Coronavirus Resources - Bishop McNamara High School

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Updated November 2022

COVID FAQs

What reopening stage will be in place when school opens?

Will students have to wear masks?

What steps will be taken if my child tests positive for COVID-19, or is exposed to someone who tests positive?

If a student tests positive for COVID-19 on campus, they will wait in an isolated location until the parent can be contacted and arrives to pick up the student.

If a student tests positive at home, please notify Dr. Jessica Nash, Director of Student Health Services (Jessica.nash@bmhs.org).

Students who test positive must stay home from school for a minimum of five days. After Day 5, if the person has no symptoms or if symptoms are improved and they have had no fever for at least 24 hours without medication, they may return to school and must wear a well-fitting mask (i.e. KN95, KF94, N95, surgical and cloth mask worn at the same time) when around others for an additional 5 days indoors or outdoors unless actively eating.

Additionally, if they participate in any of the following activities-athletics, singing, exercising/dancing, or playing a wind or brass instrument, they are unable to participate until after day 10.

Contact tracing is no longer required. Additionally, those who were exposed are no longer required to quarantine.

Must students be vaccinated to attend school?

Yes. Beginning February 1, 2022, all students, employees, and contractors at our school are required to be up-to-date with COVID vaccinations.

The CDC recommends that people aged 16 years and older get a booster shot for the COVID-19 vaccine if at least six months have passed since their last dose. Has your student received the COVID Booster? We would love to know! Please take a picture or scan the completed vaccination documentation and upload it to your student’s Magnus Account under Immunizations.

What mitigation measures are being taken by the school to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are available throughout our buildings. Teachers will ensure that all students use the hand sanitizer upon entering the classroom and that students disinfect their desks, chairs, and other shared equipment with the wipes at the end of each class. We have installed MERV 13 air filtration (EPA approved for filtration of the COVID-19 virus) in our buildings in addition to using increased outside air. Our facilities staff will continue to frequently wipe down high-touch surfaces and restrooms throughout the day. The buildings will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every night. Additional measures may be implemented as needed.

What should I do if my student is not feeling well?

If your student is not feeling well and exhibits any ONE of the symptoms below they should stay home. Those students who report to the Health Room complaining of any of these symptoms will be sent home in accordance with current Department of Health protocols. When a student may return to school depends on several factors. Please contact Dr. Jessica Nash, Director of Student Health Services, with any questions (jessica.nash@bmhs.org).

fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
sore throat
cough
difficulty breathing
diarrhea or vomiting
new onset of severe headache (especially with fever)
new loss of taste or smell

For persons with chronic conditions such as asthma, the symptoms should represent a change from their baseline.

Have you updated your email addresses and phone numbers in Maccess lately? If you are not getting emails from our school offices, it is time to check your contact info in Maccess. You may be missing important school information. Log into Maccess here and update your info today. Forgot your username or password? Click Forgot Login on that page. If you have any problems, contact MaccessHelp@bmhs.org.

There could be several reasons why you are not receiving your Principal Update emails.

Check your inbox settings to see if:

You have inadvertently blocked or unsubscribed to Mrs. Carter's emails
You have inadvertently marked the Principal's Update as Spam.

Mark emails from both @bishopmcnamara.myenotice.com and bmhs.org as "safe senders" in your settings.

If you are still having problems with getting school emails, contact Janice.Conlon@bmhs.org for assistance.

Weekly Updates will be sent directly to email inboxes for all Parents, Students, Faculty, and Staff every week on Sunday. In addition, the archive of all Weekly Updates will be available in Maccess. After logging in, go to the Resource Board.

Outside Resources

Memo from Maryland Department of Health and Department of Education

In response to the recent changes in COVID-19 isolation and quarantine recommendations for the general public put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) are providing the following interim guidance for local school systems, nonpublic schools, and child care programs. For issues not addressed in this memo, CDC recommendations should be followed. Click on link below.

Guidance to Support Safe In-Person Operations for PreK-12 Schools and Child Care Programs

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

State of Maryland

CDC - Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives; When, How to Wash; Soap & Hand Sanitizers

When and How to Wash Your Hands

(For direct link, go to https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html)

Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.

Wash Your Hands Often to Stay Healthy

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
After handling pet food or pet treats
After touching garbage

washing hands under faucet

Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.

Follow these five steps every time.

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Why? Read the science behind the recommendations.

Use Hand Sanitizer When You Can’t Use Soap and Water

using hand sanitizer
You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label.

Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However,

Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs.
Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy metals.

Caution! Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning if more than a couple of mouthfuls are swallowed. Keep it out of reach of young children and supervise their use. Learn more here.

How to use hand sanitizer

Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
Rub your hands together.
Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

Archdiocese of Washington Coronavirus Resources & Information

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The Wage and Hour Division of the US Department of Labor provides information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, and its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

For more information, go to: COVID-19 and the American Workplace

FAQs regarding the FFCRA are available at Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers

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