What is the protocol if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus? How will I be notified?

If a member of the Gilman community receives positive test results during the school day, they will be evaluated and isolated in the Gilman Health Center while transportation home is being arranged. Please see this information from the Maryland Department of Health and Maryland State Department of Education for the latest quarantine guidelines: Interim K-12 School and Child Care COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidance January 2022. The School Nurses will work with each division to determine close contacts and will email you if your son was in close contact with the positive case. Further information regarding exposure and confirmed case information can be found on the School’s COVID-19 dashboard which will be updated daily.

What happens if someone in my son’s class tests positive for COVID-19?

If someone in your son's class tests positive for COVID-19, we will follow state and local guidelines as noted above. If your son is considered a close contact, you will receive an email from School Nurse Edie Meacham RN with additional information. You are also encouraged to check the School’s COVID-19 dashboard which will be updated daily with exposure and confirmed case information.

What happens if my son tests positive for COVID-19?

If your son tests positive for COVID-19, please notify the Gilman Health Center immediately.

A student who tests positive for COVID-19, or is considered a presumed positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, should complete isolation as follows:

• Stay home and isolate for at least five full days from the date of symptom onset, if symptomatic, or the date of the positive test, if no symptoms.
  • Day one is considered the first full day after symptoms started in symptomatic persons or the first full day after the student tested positive if asymptomatic (in other words, if he starts feeling sick on Sunday or tests positive on Sunday, day one would be that Monday).
• After day 5, if the student has no symptoms or if symptoms are improved and he has had no fever for at least 24 hours without medication, he may return to school—without taking another test—so long as he wears a KN95 mask (which the school can provide) at school for an additional five days. If the student is unable to wear a KN95 mask, he should remain at home for a full 10 days.

What happens if someone in our household tested positive for COVID-19?

If a family member, including a sibling, has COVID-19 symptoms or is waiting for a test result, the asymptomatic sibling may come to the Health Center between 7:30-8 a.m. for a rapid antigen test. If the test is negative, he can go to class.  

If someone in your household tests positive and that person is able to isolate, your son may come to the Health Center between 7:30-8 a.m. for a rapid antigen test. If the test is negative, he can go to class. Testing each morning in the Health Center will continue for five days from the last exposure to the positive case.

What happens if my son is in close contact at school or outside the home with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

• Fully Vaccinated and boosted (if eligible) or has tested positive in the previous 90 days (and completed the appropriate isolation period): These students do not need to quarantine but should get tested on day five, wear a well-fitted mask (preferably a KN95), and monitor closely for symptoms.
• Not Fully Vaccinated or boosted (if eligible): These students should quarantine for five days and monitor closely for symptoms. They should also test on or after day five and can return to school with a negative test, no symptoms, and wear a well-fitted mask (preferably a KN95).

How will you decide if/when to close campus?

A decision to close campus will be based on a number of factors, including public health conditions, the extent to which positive tests affect the number of people able to remain on campus, and our ability to staff on-campus programs.

What can we do to help the School mitigate risk?

A tremendous amount of health and safety protocols have been put in place. That said, we cannot eliminate risk. To help reduce the COVID-19 exposure at school, Gilman asks all families to limit their risk, which includes hosting or attending large gatherings, events (sporting and other), and other activities where social distancing is not possible. Practice and reinforce good hygiene at home.

Will students, faculty, and staff be screened before coming to school each day?

Effective Thursday, February 17, 2022, we are no longer requiring daily health screenings.  That said, it is important to remember that if your son is not feeling well, he should stay home. Please contact School Nurse Edie Meacham if you have a question about whether or not it is okay to send your son to school.

What is involved with weekly COVID-19 PCR testing?

The School has partnered with Capital Diagnostics to provide weekly PCR testing via a gentle nasal swab. This testing will take place on Thursday of each week.  Effective Thursday, February 24, 2022, this weekly testing is optional for all students and employees. If you wish to have your son take part in the weekly testing, please contact School Nurse Edie Meacham.

