Newark Academy will be conducting weekly COVID-19 screenings for students and employees. 

This program of high-quality COVID-19 screening testing is possible through a partnership between Newark Academy and Mirimus Clinical Labs of Brooklyn, NY. The test used by Mirimus is a saliva-based RT-PCR that is safe, non-invasive and highly accurate. Further, testing samples are provided to Mirimus anonymously, using barcodes (that only Newark Academy tracks) to identify samples.

Participation in this testing program is a requirement for on-campus teaching, learning and working.

Our partnership with Mirimus Clinical Labs testing will strengthen our efforts to:

• Identify COVID cases within our community and reduce the risk of in-school transmission

• Safely keep Newark Academy open for on-campus teaching, learning and working  

• Provide our community members with assurance that NA is doing everything possible to reduce the risk of in-school transmission

• Understand and monitor infection levels with our school community

Complete and submit the student annual health history and

physical form through Magnus Health

Our partnership with Mirimus Clinical Labs testing will strengthen our efforts to:

• Identify COVID cases within our community and reduce the risk of in-school transmission

• Safely keep Newark Academy open for on-campus teaching, learning and working  

• Provide our community members with assurance that NA is doing everything possible to reduce the risk of in-school transmission

• Understand and monitor infection levels with our school community 

Complete the Community Health Pledge

Given that health and safety is a shared responsibility, community members will be required to sign a health agreement before the start of the school year. By signing the agreement, community members will affirm their responsibility in upholding the ”Campus Health and Safety Protocols for Fall 2020” (e.g. masks, social distancing, hand washing, etc.), disclosing potential illness and travel plans, conducting daily wellness checks, and making careful and prudent decisions about behaviors that could jeopardize personal health. In doing so, community members will protect the health of our entire community.

You can find the link to the Community Contract in MyNA.

Temperature Check, Masks, and Attire

TEMPERATURE CHECKS

All students, employees, and visitors will have their temperature taken upon arrival. Those with a temperature in excess of 100.4 will not be allowed to enter the building.  

​

​

MASKS & FACE COVERINGS

​

Appropriate face masks or cloth face coverings must be worn, at all times (except when eating), by all community members who are inside the building. Masks must be worn over your nose and mouth. 

According to CDC guidelines, masks should “have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric” and should “fit...snugly against the side of your face.” Masks should not have an exhalation valve or vent.

​

It is recommended that each employee or student wear his or her own face covering. Newark Academy will provide a mask to all employees. If a student does not have access to a face mask or cloth covering, Newark Academy will provide the required face mask.

​

Washable cloth face coverings should be laundered every night and surgical masks should be used only once. A bandana is not an acceptable face covering.

Any writing or images on masks must be similarly school-appropriate, respectful, and avoid bias and/or insensitivity  (see the Bias-Response & Education System and Costume Policy in the online Student and Parent Handbook for additional information).   

​

In addition to the official guidance from the CDC, school nurses Pat Neary and Kathleen Ollen suggest that community members should use the “birthday candle test” to identify the effectiveness of a mask; if a person can blow out a candle with the mask on, the mask is likely not effective and should not be worn.

​

Students and employees are encouraged to carry a backup mask or face covering. It is recommended that students keep an extra mask in a fresh ziplock bag within their backpack.

​

Plastic face shields will be provided to employees upon their request. Plastic face shields cannot be worn alone and must be worn in conjunction with a face mask or facial covering.

​

Students and employees will have access to outdoor areas during the day to remove their face coverings while practicing recommended social distancing. When “de-masking” individually outside, students and employees should ensure that they are at least 6 feet away from other individuals and preferably much farther away.

​

​

ATTIRE

​

In addition, all students will follow a casual dress code (regular and extended) for the 2020-2021 school year. This will enable students to wear the appropriate clothing during the school day in preparation for physical education. Students will not have access to lockers for physical education classes.

​

For the complete details and protocols, view our Community Health Guidelines.

Review the Student / Parent Handbook on the website

Families should review the 2020-2021 Student and Parent Handbook on MyNA as it contains policies and procedures to be followed. This handbook will be distributed prior to the start of the fall semester.

Once logged into MyNA, the handbook can be accessed via the Resource Board under Important School Information and in the Reference Guides section.

Attend School

The school day begins officially at 8:20 with advisor groups. Large group Morning Meetings will resume once social distancing is not required.

​

Please note the following protocols based on students’ arrival time.

• Students who arrive before 8:00 a.m. - You may spend time outside, get breakfast at the Concession Stand, or sit socially distanced within the new Coraci Performance Hall or Middle School Common Room.  
   

• Students who arrive after 8:00 a.m. - You  should go directly to your advisor group. Your advisor will share the location of your meeting before school starts on Tuesday, September 8. Advisor group meetings start at 8:20 a.m. every day.
   

• Students who arrive after 8:25 a.m. - Upper School students will need to sign in by the Student Activities Center. Middle School students will need to sign in at the Middle School Office. Students who are leaving early must sign out from these respective locations.  All students, with the exception of seniors, will need parent permission to leave the campus before the end of school.