end of five days in isolation, the individual's symptoms have not improved, their isolation must continue until their symptoms improve including fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. A negative COVID-19 test is not required to discontinue isolation.
How long does my child need to isolate if they test positive for COVID-19 and are immunocompromised?
The CDC continues to recommend a 10-day isolation for positive individuals with weakened immune systems.
Who do I tell if my child's symptoms have not improved on day 5 and they require additional time in isolation?
If your child's symptoms have not improved, please be in touch with your divisional nurse on day 5 to inform us if they will require additional time in isolation. If your child is currently asymptomatic, symptoms are improving, or we do not hear from you on day 5, we will assume your child is returning to school on day 6.
Is a test required to end isolation?
No, a negative test is not required to end isolation.
Does my child need to wear a mask when they return on Day 6?
Yes, the NYS Department of Health requires masks to continue to be worn from day 6 through day 10 after returning from a 5-day isolation. Masks may be removed during this period if the person has received two negative rapid tests 48 hours apart. These test results do not need to be reported to the school.
Why is a negative test not required to end isolation?
According to the CDC, COVID-19 tests are best used early in the course of illness to diagnose COVID-19 and are not authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate the duration of infectiousness. Some people may remain positive by Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) (e.g., RT-PCR) long beyond the period of expected infectiousness. The significance of a positive or negative antigen test late in the course of illness is less clear. If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period.
What does my child need to do if someone in their household has tested positive for COVID-19?
Students do not need to quarantine and may attend school, however, families should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and are recommended to complete COVID-19 testing on day 5 following the exposure. These optional test results do not need to be provided to the divisional nurse's office unless they are positive.
My child contracted COVID-19 between their first and second vaccine dose, what should we do?
Families with children who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may be required to further delay their second dose and should speak directly with their child's primary care provider.
Why shorten the isolation period from 10-days to 5-days?
The CDC and the New York State Department of Health revised their recommendations for the duration of isolation for positive individuals from 10 days to five days. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of COVID-19 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the one to two days prior to the onset of symptoms and the two to three days after.
How do these policies apply to employees?
Employees must adhere to the same policies as described above.
Quarantine FOR EXPOSED INDIVIDUALS
Does my fully vaccinated child need to quarantine if exposed to a positive case?
No, all fully vaccinated individuals who have been exposed to an individual with COVID-19 may continue to attend or work at school regardless of booster status as long as they remain asymptomatic.
Does my unvaccinated child need to quarantine if exposed to a positive case?
Students do not need to quarantine and may attend school, however, families should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and are recommended to complete COVID-19 testing on day 5 following the exposure. These optional test results do not need to be provided to the divisional nurse's office unless they are positive.
Can we quarantine our unvaccinated child following exposure?
No, unvaccinated students exposed to COVID-19 should continue to attend school.
What if my child begins to develop symptoms following a known close contact?
If symptoms appear following a known exposure, the individual should isolate and seek COVID-19 PCR or laboratory-based antigen testing.
My child is fully vaccinated but was exposed. What should they do?
The CDC continues to recommend testing five to seven days after close contact with a positive individual and monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19.
What does my child need to do if someone in their household has tested positive for COVID-19?
Students do not need to quarantine and may attend school, however, families should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and are recommended to complete COVID-19 testing on day 5 following the exposure. These optional test results do not need to be provided to the divisional nurse's office unless they are positive.
When is someone considered "fully vaccinated"?
A person is considered fully vaccinated with vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection ≥2 weeks after receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or ≥2 weeks after receipt of a single dose of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.
How do these policies apply to employees?
Employees must adhere to the same policies as described above.
Symptomatic FOR SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS
What happens if a student or employee is sick?
Any student or employee who is sick should stay home and is advised to seek COVID-19 testing. If the test is positive, the individual should refer to the instructions outlined in the first drop-down menu on this page. If the test is negative or if the individual does not have access to a COVID-19 test, the individual should remain home until symptoms resolve and there has been no fever without the use of fever or pain-reducing medications for 24 hours.