Parents will receive an email, typically within 24 hours, with test results. Gilman’s School Nurse will be notified of all test results, as well.

The School reserves the right to expand this testing to vaccinated individuals on campus should it be deemed necessary (ex: continued breakthrough cases, groups who have a higher likelihood of close contact like athletic teams, return from holiday breaks, etc.).

Click here to learn more about the Maryland Department of Health's School COVID-19 Testing Initiative.

Click here to learn more about Capital Diagnostics.

Will face coverings (masks) be required?

Effective Tuesday, March 1, 2022 mask-wearing while indoors, regardless of vaccination status, will be optional.   

This is a big change for all of us, and it will be important to show compassion and respect for each other, realizing that there are varying levels of comfort regarding mask-wearing in our community. This message will be reinforced with the boys in age-appropriate ways at school, and we trust that you will do the same at home.

Effective Sunday, February 27, 2022, we will continue to welcome more visitors to campus this spring for events, speakers, gatherings, and meetings.

Spectators at athletic events is encouraged although the School reserves the right to restrict attendance depending on community COVID-19 levels.

All approved visitors must comply with the School’s protocols when on campus, regardless of their vaccination status. This includes, but is not limited to, maintaining social distance when possible, disinfecting hands prior to entering the building, and confirming a lack of symptoms, fever, and exposure to COVID-19.

What will lunch look like? What is the process?

Hot and cold meals will be prepared and served by Flik, the School’s food service partner. Most food will be served and/or prepackaged, with self-serve options increasingly available in the spring of 2022.

COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets, therefore, removing masks to eat indoors can carry a higher risk for transmitting the virus. Because of this, there are tented areas outside of the Lower School and dining hall, and we will encourage students and employees to eat outside and maintain at least three (3) feet of distance whenever possible.

In addition, the cafeteria ventilation system meets, and in many cases exceeds, standards for reducing airborne infectious aerosol exposure. The system allows for 7-8 air exchanges per hour and is set at an outside air intake rate of 60%. The system is also equipped with MERV 13 filters and UV lights to remove and eliminate viral particles.

Will my son be able to bring his own lunch?

Yes, your son may bring his own lunch to school, though please understand that it must be shelf-stable (refrigerators and/or microwaves will not be available). Food items also must be nut-free. No food can be delivered from parents or delivery services. If your son forgets his lunch, he will be given one by Flik.

In general, club teams and rec sports organizations should have a COVID-19 plan available for parents to review before their son is registered. This is especially important for indoor sports.

A comprehensive plan should include:

• Restrictions on participation when sick
• Screening procedures (like temperature and or symptom checks)
• Restrictions on participation when exposed to the COVID-19
• Mask guidelines for participants and coaches
• Distancing guidelines for participants and coaches
• Availability of handwashing stations or hand sanitizer
• Separation of equipment on the sidelines
• Restrictions on sharing equipment, food or water bottles
• No centralized hydration or snack areas

Specific sports may have additional restrictions.

Once parents have reviewed their son’s team plan, they should monitor to be sure that the requirements are being followed. If they are not satisfied that guidelines are being followed, they should discuss with the coach or organization. If that does not yield results, they should consider withdrawing their son from the team.

Club Sports Travel:

We ask that students and employees use mitigation strategies like social distancing, face covering, hand hygiene, and, in general, avoid risky situations. If individuals are not able to comply, they should have a COVID-19 PCR test five days after returning from the trip.

Please consult the CDC’s website to check your specific destination and follow the recommendations for testing and quarantine: COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination.

We ask that students and employees use mitigation strategies like social distancing, face covering, hand hygiene, and, in general, avoid risky situations. If unvaccinated individuals are not able to comply, they should have a COVID-19 PCR test three to five days after returning.

For international travel: Please consult the CDC’s website to check your specific destination and follow the recommendations for testing and quarantine: COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination.