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Health Office / COVID

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Thetford Academy is committed to supporting our students’ overall health, well-being, and academic success so that they can achieve their highest potential.

The promotion of wellness and the prevention of illness in students and the entire school community is a key focus. The school nurse is available Monday though Thursday to support students and provide care for illness and injury with the goal of keeping students in the classroom.

COVID AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

What to do when your child is ill:

  1. Your child must stay home if they have any of these symptoms: fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, change in taste/smell.
  2. If these symptoms last less than 24 hours they DO NOT need a Covid PCR test, but they must be symptom FREE for 24 hours before returning to school.This usually means your child is out for 2 school days.
  3. If your child has any of these symptoms for more than 24 hours they must have a negative Covid PCR test AND be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.

COVID TESTING OPTIONS AT TA

TA Covid Testing Options:

  1. Weekly In-School Surveillance Testing: Thetford Academy is offering weekly surveillance testing for Covid-19. This PCR testing is available weekly at school on Tuesday mornings. Click here for the Covid PCR consent form.
  2. Test to Stay: If your student is NOT vaccinated and they are exposed to a Covid positive individual at school, they can do a rapid Covid test at school for 7 days in a row.
    • They cannot have ANY symptoms: no fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea nor change in taste/smell.
    • Each morning before school they will report to Nurse Ellen for a rapid test which will take 30-40 minutes. You need to be able to take your child home if they test positive.
    • Nurse Ellen will reach out to you if your child is eligible for this option.
  1. Covid PCR tests will also be available to pick-up from the Health Office. The test can be done at home, then the test is brought back to the Health Office by 9:30 AM the next morning and it is sent to the lab via UPS.

 

If you are interested in having your student participate in Test to Stay or Covid PCR tests, a parent/guardian must complete a consent form.

EXPECTATIONS WHEN QUARANTINING

The following guidelines are informed by our experiences thus far this school year. Each Covid school year has been unique. As we returned to in-person learning and a full-day schedule this fall and continued to adhere to Covid health protocols, we found that students and teachers are absent more frequently and for prolonged periods of time.

Guidelines for Quarantining Students

Ellen Gnaedinger

School Nurse
Important Links

TA Guidelines When Quarantining

Covid Safety at TA

Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics: Vermont Dept Health

Flu Vaccine Consent Form

Prescription Medication Order & Permission Form

Religious Immunization Exemption Form

Medical Immunization Exemption Form

Documentation of Varicella (Chicken Pox) Disease Form

Recent Health Office News

  • The following update from the TA Health Office was sent via email to all parents on November 18. Guide for staying home and returning to school: 1. Your child must stay home if they have any of these symptoms: fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, change in taste/smell.......

    19 November, 2021

  • Dear TA Families, This health update comes as the holidays approach. Governor Scott reminds us to continue to be careful indoors, wear masks at indoor gatherings, and strongly consider small groups for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We continue to see high numbers of new Covid cases with our Vermont hospital systems......

    12 November, 2021

  • Dear Parents, Guardians and Families: Hello All! We are writing to share important updates from the Health Office: We are staying in touch with Thetford Elementary School regarding their very small number of positive Covid cases. Any contact tracing that needs to be done is being done.  If you are not......

    18 October, 2021

our VALUES

Excellence

We set high expectations. we challenge all members of the school community to reach their highest potential.

Commitment

We value initiative, courage and dedication. We take personal responsibility for the goals we set and work hard to achieve them.

Cooperation

We work and learn together. We see teachers as coaches, students as team members, families as partners, and learning as practice and action.

Caring

We provide individuals with personalized support and guidance. We care about each other and the larger community.

Diversity

We respect differences among people. We welcome the contribution of carried perspectives to a rich and flexible school culture.