Pre-K to 8 Wellness Guidelines

A cohort is a group of students/faculty who are grouped together based on common age, grade level, and/or learning space proximity. We have designated overarching cohorts within the school and will limit some interaction within the cohorts based on CDC guidelines and best practices.

All students and faculty/staff, Pre-K to 12, must bring a face covering to school. We will continue to fully support the adults and students in our school community who choose to wear a mask and strongly encourage mask wearing for anyone whose immune system may be compromised. However, there will be significant opportunities for students to be mask-free during the school day if they so choose. A school-wide mask mandate could be put into place at any time if deemed necessary. COVID-19 cases within a classroom, grade level, or division could lead to mask wearing for those students and faculty/staff for a period of 10 days.

We will require the use of face coverings by adults and students, regardless of vaccination status, in the following indoor settings:

- On all school buses;
- At large-group gatherings of 75+ where students are in close proximity (i.e. Flagpole, Upper School assemblies and chapel);
- As needed and determined by the administration during certain activities.

Students may wear face coverings of their choice that are appropriate and not offensive. Face coverings may display the Darlington mascot/logo or a college mascot/logo. No other writing will be allowed on face coverings.

Students and faculty/staff are asked to stay home if they are sick or simply do not feel well. We will not be doing daily temperature checks, so it is important that you do this before leaving home. Testing of symptomatic students and faculty/staff also remains an important part of the effort to slow the spread of the virus. Members of the community who think they may have COVID-19 should be tested.

Given the availability of vaccines, less restrictive international travel, and the hardship hybrid learning places on teachers and students, we will not offer a virtual-learning option for the 2021-2022 school year. Only students in quarantine or isolation may be given the opportunity to learn remotely. Arrangements for virtual learning should be made with the student’s division director and not with an individual teacher.

Darlington will require all Pre-K to 8 students to bring a filled water bottle to school each day that is clearly marked with the student’s name. Water bottle filling stations are installed in both Thatcher Hall and the Cottages. The traditional water fountains are disabled. 

Advanced Facilities Services will spend additional time each school day, evening, and weekend ensuring that high touch and high contact areas are cleaned regularly. Throughout the school day, faculty and AFS staff will regularly clean and disinfect classroom surfaces, bathrooms and locker rooms, and shared community spaces. PureBio, Lysol 360, and additional disinfectants will be used daily. PureBio delivers broad-spectrum power to eliminate dangerous pathogens in a wide range of environments including COVID-19.

All students riding the bus will be required to wear face coverings at all times during their ride. In addition to the regular morning and afternoon bus routes, all athletes traveling to and from AWAY games and competitions will need to wear face coverings on the bus. Buses will be cleaned and sanitized after each route.

Handwashing and hand-sanitizing stations are available in both Thatcher Hall and the Cottages. In addition, faculty will schedule and encourage hand hygiene throughout the school day. Please practice proper handwashing habits at home.

Darlington plans to have a host of events on campus this fall. The Georgia High School Association has declared that fall sports should proceed as scheduled and without restriction, and we look forward to the softball, volleyball, cross country, and football seasons. The Soccer, Golf, and Tennis academies are also looking forward to a robust schedule. Fine arts events and field trips (with appropriate protocols) are in the works as are events for adults like the Purple Tie Affair and Alumni Weekend.

Invited visitors are welcome on campus. This would include parents invited to an on-campus event, admissions or alumni visitors, and/or other visitors who have an appointment.

The best way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is to get vaccinated. To that end, Darlington School encourages all eligible members of the community to do so.

Vaccination not only protects individuals from serious illness; it also serves to protect the community. If your child is not yet vaccinated, we encourage you to consult a pediatrician for recommendations on personal masking choices and on receiving the vaccine if he or she is eligible.

In an effort to collect as much data as possible that will aid us in our decisions moving forward, we ask that you CLICK HERE to fill out our confidential Student Vaccination Status Form.