Back-to-School Information

Health and Safety Guidelines

Parker’s COVID-19 mitigation policies seek to minimize educational disruption and to keep students, faculty and staff in school through the use of layered prevention strategies, including a reliance on personal responsibility and community-minded goodwill.

COVID-19 Risk Mitigating Protocols

1. Stay Home If You Feel Sick

  • If you experience symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home.
    • Fever or chills
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Headache
    • New loss of taste or smell
    • Sore throat
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea
  • Community members may return to school if:
    a)  You have taken a negative PCR or home antigen test, AND
    b)  You are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine, AND
    c)  Symptoms are improving.

2. Stay Up-to-Date on Vaccinations

3. Masking

  • Parker will not require masking on campus at this time, except in limited contexts, such as when one is among immunocompromised community members and in situations outlined in sections 5 and 6 below (e.g: following exposure or an active infection).
  • The School’s masking strategy will be guided by the city’s current COVID-19 community level, COVID-19 activity in the school and applicable regulations.
  • Anyone who chooses to wear a mask is supported in their decision to do so. Wearing a well-fitting mask consistently and correctly vastly reduces the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

4. Surveillance and Screening

  • Parker does not plan to perform routine surveillance testing.
  • Testing may be utilized throughout the year at key times (such as returns from breaks), or for higher-risk extracurricular activities (including indoor sports, theater, instrumental and choral ensembles, robotics, etc.)

5. Isolation Protocol for Confirmed COVID-19 Cases

  • If your child tests positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home.
  • You may end isolation after day 5 if:
    a)  You are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, AND
    b)  Your symptoms are improving.
  • If symptoms have not improved, continue to isolate until they improve. You may return after day 10.
  • All individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 are required to mask for 5 additional days (days 6-10) upon return to school.

6. Management of COVID-19 Exposures

  • If you are exposed to COVID-19, you are required to mask for 10 days following exposure.
  • Exposed individuals should test with PCR or home antigen test at least 5 full days after last exposure.
  • If test is positive, begin isolation as outlined above.

7. Additional Strategies

Optimized Ventilation
  • Good air flow reduces risk of germs spreading through the air.
Enhanced Disinfection 
  • Clean surfaces reduce the risk of germs spreading by touching surfaces.
Hand Hygiene
  • Sanitize your hands upon arrival to school and throughout the day.
Respiratory Etiquette
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Throw used tissues in the trash.
  • If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

8. Updates and Changes

As always, these policies and protocols are subject to change as circumstances change. The School will continue to monitor all relevant factors and risks.
330 West Webster Avenue | Chicago, Illinois 60614 | 773.353.3000
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.