Dear MBS Community,

For almost two years, we have been following the recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Health, the CDC, and the NJ Governor's mandates to help us navigate the pandemic and keep our School community as healthy as possible. As such, we will be honoring Governor Murphy's lifting of the statewide mask mandate for schools on March 7, 2022.

Morristown Beard School will shift to a mask-optional protocol for students, faculty, and staff effective Monday, March 7, 2022. This means that wearing a mask indoors will no longer be required; the decision to wear a mask will be up to each community member. All community members will be wholly supported in their decision-making and are encouraged to observe what makes them most comfortable.

We continue to rely on the New Jersey Department of Health and the CDC to establish protocols and policies. Here are a few highlights from their latest recommendations:

- As of March 7th, students are not required to wear a mask on buses.

- Students and staff who have tested positive and are asymptomatic may return to school during days 6-10 of quarantine but are required to wear a mask in school.

These policy changes reflect current infection rates in our community. Should we experience an outbreak, we may need to revisit certain aspects of our COVID-19 procedures, including testing and masking, based on guidance from state and local officials. We will communicate any new information in a timely manner.

As we monitor community health and wellbeing, I would like to thank our families for doing their part by keeping sick children home. We must rely on each other to be vigilant regarding our own health and to treat one another with kindness and respect.

Best regards,