Dear Gould Students and Parents,

We are over two years into the COVID pandemic and are continuing to adjust our policy based on the latest guidance from the Maine CDC. I am excited to share with you our plan to start the spring term. Please recognize, as has always been the case with COVID, that this plan is subject to change.

Here is a link to our updated COVID guidelines, but a summary of the biggest changes can be found below.

Return to Campus
  • All students and employees should return to campus with documentation of a negative COVID test that was taken within 24 hours. Home tests are acceptable. Please provide a photo with the individual's name and the date/time the test was taken.  
  • Students should send the documentation of their negative test results to healthcenter@gouldacademy.org.
  • Employees should send the documentation of their negative test results to legarel@gouldacademy.org.  
  • The Health Center has home tests available for students and employees.

Masking
  • After spring break, indoor masking will be required for one week. During that time, we will do campus-wide pooled testing on Tuesday, March 29 and Friday, April 1.  
  • Starting Monday, April 4 we will transition to masking requirements based on COVID Community Level. As of today, March 16, 2022, Oxford County is designated as “Low Transmission.”
  • Low Transmission (Green): Indoor and outdoor masking is optional.
  • Medium Transmission (Yellow): Indoor and outdoor masking is optional
  • High Transmission (Orange): Indoor masking is required. Outdoor masking is optional.
  • Regardless of level of community spread, indoor masking will continue for:
  • Assemblies
  • Health Services
  • Individuals who fall into a higher risk category as described by the CDC.
  • Individuals who have been designated as a close contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID. 
  • Unvaccinated individuals will not be required to mask indoors provided they are participating in pooled testing.


Pooled Testing
  • Starting the week of April 4, pooled testing will be optional for all Gould community members.
  • Individuals who want to participate in pooled testing should report to the Health Center between 8am and 12pm on Tuesdays throughout the spring term.  

Families are encouraged to join the Head of School Coffee Chat on Wednesday April 6 at 8:00 AM EST to hear the latest updates from the Gould Leadership Team on evolving COVID Guidelines and other exciting campus news.  

Thank you and happy spring!
                                  


Joanna Brown, RN, P '23, '25
Health Services Director