School Health & Safety Guidelines

In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Tennessee Department of Health, and the Shelby County Health Department, we are requiring everyone to self-screen or be screened by a parent/adult prior to coming to campus.

The Wellness Center, located in the Robinson Building, will remain the Primary Health Center and will be used for regular assessment, medical treatment care, acute emergency, and medication distribution. For non-COVID illnesses, individuals must be symptom free for a minimum of 24 hours without medicine such as pain reliever or fever reducer and either have a note from a medical professional
that they may return to school or have quarantined for 14 days.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC guidelines require that a designated space for isolation be provided for those who become ill at school or arrive sick. A supervised isolation area has been established and reserved as the carefully maintained transitional space for symptomatic individuals to isolate while waiting to be picked up.

Feelings of uncertainty and anxiety may be more prevalent for students as they deal with persistent disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on their daily lives. We remain committed to building and supporting both the social and the emotional well-being of our girls. Using information and resources from a variety of experts on social-emotional learning (SEL), our counselors, teachers, and advisors will help our girls understand and practice self-care, adaptation to change, emotional regulation, relationship building, and communication of needs.

The school has a two-way air filtration system in place. In addition, intensified cleaning protocols are in place for all classrooms, restrooms, and other shared spaces. These protocols include cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting surfaces and spaces.

If families need to bring their daughters late to school or need to check their daughters out during the regular school day, they will follow division-specific directives.

In an effort to assist contact tracing, students will be given assigned seats in their classrooms and during activities.

At this time, there will be limited, if any, cross-divisional student interactions unless physical distancing can be maintained outdoors.

Large gatherings such as convocations, chapels, orientations, etc., may take place outdoors with proper physical distancing or move to virtual settings. Additionally, invitations for birthday parties or other events will not be distributed at school. Per our community agreement, parties and student gatherings that can not ensure physical distancing and other CDC-recommended protocols are prohibited.

At this time, if it is possible for students to distance themselves appropriately, some arts and extracurricular activities may take place. Field trips will not take place and are postponed.

Per the Tennessee Department of Health, entry of parents and other community members to campus buildings will be strictly limited to those that have an appointment. Any visitor to campus must self-monitor and may be subject to screening. All parents and visitors are required to wear a mask.

To aid with physical distancing and to avoid crowded dining hall spaces, families will need to provide student lunches and snacks from home until further notice. Early childhood girls will be provided a snack at school.

Individuals are required to keep their personal belongings with them or to use specific storage protocols. In accordance with our community agreement, girls may only bring those belongings needed for school activities to school. No overnight bags or extra items will be permitted on campus.

SPARK (Little Hive–6th Grade) will be available with special attention focused on keeping the girls in their cohorts as much as possible. Girls in grades 7–12 must check in and sign out and will go to different locations depending on their grade.