Frequently Asked Questions

Health & Safety

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What will the health and safety protocols be in the fall?

Please click here to read our health and safety protocols.
Are COVID vaccines required?

For the 2022-2023 school year, all Fay and ELC employees and students are required to be fully vaccinated or to receive a medical or religious exemption approved by Fay.

Definition of "fully vaccinated"
Individuals are fully vaccinated if they have received the full course of two vaccines. All eligible individuals must be fully vaccinated prior to the start of the academic year.

Booster shots
According to current guidelines, all individuals ages 5 and older are eligible to receive a booster shot. Boosters are not required but are strongly encouraged.
Can boarding students get COVID vaccines in their home countries that are different from the vaccines that are currently approved in the United States?

Yes. Boarding students may get vaccines in their home countries that are different from the vaccines currently approved in the United States for ages 12-17. Proof of vaccination must be provided in English.
How do I request a religious or medical exemption for vaccinations?

Please contact Diane Byrne, Assistant Head of School for Finance and Operations, at dbyrne@fayschool.org regarding any vaccine exemptions.
Are masks required on campus?
As of June 21, 2022, masks are optional, with the following exceptions:
- If an individual tests positive for COVID-19, they must remain at home in isolation. They may return on day 6 after a positive test if they are asymptomatic, but they must be cleared by the school nurse, and they must wear a mask for the next five days.
- If someone living in your house has tested positive for COVID and you are in contact with them on a daily basis, then you will be required to wear a mask for 10 days after last contact.
- If a boarding student is the roommate of someone who has tested positive for COVID, the boarding student will be required to wear a mask for 10 days after last contact.
Does Fay conduct COVID-19 testing on campus?

Fay will conduct rapid antigen testing of all boarding students when they arrive for the start of school in September. The School will not conduct weekly pooled testing for the 2022-2023 school year.
What happens if a student tests positive for COVID-19?
- Individuals who test positive for COVID will be required to isolate for five days.
- Boarders who test positive must leave campus with their Local Emergency Contact within 24 hours. They may return to campus after five days if they are symptom-free, or as soon as they are fully asymptomatic. They must wear a mask on campus for the full 10 days after the date of the positive test.
- Individuals must be cleared by the school nurse in order to return to campus. Individuals will only be cleared to return after five days of isolation if they are asymptomatic. They will be required to wear a mask on campus at all times for five more days. If symptoms remain after five days, then the individual must isolate until they are asymptomatic or until the full 10 days have passed.
What is your policy regarding close contacts?
- Fay will not conduct contact tracing for the 2022-2023 school year. The School will no longer notify parents if they receive news of a positive case in the class. Parents may notify their child's close contacts if they wish.
- A close contact is defined as an individual who has been within three feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period during the two days prior to the onset of illness or a positive test.
- Close contacts who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine. They should monitor for symptoms, and if they become symptomatic they should stay home and get tested. They are required to wear a mask on campus for 10 days after exposure.
- Close contacts who are not fully vaccinated (as defined above) must quarantine for 5 days. They may return on day 6 and must wear a mask for the full 10 days after exposure.
- Any close contacts (vaccinated or unvaccinated) who become symptomatic should test, and positive cases should isolate for 5 more days.
- If an individual is identified as a close contact because of a positive case at home, and the positive case cannot completely isolate at home, then the individual is required to wear a mask on campus for ten days after the date of last contact.
- While we do not required health attestations, we remind all families of day students to keep their children home if they are symptomatic or ill. If faculty or staff are concerned about a student’s health, they will send the child to the Health Office for an evaluation.
What is your policy for student absences?

Any student who is absent from school due to illness of any kind for three or more days is required to provide the school nurse with a doctor's note in order to return. Upon reviewing the specifics of the absence, the school nurse may also require a negative PCR COVID-19 test.

Additional Fay School Resources

Fay School's Health Office
Welcome New Students Web Page

Early Learning Center - FAQ

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Are ELC students and employees required to be vaccinated?

