One of the best ways to maintain normalcy during times of change and uncertainty is to stay informed and connected. This page is designed to do just that for the Elgin Academy community. Here you will find the very latest information about Elgin Academy's COVID response, as well as, past community updates. Additionally we will post the most recent updated policies to EA's Together on the Hilltop plan.
EA Community Updates
New Guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health
We are updating our COVID protocols in light of new guidance recently released by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Moving forward, if your student has symptoms of COVID, they must get a COVID test as required by IDPH. We can no longer accept an alternate diagnosis from a physician. If your student has a chronic condition such as allergies or migraines you may supply a doctor's note stating the condition and symptoms for our files. This will allow us to work with your family should your student be experiencing symptoms that overlap with COVID and the chronic condition.
You will no longer be required to submit a return to school letter if your student is required to quarantine after exposure or isolate because they have tested positive for COVID. The length of the quarantine period remains 14 days and the length of the isolation period is 10 days. Please contact your Division Assistant who can help you determine your return to school date in either of these circumstances.
The final change is for siblings. If one sibling has symptoms and is being tested for COVID any other siblings may be on campus if they are fully vaccinated. If they are not fully vaccinated, they may continue to come to campus if:
- They remain symptom-free AND
- If the suspicion for COVID-19 is not high AND
- The household member with symptoms is able to get tested within 24 hours.
If test results are not back within 48 hours, the household member will also need to move off-campus until results are received.
Included below are the most recent information sheets regarding when a student has tested positive, has symptoms, or has been exposed to COVID.
My Student Has Possible COVID-19 Symptoms
My Student Has Been Exposed to COVID-19
My Student Has Tested Positive for COVID-19
Thank you, as always, for your patience as we navigate the updates in guidance from IDPH. We appreciate how the community has come together again this year to ensure all our protocols are followed.
SHIELD COVID Screening Testing Program
Beginning in October, Elgin Academy will be taking part in the University of Illinois SHIELD COVID screening testing program. All faculty, staff, and students may choose to participate in this program. SHIELD is a saliva test that can detect the presence of COVID and the program is designed to identify individuals with COVID who are either asymptomatic or who are in the early stages of infection. No one is required to participate, we will only provide testing to individuals who have opted in with the attached consent form. In order to participate in the program, please return this consent form to your Division Assistant or email to covidtesting@elginacademy.org by Monday, September 20th. Parents must sign the form for students under the age of 18, but students 18 or older must provide their own consent form.
21-22 School Year COVID Policies and Procedures
Back to School on the Hilltop document which outlines our COVID policies and procedures for the 21-22 school year.
Executive Order Requiring Masks
Governor Pritzker issued an executive order requiring masks for all, vaccinated and unvaccinated, for indoor activities at PS-12 schools across the state.
Thinking About 2021-2022
With just over one month until the start of school, we are hard at work planning for the 2021-2022 school year. As we have done since the pandemic began, we have posted all of the correspondence sent to EA families to the Community Updates page of the EA website. This morning an email was sent to all EA families regarding some of our thoughts and plans for the 2021/22 school year. Click "for more details" to view this email as well as all other COVID-19 related communication.
Vaccine Information For EA Students (Grades 6-9) and Families
Guidelines and policies for EA students (Grades 10-12) who have COVID symptoms after receiving the vaccine.
Vaccine Information For EA Students (Grades 10-12) and Families
Guidelines and policies for EA students (Grades 10-12) who have COVID symptoms after receiving the vaccine.
Spring Break Travel Guidelines
Spring break travel guidelines regarding COVID testing and self-quarantine.
Reminder of COVID-19 Protocols
Reminder about COVID-19 protocols including Communications, Rapid COVID-19 Tests, Alternative Diagnosis, Testing Positive for COVID-19, Exposure to COVID-19, and Siblings.
Return to On Campus Learning
As of now our plan is to return to school in person on Monday, December 7th. As we have said all along, we want to be in person as much as we feel we safely can for all of the members of our multi-age community, and we feel that having spent numerous weeks either learning remotely or on a break we can return.
Updates to the COVID Dashboard
Changes to reporting on the COVID Dashboard.
Update on Return to Remote Learning
We have today received important information from the Kane County Department of Public Health (KCDPH). The department has urged all public and private schools to take an, “Adaptive Pause...to help stem the spread of COVID-19” and to suspend all in-person work, including co-curricular activities, during that time. Therefore, we will be extending our period of remote learning until Friday, December 4th based on this latest communication.
Return to Remote Learning
We will remain remote at least through Tuesday, November 24th, our last scheduled day of classes before the Thanksgiving break. We will determine by Friday, November 27th (and sooner if possible) whether we can return in person on Monday, November 30th.
Important COVID-19 Reminders
Important steps that we all can take to decrease exposure in our Elgin Academy community: