A Note From Administration

Cleanliness and readily available Personal Protective Equipment are important factors to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for students and faculty and staff.  The school has provided all staff and students with custom face masks with a filter option. Since lockers will not be available for use, the school has provided mesh backpacks for all students as well as personalized hand sanitizers. Classrooms are equipped with hand sanitizer stations and medical grade air purifiers as well as cleaning stations.  Hallways are also equipped with hand sanitizer stations, restrooms have been upgraded to include touchless commodes and the air filtration system in the building has been upgraded.

Electrostatic cleaners have been purchased and are used twice a week in common areas of the building including the Leaning Commons, gym, dining room and restrooms.

We plan for all teachers to be back on campus this fall for in-person instruction. However, if a faculty member is quarantined or at home for self-monitoring, Immaculate’s technological infrastructure will always allow for faculty members to teach remotely.

The school requires all individuals to wear a mask while in the building.  The school has purchased face shields as well as the option for teachers to wear either the cloth and filter mask as provided or an approved clear mask.

We have been engaged in many discussions with our local health officials and with our School Nurse, Helen Story with regard to establishing Student Expectations and Parent Guidelines. New information, agency guidelines, addendums or changes to this plan will be communicated to the school community as we receive them. Should a student, faculty, or staff member test positive for Covid-19, we will inform the community. We will not release the name or personal details of that individual. Students who do not comply with wearing a face covering or with social distancing guidelines while in the building will not be permitted to participate in in-person learning.

We are prepared for COVID-19 cases and exposure to occur in their facilities. We will collaborate with local health officials once students are back to school, as they can provide regular updates about the status of COVID-19 in the community and help support and maintain the health and well-being of students, teachers, and staff. Having a plan in place for maintaining academic instruction and ensuring students have access to special services is also critical.

Updated Emergency contact information must be maintained for school use.  Please contact our School Registrar, Terri Allen, tallen@myimmaculatehs.org if you need assistance with updating your Plus Portals account. In addition, make sure that our School Nurse, hstory@myimmamculatehs.org has updated medical contact and emergency  information.

We encourage students to be tested prior to coming to the school campus. Students should have a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 7 to 10 days prior to campus arrival. If the test result is positive for the student or any member of the family, please notify our school nurse, Helen Story, hstory@myimmaculatehs.org 203-744-1510 ext 143.

Travel-Related Quarantine: All international students and domestic students arriving from states listed on the CT Travel Advisory List are required to quarantine for 14 days. It is important that domestic families keep up to date on the advisory list as it may change. Connecticut now requires domestic travelers to report their quarantine plans to the state via an online portal. Failure to do so may result in a fine.

One of the best ways to help keep our community safe is to be able to identify any cases on campus as early as possible and to avoid community-based transmission. Using cohort learning groups, we will be able to maintain an ability to conduct contact tracing. 

Faculty and staff are required to follow all safety and health practices expected of our students. During the academic day, faculty will be required to wear masks and keep six feet of social distance, or as much as possible, between themselves and students. To facilitate classroom instruction, there may be some instances where faculty may remove their mask and use alternate PPE, such as a face shield or remain behind a clear barrier. 

All faculty will participate in extended return-to-school training, which will prepare us for new procedures and protocols as we reopen school in person.

In the event of a positive case in our community, the School will have access to contact tracers to assist with interviewing and communicating with at-risk individuals. We are asking all students, faculty, and staff to be honest and helpful as we track any possible sources of infection in the community. All students and parents/guardians will be notified directly if a student is identified to be a direct contact and will be given further instructions regarding next steps and quarantine procedures.

In the case of a positive COVID-19 test or diagnosis, the School Nurse will notify the student’s parents/guardians immediately and begin contact-tracing procedures and, in turn, notify those students who have encountered a potential exposure.  All families will be notified if a case is identified. Confidentiality and individual privacy will be maintained.

Symptomatic: Many COVID-19 symptoms overlap with several other medical conditions, such as the common cold, allergies, and flu. 

Exposure Quarantine: Quarantine is also used in the event an individual is identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. If your child is identified to be a close contact, you will be notified and your child will be asked to quarantine for 14 days. During this time, students will be able to engage in classes through remote learning.

All students who test positive MUST be isolated off campus. We will have a short-term designated space for students until they can be picked up. 

We are committed to providing our students with mental health support as needed. Our Dean of Student Counseling and Special Services will continue to oversee our counseling services., including the services of our School Therapist.  We offer both on-site and virtual options for students. 

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Food services have been adjusted to accommodate recommended DPH and DCD guidelines. Students will order lunch online only (cash not permitted for daily purchases) and seating will be limited at each lunch period.  We have increased our lunch schedule in order to reduce seating in the dining room. Lunches will no longer be served in traditional ways as prepackaged meals.

All clubs and activities will take place virtually.

All grade level retreats are scheduled for the first half of the school year.  Deacon Jeff Font will be hosting a virtual retreat experience for both students and staff.

Monthly Masses are scheduled as well as Daily Adoration during student lunch hours. Until we can all return to the building, both Mass and Daily Adoration will be offered virtually.

Students will adhere to all guidelines at all times. Special guidelines for specific sports will be shared with players by their coaches. We will be strict about adhering to both CIAC and the Department of Health regulations.

Morning Arrival

All athletes who have a scheduled practice between 2:45pm and 3:00pm will drop their athletic gear in the gymnasium before reporting to their first period class.

2:15pm Dismissal

• Student athletes who are dismissed at 2:15pm to participate in a scheduled practice before 3:00pm, will be dismissed to designated areas in the dining room and patio.
• Student athletes will be escorted by their coaches to collect their gear from the gymnasium before accessing the locker rooms for their team’s designated time.
• All personal belongings will be stored and secured in the team shed during their scheduled practice. Athletes will not have access to their cars.

Late Afternoon Practices

• Students athletes practicing after 3:00pm must leave campus and return in practice uniforms to the field.
• Student athletes and coaches entering the building to attend practice (volleyball) will have their temperatures taken upon re-entry into the building