Dear MCPK Families,
We hope that you are in good health and enjoying the summer. Our team has been working diligently to prepare MCPK for the new school year. We learned a lot over the last year and with your help, we can keep our school community healthy and our students and teachers in the classroom.
We are also learning more about the new phase of the coronavirus pandemic including the highly transmissible Delta and other variants spreading across the country. We are following developments closely, including recent guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, that recommends a layered approach to keeping students and staff safe within school buildings.
Over the next few weeks, you will be receiving a welcome packet in the mail that includes our updated Parent Handbook. Please review the updated guidelines around mask wearing, class size and quarantine protocols. I have highlighted a few of the protocols below, but please review the handbook in depth for more details. As always, this is a developing situation and all protocols are subject to change based on recommendation from our local health department and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Thank you for partnering with us to make the coming year safe and successful for all members of our community. If we each do our part, together we can ensure a happy and healthy learning environment for our children.
With gratitude,
Amy Dorr
Updated COVID-19 Policies for the 2021-2022 School Year
Vaccinations
The COVID-19 vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the pandemic. All MCPK faculty and staff are required to be vaccinated prior to the start of the school year or provide exemption paperwork to the MCPK Health Office. We also strongly encourage all vaccine-eligible members of our community to be fully vaccinated for their own health and the health of our community.
Masking and Social Distancing
In accordance with the DCF, AAP and CDC guidelines, we are continuing a layered approach to prevention including social distancing and masking. All individuals — students and adults, vaccinated and unvaccinated — are required to wear masks in our buildings.
Visitors to the School Building
At this time, parents and other visitors will not be allowed in the building. We will proceed with outdoor drop off and pick up routines. All family events will be held outside or virtually this summer and fall.
Quarantine Guidelines for COVID Exposure
Recognizing that NJ remains in the yellow (moderate risk) category on the NJDOH Matrix, there are no changes to our school’s quarantine policy due to exposure at this time. The quarantine for known COVID exposure as a household or close contact is 10 days from date of last contact without a test, or 7 days with a negative PCR test between days 5-7. Should there be any changes made to this guidance and/or if our region’s status changes, we will provide updates accordingly.
Updated Guidelines for Quarantine Following Travel
As per the NJDOH and CDC guidelines, the following is the current, updated (as of June 2021) guidance for quarantine and testing upon returning from travel (beyond the NY, PA, CT and DE corridor). Families are asked to follow these guidelines, tracking their post-quarantine days and providing test results (upon request) accordingly. Please note the day you return to NJ is Day 0. The day after return to NJ is Day 1.
For children and unvaccinated adults, COVID (PCR) test should be taken on day 3-5; if unvaccinated travelers test negative, they should be quarantined for a full 7 days after travel. If not tested (or if the results are delayed), unvaccinated travelers should quarantine for 10 days after travel.
Given that school begins in-person on Thursday, September 9th, we encourage families with unvaccinated students to return from out-of-region travels no later than Wednesday, September 1st in order to complete their 7 day quarantine (including a COVID test) by September 8th.
