Coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID Travel Policy

For those planning to travel, the School's suggestion is to consider the risk to your family and others when selecting a destination and adhere to the same health and safety guidance we have been abiding by, such as wearing a mask at all times except when eating or drinking, avoiding close contact by staying at least 6-feet apart from anyone not in your household, practicing good hand hygiene, and avoiding contact with anyone who is sick. For more specific guidance on international travel, please refer to the CDC website on holiday travel, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html. 

If you choose to travel outside the United States, your student will be required to complete a travel questionnaire, quarantine for 14 days, and be cleared by the EHS nursing staff before returning to school. Instead of quarantining for 14 days, you may choose to have your student take a COVID-19 test (PCR only) on day five (5) after your return from international travel. If your student remains asymptomatic and receives a negative test result, he/she may be cleared by our nursing staff to return to school as early as day eight (8). Even if your student's test is negative, stay home and self-quarantine for seven (7) full days. Please note that your student is still at risk for 14 days after your return trip, so he/she should continue to wear a mask, practice good hand hygiene, and be monitored for symptoms.

> International Travel Questionnaire

Dear EHS Community:

We are pleased to announce that in-person learning will commence at EHS beginning the week after Labor Day with a staggered start, outlined below. Details will be forthcoming on Friday, September 4, and will be substantially similar to the plans already published by the school with the addition of a community contract emphasizing the need for students and families to adhere to all health and safety protocols both on and off campus.

Because health and safety protocols are critically important for a safe return to school and for mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19, students will return to campus starting on September 8 as follows:

• Tuesday, September 8 (Monday schedule): Seniors on campus, grades 9-11 remote
• Wednesday, September 9 (Tuesday schedule): Seniors and grade 9 on campus, grades 10 and 11 remote
• Thursday, September 10 (Thursday schedule): Seniors and grades 9 and 10 on campus, grade 11 remote
• Friday, September 11 (Friday schedule): All students on campus

Those students who opted for remote learning will continue to participate remotely next week through the end of the first remote period. A separate email for this group will follow.

As we've learned in bringing smaller groups of students back to campus with fall athletic conditioning, a gradual increase in the student population allows staff and students time to review and practice required health and safety protocols such as arrival, departure, and passing time traffic flow; meal protocols; and daily health screenings. Strict adherence to these protocols is essential if we are to remain together and in person for any amount of time this year, and practice makes perfect.

It is the responsibility of all of us, faculty, staff, students, parents, and family members, to do our part to keep EHS open for in-person learning. Please help us by adhering to public health best practices. Wear your masks whenever out or among individuals beyond your immediate family, keep social distance, wash your hands often, and avoid large gatherings, in particular this Labor Day weekend, recalling that the last local spike in cases came on the heels of Memorial Day weekend. Most important, please self-isolate away from others, even your family members, if you think you are ill or show symptoms of COVID-19.

Thank you for the incredible patience and support you have exhibited as we launch the 2020-2021 school year. We are all new again this year, and we must remain open to the opportunities that present themselves, as we must remain patient in the face of the challenges.

We look forward to our virtual Back-to-School Knight this Thursday, and Go Knights!

Best,

Ned Smith
Head of School

Student or Parent Concerns: The Grade Level Deans are available for academic or student life concerns. In addition, if you or your family is in need of help, let them know:

 

Eric Lerch, 9th Grade Dean elerch@ehshouston.org

Meghan Moake, 10th Grade Dean mmoake@ehshouston.org

Mark Mitchell, 11th Grade Dean mitchell@ehshouston.org

Jess Adams, 12th Grade Dean jadams@ehshouston.org

Business Office Concerns: If you have questions for the business office, please contact Accounts Receivable Accountant, Kimberley Pavalock (kpavalock@ehshouston.org).

Health-Related Questions: For health-related questions or to report a positive coronavirus diagnosis, please contact School Nurse, Mrs. Connie Thomas (cthomas@ehshouston.org).

Pastoral Care: Rev. Beth Holden is available to offer care and assistance by email (bholden@ehshouston.org), and for scheduled virtual conversations or prayer via Microsoft Teams. Alternatively, you can complete the Prayer and Pastoral Care Request Form to submit prayer requests.

In addition to all of those above, you can count on support from advisors, teachers, and coaches. Know that we are here, and we care. If you need help, reach out!