Coronavirus

COVID-19 Update

The mission of Marist School is to form the whole person in the image of Christ. We believe that this mission is best fulfilled when we are together, in person, which requires our school community to stand together to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Marist students are learning on campus each day when the level of community spread permits. Families continue to have the option to learn 100% virtually at home. Our approach allows Marist to responsibly continue serving our families in the safest, most engaging way possible.

Our Marist theme for the year is Ardent Love of Neighbor, which seems most appropriate. In all that we do together throughout the 2020-2021 school year, we will love our neighbor, protect the vulnerable, and care for each other enough to model our behavior in a way that makes the person with the lowest comfort level feel secure.

Update as of December 9, 2020:
The CDC has recently updated the guidelines for quarantine after close contact with someone who has COVID-19. However, the CDC guidelines were clarified by the Georgia Department of Public Health (GaDPH) in their recent “Return to School Guidance After COVID-19 Illness or Exposure” dated December 7, 2020. Because the GaDPH recommends a 14-day quarantine period unless strict adherence to mitigation measures are observed, such as social distancing (at least six feet from others except for brief transitional movements such as changing classes), Marist will not adopt the shortened quarantined period for students. Please refer to the GaDPH Return to School Guidance here.

Coronavirus Protocols

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Guidelines for Home Athletic Events
We ask families to please follow these COVID-19 protocols for home athletic events at Marist:
- Spectators are limited to parents/guardians of participants only, no siblings
- Wear a mask at all times
- Maintain social distance
- When applicable, sit on marked seats
- No admittance earlier than 30 minutes before event start
- No concessions
- Tickets to varsity events sold in advance; no cash accepted at venue
Subject to change. Additional guidelines are available for each sport.
Community Expectations

We believe that our school's mission is best fulfilled when we are together, in person, which requires each of us—students, faculty, staff, parents, and volunteers—to stand together to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Read the Marist School Community Expectations due to COVID-19 here.
Daily Screening

Everyone on campus is required to participate in a daily health screening. Students, faculty, and staff complete a screening survey prior to arriving on campus.Upon arrival, screenings are verified, and temperatures are taken.
Physical Distancing

Public health officials recommend physical distancing of six feet to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Marist will ensure this physical distancing for the safety of our students, faculty, and staff through its hybrid schedule as well as classroom layouts, one-way hallways and stairwells, and Arcade dining.
Masks Required

All students, faculty, staff, and visitors must wear a mask at all times—indoors, outdoors, during drop-off and pick-up—except while eating, drinking, and when partaking in physical exercise. Masks must be over the mouth and nose and should be a solid color or simple pattern. Approved masks include cloth and disposable 3-ply paper masks. Masks may not have a valve. Gaiters, bandanas, and face shields are not masks.
Hand Washing, Sanitizing, & Disinfecting

Frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing will be encouraged throughout the day and will be required upon entering and exiting each classroom. Sanitization stations, with hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, paper towels, and gloves, will be placed in all classrooms, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be available throughout campus.

Deep cleaning of classrooms, hallways, stairwells, restrooms, offices, and common areas will occur daily with disinfection surface spraying and scheduled fogging using GenEon Hypoclorous products.
Exposure & Contact Tracing

Our COVID-19 Decision Tree is a useful reference tool for how to proceed if you are exposed. We have added a second "sick" clinic on campus as well as an isolation room should individuals become sick during the school day.
Campus Visitors

At this time, non-essential visitors are not permitted on campus during the school day. The Campus Store will remain open during their regularly scheduled hours. Masks, social distancing, and limited occupancy will be enforced, and screening and temperature checks will be required before entering.

2019-2020 Communications

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Connecting with You in This Uncertain Time: Message from Marist School President Fr. Bill Rowland, S.M. (3/25/20)

Dear Marist School Community,

I pray that you and your family are safe and well. We all find ourselves in a moment of time that we never could have imagined. Our local communities, our nation, and our world are challenged by the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and its potential devastating impact on our health and well-being. You are an important part of the Marist School community, and I wanted to write to let you know that, during this time of uncertainty, Marists around the world are praying a novena for all those impacted and afflicted by the virus.

The end of this week will mark a milestone in Marist School’s history—our first full week of fulfilling our important mission through virtual learning. I am grateful for the inventiveness of our faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond to adapt to our changed circumstances. Now that we have embarked upon virtual learning, I must say, our students and faculty seem to be embracing it wholeheartedly. It is exciting to see the excellent education for which Marist is known happening in new and innovative ways. We look forward to sharing some of those stories with you in the near future.

We, like those at other schools, had to grapple with difficult decisions to get to this point, and we will continue to make those essential decisions to ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We let students and parents know earlier today that our virtual learning will continue through at least April 15. We will reevaluate at that point and do what is called for to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Our Alumni Office, too, is engaging in the creative spirit, seeking new ways for our 10,000+ alumni to stay connected with Marist School, as well as with each other, despite the fact that spring alumni events have been cancelled or postponed. More information will be available on our new alumni initiatives soon.

Through this time of concern, we remain motivated by the Marist value we phrase as ardent love of neighbor. By staying home, social distancing, and following the precautions laid out for us by public health officials, we are caring for those who are the least able to fight the virus, aiding the committed healthcare workers on the front lines, and acknowledging the need to do everything we can to attempt to prevent this highly contagious virus from spreading so quickly.

This is an extraordinary time for us, but Marist School has never been an ordinary place. Our distinctive spirit guides us as we maintain the tradition of excellence that defines the Marist educational experience, even though we are now educating in ways we never envisioned. Our school’s mission has always inspired us to do more and to rely on one another in times of trouble. Today, that inspiration and connection to each other is even more powerful. I look forward to the time when we can all be together again in person.

Until then, I urge you to lean into your faith and follow St. Paul’s lead, “I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.” (Philippians 4:12-13)

Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.

In the name of Mary,

Fr. Bill Rowland, S.M.
President

P.S. I encourage you to stay connected with Marist School through our social media channels. Also, you can learn more about Marist’s response to the coronavirus crisis by visiting marist.com/covid-19.