Health and Safety

Please know that this is a fluid situation and that this guidance may change as the school deems necessary to fit the situation in our community. Click here to download and print our Mitigation Plan.

1. Prevention
   1. Symptoms Monitoring
      1. Students, faculty, and staff are expected to check for symptoms before leaving their homes for school or work. 
         1. Students who have symptoms of the virus are to stay home and report the absence for COVID-19 to attendance@ndpsaints.org.  Symptoms should be reported to covidresponse@ndpsaints.org. 
         2. Students who have had close contact with someone who has the virus or who have tested positive for COVID-19 themselves are to stay home, report the case to covidresponse@ndpsaints.org, and follow the guidance of their healthcare provider or a public health official. 
   2. Staying Home When You are Sick 
      1. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms is to stay home and not attend school or any school-related activities on or off campus. 
         1. A student who tests positive for COVID-19 should report the case to covidresponse@ndpsaints.org.  A return date will be provided to the student once the positive test results have been sent to covidresponse@ndpsaints.org 
         2. Students, faculty, and staff can return to school and school-related activities if they have been symptom-free for a minimum of 24-hours. This also applies to students, faculty, and staff who test negative for COVID-19.
      2. Students who are absent from school because of symptoms related to COVID-19 or for any other absence are responsible for viewing classwork they miss through Canvas. 
         1. Quarantined students only will have the option to watch their classes live as an online observer in Microsoft Teams (Learn how here) or continue to watch the instructional video of their classes after school.
         2. Students have the responsibility to communicate any questions related to lessons or materials missed during an absence related to COVID-19 with their teachers within 2 school days of their absence and to follow handbook policies related to make-up work. 
   3. Hygiene
      1. The school expects all students, faculty, staff, and guests to practice good hygiene practices and etiquette. Please remember to wash your hands regularly and use hand sanitizer throughout your time on campus and while attending school-related activities.
      2. Hand sanitizer stations will be available in public areas and in every classroom.
      3. Cleaning supplies will be available in every room and common area. 
   4. Vaccinations
      1.  Notre Dame is not requiring students or staff to be vaccinated, but it is encouraged. The decision to receive a COVID-19 vaccine is a personal decision, and we support what parents choose for their children and family. The Diocese of Phoenix and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have released statements on moral guidance regarding the vaccines. Please visit the Arizona Department of Health Services website to find a vaccination site near you.
      2. Those with proof of vaccination and verified by the Assistant Principal of Student Services will not be required to quarantine if found to be a close contact to some one who has tested positive for COVID-19.
      3. Those who are vaccinated and test positive for COVID must quarantine.
   5. Masks and Face Coverings
      1. The use of face masks and coverings are optional while on campus.
         1. Notre Dame reserves the right to make adjustments in response to changes or increases in local cases, and there might be situations in the future where mandating masks may become necessary.
2. Reporting Cases
   1. Parents/guardians are to immediately report confirmed cases of COVID-19 to the attendance office and to covidresponse@ndpsaints.org. 
   2. The school will report confirmed cases to the parents/guardians, students, faculty, and staff via email. Anyone identified as a potential close contact will receive a separate email with additional information regarding quarantine instructions. 
3. Testing
   1. Notre Dame Preparatory will not be testing students or staff. 
   2. Maricopa County has testing resources on their website:
      1. People who believe they should be tested for COVID-19 should work with their healthcare provider. You can call the Arizona COVID-19 hotline at 844-542-8201 for more information about testing options and availability in your area.
      2. If you do not have a medical home or are uninsured, consider visiting a community health center. They will work with you to help you get access to a healthcare provider. Please call 602-253-0090 or look at the AACHC website for a health care center near you.
4. Isolation and Quarantine
   1. Maricopa County Department of Public Health provides guidance regarding isolation and quarantine in the form of flow charts.
      1. Release from Isolation Guidance Flow Chart Rev. 8-27-21
      2. Quarantine Guidance and Flow Chart Rev. 7-30-21
5.  Isolation Room
   1. Students who develop symptoms while at school will be immediately isolated from the rest of the school population, and their parents will be notified.

We are moving to a more normal year and easing COVID restrictions.

• Masks will no longer be required in classrooms or outside on campus. A student may wear a mask if he/she wishes.
• Classes will all be in person. 
• There will be no synchronous online learning, however, teachers will record classes for absent students to view asynchronously after school.
• Students will no longer need to take their temperatures before entering campus.
• If you are sick, please stay home.
• This policy could change if COVID numbers rise

Students MUST assess their health each morning BEFORE coming to school and then follow the instruction on the flow chart below. Click here to report COVID-like symptoms or a positive test. 

