MCA COVID-19 Policy Update | September 7, 2021

MCA COVID-19 POLICY UPDATE
Effective as of Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Millersville Christian Academy is committed to lead students to a deep and personal knowledge of Christ and His Word, instruct students in order to achieve the highest levels of scholarship, and encourage students to accomplish God’s eternal purposes.

Our students have great academic success, but that is not what we should glory in. MCA could develop model COVID re-entry plans that the entire community decides to adopt, but even the wisest health and safety plan is not what we should glory in. “Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me…”Jeremiah 9:24

MCA has established reopening policies that will allow us to continue in our mission of discipling students academically so that they become all God has purposed for their life. These policies were developed using guidance from the CDC and local health department, and will likely change as community factors and local guidance change.

Consistent with the thoughts of our parents, MCA strongly prioritizes on-campus instruction five days per week. Without appropriate policies, MCA would risk a greater likelihood for expansive school closures in the event of a positive COVID case.

While policies are good, they are helpful only when properly followed. Thus, MCA needs the help of parents/guardians in implementing proper controls that will allow in-person instruction to continue. We desire to keep our students in the classroom, and we need each family and faculty/staff to embrace these temporary COVID policies in order to do so. As a whole, our goal is to create a COVID-accommodated environment where both academic and spiritual growth will flourish.

ILLNESS POLICY:

  1. Individuals with a fever or with two or more COVID symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, diarrhea, etc.) that are not otherwise explained, may NOT return to school until 24 hours passes since recovery (defined as resolution of fever without the use of medications and/or improvement in symptoms listed above.
  2. Individuals with COVID symptoms may return to school 24 hours after recovery with an alternate diagnosis (i.e. strep throat) and approval in writing by their healthcare provider.
  3. If a child lives in a household where someone else has a fever or with two or more COVID symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, diarrhea, etc.) that are not otherwise explained, we recommend not returning to school until 24 hours have passed and you have determined what was wrong with the sick household member (no more symptoms and/or other Dr. diagnosis.)

COVID POLICY:

  1. A COVID-positive student, faculty, or staff member may not return to school until 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared (or 10 days from the positive test if asymptomatic) AND at least 24 hours have passed since recovery (defined as resolution of fever without the use of medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms).
  2. COVID Close Contact
  3. Close contact is defined within a 3 foot radius.
  4. Seven day quarantine with a negative test taken no earlier than five days after close contact (exposure).
  5. The Alexander County Health Department is giving Covid Test on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:00am
  6. Ten day quarantine with no symptoms after close contact (exposure).
  7. Fourteen day quarantine after close contact (exposure).
  8. If you have ANTIBODIES: Quarantine NOT required.
  9. Town & Country and People’s Drug will give a finger prick antibody tests for $20 by appointment only.
  10. If your child receives a positive antibody test, please take the results by the health department for a letter showing the results and the length of time for the results.
  11. The Health Department will give an antibody test but with a more invasive procedure and will take longer to get your results.

REPORTING:

  1. Mandatory Reporting: If a student, faculty, or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the school office must be notified as soon as possible.
  2. It is the responsibility of the local health department to contact the person confirmed with COVID-19, inform direct contacts of their possible exposure, and give instructions involved with the confirmed case regarding self-quarantine and exclusions. The individual who tested positive will not be identified in communications to the school community at large but may need to be selectively identified for contact tracing by the local health department.

“That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born:  who should arise and declare them to their children:  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:  And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.” Psalm 78:6-7