Dear Prep Families,

Greetings from Prep! We hope you're enjoying these beautiful summer days. We are reaching out to provide an update with the latest State health advisory information for CT schools, which we've been carefully following. As we all know, this is a constantly changing landscape, and COVID-related guidelines continue to adjust based on current data and information by state and region.

Based on the most recent "Interim Recommendations for COVID-19 Prevention for Schools" by the CT Dept. of Education and Dept. of Health, here's what we know and what we don't know:

What We Know:

Prep will conduct in-person instruction and co-curricular life with the full student body in session daily.
Vaccinations are highly effective in preventing COVID spread and infection, and we, in line with Governor Lamont, urge every student who is eligible to get a vaccine if you have not done so already. Thank you to all the families who have filled out our survey and sent proof of vaccination. Currently, a simple majority of our student body who have responded to the FP survey are vaccinated or plan to be vaccinated for the upcoming school year. The higher our vaccination rate, the better-positioned Prep will be to offer the full range of our rich Jesuit educational offerings without interruption. If you have not filled out the survey, or wish to send updated info, please submit Prep's Vaccination Status Survey as soon as possible.
Vaccinated students will not need to be quarantined or contact traced in the event of a known case of COVID-19 in school.
The current CDC Order requires masking on public transportation, including school buses.
All Fall athletics will begin on time this year and plan for full seasons. The higher the vaccination rate on a team, the more likely they are to keep practicing, maintain their current schedule, and complete their season without interruption.
In classrooms, 3 feet of physical distancing will be maintained where feasible. Extended distancing will continue where increased respiration is likely (e.g., wind instruments, singing, etc.)
Lunch locations and periods will be planned to reduce student population-density, utilizing all open spaces within the school and outdoors weather permitting.
Routine daily cleaning will continue in our school buildings per health guidelines.

What We Don't Know:

We await state guidelines for masking in schools. If guidelines become mandates, Fairfield Prep, as a division of Fairfield University, will comply fully with all public health orders in the State of Connecticut as we have since the beginning of the pandemic.
Based on future guidelines or mandates, Prep will decide how and in what manner unvaccinated students will be able to participate in immersion trips, overnight retreats, or other overnight programs.

Jesuit Mission and Discernment

As we all know, every one of us has chosen Fairfield Prep because we believe in and support our Jesuit, Catholic mission and unique way of proceeding. We are sensitive to the complexity and constantly changing circumstances of our families and community as it relates to vaccination, extenuating health concerns, and the general anxiety and strain that is a result of this extended period of COVID-19 disruption. We will continue to carefully consider the objective data in our Prep community and respond to our community needs with careful prayer, discernment and adherence to public health direction and educational best practice.

Overall, we feel hopeful and confident that Fairfield Prep is well-positioned for a tremendous school year where we can provide and create the important Prep experience of building brotherhood and offering "care of the whole person," which is our hallmark and our promise. We are excited to welcome back our Fairfield Prep family! We will be sharing more "Essential Back-To-School Details" in the coming days. May God continue to bless you and your loved ones this summer. Go Prep! +AMDG

Respectfully,