• Communication

    • Inside School Exposure/Positive Case- The school will notify you by phone of quarantine/isolation protocols per protocols. A letter outlining expectations will be sent home or emailed.
    • Outside of School Exposure/Positive Case- If your student is positive or identified as a close contact from an outside of school exposure, please notify the school immediately.
    • Dual Enrollment students need to notify ASA (mmessick@acpsd.net) and UofSC Aiken in the event of close contact and positive case. Contact information: 803-641-3271 and/or COVIDCoordinators@usca.edu. Protocols may vary between ACPSD and UofSC Aiken, both should be followed.
    • Please keep sick students at home and notify the school. If your student is displaying any symptoms of Covid-19, work with your physician to make the best decision for you.

    Face Coverings

    • Masks are not required in the ASA building; however, they are strongly encouraged as they may reduce the number of students quarantined in the event of a positive case.
    • Students opting a shortened quarantined period are REQUIRED to wear a mask until day 10 from their exposure.
    • As of August 30, 2021 masks are required on ALL district transportation.
    • UofSC Aiken REQUIRES masks in ALL buildings on campus.

    Contact Tracing

    • The district is following SC DHEC and CDC recommendations for contact tracing protocols.
    • Close contacts will be notified and should adhere to the quarantine timeless described by the school.

    Positive Case

    • If a student tests positive the school should be contacted immediately.
    • Isolation for a positive case is now 5 days from the date of symptom onset, or date of test if asymptomatic, as long as the individual has been fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and other symptoms are improving.
    • Stay in contact with the school if symptoms don't improve.
    • A mask is required through day 10.

    Quarantine Timelines- Quarantines are calculated based on the last date of exposure for a close contact.

    • Standard 10-day Quarantine- if student displays no symptoms he/she may return to school on day 11 without testing and no restrictions.
    • Shortened-5-day Quarantine- If your child has NO symptoms and provides documentation of a negative PCR or antigen test collected no sooner than 4 days after exposure, they are eligible to return to the classroom and athletic participation after completing 5 days of quarantine on day 6. Home tests and antibody tests are NOT accepted.
    • Anyone who develops symptoms during quarantine must contact the school and is recommended to be tested; additionally, they must isolate for 5 days from the date of symptom onset. Final return date will be determined by the school once criteria are met.
    • Exemptions- Students who are fully vaccinated (students 18 or older must have received a booster, if eligible by date of primary series, to be considered fully vaccinated) or have had Covid-19 within 90 days of the exposure may be exempt from quarantines. Documentation must be provided to the school.
      • Moderna or Pfizer- Booster requried after 6 months from initial vaccination
      • J & J- Booster required after 2 months from initial vaccination
    • Students ending quarantine early, along with those who are vaccinated or have had Covid-19 within 90 days, are EXPECTED to wear a mask, practice physical distancing to the extent possible, and monitor for illness symptoms daily through the standard 10 day quarantine period.

    Monitor your child for the following symptoms until 10 days after exposure:

    • Fever,
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Loss of taste or smell
    • New or worsening cough
    • Sore throat
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Chills
    • Fatigue
    • Headache
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Diarrhea
    • Nausea or vomiting

    Remote Instruction

    • Teachers will provide notification and guidelines for remote instruction to the student and parent in their individual classes.
    • If there is a technology/connectivity issue that prevents a student from working at home, notify the school immediately.
    • Positive case should maintain progress with work as long as they are well enough to do so.
    • Quarantined students are expected to maintain progress with their classes.
    • ALL students should check Schoology for assignments and resources to continuing working; email is the best form of contact for teachers.
    • Upon return, it is recommended that students meet with individual teachers to review progress and further needs for missed work. They may need to stay afterschool to complete some assignments, which can be scheduled with their teachers or students can take advantage of after school tutoring.