Dial
The image above is MPA's dial, designed to reflect the learning environment the school is currently in, or will be in, when in session next. It has been used by the community since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains four main scenarios and illustrates there are options between the main scenarios. As a private, independent school, we have more flexibility than public school systems, thus we have more possible scenarios.

Dial Stop 1:
This will be possible when COVID-19 enters the endemic phase and community spread is extremely low or non-existent.

Dial Stop 2:
Here will be layered safety precautions in place that have a minimal impact on the student experience.

Dial Stop 3:
The MPA dial will move to this stop if COVID-19 metrics worsen further and/or MPA community spread occurs. Additional layers of health and safety precautions will be layered in while maintaining the on-campus, in-person learning environment.

Dial Stop 4:
The MPA dial will move to this stop if COVID-19 metrics worsen significantly at the state and/or local level and/or MPA community spread occurs. The adjusted learning environment will be defined at the time based on conditions. MPA has the flexibility due to campus and class size to keep PreK-4 on campus in cohorts due to the unique learning and childcare needs of Lower School families and welcome students in grades 5-12 on campus on a rotating basis. This is a hybrid scenario designed to further reduce the density on campus and prioritize the unique learning and developmental needs of our Lower School families. It may be possible for MPA to use this scenario while public schools are only able to be virtual.

Metrics That Inform MPA's Dial Stop:

• Daily Infection Rate
• Testing Positivity Rate
• Hotspot Designation
• Vaccination Rates
• Community Transmission at MPA
• Wastewater Data

Report Postive Cases: If your child tests positive please complete this form and a member of our team will get back to you. Email covid@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions.

Strongly Consider Vaccination and Boosting: MPA’s goal is to continue its journey toward normal, pre-pandemic operations in the upcoming school year. To accomplish this goal, we need as many community members as possible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Given these goals, MPA:

• Strongly encourages all community members who are medically able to get vaccinated.
• Will provide increased access and information about COVID-19 vaccines and boosters as it becomes available.

Click here to learn more about the COVID-19 immunization and how to get vaccinated.

Keep Sick Children Home & Support Regular In-Person Attendance: MPA holds that in-person and on-campus teaching and learning is in the best interests of students academically, socially, and emotionally and encourages students to be physically present and ready to learn each day. In the coming school year, we will return to our previously outlined student attendance policy which can be found in the MPA Handbook. Parents are required to notify the division office, via phone or email, if a student will be absent as attendance will be taken in all classes. Virtual school for short-term illness, COVID testing, appointments, vacations, or other absences will not be provided.

Teach Healthy Hygiene:

• Hand wash frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Always wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover your mouth and nose while you cough or sneeze.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.

Masking Resources: Mask wearing is optional for students in grades PreK-12. If your family chooses to mask, some helpful resources are below.

• Please ensure your child's mask fits properly. The mask should fit snugly to cover the nose bridge, mouth, and chin and should not gap. Ensure the mask fits around the ears, but isn’t too tight.
• Neither buffs nor vented masks are acceptable.
• Consider double masking.
• Masks should be made of tightly-woven cloth such as higher thread count cotton and 2-3 layers thick.
• Masks should be washed daily, so multiple masks are recommended to have on hand at home, and your student should arrive to school with two masks each day: wearing one, and an extra on hand.
• How To Safely Wear Your Mask
• Guidance For Buying A Mask For Children
• MPA Alumnus-Owned Love Your Melon Face Masks

Optional Masking: Masking is optional on campus and on our buses for all PreK-12 MPA community members including students, parents/guardians, faculty/staff, and visitors.

Strongly Recommend Vaccinations: MPA’s goal is to continue its journey toward normal, pre-pandemic operations in the upcoming school year. To accomplish this goal, we need as many community members as possible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Given these goals, MPA:

• Strongly encourages all community members who are medically able to get vaccinated.
• Will provide increased access and information about COVID-19 vaccines as it becomes available.
• Will offer a confidential way to report vaccination status for students in order to implement the appropriate contact tracing procedures.

