COVID-19 Guide

For summer 2021, Breakthrough Summerbridge will be offering Virtual + (“plus”) programming meaning that students will have their academic classes virtually and come to campus for our community building classes and activities.  For in person days, students will come to campus on their assigned cohort days. 

Remote programming - math, humanities, science, ASMs, Club
Mondays - Friday 

In-person programming - Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), High School Advising, grade level team-building
Tuesdays - 7th grade
Wednesdays - 8th grade
Thursdays - 9th grade
Fridays - alternating weekly

• 7th grade- weeks 3, 5
• 8th grade- weeks 2, 4
• 9th grade - weeks 1, 6    

The single most important step that individuals can take to mitigate the impact of infection and illness of COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. All UHS students and faculty, and staff are eligible for this free vaccine. Information about the vaccine and where to get it is available through this SFDPH link.  

Our UHS student and staff community is over 99% vaccinated.SFDPH defines “Up-to-Date on Vaccinations” here. We retain the right to require proof of vaccination status of our students, employees, visitors, and volunteers so that we can adhere to proper quarantine protocols.

Our healthy school ecosystem relies on students, families, and faculty/staff adhering to health guidelines outside of school and on campus. We expect everyone in our community to continue with common-sense measures to reduce the risk of infection, including hand hygiene, mask-wearing as appropriate, and avoiding large crowds of people with unknown vaccine status.

VACCINATION IS THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

Our community has a very high rate of vaccination (.99%). We require all students to confirm proof of their vaccination status with the school. Families are required to upload their child’s vaccine status and information HERE. Students who are not vaccinated will be required to take a rapid antigen COVID-19 test two times/week, and the results must be on record with the school. 

We require all employees to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to Human Resources. Employees who are not vaccinated will be required to take a rapid antigen COVID-19 test two times/week, and the results must be on record with the school. SFDPH defines “Up-to-Date on Vaccinations” here. 

Information on vaccination status will be kept in password-protected files.

As mandated by state law, indoor masking (UHS requires a KN95, N95, KF94, or double masking (surgical mask+cloth mask) at least through the month of January 2022) is required of all students and adults when school is in session. There are no longer any physical distancing protocols in place, except for instances in which students and adults are eating in indoor spaces, such as the student center or the faculty/staff lounges. With the emergence of the Omicron variant, it is even more crucial that we wear the safest, properly fitting masks at all times indoors.

We will be offering our regular food service options but have modified our daily schedule to accommodate two lunch sessions. Students are allowed in the student center only during their scheduled lunch session. Outdoor spaces remain the best option for eating lunch -- our upper and lower courtyards, as well as the roof-tops on Middle Campus and South Campus, provide those open spaces.  

In case of inclement weather, students may eat indoors in the student center or designated classroom areas. Still, they must remain physically distant and limit the amount of indoor time eating while unmasked. We will be adjusting and monitoring our use of indoor eating spaces in the case of inclement weather and poor air quality.
 

As we manage the increased transmissibility of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, we are limiting visitors during the school day through the month of January. Visitors in the month of January 2022 will need pre-approval from Administration.

Admission campus tours and open houses are on hold for the month of January 2022. We expect to lift this ban when case numbers drop sufficiently and host arts performances and other school-related events that involve visiting families as soon as possible. When we do so, we will continue to keep a log of all attendees, as required by SFDPH. All participants – no matter vaccine status – must wear face coverings if indoors. We will be limiting seating in our theatre as appropriate, and we reserve the right to require proof of vaccine status or a recent negative COVID-19 test if conditions indicate the need to do so. 

Any student or employee with documented medical or behavioral contraindications to face coverings must apply for an exemption through the Dean of Student Life Office (students) or Human Resources (employees). A face shield with a drape or other effective alternative will be approved in those circumstances. 

The University High School facilities team meets weekly to discuss safety issues and concerns and review cleaning protocols. In addition to the normal daily cleaning, additional COVID-related cleaning procedures will be implemented as necessary. 

Hand hygiene just makes good sense. Sanitizer dispensers are placed in every entrance, hallway, stairwell, public space, and classroom. Additional handwashing stations are set up in key places on campus, and signage remains throughout campus, reminding everyone of handwashing protocols. 

Classroom, office, and public spaces at UHS are housed in four buildings and have been updated with portable HEPA and MERV13 filter systems throughout. Windows will be open during all hours of operation to permit maximal natural ventilation. HVAC systems will be run at all times during the school day, and filters will be changed at a minimum of once per month. UV filtration systems have been installed in all air conditioning systems.

