Dear Gould Students and Families,

It's hard to believe that graduation is one short week away! It's about 80 degrees in Bethel today, and the giant slip-n-slide is being put to good use on the upper field.  

I am writing to ensure everyone is up to date with the current COVID situation in Oxford County and on campus. As of Thursday, Oxford County has been designated as having a High Community Transmission Level. The CDC recommends wearing masks indoors, getting tested if you have symptoms, and ensuring you stay up to date with your COVID vaccine booster. In the last week, we have had 14 students and 5 staff members test positive for COVID.  

Today, a small group met to discuss this uptick in cases and what precautions we could take to ensure that end-of-year activities are safe, and also to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our students. We will continue to require masking indoors, to promote outdoor activities, and to ensure anyone who exhibits symptoms of COVID is able to get tested. 

Unfortunately, if a senior tests positive after 5/22/22, they will be unable to participate in graduation activities because they will be in the first 5 days of their illness and required to be in isolation per CDC guidelines. For seniors who currently have COVID or test positive before the 22nd, they will be allowed to return to campus on day 6 of their illness IF their symptoms are resolving. A negative antigen test will not be required. They must mask around others at all times and participate in only outdoor activities.  

At this point, we are hoping the bowling activity will still be able to happen on May 25th as long as all participants wear masks. However, this may change if case counts continue to climb on campus or if the proprietor of the bowling alley decides they are not able to host such a large gathering. The Baccalaureate dinner scheduled for Friday evening will be moved outdoors. We believe these precautions will mitigate the risk of COVID transmission and ensure students leave campus safely.

For students who need to travel internationally in the coming days, it is essential that they take precautions and wear their mask in all indoor settings. International Student Support is an educational consultant company that will be able to assist if an international student is unable to return home due to COVID.  

I will communicate any new information as soon as it becomes available. Thank you all for your continued patience and understanding during these challenging times.  

Take good care,

Joanna Brown, RN, P '23, '25

Health Services Director