Head of School COVID-19 Update & Reminders – October 1, 2021

Happy Aloha Friday Saint Mark Parents,

I hope and pray you all are doing well.  I’m writing with the latest COVID-19 (and other) updates as we head into our two week fall break.

COMMUNITY CONDITIONS 
The current numbers (which are available on the Hawaii Data Collaborative) have been trending in the right direction over the last month.  There are currently 4,883 active cases (down from 11,257 on Sept 3) of COVID-19 in Hawaii.

Current Numbers
The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is 301 (206 on O`ahu) and the 7-day state average of the positivity rate is 3.8% (4.2% on O`ahu).

September 3 Numbers (4 weeks ago)
The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is 858 (612 on O`ahu) and the 7-day state average of the positivity rate is 7.9% (8.8% on O`ahu).

August 22 Numbers (6 weeks ago)
The 7-day state average of reported daily new cases is 661 (454 on O`ahu) and the 7-day state average of the positivity rate is 7.8% (9.0% on O`ahu).

COVID-19 TESTING at SAINT MARK (Coming Soon!)
Saint Mark has been working for months to bring a COVID-19 testing program to our campus.  We began the process of purchasing tests back at the beginning of August but due to the high demand for tests, we have only recently been able to acquire a sufficient supply to begin the program.  We will be detailing our plan in the coming weeks, but some general information is highlighted below:

• Goals of Program – Our goal is to keep the school community safe AND maximize the face-to-face class time that we all desire.  We will use rapid antigen testing as a diagnostic tool to test students who have been in close contact with a COVID-19 positive classmate or staff member while at school. By testing immediately and repeatedly, our plan is to decrease the need for mass quarantining which costs our students valuable class time. And if funding and supplies allow, we will also look to do some random pool testing.
• Example of How it Works – If a COVID-19 case is identified on campus, Saint Mark will immediately test all those who are considered to have been in close contact/exposed.  And if any others (students or staff) test positive as a result of our testing, the entire cohort will be quarantined as is the current practice. If, however, NO others test positive, we will be looking to allow those negative-tested students in certain circumstances to stay on-campus.  They will be tested again a few days after the initial exposure to make certain no one has developed COVID in the days following the exposure.
• Type of Test – We will be using Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen Test.  Many of you are probably familiar with this test as it’s one of the most popular home tests currently on the market.  It’s a rapid antigen test that requires only a minimally invasive nasal swab sample and produces very reliable results in 15 minutes.
• Who’s Administering the Test? – A secure testing room has been set up on the second floor of the Early Learning Center where a small group of trained school officials will be administering the tests as needed.
• Voluntary or Mandatory – This testing program will be voluntary and require a signed legal waiver to participate. It is possible that testing becomes mandatory in the future.
• Grounded in Research – This type of Test-to-Stay program is being used by a growing number of schools in Hawaii and across the United States and is supported by sound empirical research.  In fact, a recent study by the University of Oxford found that testing students who were in contact with someone with COVID-19 was just as effective in controlling school transmission as the current 10-day contact isolation policy.
• Other Preventative Strategies Remain in Effect – It’s important to understand that this testing program will be used in conjunction with our other mitigation strategies (Daily Health Screenings; Masking; Hand Hygiene and Sanitation; Distancing to the extent possible; Ventilation & Cohorting, Contract Tracing & Quarantining).  This testing program will be an additional layer of protection that should lead to a more strategic and precise usage of student quarantining.
• Conclusion – We are excited at the prospects of bringing this testing program to Saint Mark as we feel that it will be a huge benefit and service to our students and families.  By doing this, we hope to keep more of our students on campus thereby reducing the amount of lost class time.  It will also mitigate the inconvenience caused to families by repeated quarantines.  That being said, we continue to recognize the importance of remaining flexible in our ability to adapt to the continually evolving realities of COVID.  We also understand that the success of any testing program will be predicated in large part by the availability of COVID-19 tests.  And finally, I assure you as with everything COVID-19 related, each decision made for our school will be one that is well-researched, well-thought-out, and continually puts the well-being of our students, faculty, staff and families at the forefront.  More details coming soon!

