Note: We have experienced some recent deliverability issues with our emails. We are resending this to you in case you did not receive it.

Dear Prep Families,

Fairfield Prep is thrilled to welcome our students back for the full, in-person Prep experience of learning, co-curricular activities, athletics, retreats and special events, which are the hallmark of a Jesuit education.

In light of the most recent State of Connecticut public health mandates for K-12 public and non-public schools, and in consultation with the Town of Fairfield DPH, and Fairfield University, we will be requiring the enclosed protocols to safely return to campus and ensure a high level of continuity in uninterrupted learning and co-curricular life:

Return-to-Campus COVID-19 Guidelines (revised August 18, 2021)

Masks: In accord with the current State of CT executive order, ALL Prep students, faculty, staff and visitors will wear masks in all indoor spaces, except during meal times, through September 30. Masks do not need to be worn outside on the Prep or Fairfield University campus, or at outdoor events and activities. The current CDC Order requires masking on public transportation, including school buses.
Vaccination Status: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required to return to Fairfield Prep. Vaccinations are proven to be highly effective in preventing COVID infection, serious illness and hospitalization, and we urge every student who is eligible to get a vaccine.

Declaration of vaccination status (vaccinated, intend to be vaccinated, or unvaccinated) is required to return to Fairfield Prep this fall. Over 90% of our families have already responded to our survey! If you have not filled out the survey, please submit Prep's Vaccination Status Survey as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.
Testing: The Center for Disease Control (CDC), CT Department of Health, American Association of Pediatrics and CIAC have all documented the importance and efficacy of surveillance testing for preventing community spread of COVID-19, especially in communities with individuals who have not received a vaccine.

In keeping with Fairfield University protocols, Prep is requiring that all unvaccinated students, faculty and staff participate in weekly COVID-19 testing protocols until further notice.

Beginning in September, Prep will be able to provide a weekly, confidential, self-administered PCR test on Prep's campus free of charge for unvaccinated students with parental consent. Parents who choose not to utilize the Prep testing protocols will be required to obtain a weekly test from a local provider and submit proof of a negative PCR test to Prep.

Further information and e-mail links will be sent to our unvaccinated students with additional instructions for testing. We appreciate very much your cooperation with this additional layer of community protection.
Contact Tracing, Quarantine and Distancing: Pursuant to Connecticut Public Health directives for K-12 schools:

In classrooms, three feet of physical distancing will be maintained. 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.

A student close contact is defined as an individual exposed to a positive case of COVID-19 within three feet, inside of a classroom, and within six feet in all other spaces for 15 minutes or longer over the course of 24 hours.

Vaccinated students who are close contacts will not be asked to quarantine, unless they become symptomatic.

Unvaccinated students who are close contacts will be asked to quarantine for seven days with a negative test on day five or later, or ten days without a test.

Any student or adult employee of Prep who is not feeling well should not come to school. The CT Department of Public Health strongly urges the use of testing for symptomatic individuals to limit spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Hotline & Dashboard Reporting
Please continue to use our Prep COVID-19 Hotline (203-331-6248) for reporting positive cases.

In September, Fairfield Prep will resume our weekly dashboard reporting to include vaccination and positive case counts on a trailing 14-day average as we did last academic year.

Fairfield Prep is committed to our unique Jesuit, Catholic way of proceeding, and we are sensitive to the complexity and changing circumstances of our families and public health within our diverse community. We stand ready to support your sons, your families and our faculty and staff in this unique moment in global history. At Prep, we challenge our boys daily to go forth and "set the world on fire" with the strength of our faith and our compassionate brotherhood. We look forward to building this Prep spirit with you and your sons in person this year. God bless and "Go Prep!" +AMDG

Respectfully in peace,