COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols Update
October 17, 2021
It’s a Great Day to Be A Viking! I am so proud of our school. Navigating education during a pandemic is challenging. Our administration, faculty, staff, coaches, students and parents have worked tirelessly together to make on-campus instruction a priority while keeping the health and safety of our school community at the forefront.

Since the first day of school on August 9, 2021, we have had a total of 36 members of our school community test positive for COVID-19. Only one of those who was deemed a close contact ended up testing positive for coronavirus. Although the rate of transmission is nearly non-existent at our school, it is presently deemed high in our community.

As we progress through the school year, our COVID-19 Task Force continues to monitor the pandemic, use objective local data and our school's rate of transmission to make decisions that support a safe and conducive learning environment for those we serve.

Although we continue to encourage mask wearing, beginning October 18, 2021, we will move to an indoor mask optional protocol for employees and students who are fully vaccinated. If your student is fully vaccinated and you would like him/her to have the option to not wear a mask at school, please present or have your student present a valid COVID-19 immunization card to staff in our high school (grades 9-12) or main school offices (grades 8 and under), in person, so a copy can be made. School administrators will randomly check the validity of vaccination proof provided by calling the health care provider listed on the card. Notes: The date to be considered fully vaccinated is two weeks after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Having COVID-19 previously does not mean you are fully vaccinated.

All visitors and those who are not fully vaccinated will continue to be required to wear masks when indoors on campus until October 31st. Our plan includes a gradual release to ensure the safety of all students. Our intent is to give parents of all students the indoor mask optional choice beginning November 1, 2021.

We will continue to monitor the pandemic and the number of positive coronavirus cases in our school community, and promise to keep you informed about any updates.

Love First,

Ronie Collins
St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School President and High School Principal
PHS Class of 1979
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What will the response be for a positive COVID case within the school community?
If a member of the school community tests positive for COVID, they must contact the school administration immediately. If contact tracing is necessary, the administration will communicate with the appropriate individuals, including the local health department. COVID cases will not be reported within school communities to protect the privacy of those affected.

In the event a child or school staff member contracts COVID-19, the child will need to be quarantined as directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Staff members and students may not return to school until they have met the CDC's criteria to discontinue home isolation:
A. If a person has COVID-19 and had symptoms, they may return to school after:
  • Three (3) days with no fever, and
  • Symptoms improved, and
  • Ten (10) days since symptoms first appeared

*Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation​.
Note: These recommendations do not apply to people with severe COVID-19 or with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised).

B. If a sick person tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms, and continues to have no symptoms, the individual may return to school after:
  • 10 days have passed since test
  • Note: Asymptomatic persons who test positive and later develop symptoms should follow the guidance for symptomatic persons above
What is the protocol for contact tracing on campus?
To be considered exposed, the student must have been within 6 feet (for 15 minutes or more or 15 minutes cumulatively over a 24-hour period) of the individual who tests positive for COVID-19. St. Anne-Pacelli will follow CDC guidelines when it comes to quarantining its students:
  • The close contact definition excludes students who were within 3-6 feet of an infected student if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time. Note: This exception does not apply to teachers, staff or other adults in the indoor setting.
  • If the child who is exposed is fully vaccinated, he/she will NOT be required to quarantine unless he/she has symptoms. Proof of vaccination will be required to be shown to administrators.
  • If the child who was exposed is not fully vaccinated and not wearing his/her mask during the period of in-school or non-school exposures, he/she will be required to quarantine for:
  • 14 days with no symptoms (safest) or
  • 10 days with no symptoms or
  • 7 days with a negative test result and no symptoms (testing must occur on day 5 or later of exposure)
  • Someone who has recovered from COVID within the past 3 months and remains without COVID symptoms does not have to quarantine.