Yes. Consistent with CDC recommendations, all ELC students, faculty, and staff are required to be fully vaccinated.

Individuals under 5 are fully vaccinated if they have received the full course of vaccines:
- Moderna (2 doses): Both vaccines must be administered prior to the start of the academic year.
- Pfizer (3 doses): The first two vaccines must be administered prior to the start of the academic year.

Boosters are not required, though they are strongly recommended.
Does the school require ELC children to receive the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine?

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are accepted for ELC children. For children attending the ELC in Fall 2022, the timeline is as follows:

Moderna (2 doses): Both vaccines must be administered prior to the start of classes on September 6.

Pfizer (3 doses): The first two vaccines must be administered prior to the start of classes on September 6, and the third dose must be administered on or before September 30.
Will ELC employees and students be tested for COVID-19?

Fay will not conduct pooled COVID-19 testing for the 2022-2023 school year.
Are masks required in the ELC?
As of June 21, 2022, masks are optional for ELC students, faculty, and staff, with the following exceptions:
- If an individual tests positive for COVID-19, they must remain at home in isolation. They may return on day 6 after a positive test if they are asymptomatic, but they must be cleared by the school nurse, and they must wear a mask for the next five days.
- If someone living in your house has tested positive for COVID and you are in contact with them on a daily basis, then you will be required to wear a mask for 10 days after last contact.
What is the quarantine policy for ELC students who are close contacts?

Close contacts who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine. If a household member is positive, the child should wear a mask for 10 days.
What is the ELC's absence policy?

ELC students who are absent for three or more days must have a doctor’s note in order to return to campus and must be tested for COVID-19 if directed by a doctor. Please note that tuition is not refunded when a child is absent, including when absent due to COVID.
Will ELC students continue to be grouped in cohorts?

ELC children will no longer be grouped solely by classroom. Students from the three classes will be combined for AM and PM Care and at additional times when necessary.

For Prospective Families

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What are the health and safety protocols for campus visitors?
All campus visitors are required to observe the following health and safety protocols, which are updated periodically in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health:
- On the morning of their visit, prior to arriving on campus, visitors must complete Fay’s online Health Attestation Form.
- Masks are optional for visitors.
Can families continue to tour campus and participate in interviews and screenings virtually?

Families may still opt for a virtual campus tour in lieu of an in-person visit. In some cases, the School will continue to allow virtual interviews and screenings for boarding applicants and Upper School day students who are relocating from another part of the country, but there are required in-person components of the application for those applying to Kindergarten through grade 6. Please contact the Office of Admission at admission@fayschool.org for more information.
Will standardized testing be optional for applicants applying for the 23-24 school year?

The SSAT and ISEE are both optional for applicants to grades 5-9 for Fall 2023. Applicants to grade 7-9 whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or TOEFL, Jr. test. Applicants to grades 4, 5, and 6 are required to take the iReady at home. Login credentials for the iReady will be provided to applicants by Fay after the application form has been submitted. Applicants to grade 3 will participate in a one-on-one online assessment.
Will Fay be a public test site for the SSAT and ISEE?

We will provide additional information in the coming months.

Academic Year 2022-23 - Program

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Are students separated by cohorts?

Students are not grouped by cohort.
Are interscholastic sports offered this year?

Interscholastic athletics are offered for grades 5-9. Please click here to learn more about Fay's athletics program.
Is Fay providing family-style lunches again?

Family-style dining is an important Fay tradition and reinforces our commitment to building community and cultivating manners and civility. We are pleased to return to a group-dining format in our dining rooms. Click here for more information about our dining program.
Will there be any retreats or overnight trips this year?

We have begun to plan some overnight trips in the Upper School for the 2022-2023 school year.
Will there be a spring break travel opportunity for students this year?

Yes, a spring break trip will take place this year and we will provide more details when information is available.
Are parents allowed on campus?

Yes, parents and visitors are welcome on campus. Masks are optional for visitors.
Is the School hosting in-person events for the community this year?

