We will be using this page to keep our school community abreast of our current COVID policies and protocols. Given the presence of new COVID variants and the fluctuation in infection rates over time, these policies and protocols are subject to periodic changes. 

The following is a summary of some of the key protocols currently in place. These policies keep the school in alignment with the recommendations outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, DESE, and the Weston Board of Health.

If you experience any of the following, please contact school nurse Claudia Silva (c.silva@rivers.org).

Testing Positive: All community members who test positive are required to self-isolate for a minimum of five days after symptom onset or after a positive test result. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever-free for 24 hours, they may return to programming on Day 6, provided that they mask while indoors through Day 10. If the individual has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask. Day 0 is the date of the positive test or, if symptomatic prior to testing, a maximum of one day prior to the positive test.  

Anyone testing positive who participates in interscholastic athletic activities must complete the Return to Play (RTP) Protocol prior to returning to competition. The school nurse and athletic trainers will be in contact with those whom this affects.

Symptomatic Individuals: Any individual, regardless of vaccination status, who is experiencing  COVID-19 symptoms must stay home. Individuals may return to school with improving symptoms and a negative test, or upon receiving an alternative medical diagnosis from your PCP.  Please be in touch with the school nurse regarding your testing plan. Anyone who feels symptomatic at school may, at the discretion of the school nurse, be tested immediately onsite and either sent home or allowed to return to their programming, depending on the test result and severity of symptoms.  

Close Contacts and Quarantine:  Quarantine for asymptomatic exposed individuals, regardless of where the exposure occurred, is no longer required. Individuals identified as close contacts may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Masking indoors is required through Day 10. A test on Days 2 and 5 is recommended, but not required. Symptomatic individuals should follow the guidance in the section above. Contact tracing is no longer a standard practice, but the school is required to work with the local Board of Health in the case of outbreaks.

Testing: Testing will be available for symptomatic individuals. The school, at its discretion, may require or conduct campus-wide testing in the event of an unexpected COVID-related issue or concern.

Vaccine & Booster Information: Please update your vaccination/booster status via MAGNUS.

Vaccination Policy: We strongly encourage all eligible community members, in consultation with their primary care physician, to stay up to date with their vaccines. The Rivers School is mandating that all individuals 16 years of age and older receive their primary doses of the COVID-19 vaccination. Anyone 16 years of age and older with a medical or religious exemption must submit that information to the school nurse every year.  Exemptions do not carry over from the previous year.

Masking: Rivers is currently mask-optional, with a few exceptions where masks are required. Masks are required when visiting the health office, school counselors, or tutoring department. Additionally, the nurse may require individuals to wear a mask due to a COVID-related incident while indoors. Masking is never required while individuals are eating, drinking, sleeping, or outside.