Update on Travel
Dear Families,
As recently reported, there seem to be two vaccines that are showing promising results. Yet today, without a vaccine, the number of COVID-19 cases in San Diego has tripled over the last two weeks, and California has doubled its cases in the last 10 days. And, as you are aware, we entered the Purple Tier as of Saturday because the case rate is well over the 7% threshold. So, how can we at Gillispie put all of our communal and concerted efforts into slowing the spread of the virus so that we may remain together on campus?
What has worked for us thus far in not having any employees or students test positive for COVID-19 since September 1, is following the County of San Diego HHSA’s Decision Tree which includes how to handle students and employees who:
- Are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms not explained by a pre-existing condition;
- Have had close contact with someone who has tested positive; and
- Have tested positive for COVID-19.
There are two high-risk activities that are particularly relevant now that San Diego County is in the Purple Tier:
Gatherings that are prohibited are those involving more than three households (including the hosting family) that take place indoors or outdoors where at least 6-feet of distancing between households is not maintained.
For families who have traveled outside of California or participated in a gathering considered to be high risk as described above, Gillispie is putting forth the following protective measure for students’ and employees’ wellbeing.
- Any student or employee, even if asymptomatic, must either (a) quarantine for 14 days or (b) remain at home and get tested using a PCR COVID-19 viral test five to seven days after he/she has participated in a high-risk activity. If the test is negative and the student or employee remains asymptomatic, the individual may return to school. Note: If before returning to Gillispie, it is determined that a student/employee has been a close contact of someone testing positive for COVID-19, the student/employee would have to quarantine for 14 days from the last day of exposure as described on the Decision Tree.
Students at home due to quarantine or who are awaiting test results will join online cohorts at the direction of their homeroom teachers as has been the case throughout the year. Please let your child(ren)’s teacher(s) know as soon as possible if your child(ren) will not be returning right after Thanksgiving Break so that a plan can be made.
Please do not put Gillispie in the position of having to police your actions. When students come back to campus and talk about places they visited over the weekends or over breaks, or talk about parties they’ve attended, it puts employees not just in an awkward position because they have this information, but most importantly, it puts the on-campus community at risk. I understand that you may find the orders and policies put out by the County, State, and Gillispie inconvenient, confusing, and frustrating. We are each doing our part to keep the illness from spreading here at Gillispie and across our broader community. In the next few months, we can’t let our guard down as tired as we are. Our choices need to reflect that we are looking out for each other.
May solutions be close at hand,
Alison Fleming, Head of School
