Mount Saint Joseph High School

Recent Communication

The following communication was emailed to parents and students on Sunday, August 8, 2021.

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

As the numbers of positive cases of COVID-19 have continued to climb in Maryland, Mayor Brandon Scott has issued a mask mandate for Baltimore City starting Monday, August 9. This mandate includes Mount Saint Joseph, so we will begin our school year wearing masks. Please review the following mask policies to make sure you are prepared any time you visit campus.

All faculty, staff, students, and visitors must wear an approved mask from the moment they enter our campus until they leave for the day, unless they are eating or taking a drink.
Masks should follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Students should wear an MSJ mask or a solid color mask.
Writing, letters, symbols, and/or markings of any kind on masks are prohibited.
Gaiters are not permitted because they do not align with the CDC guidelines.
It is preferred that you have one mask for each day of the week you are on campus and that they be washed after each time it is used.
Plastic face shields may be worn in conjunction with, but not in lieu of, a mask.

We had success with our community wearing masks last year, and there is no doubt that it helped mitigate exposure to COVID-19. At this time, we are still planning on holding in-person classes 5 days a week, and masks will help us make this happen. We will continue to evaluate our mask policy and are prepared to make changes to it if the mandate is lifted and conditions improve.

If you have not already done so, we encourage everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine for the safety of our whole community and for an end to this pandemic. We also want to remind you that parents of vaccinated students should complete the COVID-19 Vaccination Documentation form ASAP.

With so much changing every day, we will communicate specific daily health procedures as we get closer to the start of the school year. Please continue to keep Mount Saint Joseph in your prayers as we navigate this journey together.

Sincerely,

Mr. Francisco M. Espinosa, Jr.
Principal

Mr. George E. Andrews, Jr.
President

Updated Plans for 2021-2022

Class Schedule and Format

Classes will be held 5 days a week, following our regular 4-day rotational schedule. Days of class are assigned and listed on the school calendar webpage.
Students are expected to attend class in person unless they are under quarantine. If there are students who have a special concern about attending class in person, please contact Mr. Espinosa.
Absent students who are not under quarantine are not allowed to attend classes virtually. Classwork will be made up according to the guidelines set by each teacher.
Teachers will be teaching classes in person unless there are medical circumstances that require virtual instruction.

Safety Guidelines

Masks are required for anyone on Mount Saint Joseph's campus.
While it is recommended, a COVID vaccination will not be required for students to attend Mount Saint Joseph.

Dining and Extracurriculars

We are working with our cafeteria staff to bring back hot food service for both breakfast and lunch.
A regular schedule of activities is being planned for extracurriculars and athletics.

Exposure and Testing Protocols

List of 10 items.

Exposure Protocols for Vaccinated Individuals or Those Previously Infected with COVID Within the Last 90 Days

Individuals are fully vaccinated 2 weeks after receiving either 1) both doses of a 2-dose vaccine series or 2) a single dose vaccine.

If fully vaccinated or have been infected with COVID-19 in the past 90 days and exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms and test positive for COVID-19, you need to self-isolate for at least 10 days. You may return to campus when it has been at least 10 days since your symptoms first appeared AND no fever for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication AND improvement of symptoms. Close contacts who are not fully vaccinated should quarantine according to MDH and LHD guidelines. Please refer to the COVID Decision Aid.

If fully vaccinated or previously infected with COVID-19 in the past 90 days and have come in contact with someone suspected or confirmed with COVID-19, you DO NOT need to quarantine if you DO NOT have symptoms. However, you SHOULD get a PCR COVID test 5-7 days after exposure, earlier if you have symptoms, and the test results must be submitted to the school nurse. You should wear a face mask both indoors and outside, whenever you can’t physically distance, until you know your COVID-19 test result. *Face masks are required for everyone regardless of vaccination status both inside buildings and outside on campus at MSJ as of 8/9/2021.

If fully vaccinated or previously infected with COVID-19 in the past 90 days, have symptoms and test negative for COVID-19 (PCR test) or health care provider documents symptoms are due to a specific alternative diagnosis (ex. strep throat, asthma), you may return when symptoms have improved, no fever for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Exposure Protocols for Non-Vaccinated Individuals

Anyone unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated with symptoms and a positive test for COVID-19 or clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 must self-isolate for at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared. You may return to campus after completing isolation AND at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication AND improvement of other symptoms.

Anyone unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated and exposed to COVID-19, without symptoms, must quarantine for 10 days or 7 days with conditions.

1) Quarantine can end after Day 10 from exposure without a PCR COVID-19 test if NO symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring or
2) Quarantine can end after Day 7 from exposure if a PCR COVID-19 test is collected on Day 5 or later, tests negative, and if NO symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring. Quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after Day 7.