Yes, we look forward to hosting community events during the 2022-2023 school year, including back-to-school events, Parents’ Weekend, Color Competition, Taste of Nations, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, and our traditional end-of-year closing ceremonies for each division. Click here for more information about some of our traditions and celebrations.
Will Fay host events for the greater Southborough/Metrowest community this year?

Yes, we look forward to hosting fall Farmers Market events, Saturdays at Fay, Innovation Saturdays, and our Ideas&Insights Speaker Series.

Academic Year 2022-23 - Boarding Life

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Do boarding students need to have Local Emergency Contacts for potential quarantine and off-campus residence in emergency situations?
Yes. All boarding students must have a Local Emergency Contact that is provided by the student’s parents. A Local Emergency Contact should be someone within the continental United States who can arrive to campus within 24 hours of notification. The School will contact the Local Emergency Contact in the event of:
- The student’s positive COVID-19 test or a presumed positive case of COVID-19 based on symptoms assessed by the School’s physician
- A campus closure as a result of the pandemic
- Travel restrictions that prevent the student from returning home during school breaks or campus closure
- Additional reasons as identified by the School
Boarding parents must supply Fay with the name and contact information of the Local Emergency Contact no later than August 1. If the Local Emergency Contact is not available, it is the parent's responsibility to make alternate arrangements.
Do boarders go off campus for weekend activities?

Yes, we are able to schedule off-campus excursions for boarding students on the weekends, while always being mindful of our students' health and safety. You can read more about weekends at Fay here.

FaySummer

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Will FaySummer staff members be vaccinated?

Yes. All FaySummer staff members and on-campus vendors (including Specialty Camp instructors) are required to be vaccinated.
Will campers be required to be vaccinated?

Vaccinations for day campers will not be required but strongly encouraged for eligible campers.
Are FaySummer staff or campers required to be tested for COVID?

COVID testing is not required for FaySummer staff or day campers.
Will masks be required for campers and staff?

At this time, masks are optional for campers and camp staff.
Will campers be required to do a health check before coming to campus?

Parents should screen their children and keep them home if they observe symptoms. At this time, parents will not be required to complete form health attestations each morning.
Will campers be grouped in cohorts?

During most of the day, campers will stay in small cohorts with their counselors. During "choice time" or all-camp events, campers will gather with other cohorts.
What happens if my child test positive for COVID-19 during FaySummer?

If your child tests positive for COVID-19 during FaySummer, please call 508-490-8371 or email summer@fayschool.org.

Positive cases must isolate for a minimum of 5 days from the date of onset of symptoms or positive test date (both of which are considered Day 0). They may return after a minimum of 5 days and when they are symptom and fever free for at least 24 hours. They are required to wear a mask for days 6-10 after their positive test date. Current guidelines do not require these campers to provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test before returning to camp but they must meet with and be cleared by the school nurse on the morning of their first day back to camp. If the nurse does not clear the student, they will be sent home.
What is your quarantine policy for campers who are close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case?

Per guidelines from the Massachusetts Departments of Public Health, campers who are close contacts may continue to attend camp as long as they remain asymptomatic and wear a mask for 10 days. A test on days 2 and 5 is recommended, but not required.

If a camper is symptomatic after a known COVID-19 exposure, they will have to stay home and provide a negative PCR test to return to camp. All symptomatic campers also must contact the FaySummer Health Office before returning to camp.

If an individual is identified as a close contact because of a positive case at home, that individual will be allowed to attend FaySummer only if the positive case can completely isolate at home.
Will families be notified about positive COVID-19 cases within the FaySummer community?

Yes. If there is a positive COVID-19 case, all families and known close contacts will be notified.
What is your camper absence policy?

Any camper who is absent due to illness of any kind for three or more days is required to provide the FaySummer nurse with a doctor's note in order to return. Upon reviewing the specifics of the absence, the nurse may also require a negative PCR COVID-19 test.