COVID updates will be sent to parents every two weeks in the Martyr Messenger and updated on this webpage as necessary.

We are following the DCHD guidelines pertaining to steps that need to be taken before a report is filed and communication is sent to families. Parents will be contacted directly if there is a positive case in their child's classroom or if there was known direct exposure, as recommended by DCHD.

Keeping our students healthy is a partnership. Please review the below reminders:

• Please continue to keep your children home when showing any symptoms.
• Please keep siblings home if someone in the household is testing.
• Students must bring masks to school.
• If you know of any exposure or close contacts from family members/teammates/friends, it is extremely important that you follow the guidelines and keep your children home for the required time recommended by the health department. We realize you do not want your children missing school, but trying to rush them back to the classroom before the recommended time puts other children and staff at risk.
• Again, if your child or anyone in the family is showing symptoms keep them home and all other siblings if you plan to test or suspect COVID according to the symptoms.
• If your child is participating in an extracurricular activity or sport and there is a positive case, please forward all information from the club director or the coach. These outside activities present a risk to our school community so we must be informed.

Please review the below DCHD resources and updates below.

View: DCHD Exclusion and Re-Admittance of Ill Students and Staff in Schools

Please see below DCHD updates (as of 9/23/21):

• At-home tests are now acceptable for identifying COVID-19 infections in people who are experiencing symptoms.
• If three (3) or more cases are identified with onset of illness within 14 days of the first case, DCHD should be consulted and at home monitoring (quarantine) may be recommended for unmasked, unvaccinated individuals who have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the previous 90 days.
• Individuals who are masked during an exposure (including 48 hours prior to a case’s positive test or onset of symptoms) may be exempted from quarantine. If your children have a medical exemption from masking, they may need to quarantine at home if directed by the health department.

Who should get tested for COVID-19?

• Individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Individuals who have had close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
  • Fully vaccinated people should be tested 3 to 5 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. CDC recommends that if they are not already masking, they wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test.
  • People who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days and recovered do not need to get tested following an exposure as long as they do not develop new symptoms. (It is possible for someone to continue to test positive for a period of time - meaning they still have residual pieces of dead virus - after they are no longer contagious.)
• At-home tests are acceptable for identifying COVID-19 infections in people who are experiencing symptoms, but it is still recommended to follow up with a PCR test for confirmation. Home tests are not acceptable to shorten quarantine.
• A complete list of where to get tested can be found at: www.douglascountyhealth.com/109-covid-19/773-where-to-get-tested

Household Exposure for all grade levels:

• Exposed, unvaccinated individuals who are living with an infected person are able to return to school;
  • 10 days after their last exposure to the infected household member OR
  • Test on or after day 5 after last exposure and return after day 7 if the test is negative (home tests should not be accepted).
• Upon return, the exposed individual should mask and continue to monitor for symptoms through day 14.
• Vaccinated individuals should wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days after their last exposure.

View Our 2021-2022 Covid-19 School Opening Plan

A Message From Mrs. Perrault: Family Letter, July 20, 2021
If your student is enrolled for the 2021/2022 school year and you did not receive the above letter via email, please contact the office at school@stephen.org or (402) 896-0754 to update your email on file. As a reminder, our summer office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Did you know St. Stephen the Martyr School accepts students from all areas within greater Omaha? Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year is open. Learn more about St. Stephen's, request a tour or register at: school.stephen.org/enroll.