PLEASE BE READY FOR ADDITIONAL QUARANTINING
Even with the addition of our testing program, it is important that our families continue to be ready for the possibility that their children will need to quarantine.

PFIZER VACCINE SAFE & EFFECTIVE for AGES 5 to 11
Pfizer recently announced the results of their research showing that the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is both safe and effective for kids ages 5 to 11.  Pfizer has submitted the promising results of their testing to the Food and Drug Administration for review and is hoping the FDA grants emergency use authorization before Thanksgiving.

Saint Mark continues to strongly encourage all those eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine to please do so!  With the highly contagious nature of the Delta variant, we understand that getting vaccinated is our best chance of staying safe, getting Hawai`i’s kids and teachers fully back-to-school and resuming more normal/traditional school activities.

INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL (but Challenging) 1ST QUARTER
Despite what some might characterize as a fairly rough start to the school year which included six classes (and their siblings) being quarantined, I am thrilled to unequivocally say that we have had an extremely successful first quarter.  In addition to the exciting daily lessons and meaningful personal interactions, the 1st quarter included numerous engaging activities/projects, the resumption of interscholastic sports with our very successful JV volleyball season and our first field trip in nearly two years (to the Makapu`u Lighthouse Trail).  Mahalo nui to our faculty, staff and families for all of their contributions!

SUCCESSFUL JV VOLLEYBALL SEASON
The JV volleyball season ended yesterday with two resounding victories over Trinity Lutheran.  With yesterday’s victories, both the boys and girls teams finished their respective seasons with 5 – 1 records.  A BIG congratulations goes to all the players (Manaha Ho, Jade Anderson, CC Inouye, Hailey Ferrer, Iliwai Maka’ina’i, Aylah Asia, Sequoia Anshutz, Bailey Sorrell, Kayla Reis, Eliana Nakasone, Casey Sunaoka, Yula Atisano’e, Kimo Fontanilla, Kawena Wilson, Ke’oli Bowman, Ryan Thompson, Royce Van Ness, Cole Henriques, Jonah Ordenstein, Kouta Asato, and Brock Faufata) along with Athletics Director/Coach, Mr. Markillie and Assistant Coach, Ms. Shiroma for an extremely successful season.

FALL BREAK OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL
For those families who are planning to travel out-of-state over the Fall break, we kindly remind you that while Saint Mark no longer has additional requirements for travel, parents must follow all state and city requirements regarding out-of-state travel and quarantining.  In accordance with state and city requirements, an unvaccinated student (or any other unvaccinated person) is currently required to get a 72-hour pre-travel COVID-19 test in order to avoid the state’s mandatory 10-day quarantine.

K-8 PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
As you should be aware, Saint Mark has scheduled Parent-Teacher Conferences for K-8 students the week we return from fall break.  To allow adequate time for the conferences, the K-8 students will have half days this Thursday & Friday.
The K-8 pick-up times for this Thursday (10/21) and Friday (10/22) are as follows:
        11:15 to 11:30 a.m. for grades K-2
        11:30 to 11:45 a.m. for grades 3-5
        11:45 to 12:00 p.m. for grades 6-8

STAY SAFE THIS FALL BREAK
As we head into our two week fall break, we can all do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19 by:

• Getting Vaccinated
• Avoiding closed spaces with poor ventilation
• Avoiding crowded places with many people nearby
• Avoiding close-contact settings, such as close-range conversations
• Setting your own curfews
• Avoiding activities that could lead to exposure and illness or increase your risk of trauma
• Getting tested a few days after you arrive in Hawaiʻi if you’ve traveled
• Masking up
• Maintaining physical distancing
• Staying home when you’re sick
• Washing your hands frequently

Mahalo, Blessings and Stay Safe over the Fall Break.  We look forward to seeing everyone again on October 18.

David Gaudi
Head of School