As a preventative measure, any student or employee feeling ill before arriving to UHS’ campus should assess themselves appropriately and communicate their absence to the appropriate individual(s). Though it is instinctive to be in attendance whenever possible, it is crucial that any student or employee who feels ill must stay at home, even if those symptoms are mild. 

Students who develop symptoms of illness while at school will report to Carol Coles and will be isolated in the designated room next to the Deans Office in Middle Campus until a parent or guardian can pick them up.  Employees will be asked to inform their supervisor and leave the facility. The school will follow up with each symptomatic individual and will follow all SFDPH protocols for testing, quarantining, and contact tracing.

Details of the Protocols for Students Returning After an Illness-related Absence can be found on the parent portal.

Any student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 must report this information to Carol Coles in the Deans Office. Employees must report positive COVID-19 testing results to Human Resources.  

Details of the Protocols for Students Returning After an Illness-related Absence can be found on the parent portal.

For Summerbridge students, faculty and staff, the UHS Chief Financial and Operations Officer,  Michael Novak and the Summerbridge Executive Director, Dara Northcroft, are the designated employees for SFDPH to contact about COVID-19. They will coordinate  record-keeping, notification of exposed persons, and partnering with SFDPH.

If a staff member or student tests positive for COVID-19, they must notify the school, and in partnership with the SFDPH, the wider school community will be notified that an individual has tested positive, without revealing their identity for reasons of medical privacy (see section below).

We are currently following the January 2022 SFDPH guidance (linked here) in responding, reporting, and communicating COVID-positive cases in students. Students are expected to adhere to the quarantining protocols set out by SFDPH.  Administrative Assistant to the Deans Carol Coles is the point of contact for this process.

In public health, the patient’s privacy is a mandate. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, the person’s identity with COVID-19 will not be shared. However, the School will notify the community within one business day of a confirmed case on campus through our e-notify system.
 

We anticipate offering all of our interscholastic, intramural and physical education programming in the 2021-22 school year and will do so in alignment with guidelines from SFDPH, The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and each athletic league in which we are a member.  

Families involved in our interscholastic athletic program should keep abreast of updated information from the UHS Athletic and PE Department. As of January 10, we are limiting fans at indoor games to only students, faculty, and family members of playing athletes with proof of up-to-date vaccination. No fans from visiting teams will be allowed entry.

As we manage the increased transmissibility of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, we are limiting visitors during the school day through the month of January. Visitors in the month of January 2022 will need pre-approval from Administration.

As we manage the increased transmissibility of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, we are limiting visitors during the school day through the month of January. Visitors in the month of January 2022 will need pre-approval from Administration. All volunteers who are meeting for extended periods (>15 mins) of indoor time on campus and/or who are coming in contact with our students and staff must show proof of vaccination or a recent (72 hours) negative COVID-19 test.   

We are committed to the health and well-being of our students and are providing additional staffing to augment our current counseling services. Individuals, affinity groups, and special interest clubs will have access to this additional resource when their needs intersect with the topic of our need for mental and emotional health support. 

We have always made decisions, delivered our programming, and supported our students and staff with the guidance of our Equity and Community Statement and our Community Agreements. 

We prioritize the equity and inclusion of all community members, ensuring their health and safety first and foremost, and remaining mindful of the essential staff who are working hard to deliver a safe and excellent academic and extra-curricular program. 
 

• Head of School (Department of Public Health Liaison #1), Matt Levinson: Matt.Levinson@sfuhs.org
   
• COVID-19 Information Coordinator (Department of Public Health Liaison #2), Carol Coles, staff member: Carol.Coles@sfuhs.org
   
• Director of Operations (SF and CA Department of Public Health Liaison #1), Mary Stares: mary.stares@sfuhs.org
   
• Dean of Faculty, Assist. Head of School, Nasif Iskander: Nasif.Iskander@sfuhs.org
   
• Chief Financial Officer, Michael Novak: Michael.Novak@sfuhs.org
   
• Dean of Teaching & Learning, Byron Philhour: Byron.Philhour@sfuhs.org
   
• Dean of Student Life, Alexandra Simmons: Alexandra.Simmons@sfuhs.org
   
• Director of Communications, Ruth McDaniels: Ruth.McDaniels@sfuhs.org
   
• Director of Human Resources, Laura Miller: laura.miller@sfuhs.org