In response to the increasing number of our students on quarantine, the feedback that we have received from the surveys last week, and the input of our staff, we have decided to amend our COVID policy regarding online access to classes.

Starting Monday, August 23, quarantined students only will have the option to watch their classes live as an online observer in Microsoft Teams or continue to watch the instructional video of their classes after school.

Here are some things you should know about the Online Observer Option:

• This option is for QUARANTINED STUDENTS ONLY
• Online observers will be able to interact with their teachers through the chat function of Teams, and teachers will monitor the chat box during class. Students do not have to turn on their cameras while observing class.
• Homework assignments will be posted on Canvas for all courses including PE. Students who are physically able to are expected to do their best to keep up with work posted on Canvas, to view Teams classes (live or recorded), and to communicate with teachers while in quarantine if they have questions.
• To maintain test integrity there will be no online assessments given. Quarantined students will have the number of days absent plus one extra day to obtain help with covered material and make up any missing assessments and assignments. We love our students and want them to do well and taking tests in person is best for them.

If you are unfamiliar with Teams please watch this short video on how to download and access Team.

If you have any technical difficulties with Teams, please send a helpdesk ticket to helpdesk@ndpsaints.org and a member of our IT team will assist you.

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact me at (480) 634-8201 or email gsweeney@ndpsaints.org.

We ask that you continue to pray and ask God to heal and protect those who are ill and all who care for them. Our HOPE is in the Lord, that he will give us strength to persevere through these ever-changing times.

We are taking a measured approach to mitigating the spread of COVID on our campus. With the help of health care professionals and Church and government officials we have developed the metrics for our COVID-19 Tiered Mitigation Guidelines. Click here to read or download our 2021-2022 COVID-19 Tiered Mitigation Guidelines.

As of Jan. 14, 2022: we are at Tier 2.

NDP WILL ACCEPT OFFICIAL OR AT-HOME COVID TESTS. Students who wish to test out of quarantine or those who are experiencing COVID-like symptoms must take a COVID test and send a photo with the date the test was taken for COVID confirmation or to be released from quarantine. Our goal is to accurately count positive and negative cases and to mitigate the spread of illness, therefore only official tests will be accepted.

Our school nurse is not permitted to administer any medication to students without written authorization from the parent/guardian. This includes acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Tums, cough drops and antibiotic creams. Diocese policy prohibits the nurse from providing or dispensing any medications without written permission from the student's parent or guardian. Medications must be brought to the Health Office in the original sealed and labeled container. All medication must be accompanied by a signed Medication Form in order for medication of any kind to be administered by Health Office personnel. A new form must be completed and signed each school year.

• Loop Road is one-way, from south to north.
  • Sophomore parents and students will be allowed to enter the main entrance to the NDP campus off of 98th Street and proceed left towards the baseball field heading south.
  • We ask that you please form one line of traffic on the right-hand side to drop off and pick up your child at gate 1.
  • Once your child has been dropped off and/or picked up safely, please continue traveling south and exit out of the south lot back onto 98th Street. (Please see the diagram below for the 2022-23 Traffic Flow pattern) 
• Freshmen, juniors and seniors will enter loop road near the baseball field and continue one-way on Loop Road (south to north) to the drop-off areas or parking lots
• There will be security guards and school employees directing traffic for efficiency.

• Late Arrival/Early Release Protocol
  • Early Release
    • ​​​​​​If you are picking up your student, please submit an attendance form at least one hour before pickup
    • Please park in a 10-minute spot in front of the School Office when you arrive to pick up your student and wait in your vehicle your student to be dismissed to you
  • Late Arrival:
    • If not driving themselves, student will need to be dropped off at the office and will proceed into the Attendance office to check in and receive a late pass to class
    • If driving themselves and need to park, students arriving late will need to park in the Sophomore lot between the baseball field and gym
    • No student student will be permitted into a class arriving late without a pass
    • After parking, student is to go to the Attendance Office to check in and get their late pass to class

All traffic on Loop Road will enter on the south side of the school, just beyond the baseball field, and exit on the north side of campus. Please do not attempt to enter from the north end once summer school has begun. See below:

Our campus is protected daily by tactically-trained security guards from Antebellum Security Services and armed Scottsdale Police Officers. In addition, we have enhanced camera surveillance throughout campus to keep our students safe during the school day and after-hour activities.

Our security guards are part of our NDP family. They are always ready to help keep our campus safe and secure and they help us out in a variety of ways. To contact security email security@ndpsaints.org or call 480.634.8399.