Dear Families,

While no decision has been made regarding school operations during the weeks of December 7 and 14, we do know that the viability of on-site instruction will be predicated on our efforts to keep COVID-19 from entering the campus facilities should we be able to return. Last week the CDC Director shared that schools are not a major source of spread to date; it is our intention to keep it that way by continuing to adhere to the health and safety measures that have served our community well, and being proactive regarding our potential in-person return after Thanksgiving break.

To that end, your student's presence on campus, should we have on-site instruction during the two weeks leading up to the Winter Holiday Break, will require a negative PCR test for COVID-19 that was administered on December 2 or December 3. We wanted to give you as much advance warning as possible so you could plan accordingly. We are aware there are certain testing protocols for students under the age of 10, and suggest families of younger children contact their pediatrician for advice about getting the PCR test. Local Health Departments may provide guidance and this site may also be helpful Maryland Pediatric Testing Sites. Additionally, PM Pediatrics has several locations that provide pediatric testing.

Test results must be sent to our school nurse Katie Anderson at kanderson@keyschool.org. Families who do not wish to have a test, or who have a positive test result, can have their students engage in class through the Gateway Option.

Key School has arranged for all faculty and staff to receive a PCR test on campus on December 2.

We are cognizant of the fact that these results will be a snapshot in time. However, knowing at the outset of on-campus programming that we are more or less COVID-19 free gives us the best opportunity to run in-person programming safely. I would also ask that after the test, all members of our community make every effort to minimize exposure to other people and consider a self-imposed stay-at-home or safer-at-home order for you and your family.

I want to remind you that no decisions have been made yet about on-site programming after this Thanksgiving holiday as we need to see how things develop over the coming weeks. But, as I have indicated in all my correspondences, we know the value of on-site programming and are focused on creating the opportunities for it to occur. Requiring all members of our community who plan to be on campus to have a PCR test prior to their return seems to be a prudent course of action. Our decision about on-campus instruction will be communicated during the week of November 30.

I hope each of you has a safe Thanksgiving.

Be well,

Matthew