2022-2023 COVID Policy

St. Paul’s Masking Policy: 

  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health, masking continues to be extremely effective in minimizing transmission of COVID-19. Our Middle School aligns with the public health guideline to “strongly recommend” at this time. Our Lower School has met a threshold of cases that--in our evaluation and in consultation with Alameda County Public Health--leads us to mandate indoor masking until Winter Break. In anticipation of the potential range of behaviors, connect with your child about what feels right for your child and your family with regard to indoor masking. We want to make sure there are no stigmas attached to any decisions made by our students in terms of masking (or not) for their own comfort and well-being.

  • Masking will continue to be required for indoor community events, including: Chapels, Book Fair, Open Houses, Grandparent, and Special Friends Day, and concerts. 
  • Indoor Masking is ALWAYS REQUIRED for all parent volunteers, visitors, and vendors coming to campus, even if students and staff are not masking.
  • After every extended break (of a week or longer), all students and staff are required to mask-up indoors for the first full week back on campus while we complete a full round of community PCR Testing. Once we’ve received the COVID test results of our community testing, we will move back into alignment with county guidelines.

  • If your child is exposed to a confirmed positive case of COVID, they are required to mask for at least 5 days after exposure, indoors, even if they do not develop symptoms.
  • Given the ever-evolving case rate landscape, changes to masking and testing protocols will take place at the discretion of the Head of School and the COVID Liaison.
COVID Testing and Symptoms Screening:
  • Antigen rapid testing will be completed after every extended break (of a week or longer) as part of the transition back to campus.

  • If your child is exposed to a confirmed positive case of COVID, you should monitor for any symptoms. However, you do not need to quarantine your child and they can come to school, wearing a mask indoors for the first five days from the time of exposure. 
    • If your child develops symptoms, after a confirmed exposure, you should test your child via PCR or antigen, and keep them home for the first five days from the onset of symptoms. After day 5, if symptoms have improved, you may have them tested again, but if the test continues to be positive, you must keep them home for the full 10-days.
If your child develops any symptoms, unrelated to any known exposure to COVID, they should be tested and send negative test results to report-results@spes.org before they can return to school. Additionally, any student with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. must remain home, and can not return to campus until they are clear for 24 hours without any intervention from medication.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID Data Tracker

Alameda County Office of Education Guidance Document

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St. Paul's Episcopal School
116 Montecito Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610
510.285.9600
Non-Discrimination Statement
St. Paul's Episcopal School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression and accords to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance programs, and athletics and other School-administered programs.