Coronavirus Resources - Bishop McNamara High School

Updated August 25, 2021

COVID 19 FAQs

What reopening stage will be in place when school opens?

Will students have to wear masks?

Will students still be required to complete the Magnus app questionnaire each morning?

Must students be vaccinated to attend school?

Does my student have to take COVID-19 tests if they are unvaccinated?

In accordance with the Maryland Department of Health and State Department of Education K-12 School and Child Care COVID-19 Guidance, Bishop McNamara High School will require all unvaccinated employees and students to participate in weekly COVID-19 screening testing. This policy will go into effect the first week of school.

Unvaccinated students or employees may complete weekly testing on their own and email proof of negative COVID-19 test to COVIDtest@bmhs.org or may participate in the school-sponsored testing and have their health insurance company billed for the test (we are using the same agency as we used last spring- Register Here).

What percentage of BMHS employees and students have been vaccinated?

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 they will wait in an isolated location until the parent can be contacted and arrives to pick up the student. Students who test positive must stay home from school for a minimum of 10 days. Contact tracing will be implemented and affected families notified. Any students who are considered close contacts to someone who has tested positive, either in school or outside of school, must quarantine according to the Maryland Department of Health and local guidelines except those who are fully vaccinated OR have been infected with COVID-19 in the past 90 days AND are asymptomatic. During that time, they will not be able to attend school or participate in any school sports or activities. Students who are absent should contact their teachers to obtain assignments and makeup work.

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.

May students opt out of in-person learning?

**For all the latest, up-to-date BMHS Community Information, go to McNEWS!**

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

Outside Resources

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

Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019 from the CDC

Supporting Teenagers and Young Adults During the Coronavirus Crisis by Child Mind Institute

Daily Announcements

Announcements - Begin at 8:00 AM and broadcast live via ZOOM. The link is available when Students and Parents log into Maccess.

Weekly Updates

Weekly Updates will be sent directly to email inboxes for all Parents, Students, Faculty and Staff every week on Sunday and will be posted to this page.

McNews Online Newsletter

Updated throughout the month with the latest school news, dates, and important school information.

Main Menu