Dear NuVu Families,

Thank you for your continued support and patience this week. We are writing to you with updates to our current COVID-19 safety policies, as well as a survey to be completed by Thursday, Jan. 6 at 5PM. We hope to hear from each member of our community about your comfort level in returning onsite this coming Monday.

Community Feedback Survey | Onsite Return, Monday Jan. 10

As we navigate an onsite return during this period of more transmissible variants, we’re staying on top of relevant science and recent health data in order to adjust our onsite safety protocols accordingly. 

Please review the following changes to policies below: 

• Threshold for Onsite Studio

• Positive Test Protocol & Quarantine Guidelines

• Mask Requirements

• More Pooled Testing on Monday

Updates to COVID-19 Safety Policies

Threshold for Onsite Studio

In order to facilitate an adequate studio experience, at least 70% of students need to be present onsite. Due to the size of our student body, the highly collaborative work, and tactile nature of NuVu’s curriculum, we know from experience that student engagement is higher as a collective. In order to maintain continuity in the community culture of each studio, we will strive to keep studio groups together wherever possible, even if this means going remote for a few days. We are ready to create custom maker-kits for each studio should the need arise, but we will consistently prioritize in-person learning through routine testing of students and staff. 

We aim to have consistently relevant information about covid transmission in our community with these routine checks. In the event a pooled test returns presumptive-positive results, and less than 70% of students are able to remain onsite, the entire student body will transition to remote learning for a minimum of four (4) days while follow-up tests and contact tracing takes place.  

Positive Test Protocol and Quarantine Guidelines

If a pooled COVID-19 test returns a presumptive positive result, all students in this pool will be asked to attend studio remotely until a follow-up test is completed. Should this make less than 70% of students eligible for onsite participation, all students will transition to remote learning until follow-up tests can be completed. Families are responsible for individual follow-up testing. 

Asymptomatic COVID-19

Individuals who have tested positive, but remain asymptomatic, will need to complete a five (5) day quarantine, and submit one negative PCR test within a 24-48 hour period prior to returning to NuVu’s physical studio space. Upon returning, the individual will need to double mask for an additional five (5) days, and monitor any onset of symptoms. A negative PCR test, and an N95 mask, or two surgical or cloth masks will be required to return onsite. 

Symptomatic COVID-19

Individuals who have tested positive, and are also experiencing symptoms, will need to complete a ten (10) day quarantine. Provided that the ninth and tenth days (48-hours) of quarantine are symptom and fever free, the individual should seek medical guidance, or take a PCR test within a 24-48 hour period prior to returning to NuVu’s physical studio space. Once negative results have been submitted to NuVu, the individual may return to studio on the eleventh day. A negative PCR test and an N95 mask, or two surgical or cloth masks will be required to return onsite.

Updated Mask Requirements 

Given data around higher transmissibility of new variants, we’re asking students and staff to forego surgical masks for more effective N95, KN95, or KF94 masks.

Surgical, and multi-layered cloth masks must be worn together as a double layer if you prefer to use these options.

More Pooled Testing Next Monday

We will provide another pooled testing opportunity for students this coming Monday, Jan. 10 from 8:30 - 9:30 AM. Tests take about 3 - 5 minutes to administer, and once students have completed their test they may go to studio to minimize disruption.

Existing / Unchanged Covid Safety Policies

Testing Frequency & Dates

NuVu students participating in onsite programming are required to be tested for COVID-19 at least once every fourteen (14) days. All students and staff are required to be tested upon returning from breaks regardless of where it falls in the bi-monthly schedule. Testing options are available onsite at NuVu through CIC pooled tests, and we accept tests from any local CDC accepted testing resource.

Pooled Tests

Families who opt in to our onsite pooled testing program will consent to have their student self-administer an anterior nasal swab COVID test every other Thursday for the duration of the term. Each test now comes at a $5/swab cost, and families will be electronically invoiced for all tests administered during the Fall and Winter Term. We realize cost can be a barrier to access to tests, and we are hoping to alleviate some of this by offsetting half the cost. Tests are provided through CIC-Health and are handled by the Broad Institute.

Non-Pooled Tests

Families who prefer to utilize free resources closer to their home, through their primary care physician, or any other CDC accepted COVID testing resource must self-report negative results to molly@nuvustudio.org every other Friday. 

Testing Logistics

Pooled testing students are divided into two groups, and each group will be tested in pools every other Thursday. Students will self-administer an anterior nasal antigen COVID-19 test provided by CIC Health during the last block of the day from 2:30-2:50 PM. The tests will then be immediately transported to the lab on Charles St. in Cambridge by a NuVu staff member. 

Non-pooled testing students should be tested any weekday or weekend every fourteen days, and should self-report results to NuVu by emailing a digital copy of results to attendance@nuvustudio.org. 

Results Reporting

Student COVID test results will be recorded through a main point of contact at NuVu and handled by the CIC Health lab. Results are pooled and will be reported to NuVu within 24-48 hours. If there is a positive pool, or if there is need for testing follow-up, NuVu will contact families to request immediate quarantine and individual testing follow-up. 

Non-Pooled Testing Resources

Families who have not opted into CIC testing should also follow the bi-monthly testing schedule and have their student tested for COVID-19 at least once every fourteen (14) days. All students and staff are required to be tested upon returning from breaks regardless of where it falls in the bi-monthly schedule. You may use any of the below resources or your preferred testing resource. Test results must be reported to NuVu by emailing a copy to attendance@nuvustudio.org.  

As we carefully steer the school year back to a new normal, we’re still constantly reviewing relevant health and safety data regarding COVID-19. All policies are subject to change as we learn more about the risk factors associated with the COVID landscape. We sincerely appreciate your thoughtful feedback and patience. 

Regards,

The NuVu Team