Student mask policy update
Effective from Monday, March 7, 2022
Dear GLOBE Community,
Following updated guidance from the CDC and the DeKalb County School District, The GLOBE Academy has made the decision to modify our universal masking policy:
The new policy, effective Monday, March 7, is that masking on campus is strongly recommended for all students. Given the lack of specific guidance on unmasked close contacts in the K–12 setting, and in an effort to protect our ability to keep our dual language immersion model in-person, classrooms (K–5) or grades (6–8) will return to universal masking for 10 days following any case occurring in the classroom (K–5) or grade (6–8).
While all students, independent of vaccination status will remain in school for in-person instruction, unvaccinated students who have been exposed at school will be required to submit a negative laboratory test taken on day 5. Teachers and staff will be asked to continue masking indoors from March 7–18 to allow us to monitor the effects of the new masking policy, and we will determine whether masking will also become strongly recommended for staff after that time.
Parents are reminded to update their student’s vaccination status (including boosters) in the vaccine portal.
Given that many members of our community will travel during Spring Break, all GLOBE community members will return to universal masking from April 11–15. GLOBE staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to participate in our free weekly screening program on April 14 to know their COVID-status after the break.
As always, we expect all members of the GLOBE community to live our core values, expressed in the acronym CREST. Below are the ways in which CREST applies to the masking policy change:
Community. We know how important it is for GLOBE students to learn their target languages in-person. To ensure that we can continue our dual language instruction model in-person, we will be closely monitoring GLOBE cases including a return to targeted universal masking when cases arise in a particular class or grade.
Respect. GLOBE community members should respect the masking status of others and must refrain from masking-related peer pressure, including discussing the masking status of others.
Empathy. Masks do provide protection to the wearer; however they largely provide protection to those around them. This translates to: “my mask protects you, your mask protects me.”
Sustainability. Students will be responsible for keeping their own mask on; school staff will not enforce student masking.
Trust. GLOBE’s strong recommendation to continue masking is akin to our existing policy prohibiting students from bringing food containing tree nuts, which supports the members of our community who have food allergies. When our actions can impact the health of others, it is important that we consider the most vulnerable among us, including those that may be immunocompromised, and how our actions can protect them.
As of now, the transition from universal masking to a strong recommendation of masking is the only change to our COVID mitigation protocols. Other policies, such as maximizing outdoor dining, limiting gatherings, household exposures, and all isolation policies remain in place. We will continue to monitor our school’s COVID cases and adjust our policies and protocols accordingly. Below are the considerations that would trigger a change to this masking policy:
As noted above, if there is a case in a homeroom (K–5) or grade (6–8), the entire classroom or grade will return to universal masking for 10 days from the most recent date of exposure
The occurrence of a total of 10 or more cases in a given week at a campus - this metric is derived from GLOBE-specific data
Changes to DeKalb County School District’s masking policy; or
Changes to CDC’s classification of community transmission in DeKalb County.
Teachers will discuss the changes to masking requirements in their classes, and we ask that you have conversations with your students about it as well. We thank you for your partnership in helping to keep our GLOBE community safe!
In health,
Christi Elliott-Earby
Executive Director
The GLOBE Academy | LC: 2225 Heritage Drive , UC: 4105 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30345