Individuals experiencing symptoms of a documented diagnosis by a healthcare provider of a known chronic condition with unchanged symptoms (e.g. chronic headaches, seasonal allergies) or a confirmed acute illness (e.g. laboratory-confirmed influenza, strep-throat) may return once symptoms have improved or resolved according to the usual guidelines for that diagnosis.
Can I send my child to school if they are experiencing seasonal allergies?
Yes, as long as your child's medical record on Magnus Health notes that they experience seasonal allergies, this will be considered an exacerbation of a previously diagnosed medical condition and will not result in your child being sent home.
Which symptoms will result in my child being sent home from school?
Your child will be sent home, regardless of vaccination status or medical history if they are exhibiting:
Fever or chills;
A new or worsening cough with unknown etiology;
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
New loss of taste or smell;
Vomiting.
OR any two of the following symptoms:
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches;
Headache;
Sore throat;
Congestion or runny nose;
Nausea;
Diarrhea;
As indicated following the Nurse's assessment.
Will my child be sent home if they have a headache?
No, your child will not typically be sent home if their only symptom is a headache. If they are experiencing a headache coupled with a second symptom of COVID-19, then they will be sent home.
Does my child need to wear a mask in the Nurse's Office?
We strongly encourage individuals to wear masks when visiting the Nurse's Office.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Closures
What will trigger a full or partial closure of the School?
The following would trigger a full or partial closure of ECFS:
As ordered by federal, state, or local regulations;
As recommended, following a consultation with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;
Isolation of a number of dining services employees whose absence would preclude the School from providing dining services;
Isolation of a number of bus drivers whose absence would preclude the School from providing transportation services;
Isolation of a number of employees whose absence would preclude the School from providing adequate supervision or instruction;
Isolation of a number of nurses whose absence would preclude the School from providing medical supervision;
20% of students/employees under isolation at the Upper School would constitute an automatic closure of that division. The closure of the Upper School may trigger the closure of the Middle School should conditions necessitate;
20% of students/employees under isolation at the Middle School would constitute an automatic closure of that division. The closure of the Middle School may trigger the closure of the Upper School should conditions necessitate;
20% of students/employees under isolation at Ethical Culture or Fieldston Lower would constitute an automatic closure of that division.
The School reserves the right to close campuses or divisions for in-person learning should it be deemed prudent based on a number of variables within our school community, city, and state.
Will ECFS close its campuses if New York City public schools close due to increasing COVID-19 positivity rates?
The School will not make decisions in lockstep with the New York City Department of Education.
What will cause the School to transition to the fully remote learning option?
Unless a full closure is warranted to protect the health and safety of our community, the School will endeavor to decrease the scale or scope of in-person education prior to initiating a full transition to remote learning. These reductions will help to eliminate the number of students on campus and time students may spend on campus and include the temporary suspension of in-person athletics, after-school or before-school programs, and courses.
High-Risk Community Members
How will you protect those who are at high risk in our community?
According to the CDC, some members of our community need to take extra precautions in order to protect themselves. Additional information about populations at higher risk for severe illness can be found here. Reasonable accommodations are made for those members of our community who cannot engage in school activities, whether those are academic, co-curricular, or related to other programming. Families should speak to their child’s divisional principal; employees should speak with Human Resources.
Masking & Distancing
What is the mask policy at ECFS?
ECFS has moved to a mask-optional policy effective 3/9/22.
What is the plan for physical distancing this year?
Physical distancing has been eliminated for the 2023 - 2024 school year.
At what times do individuals still need to wear a mask?
Students and employees who return to school following a 5-day COVID-19 isolation are still required to wear masks indoors through day 10. Masks may be removed during this period if the person has received two negative rapid tests 48 hours apart. These test results do not need to be reported to the school.
We strongly encourage individuals to wear masks when visiting the Nurse's Office. Masks will remain near the entrances to these spaces to provide easy access.
