Return-to-School Health and Safety Update
August 30, 2021

Dear St. Mark’s Families,
 
I write today to share an update related to St. Mark’s health and safety protocols and expectations.
 
FDA Approval of COVID-19 Vaccine
On August 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 years of age and older. In light of this information and reflecting our previously shared philosophy, we will require all faculty and staff to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine, whether it be the Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or Pfizer vaccine. In addition, we are requiring the vaccine for all students who have reached the age of 16. Students may receive any vaccine that has received approval from the World Health Organization (WHO). The due date for the evidence of vaccination (a copy of the vaccine card) is October 29. Fortunately, we are happy to report that we estimate over 90 percent of our faculty and staff have been (or plan to be) fully vaccinated, based on internal surveys, and that our student population is currently at approximately this same level.
 
Surveillance Testing
After a review of our protocols with our consultants at EH&E and in light of the risks due to the Delta variant and breakthrough cases, St. Mark’s will provide weekly surveillance testing to our entire community for three weeks following our initial arrival PCR testing, beginning the week of September 6. We will reassess the need for weekly testing in late September. While we recognize the risk of breakthrough cases in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is statistically small, we deem this approach to testing prudent as we get the school year underway. Any students or faculty or staff who are unvaccinated because of a religious or medical exemption will be part of a twice-a-week PCR testing protocol, in line with guidance from our EH&E consultants. How the School approaches those who have received a religious or health exemption will be a topic of continuing examination.
 
Athletics
The School’s approach to athletics is also based on guidance from EH&E. In addition, as a member of the ISL, we remain in communication with our peer schools about protocols for competitions as part of our—and the league’s—approach to overall risk mitigation.
 
Unvaccinated students will be allowed to participate in our athletic program, including practices and interscholastic competition. Participation in interscholastic competition will require proof of a negative PCR test, which the School will administer, taken within 48 hours of the competition. We will require the same of any unvaccinated players on an opposing team. If a school St. Mark’s is competing with is following a more conservative approach to competition protocols, St. Mark’s will adhere to that protocol. For example, a peer school may only allow students with proof of vaccination to compete.
 
As shared previously, masks will be worn by all while practicing indoors, a requirement we will reassess at the end of September. In addition, at least for the first month, we will not allow visiting teams to use St. Mark’s locker rooms. Finally, we will allow spectators for games on campus, and we will require them to follow our Visitor Policy, which requires masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
 
Thank you for your attention to these important health and safety matters as we plan for the beginning of School. We look forward to seeing our students in person in just a couple of weeks.
Sincerely,
John C. Warren ’74, Ed.D.
Head of School