As we begin the 2022-2023 school year:

• Vaccination of children under age 5 available; while not required at TSNS at this time, COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended.
• TSNS will be mask-optional except when community levels in DC or Montgomery County are “high”, or when we note significant trends in our TSNS community that warrant a return to masking.
• Masking will not be required outside.
• No covid fees are being assessed at TSNS.
• Antigen tests are widely available at no cost; we are requesting that families use their own tests when requested to provide antigen test results.
• The playground is open and ready for fun!
• Children from different classes will be able to mix for activities such as Rainbow Days and the Temple Sinai Early Birds Program; if it becomes advisable from a public health perspective to return to strict cohorting indoors we will evaluate how these programs may continue to operate based on staffing and other factors.
• Children will be able to enjoy proximity to one another now that we will not be implementing physical distancing as a mitigation strategy.
• Snack and lunch may now be enjoyed indoors.
• There is no requirement to quarantine or test after traveling for any members of our community, regardless of vaccination status.
• We will follow OSSE and DC Health guidelines for Child Care Programs and will also be guided by CDC recommendations for best practices (where not in conflict with OSSE and DC Health guidelines).  We will consult with our COVID-19 Advisory Group and TSNS Pediatric Consultant as needed.
• No daily health screening form will be required of staff or children; HOWEVER, rules about attending school with any symptom of covid remain the same – in order to attend school after experiencing any symptom of covid, all members of the community (faculty, staff, child, regardless of vaccination status) must have either a negative PCR test or a doctor’s note clearing them.
• Vaccinated close contacts may return to school, masked for 10 days (KN/KF)  following the close contact.  They should be PCR tested for covid at least five days after exposure.
• If there is a covid-positive individual in their household from whom they cannot isolate, a vaccinated close contact may return to school, but must remain masked (KN/KF) for the isolation period of that individual (at least five days, or until that individual tests negative/Day 11), plus remain masked for an additional 10 days.
• Unvaccinated close contacts may return to school following a one-time contact; HOWEVER, they must submit a negative antigen test every morning before arriving to school for 5 days (“test to stay”) and remain masked (KN/KF) for 10 days following the contact.
• If there is a covid-positive individual in their household from whom they cannot isolate, an unvaccinated close contact must remain HOME for the isolation period of that individual (at least five days, or until that individual tests negative/Day 11), plus remain home for an additional 5 days. They may then return after a negative PCR test, remaining masked (KN/KF) for another 5 days.
• We will return to regular cleaning protocols as required by OSSE and NAEYC, with special attention still paid to high-touch surfaces around the building.
• Bathrooms will be able to be used freely (and not based on gender); it is recommended that only one class be in the bathroom at a time as feasible.