Are masks still required on the school bus?
No, masks are no longer required on the school bus.
Are masks still required at indoor evening events, concerts, or competitions?
No, masks are no longer required at indoor evening events, concerts, or athletic competitions.
Screening Testing
What is the plan for screening testing this year?
We have discontinued the on-campus COVID-19 screening testing program, though we may reinstate this mitigation strategy if needed in the future.
Do unvaccinated individuals still need to be tested weekly as previously required by the NYC DOH?
No, this order has been suspended and is no longer in effect.
Vaccinations
Does ECFS require vaccination?
Over the past several years, our commitment to a COVID-19 vaccination mandate has been instrumental in safeguarding the health and well-being of our school community. With nearly 100% of our students and employees being fully vaccinated, we proudly joined the city's efforts in promoting accessible and timely vaccinations for all. While we recognize the ongoing importance of vaccinations in advancing community health and safety, we find ourselves in a different phase of our COVID-19 response compared to when these requirements were initially established.
Recently, the federal public health emergency declaration has come to an end, alongside the global public health emergency status declared by the World Health Organization. In alignment with various federal, state, and local partners, including the New York City mandate for municipal employees, we have made the decision to conclude our COVID-19 vaccination mandate effective for the upcoming 2023–2024 school year.
As we transition into this new phase, it is essential for families to stay informed by consulting the latest COVID-19 vaccination guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We encourage everyone to consider voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations and remain vigilant in adhering to regional COVID-19 information. We will continue to monitor our internal COVID-19 metrics and the New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance and will communicate any pertinent updates should the need arise.
What are Bivalent Boosters?
The updated (bivalent) boosters are called “bivalent” because they protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5. Previous boosters are called “monovalent” because they were designed to protect against the original virus that causes COVID-19. They also provide some protection against Omicron, but not as much as the updated (bivalent) boosters. The virus that causes COVID-19 has changed over time. The different versions of the virus that have developed over time are called variants. Learn more about variants of the COVID-19 virus. Two COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, have developed updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters.
CDC recommends that people ages 5 years and older receive one updated (bivalent) booster if it has been at least 2 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine dose, whether that was:
Their final primary series dose, or
An original (monovalent) booster
People who have gotten more than one original (monovalent) booster are also recommended to get an updated (bivalent) booster.
Does my child need a third dose to complete a primary series?
Children and teens ages 5 through 17 years who are moderately or severely immunocompromised will need a third dose to complete their primary series, as well as boosters if eligible. Children and teens with a weakened immune system should get:
1 booster if they are ages 5 through 11 years
2 boosters if they are ages 12 years and older
However, children six months to four years old will require 3-doses if completing a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination.
My child contracted COVID-19 between their first and second dose, what should we do?
Families with children who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may be required to further delay their second dose and should speak directly with their child's primary care provider.
When is my child considered "fully vaccinated"?
A person is considered fully vaccinated with vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection ≥2 weeks after receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or ≥2 weeks after receipt of a single dose of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.
What happens if my child experiences side effects following vaccination?
Vaccinated individuals may experience side effects following their COVID-19 vaccination including pain and swelling at the injection site, fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. The CDC offers additional resources about what to expect after getting the vaccine here.
The New York City Department of Health has issued additional guidance regarding the return to school for individuals who are experiencing post-vaccine side effects. Individuals with symptom onset occurring more than three days following vaccination must follow our standard return-to-school procedures outlined above.
For individuals with symptom onset less than three days after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine:
If symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, students must follow our standard return-to-school procedure which may include testing or a physician’s note.
If the only symptoms are fatigue, headache, chills, or muscle or joint pain, students may return to school without a negative COVID-19 test if symptoms resolve within two days. If symptoms persist beyond this timeframe, students must follow our normal return-to-school procedure.
How do I submit my child's vaccination record?
On the computer:
Log into your Magnus Health account.
Click the "Complete Now" button next to your child's name.
