Health and Wellness

Princeton Day School has required all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes a booster vaccination.

Princeton Day School has required all students 12 years or older to be vaccinated for COVID-19. We recommend, but do not require students 12 years or older to receive their booster vaccination as soon as possible.

We highly recommend our youngest students (ages 11 and younger) who are eligible for the vaccination to be vaccinated against COVID-19.  

Princeton Day School will communicate to all families on or before July 1, 2022 on the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for the 2022-2023 school year. 

Exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccination may be granted for documented medical contraindications or sincerely held religious beliefs. The standard for an exemption is established based upon applicable federal and state law, and recommendations from local authorities. Individuals need to complete a specific form for this request.  Faculty and Staff should email the Human Resources office to request this form; families should email the Health Office. As always, you can email pdstogether@pds.org to direct you to the appropriate individual.

All candidates who come to campus to interview for a position at Princeton Day School must be fully vaccinated and show proof of vaccination. This includes a booster vaccination.

Special Note: If an individual has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days then the individual's natural immunity is protective enough that quarantine is not necessary. If individuals are eligible for a booster dose within this timeframe, we recommend receiving that dose before the 90 days are over to prevent possible need for quarantine.

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Effective March 7, 2022, Princeton Day School will be mask-optional for all individuals on campus. Masks will be optional on all school buses.

Symptom screening, masks and hand hygiene are proven strategies to reduce risk. Vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals should monitor their health daily.

Please review these symptoms daily. If an individual has any of them, please do not come to campus.

• loss of taste or smell

• fever, chills and body aches

• nausea, vomiting

• headaches

• shortness of breath 

• new onset cough, sore throat, congestion and runny nose

Have you taken your child’s temperature today and is the temperature below 100.4 degrees? The School requires strict adherence to our policy of being free of a fever (temperature <100.4) for 24 hours before returning to school.

If an individual has two or more symptoms of illness significant enough that it is impeding their daily routines or their comfort level during the day, the Health Office recommends that the individual leaves campus and gets medical attention. The Health Office will defer to an individual's private physician for clearance to return to school. In some cases, this may include a negative COVID test.

Any individual  with a fever greater than 100 degrees F requires a note from their physician to return to school at least 24 hours fever-free.

If an individual is concerned enough that they are scheduled for a COVID test or awaiting results, they should STAY home until they get their results and it is negative. 

Princeton Day School has put in place policies and procedures for students who miss school while ill. The Learning Specialist in each Division manages this process.

We recognize that all illnesses are not COVID, but for the benefit and safety of the community, we will always err on the side of caution. The Health Office will contact individuals and ask them to be seen by their doctor before returning to campus.

As we continue to keep up-to-date with safe practices our current understanding is that parental screening for general health (temperature-taking and review of signs and symptoms), as well as constant assessment of possible COVID contacts, allows us as a community to better gauge who can be on campus and who should stay home.

Individuals with COVID-19 must quarantine for 5 days regardless of vaccination status. 

• Day 0 is the first day of a positive test or symptoms. 

• Day 6 is the day the individual can return to campus, if symptom free.

• There is no test requirement to return to campus.  

• Individuals must wear a mask for the full 10 days in all school activities and school settings.  This includes athletics, performing arts, and all school activities. Individuals will have alternative eating spaces available for their use.  It is the responsibility of the individual to adhere to these guidelines.

• COVID+ individuals should not test for COVID for 90 days after their initial positive test result.

IMPORTANT: Contact the Health Office (healthoffice@pds.org) to notify the School of a  COVID positive test result.

Fully Vaccinated Individuals

IMPORTANT: Students and Adults have different definitions of what it means to be fully vaccinated.   

• Students are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after they have received their final COVID-19 vaccination dose.

• Adults are considered fully vaccinated after they have received their full COVID-19 vaccination doses and have received a COVID Booster.

• Individuals who have had COVID in the last 90 days do not need to quarantine if they have been in close contact with a COVID+ individual and are symptom free.

Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine if they have been in close contact with a COVID+ individual and are symptom free.

All Other Individuals

• Individuals who are not fully vaccinated (see above for definition) must quarantine for 5 days. 

• Day 0 is the first day they are identified as a close contact.

• We recommend (but do not require) that you take a COVID test (rapid antigen or PCR) on Day 5.  

• We recommend that you monitor closely for any symptoms.

• Day 6 is the day the individual can return to campus if symptom free.

Contact Tracing

Princeton Day School will no longer contact trace for COVID positive cases. Individuals who are COVID positive will need to isolate for 5 days.

Parents are asked to notify their child’s specific division assistant as well as the health office when their child is ill. They must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. The health office may follow up with families and may recommend that they see their health care provider prior to returning to school. This policy is for non-COVID related illness. Refer to the COVID policies and protocols when you have a child who has tested positive for COVID.

Lower School

Grades PreK through four engage in a year-long program highlighting topics such as nutrition, safety, and self-awareness in an age appropriate manner through interactive lessons, group discussion, and dynamic speakers. In the Lower School, students begin the journey of self empowerment and good decision making through example.

Middle School

Using a multidisciplinary method, Grades five through eight learn about the five "S" topics: Stress and Sleep, Self Care, Substance use and abuse, Social Media and Human Sexuality. Small classes that meet once every cycle are in seminar format and encourage students to discuss relevant topics in a safe and supportive environment. Additionally, assembly speakers from the PDS community and beyond enhance the classroom curriculum, and opportunities exist those students who would like to try yoga, meditation and mindfulness through the DaVinci Electives offerings, our signature Middle School experiential learning block.