Click here to learn more about the COVID-19 immunization and how to get vaccinated.

Encourage Hand Washing and Sanitizing: There will be scheduled and structured opportunities for students and staff.

• Students and employees will wash hands during transition times.
• Use of hand sanitizer will be encouraged when washing hands is not possible.

Provide Proper Ventilation: MPA has the recommended negative return room ventilation model and will be utilizing outdoor classroom spaces, open doors and windows as often as possible and weather permitting. The air in each space of the building is completely circulated two to three times per hour, which is far beyond the recommended frequency.

One of the challenging aspects of the presenting symptoms of COVID-19 is that they often present with other types of illness, allergies, or other health problems as well. We recognize every community member at the school has a dual wish of continuing the high-quality educational opportunities families have come to know and expect, while also maintaining health, safety, and wellness for themselves and others.

Key Definitions and Details

Symptoms: Individuals with COVID-19 have a wide-range of symptoms from mild to severe. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, which has driven the testing and quarantine protocol MPA has developed. The current symptoms list includes:

• 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

Stay up-to-date on symptoms from the Minnesota Department of Health here.

In the case of symptoms and cases, MPA recommends all community members follow the isolation and quarantine guidance provided by the CDC. A helpful calculator is available. This includes staying home with symptoms and positive cases, a return to campus and activities on day six assuming symptom improvement, and masking on days six through 10. No testing will be required to return, yet it is strongly recommended. For questions about symptom, isolation, or quarantine protocols, please email covid@moundsparkacademy.org.

Testing: The State of Minnesota’s school Cue testing program provided last school year has been eliminated. One at-home BinaxNow test will be available per student in the coming year. MPA will not offer on-site testing—families will need to access testing with at-home kits or at community testing centers. If your child is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms on campus, they will be sent to the nurse’s office for an assessment. You will be contacted for next steps. As always, if your child is feeling unwell, they should remain at home and must be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicines per standard practices in schools for all illnesses.

Response to Confirmed Cases: MPA will not be contact tracing and sending immediate notices, but will report cases to the community each Thursday in Panther Post.

Privacy and Confidentiality: All personal or identifying information related to MPA’s response to COVID-19, including screening, protocol, contact tracing, and community notifications will be kept confidential. MPA community members have a right to privacy, and certain data points outlined above must be collected for the health and safety of the entire community. Screening data will not be shared with outside third parties. MPA has identified specific steps to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of community members during this pandemic.

If your child tests positive, please complete this form and a member of our team will get back to you. Email covid@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions.

If my child develops symptoms on campus, will MPA test them before sending them home?

No. The State of Minnesota’s school Cue testing program provided last school year has been eliminated. One at-home BinaxNow test will be available per student in the coming year and that test will be sent home with the child to be used by the family at home. MPA will not offer on-site testing—families will need to access testing with at-home kits or at community testing centers. If your child is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms on campus, they will be sent to the nurse’s office for an assessment. You will be contacted for next steps. As always, if your child is feeling unwell, they should remain at home and must be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicines per standard practices in schools for all illnesses.

How many faculty, staff, and eligible students are vaccinated?

MPA is extremely proud to share that approximately 98% of its faculty and staff are vaccinated against COVID-19. And, in the spring of 2022, when vaccination status was last recorded, 95% of eligible students are vaccinated. These facts demonstrate MPA’s shared commitment to the health and safety of all community members.

Will MPA require my child to be vaccinated?

No. However, MPA’s goal is to continue its journey toward normal, pre-pandemic operations in the upcoming school year. These efforts will help us to eliminate distancing and masking requirements, and to resume events and on-campus learning for all students. To accomplish this goal, we need as many community members as possible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Given these goals, MPA:

• Strongly encourages all community members who are medically able to get vaccinated.
• Will provide increased access and information about COVID-19 vaccines as it becomes available.
• Will offer a confidential way to report vaccination status for students in order to implement the appropriate contact tracing procedures.

Click here to learn more about the COVID-19 immunization and how to get vaccinated.