IWS adheres to the NYS DoH and TCHD recommendations and requirements regarding the wearing of face coverings, hand hygiene, and other measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Exposure: When an individual in our school community is exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 please follow the CDC’s Exposure Guidance.

COVID-19 Symptoms and Positive Test Results:  When a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 IWS follows the CDC’s Isolation Guidance. IWS requires the individual to isolate for 5 full days. The day of a positive test or onset of symptoms is considered Day 0, whichever comes first. After five full days, if fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducers and symptoms are improving, the infected person can return to school, masked. IWS requires the individual to mask until Day 10 or until testing negative twice 48 hours apart, whichever comes first. If symptoms return and the student tests positive again, the count starts all over with Day 0.

The CDC notes that testing is not required to determine end of isolation following a positive test for COVID-19 infection; however, individuals may use sequential antigen testing, if available, as outlined in CDC’s Isolation Guidance to potentially shorten the duration of mask use post-isolation. Those who are not able to wear a well-fitting mask or respirator should either isolate for a full 10 days or follow the test-based strategy to determine when they can return to school without a mask.

When should an individual stay home or be sent home? When an individual presents with symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea, we ask that the individual stay home. If the symptoms begin or are identified in school, the office or school nurse will contact the parents to pick up the child if indicated. Testing is recommended for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin.

These are possible COVID-19 symptoms. Please screen your child daily to determine if they are healthy to come to school.

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

In the event of an outbreak (defined as >10% of a population)
Because of our small school and class sizes, we define an outbreak as two (2) cases arising concurrently in the same class. At that point, the Health & Safety committee will determine the best next steps, which could include any combination of teaching outside, extra ventilation, hand-washing reeducation, masking recommendation, testing. 

In the event of a school-wide outbreak (defined as >10% of the combined student and full-time staff population, which would be approx >8 cases), the Health & Safety Committee will convene to determine best next steps, most likely including a school-wide mask recommendation and testing. 

Please keep IWS updated (nurse@ithacawaldorf.org) with any and all health changes. 

Passed by the Health and Safety Committee   -  9/22/2022

Updated 5/4/2023