Upper School

In tenth grade health class (a graduation requirement for each student), we again delve deeply and examine current topics in health and wellness, focusing on awareness of how this information shapes the decisions we make in our own lives. Health educators utilize several forms of learning, group discussions, and longitudinal projects, as well as external resources to continue the journey in wellness practices.

Using a Peer Group model of teaching, important topics in wellness are covered in an innovative, interactive and holistic manner. After a rigorous application and selection process, leaders from the senior class are meticulously trained in order to teach younger students through either the Peer Group (ninth grade) or the Bridges (seventh grade) programs. Responsible for teaching their assigned classes for the majority of the year, seniors learn to prepare, execute lesson plans and critique their work. Faculty preceptors from each program, Peer Group and Bridges, act as supervisors and mentors for the seniors throughout their leadership training experience by providing feedback and support, and by cultivating leadership skills in each of them.

By using this model, both the ‘student’ as well as the ‘teacher’ benefit -- for the student, through learning information from a peer lens, and for the teacher, through providing actual context to that information and being a true role model and example.

The Physical Education Program is based upon the acquisition of knowledge and skills that are the foundation for engaging in an active lifestyle. This is a sequential educational program based on physical activities undertaken in an active, caring, supportive atmosphere in which every student is challenged and successful. Our aim is to empower all of our students to sustain regular, lifelong physical activity as a foundation for a healthy, productive and fulfilling life.

Athletics at Princeton Day School play an integral role in the overall education of each student. We believe in the classical ideal of mens sana in corpore sano: "a sound mind in a sound body" with a dedication to the lasting values of personal integrity, responsibility, commitment, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Princeton Day School offers an extensive interscholastic athletic program, which includes 25 sports and 90 teams. Over 50% of our students enrolled in the Upper School, and over 85% in the Middle School participate on an interscholastic team.

This robust program is fluid and meets the needs of those gifted athletes to prepare to compete at the college level, while at the same time ensuring that every participant engages in the lifelong benefits of athletics, physical fitness, competition and teamwork.

Princeton Day School "nurtures the mind, the body, and the character of each student. Integrity, respect, and compassion are essential to the school's mission." -- PDS Mission Statement

The Student Service Team works closely with the students and faculty to ensure that faculty have the understanding and tools with which to work with various students and students have the emotional, educational, and physical support to be successful students.

Student Services Team

The Student Services Team collaborates regularly in support of students and faculty. In our effort to most efficiently meet student needs, the team works collaboratively: Samantha Dawson, Ph.D. is the Learning Specialist for Upper School, Dr. Cloey Wilcox is the Learning Specialist for Middle School, and Dr. Asheigh Young is the Learning Specialist for the Lower School. Our School Counselor is Ms. Jenn Peck-Nolte. In addition, Nurse Erin Lenart is available for Medical Support.

PDS provides a range of services for students who may need additional academic assistance.

Lower School

In our Lower School, our Learning Resource Center team consults with teachers and parents; screens students in language arts and math; and provides extra help for students who are having difficulty acquiring skills.

Middle School/Upper School

In the Middle and Upper schools, teachers are available to meet with students during regularly scheduled resource periods (Middle School) or by appointment during free periods (Upper School). In addition, our Learning Specialist screens students, consults with teachers and parents, works with students on specific short-term study strategies, advocates for learning-different children, and helps them to develop self-advocacy skills. The model is one of increasing independence as students move through the divisions.

To facilitate the medical care of student athletes in grades sixth through twelve, the school employs a certified athletic trainer who is responsible for the prevention, treatment, care and rehabilitation of sports related injuries and illnesses. S/he is available to evaluate any injury or illness that takes place during a practice or game and to either handle the situation at school or refer the student for further medical care. In the event of a serious injury or medical emergency, "911" will be called, and every effort will be made to contact the athlete's parent.

An athletic trainer is available on weekdays from early afternoon until all practices and/or home games have been completed, and on weekends during regular home games.

Medical Excuses from Sports:

All injuries to athletes, whether sports-related or not, must be reported to the certified athletic trainer. Any athlete under a doctor's care for an injury or illness will be required to provide a doctor's note to be excused from sports, and then a note allowing the student to return to sports. If the athletic trainer refers a student to a doctor for medical care, a doctor's note is required to return to sports.

An athlete who is unable to participate in games and/or practice due to injury or illness must be excused in writing by their doctor or the certified athletic trainer. The athletic trainer will modify the athlete's activity and/or provide therapeutic exercise if appropriate to assist the athlete in their return to sports participation.

The Health Office is staffed by two Registered Nurses from 8:00am to 3:30pm daily. The office is located near the front lobby in the Administration wing. The nurses are committed to providing comprehensive health care while addressing the physical, mental, emotional and social needs of every community member. The Medical Director, Dr. Maritoni Calon Shah, is available for consultation as needed. Please contact us at 924-6700 x1190 or fax us at 609 279-2705 with any questions you may have.

The password-protected PDS Parent Portal contains links to required forms, exclusion from school guidelines, NJ State immunization requirements and a host of other health resources for our PDS families.