It is vital that we provide a safe and healthy on-campus program for our students, faculty, and staff; COVID vaccination is now known to be the primary precautionary measure that we can all take to protect ourselves as well as the communities in which we live and work.

We recommend that all eligible students receive the vaccine, with the approval of their primary care physician. Parents or guardians should upload their child(ren)’s COVID-19 vaccination card(s) through Magnus Health, under Resources in myEMS. Please note that you must log in to myEMS to access Magnus Health. For myEMS login help, please contact the School Registrar.  For help accessing Magnus Health, please contact the School Nurse.

EMS has implemented a policy requiring all eligible faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. EMS employees are required to be “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19, as defined in the policy, no later than February 15, 2022, or in accordance with the timing between the primary series and the booster(s) as recommended by the CDC. Employees must submit a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination card to the School Nurse.

Employees should consult their primary care physician for questions or detailed advice regarding the timing for receiving COVID-19 boosters. If you believe you are eligible for an exemption, promptly contact the School Nurse.

On March 7, 2022, EMS implemented a Mask-Optional Policy* on campus. Masking is always an option for anyone who prefers to remain masked while on campus. The EMS community will support and respect the choice of each family. *EMS employees who are not “fully vaccinated” as defined by the EMS Revised Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy must continue to wear a mask while indoors.

Masking on buses will also be optional, following CDC guidelines, as permitted by recent NJDOE guidance.

EMS will maintain a limited supply of surgical, disposable masks available for anyone who would like to use one in both adult and child sizes.

Please understand that we will need to adapt to changing conditions and may reinstate past policies and procedures if community levels necessitate stricter precautions. We will continue to monitor COVID numbers for our area, regional and national trends, and community health information.

EMS continues to maintain the highest quality filtration and airflow in all indoor spaces as established at the onset of the pandemic. Hospital-quality UltraHEPA IQAir filters are installed in every campus classroom and most program spaces. These units — in conjunction with operable windows, window fans, high-capacity negative air machines, and measurement and verification monitoring — are in place to ensure proper ventilation rates and the maximal level of air filtration possible with commercial filtration systems.

Our Facilities Department will maintain a robust program of thorough cleaning and disinfecting of common and high-touch areas. Cleaning protocols remain unchanged and include daily evening disinfection procedures using Aquaox disinfectant. Hand hygiene with soap and water continues to be enforced, and hand sanitizer continues to be available for use across campus. Sinks for hand-washing are equipped with touch-free devices: faucets, soap dispensers, and paper towel dispensers.

It is critical that families assess their child(ren)’s wellness each day before departing for campus. Individuals who display symptoms on campus will be sent home per school policy. EMS will require a home test if COVID-19 is suspected; testing requirements will be determined by the school nurse. EMS will not offer on-campus testing.

EMS follows current CDC protocols for COVID-19 quarantine and isolation. Consistent with protocols from the CDC and local health department, EMS no longer performs contact tracing. EMS will notify the New Jersey Department of Health of any reported cases through the New Jersey Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System (NJCDRSS), as required by the state of New Jersey. EMS will not issue communications to the community regarding reported cases.

The school nurse and operations management team will monitor local conditions and seek guidance from the EMS Health & Safety Team, the EMS Medical and Dental Advisory Committee, and the Englewood Health Department as needed. EMS students and faculty may engage across campus in normal programming as scheduled with no cohorting requirements.