The purpose of this webpage is neither to elevate nor to diminish concerns about the coronavirus; it is to inform the Westover School community. The challenges of COVID-19 are unique.
- As educators, our top priority is to provide a healthy and safe educational environment for our students, staff, and families. Our purpose is to share what Westover is doing to keep the campus healthy, to provide helpful information about travel, and to affirm that every member of this community has a role in helping.
Emergency Contact Requirement
Westover School requires that all students, boarding and day, have a parent or guardian designated as an Emergency Contact, and all contact information for that person be updated and on file with the School. This person must be able to retrieve a student from campus - healthy or ill - within 24 hours of being notified by Westover School.
We ask that families confirm that your student's emergency contact is willing to perform their duties if your student tests positive for COVID-19 or is identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case. If your student's emergency contact is uncomfortable providing care during these situations, families must identify a new emergency contact or contract with an outside resource.
Vaccine Requirements
Westover School recognizes that a fully vaccinated community allows us to establish our new normal at a quicker pace. There is abundant evidence that vaccines are the strongest tool we have for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and that they are safe. For example, we are already seeing notable reductions in infection rates as levels of vaccination have increased.
As Westover School requires other vaccines, such as measles, the School will require the following of all community members:
- Require a United States Centers for Disease Control-approved COVID vaccine for all faculty/staff
- Require a United States Centers for Disease Control-approved COVID vaccine for domestic students and a World Health Organization-approved COVID vaccine for international students - our preference is that all students return to campus fully vaccinated. We recognize that this presents obstacles for some of our students
Vaccine Exemptions
Vaccine exemptions for religious reasons will be granted as defined by Connecticut State statute. Students must have a religious exemption on file with Westover’s Health Center or their current school in Connecticut, to be eligible for this exemption. As per the Connecticut State Statute, Westover cannot honor exemptions from states other than Connecticut.
We recognize that some community members may have vaccine exemptions for medical reasons. Westover will follow Connecticut State statute for these exemptions. A community member must provide the Health Center with a Student Medical Exemption Certificate for Required Immunizations and an affiliated physician letter to be considered for an exemption.
- If you intend to seek a medical exemption, please email Jen Hill, Director of Westover’s Health Center.
- Westover will require those who receive approved exemptions to undergo regular COVID-19 testing and abide by additional health and safety requirements to protect themselves and others in the community.
Helpful Resources
Community-Based Resources For Families:
The following information is being provided as a resource for families. These organizations are not affiliated with Westover and this information is not an endorsement of any particular group or organization.
- Gold Star: www.goldstaredu.org, Sean Leary, Founder, Gold Star: [email protected], +1.508.826.4560.
- Cogito: www.cogitoworldeducation.org, Sylvia Rozwadowska-Shah, Co-Founder & CEO, Colibri Boston & Cogito World Education: [email protected], +1.617.301.1237.
- Student Health Advocates: www.studenthealthadvocates.com, Joe Conlan, Co-Founder, Student Health Advocates: [email protected], +1.844.742.2255, WeChat: contactSHA.
- Sound Consulting: https://www.soundconsulting.com/concierge-care,David Z. Beecher, Founder & Partner and Christine Pape P'12, Founder & Partner, +1.203.848.7112
If your child is unable to get a World Health Organization-approved vaccine for COVID in your current location they will need to plan to get the vaccine when they arrive in Connecticut. Below is information about where to get the vaccine and some additional resources.
If your child arrives unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, we can assist with transporting them to a local clinic for their vaccination appointments.
Below is some additional information that may be helpful to you – if you “right-click” and open the hyperlink below it brings you to the HHC website page.
How it works
● Walk-ins are welcome at Hartford HealthCare community vaccine clinics. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Currently, the Pfizer two-dose vaccine is the only one authorized for those ages 12-15, so a follow-up dose three weeks later is required.
● Or, people may schedule an appointment for a vaccine; this will save your priority spot.
● If a student is arriving without a parent/guardian they can get a vaccine at a community health center location in CT. Click HERE to see their locations no appointment needed.
● CVS and Walgreens locations in CT and NY are also great options and walk-in appointments are available. Click HERE to access the CVS website locations and HERE to access the Walgreens website and locations.
International Students should use the Westover School address and phone number when scheduling or registering for their COVID Vaccine.
1237 Whittemore Road, Middlebury CT 06762
(203) 758-2423
Resources
● FAQs about vaccines for this adolescent population are on the Hartford HealthCare public website HERE. Or download the FAQs HERE.
● Connecticut Children’s Hospital has a post with answers and videos HERE.