Throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, UVWS has followed the COVID-19 prevention and mitigation recommendations of Vermont state public health officials. With the support of the entire school community, we have been very successful in adhering to the guidance and as a result have had minimal interruptions to our learning environment.

Currently, the state of Vermont is not issuing school or childcare-specific COVID-19 prevention and mitigation recommendations. All previously state issued Advisory Memos, recommendations and other communications have been rescinded and superseded by the Vermont Department of Health’s recommendations for all Vermonters. The Health Department will update these recommendations as public health circumstances warrant.

UVWS asks that families please follow the Vermont Department of Health’s recommendations for all Vermonters.   Please continue to keep your children home when sick.  Test if your child has symptoms, is a close contact, or has taken part in activities that could put them at risk, such as large gatherings or travel.  The state of Vermont encourages everyone to get vaccinated (anyone age 6 months or older) and boosted (age 5 or older).

Stay Home When Sick
If your child is sick, keep them home from school and other activities. If they have symptoms of COVID-19, get them tested. Talk to their primary care provider and school nurse about when to return to school. Not everyone with COVID-19 has a fever. Even mild symptoms (like a headache or dry cough) could be signs of COVID-19. 

If an individual has any of the COVID-19 symptoms listed below, they must stay home from school. Please call the UVWS Main Office (802.296.2496 x 300) to report the absence.

• congestion or runny nose

• cough

• fever of 100.4 or greater

• shortness of breath

• chills

• fatigue

• muscle pain or body aches

• headache

• sore throat

• loss of taste or smell

• or nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

Please reach out to UVWS COVID-19 Coordinator, Jeannie Surrell. 802-296-2496 x 300 or jeanniesurrell@uvws.org

Return to school post COVID-19 infection

A student or staff member may return to school after their 5 days of isolation if their symptoms have improved and they have been fever-free for 24+ hours without the use of medication.

Return to school after a non-COVID-19 related illness

A student or staff member may return to school if their symptoms have improved, and they have met school criteria for that illness (e.g., it has been more than 24 hours without fever, diarrhea, or vomiting).

UVWS process around non COVID-19 related illness is outlined in our Community Handbook under the Health Guidelines section. We are sharing this section in the following excerpt.