If you have already submitted immunization documents and are uploading an additional vaccine card document, click "Edit" next to the Immunization Form. If this is the first time you are adding a document, click "Turn it in."
If this is your first time adding immunization documents, follow the directions for uploading the files. If you are adding to existing documents, it will ask you if you would like to add an additional page or form. Click “Yes, continue”.
It will ask you if you have already obtained and completed the form. Click “Yes, submit”.
Click “Upload” to add a copy of your student’s COVID Vaccination Record Card.
On the mobile application:
Log into the Magnus Mobile V2 app and select your child's name.
Click "Forms".
Find "Immunization Form" on the list of forms and select it. If you are uploading forms for the first time, follow the instructions for upload.
If you have already uploaded immunization documents and are uploading an additional vaccine card document, click "Resubmit." You will be prompted with a message that says you must clear your previous answers. Disregard this message and click "Clear". Your previously uploaded files will stay in the immunization form folder.
Click “Complete Form” and follow instructions for upload to add a copy of your student’s COVID Vaccination Record Card.
Who do I talk to about a bill I received from the on-campus vaccination clinic?
Please contact Assistant Director of Campus Services, Soraya Falipou Karkari at sfalipou-karkari@ecfs.org.
Ventilation
How is the School approaching ventilation?
For buildings with central air conditioning systems, the School’s certified HVAC contractor has installed the highest-rated MERV filters that meet the current New York State requirements. For rooms with window air conditioners and split unit (ductless) air conditioners, the School’s certified HVAC contractor has installed the highest appropriate filters based on unit specifications. To date, the CDC guidance has recommended increasing outdoor air to rooms like this by opening doors and windows. Ventilation will be increased with outdoor air to the greatest extent possible.
The School will schedule HVAC filter changes based on manufacturer guidelines and in consultation with our certified HVAC contractor. The School will make replacements with the highest rated MERV filter that can be accepted by the unit. Staff will be equipped with proper PPE when working with HVAC filters.
In classrooms that don't have access to HVAC ventilation, the School will provide air purifiers which have HEPA 13 air filters. These filters are commonly used in a biomedical capacity and are tested to remove 99.9% of particles down to 0.1 microns.
Where possible during peak use times, doors will be latched in an open position to minimize necessary contact.
Additionally, the School will ensure that:
all systems are working properly and are code compliant;
diffusers, exhausts, and unit vents are not blocked or obstructed by cabinets, books or other materials;
routine maintenance and inspection schedules are strictly adhered to;
bathroom exhaust systems are running 24/7;
systems are running longer on days in which school is in session;
building air is flushed at least two hours prior to and one hour after occupancy;
window and/or box fans are used to cross ventilate rooms to exhaust stale room air in the absence of mechanical ventilation;
window based air conditioning units are set to the outdoor air setting rather than the recirculate setting;
devices are sized appropriately with the correct clean air delivery rate (CADR);
units that feature ionizers, precipitators, or ozone generators are not utilized;
units can deliver at least two air turnovers per hour for typical school classroom sizes; and,
units are CARB and Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) certified;
ARCHIVED PLANS
A Guide to Reopening Our School was originally created in July 2020 to provide our lower schools, middle school, and upper school, as well as their employees, contractors, students, and parents/guardians with precautions to help protect against the spread of COVID-19 during the 2020–2021 academic year. In anticipation of the 2021 - 2022 school year, we issued an update intended to align our operations with the most recent recommendations and guidance on how to prioritize safe in-person learning while adhering to layered mitigation strategies.
These two reopening plans were developed in accordance with the New York State Department of Education Health and Safety Guide for the 2021-2022 School Year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools, the Interim NYSDOH Guidance for Classroom Instruction in P-12 Schools During the 2021 - 2022 Academic Year, the NYSDOH Updated Isolation & Quarantine Guidance, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene COVID-19 Health and Safety Information for New York City Nonpublic and Charter Prekindergarten (Pre-K) to Grade 12 Schools with additional information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).