Dear Families,

Our shared commitment to keeping our community safe and healthy is what will allow us to enjoy these last weeks of the year together with the fewest interruptions.  As you know, there are several elements of our ongoing Covid protocols, including daily health screening and surveillance testing.  While community levels of Covid were low, we were able to relax our masking requirement and offer the option of unmasking outside and indoors.

Unfortunately, community levels in DC are now at medium, so we will be returning to required masking indoors, and recommended masking outside.  You may still send your child to school in any well-fitting mask you prefer, unless community levels increase further, in which case we will also return to a requirement that all children, faculty, and staff wear KN95 or KF94 masks.

• Please ensure that you send your child to school with additional masks in case they need to be changed during the day.
• Please also let your child’s teachers know if you wish to change your preference for outdoor masking in light of the uptick in Covid community levels.

The increase in Covid cases in our area also means that our surveillance testing and daily health screening are more important tools to control Covid spread in our community than ever.  As you prepare for your child to return to TSNS next week, please note the following:

• All children, faculty, and staff must complete a two consecutive day antigen testing protocol before they return to TSNS for the first time after break
  • The first test must be completed the day before returning to school, and the second must be completed the morning of the return to school;
  • Each test must be labeled by name and date; and
  • A photo of the labeled and dated test results must be sent the day they were administered to nurseryschool@templesinaidc.org (please do not send photos of both tests on the same day).
• If your child was not at school before the break you may not have received your next set of antigen tests; please use your own tests and you’ll receive two new antigen tests in your child’s tote bag when they return to school.
  • Please note that we will be unable to permit attendance at TSNS without the submission of two properly administered and labeled antigen tests showing negative results.
• Please be on the lookout for any symptoms of Covid including, but not limited to, runny nose, fatigue, headache, sore throat, nausea, fever, coughing, aches and chills, and otherwise feeling unwell.
  • We recognize that there is a significant overlap between Covid symptoms and seasonal allergies, and that several families have submitted doctor’s notes about allergies as an underlying condition that causes these symptoms.  Please err on the side of caution and, if any of the symptoms of Covid arise, get a PCR test to clear yourself or your child rather than assuming that allergies or other non-Covid illnesses are the cause of these symptoms.
  • Similarly, if someone in your household is exhibiting symptoms, please consider having everyone in the household PCR tested.
• Please let us know immediately if any member of your household tests positive for Covid so that we can inform you of the most up-to-date DC Health requirements for isolation and quarantine.