***When a person ends quarantine on Day 11 or Day 8, they must continue to self-monitor for symptoms, wear a face mask, and social distance for 14 days. If unable to comply with these conditions, they will need to quarantine for 14 days.
Notifying the School of Symptoms or Exposure
Who should get tested for current infection:
- People who have symptoms of COVID-19.
- Most people who have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
- Fully vaccinated people should be tested 5-7 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
- People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not need to get tested following an exposure as long as they do not develop new symptoms.
Weekdays
If your son is displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, is waiting on PCR COVID test results, or had close contact (within 6 feet for a cumulative of 15 minutes over a 24- hour period) with a person with laboratory-confirmed or probable COVID infection, please keep your son at home, notify your son's healthcare provider. Please also notify Mrs. Baker in the Attendance Office at ebaker@msjnet.edu. She will then notify the school nurse who will follow up with you if needed. To return to campus, the student will need a negative PCR COVID test result and improved symptoms that are manageable in school or a written health care provider assessment that COVID-19 testing is not necessary and the risk of COVID-19 is low.

Weekend
If your son is displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, is waiting on PCR COVID test results, or had close contact (within 6 feet for a cumulative of 15 minutes over a 24- hour period) with a person with laboratory-confirmed or probable COVID infection, please keep your son at home, notify your son's healthcare provider, and notify Mount Saint Joseph by calling 443-310-5857. The message will be relayed to the appropriate people and the school nurse will follow up with you if needed. To return to campus, the student will need a negative PCR COVID test result and improved symptoms that are manageable in school.
Communication Procedure for Someone Who Tests Positive for COVID-19

If Mount Saint Joseph is notified of a community member who was on campus 48 hours prior to testing positive for COVID-19, all parents, students, faculty, and staff will be notified via email as soon as possible. Close contacts of the community member and their parents will also receive a second email notification. Due to HIPPA regulations, the identity of the positive individual will be kept confidential. The school nurse will inform the local health department of the positive test and will follow the health department’s recommendations for establishing quarantines or sending other communications. The COVID-19 Decision Aid will also be used to decide who should quarantine.
Procedure for Someone Who Reports COVID-19 Symptoms While in School

When we receive word that a student, faculty, or staff member has tested positive or has symptoms of COVID-19, Mount Saint Joseph will notify the Baltimore City Health Department.

If the student is on campus, he will be immediately sent to the nurse, who will bring him to an isolated area in the Health Room for evaluation. The School Nurse will call the student’s parent or guardian. Students must be picked up from school within 60 minutes of receipt of the call. If a parent or guardian is not reachable within the first two tries, the student’s emergency contact will be called. The CDC Decision Aid will be followed for what this student should do and who should be contacted.

Any faculty or staff member who is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should immediately leave campus and notify the school. If the faculty or staff member does not feel safe driving with the symptoms, he or she should report to the nurse for evaluation and isolation. The CDC Decision Aid guide will be followed for what this person should do and who should be contacted.

As determined by the Health Department, individuals who are deemed exposed to COVID-19 while on campus will be placed in an isolated area while awaiting pickup. Again, parents or guardians should pick up their son within 60 minutes of receiving the phone call. If parents/guardians are unreachable, emergency contacts will be called.

The school will be in touch with the individual and families whose students have had close or prolonged contact, as determined by the Baltimore City Health Department’s contact tracing, with further instructions and information.
Definition of Close Contact

From the Maryland Department of Health's COVID-19 Guidance for Maryland Schools:

Close contact relates to exposure to individuals with COVID-19 and is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as being within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period, regardless of whether face coverings are being worn.
Definition of Isolation

From the Maryland Department of Health's COVID-19 Guidance for Maryland Schools:

Isolation is used to separate people infected with the virus (those who are sick with COVID-19 and those with no symptoms) from people who are not infected. People who are in isolation should stay home until it is safe for them to be around others. In the home, anyone sick or infected should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick room” or area and using a separate bathroom (if available).
Definition of Quarantine

From the Maryland Department of Health's COVID-19 Guidance for Maryland Schools:

Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they are sick or if they are infected with the virus without feeling symptoms. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department.
Out-of-State Travel

Mount Saint Joseph will follow the Governor’s Order as of 3/12/2021. Travel is still discouraged. Quarantine requirements and other restrictions for domestic travel have been lifted. A Maryland Department of Health Advisory will remain in place continuing to encourage Marylanders to get tested upon return.
International Travel
Parents need to notify in writing the Dean of Students, Mr. Luckman (rluckman@msjnet.edu), and the School Nurse, Mrs. Bezirdjian (pbezirdjian@msjnet.edu), if their son will be traveling internationally along with the return date to Maryland.

UNVACCINATED STUDENTS
Any unvaccinated student who has traveled internationally must get PCR tested 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If you don’t get tested, you must stay home for 10 days after travel.
VACCINATED STUDENTS
Any fully vaccinated student who has traveled internationally must stay home and self-quarantine until he is able to get a negative result from a PCR test. The PCR test must be taken 3-5 days after travel.
- If you don’t get tested, you must stay home for 10 days after travel.