Summer is just starting but it is never too early to begin preparing for our next school year! Please visit our Back to School page which contains information on summer reading, supply lists, important forms and much more!
School offices will be closed on Fridays during the month of July.
The first day of classes for students in grades PK4-12 is Wednesday, September 1.
The first day of classes for students in grades PK2-PK3 is Thursday, September 2.
The 2021-2022 school calendar events are posted on our website. Be sure to check it out and sign up for alerts and/or RSS feeds as needed.
Summary of Fall Return to Campus Plan
As Delaware County Christian School looks to the 2021-2022 academic year, it is important for us as a community to remain united in our mission. With the support of CCHD, DC plans to begin the 2021-22 school year under normal operating conditions, with no Covid specific restrictions for the academic school day, co-curricular and athletic activities, school clubs, and all campus events. However, until the pandemic is declared over, DC will adhere to public health protocols as needed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. All our health and safety Covid protocols of masking, ventilation, density, distancing, and hygiene are tools in our toolbox to implement in a nuanced approach on an as needed basis. Activation of this web of interventions will be based on: in-school transmission, community transmission rates, vaccination coverage and risk of select activities. More details on our communicable disease protocols can be found on our website. All DC families will be asked to complete the COVID-19 waiver for on campus instruction in 2021-22.
View our Campus Health Protocols Dashboards
The FAQs below are designed to answer specific questions families may have regarding our return to school plan.
Finally, we recognize details of this plan could change based on updated guidance over the next few months from CCHD, PDE, PADOH and CDC. We will continue to monitor the latest guidance and should a significant change to our proposed plan become necessary, school families will be notified.
FAQs - Return To School Plan ‘21-22
Will DC require the COVID-19 vaccine for students?
DC will not require the vaccine for students or parents. We do encourage students to receive the vaccine. We do encourage families to get vaccinated. However, disclosure of vaccination status will be required.
Will DC require faculty and staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
DC will not require employees to be vaccinated. We do encourage employees to get vaccinated. We will require all employees to be on campus in person every day. There will be no virtual option.
Will DC require proof of vaccination (for those who disclose they are vaccinated)?
Yes, similar to vaccination records we collect at the start of each school year, the COVID-19 vaccine will require proof of vaccination placed in student records. This will make contact tracing much easier and less stressful for both staff and families.
What obligation does the school community hold for those families who choose not to be vaccinated?
DC families will be supported in whichever decision they make regarding the vaccine. DC will allow masks being worn any time throughout the school year.
Will DC require proof of a positive Covid test if a student, parent, or employee claims natural immunity?
Yes, proof of a positive COVID-19 test within the previous 90 days prior to exposure (or particular activity that might require testing) will be required for individuals claiming immunity through having had the COVID-19 virus. This too aids in the contact tracing requirement of the health department.
How will DC start school in August with accessibility to COVID-19 vaccines for children up to age 11 possibly not available until Fall/Winter 2021?
We plan to start school with no protocols in place**. We will depend on the vaccine as the first line of defense. As such, those families who choose not to be vaccinated will be required to implement protocols and/or possible quarantine when COVID-19 is reported on campus. This is standard, tried and true public health protocols for communicable disease (MMR, Chicken Pox, Flu).
All individuals 12 and older currently have access to make appointments to receive a vaccine against COVID-19.
**Children under 12 years of age will likely not have access to a vaccine until November, 2021. As such the lower campus will likely experience more frequent implementation of health and safety protocols. Protocols will be implemented in the following order with clearly articulated benchmarks:
- Symptom Screening
- Ventilation
- Cohorting/Density
- Hygiene
- Quarantine and/or Masking
What role will surveillance and assurance testing play in the health and safety plan?
DC was successful in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 during the 2020-21 school year without the use of surveillance testing. The administration does not plan to utilize routine surveillance testing with the general student body.
DC does reserve the right to implement and utilize assurance testing in high risk activities or during a COVID-19 outbreak on campus. Testing is a helpful tool in our toolkit and will be utilized on an as needed basis.
Will co-curricular activities and athletics take place next year?
Yes, all athletics, co-curricular activities, and clubs will take place next year. Parents should be prepared for the possibility of short pauses in these activities depending on community spread of COVID-19.
Will Lower and Upper Campuses be open to parents and visitors next year?
Yes, both campuses will be open to parents and visitors next year. Parents should be prepared for the possibility of short pauses in campus accessibility depending on community spread of COVID-19.
Will Distance Learning be offered for students to attend school online?
At this time, we do not anticipate offering an Extended Distance Learning (EDL) option for students in the 2021-2022 school year in light of the availability of vaccines and the decreasing rate of COVID infections. We will offer Intermittent Distance Learning (IDL) on a limited basis, by approval of the division head or his/her designee, in conjunction with the pandemic safety officer/school nurse, for reasons such as a significant medical condition, a required quarantine, or a family emergency.