Health & Wellness
At Princeton Day School we believe that physical, psychological, emotional, and social aspects of one’s health and wellness are essential for growth and success.
We take responsibility for our own physical and emotional health by living an active, healthy lifestyle and by learning about both the factors that protect as well as those that create risk. Our ultimate goal is the commitment to healthy living by making informed choices that dictate actions and form the habits that allow us to thrive individually and as a community.
Wellness Programs
We encourage our students to develop skills and lifelong habits of healthy living by providing developmentally appropriate and clinically pertinent data to influence decision-making. Because we believe in the importance of health and wellness education and practices, students across divisions participate in programming on topics including stress, sleep, self care, substance use and abuse, social media and internet safety, human sexuality, reproductive health and social and emotional learning practices. Students are further educated through guest speakers and visits, conversations within advisory groups and a variety of classroom activities.
Curriculum
Physical, psychological, emotional and social aspects of a student’s health and wellness are essential components for growth and success. We partner with faculty and staff to provide a variety of opportunities for education, awareness and practice. Outside speakers, assemblies and gatherings widen the scope of our offerings and further highlight the importance of wellness while developmentally-appropriate curriculum has been thoughtfully planned to revolve around a number of core topics: nutrition, relationships, safety, sleep, exercise, stress and study skills, sexuality, substance use and abuse and social media. Health and wellness is for every member of the community, and we work in cooperation with our Parents Association and school administrators to ensure that families also benefit by providing opportunities to hear from experts on topics such as executive functioning, anxiety and stress reduction.
The Princeton Day School Health and Wellness program has been made possible through the E.E. Ford Wellness Grant.
Student Services
Child psychologists, school counselors, medical personnel and various support staff all work in partnership to identify needs, coordinate resources and supervise the academic, social and emotional care of our students. With faculty, advisors, coaches and mentors also in regular communication with the Student Services Team, a strong, holistic support system is in place to ensure an environment where all of our students can thrive.
Health Office
Staffed by trained registered nurses, our health office is centrally located in the administrative wing of the main building and fully equipped to provide emergency medical care, dispense medication, answer medically-related questions and attend to a wide range of medical issues among the school community. Additionally, a certified athletic trainer is available beginning each afternoon when practices or home games are scheduled.
Office Hours:
8 a.m - 3:20 p.m. Monday to Friday
Tel: 609-924-6700 x1190
Fax: 609-279-2705
Email: healthoffice@pds.org
The password-protected Parent Portal contains links to required forms, exclusion from school guidelines, NJ State immunization requirements and a host of other health resources for our families.
COVID-19 Information
COVID-19 Policies and Information
- Vaccination Policy
- Vaccination Exemption Form
- Face Coverings
- Health Screening
- Positive Test Result
- Definition of Fully Vaccinated
- Sick Child Policy
Vaccination Policy
Princeton Day School requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes a booster vaccination.
PDS also requires 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 that our eligible youngest students (ages 11 and younger) to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
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.
Vaccination Exemption Form
Face Coverings
Health Screening
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.
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loss of taste or smell
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fever, chills and body aches
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nausea, vomiting
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headaches
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shortness of breath
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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 Fahrenheit requires a note from their physician to return to school at least 24 hours fever-free.
| *Primary symptoms of COVID-19 | Non-primary symptoms of COVID-19 |
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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. Policies and procedures for students who miss school while ill are in place; the learning specialists in each division manage 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.
Positive Test Result
Individuals with COVID-19 must quarantine for five days regardless of vaccination status.
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Day 0 is the first day of a positive test or symptoms.
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Day 6 is the day the individual can return to campus, if symptom free.
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There is no test requirement to return to campus.
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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.
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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.
Definition of Fully Vaccinated
Fully Vaccinated Individuals
IMPORTANT: Students and Adults have different definitions of what it means to be fully vaccinated.
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Students are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after they have received their final COVID-19 vaccination dose.
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Adults are considered fully vaccinated after they have received their full COVID-19 vaccination doses and have received a COVID Booster.
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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
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Individuals who are not fully vaccinated (see above for definition) must quarantine for five days.
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Day zero is the first day they are identified as a close contact.
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We recommend (but do not require) that you take a COVID test (rapid antigen or PCR) on day five.
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We recommend that you monitor closely for any symptoms.
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Day six is the day the individual can return to campus if symptom free.
Contact Tracing
PDS no longer contact traces for COVID positive cases. Individuals who are COVID positive will need to isolate for five days.
Sick Child Policy
Parents are asked to notify their student'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.