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Coronavirus Information

Welcome Back to Campus

Our new hybrid bell schedule enables us to reduce the number of students on campus at any given time with the goal of reaching full capacity as safely as possible. Our top priority is the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and entire community. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and consult guidelines from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE),  Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). All plans are contingent on forthcoming direction from state and local authorities.

Commonly Asked Questions

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

  • Q. Do students, faculty and staff need to wear a mask while on campus?

    For the health and safety of all students, faculty and staff, masks are to be worn at all times while on campus, including the parking lot and outdoor areas. Masks should be in place (over nose and mouth) before exiting your vehicle. Three types of masks are allowed:
    • Loyola issued mask or those purchased from the LoyolaWear store.
    • Disposable masks. Disposable masks should be thrown away at the end of every school day.
    • Reusable masks. Reusable masks should be cleaned after every use.
    Disposable and reusable masks may not include logos, images or words. Masks with exhalation valves or vents and gaiter style masks are now allowed. 

  • Q. When should I keep my child home?

    Any student experiencing a temperature at or exceeding 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or any other symptoms of COVID-19 including coughing; fever; chills; body aches; loss of sense of taste or smell; sneezing; runny nose; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; extreme fatigue; diarrhea; nausea/vomiting; or sore throat should stay home.

  • Q. What do I do if I decide to get tested for COVID-19?

    Self-quarantine/isolate at home until you have received your test results. If the test result is positive, isolate at home for 10 days from the positive test date. Report any positive case to our school nurse, Mrs. Corry Braasch at cbraasch@loy.org.

  • Q. What if I test positive for COVID-19?

    • Quarantine at home for 10 days from start of symptoms; if you do not have symptoms, quarantine 10 days since your positive test date
    • Isolate the COVID-19 positive person alone in a room away from others
    • Report positive case to Loyola’s school nurse, Mrs. Corry Braasch at cbraasch@loy.org
    • May return to on campus classes and activities after 10 day quarantine, AND fever free for 72 hours without the use of fever free medicine AND other symptoms of COVID are improving
    • Must check in with the school nurse before returning to school or activities and email a "Release of Isolation" note from a doctor

  • Q. What should I do if I'm told to quarantine?

    • Quarantine at home for 14 days of last exposure regardless of test results. Restart the 14 day quarantine if there is continued exposure to same positive individual. If a new household member tests positive with COVID-19 an you had close contact, restart the 14 day quarantine.
    • If COVID symptoms develop during the 14 day quarantine, quarantine for an additional 10 days from the start of the symptoms.
    • Follow all instructions from the Cook County Department of Public Health. They will notify you within 48 hours after receiving notification from Loyola Academy.
    • Visit the CDC website for more information.

  • Q. What should I do when my quarantine is over?

    You must email your "Release from Isolation" or "Release from Quarantine" letter that you receive from your local health department OR a note from your physician to Mrs. Braasch at cbraasch@loy.org. You can NOT return to school/cocurricular activities until this letter or note is received by Loyola Academy.

  • Q. What do I do if someone in my household tests positive?

    • Every family member in the same household must quarantine for 14 days from the last day of exposure to the individual who tested positive
    • The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 must be isolated from the rest of the family members in his or her own room or space
    • Notify our school nurse Mrs. Braasch at cbraasch@loy.org about any exposure to a positive case at home.

COVID-19 Recovery Team

To guide our planning, we've assembled the LA COVID-19 Recovery Team, comprised of school leaders and medical experts. This team will shape the plan for reopening school as they identify the issues that must be considered as we move toward August and through the school year. We are committed to developing a pathway that is focused on safety and best practices, manifesting the best characteristics of our tradition of cura personalis. We know that creativity and flexibility must characterize our work. We also know that it will be crucial to communicate clearly and frequently with you and all members of the Loyola Academy community.

COVID-19 Recovery Team Work Groups

List of 6 items.

  • Steering Committee

    Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ
    President

    Charles Heintz
    Principal

    Lynn Egan
    Director of Web Development and Digital Communications

    Nancy E. Paridy
    Chair, Loyola Academy Board of Trustees
    Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

    Joe Roddy '82
    Loyola Academy Board of Trustee Member
    Attorney/Partner, Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, PC

  • Academic Work Group

    The Ademic Work Group ensures continuity and quality of learning, including online resources.

    David Behof '92, Chair
    Director of Research and Technology

  • Facilities Work Group

    The Facilities Work Group ensures necessary accommodations for social distancing and de-densifying; PPE resources and use, including training on proper use; campus signage and communication; sanitation and cleaning of campus.

    Dennis Stonequist '90, Chair
    Executive Vice President

  • Health & Safety Work Group

    The Health & Safety Work Group ensures that COVID-19 response efforts are driven by medically accurate information and medical best practices. It will address issues regarding students, faculty and staff with underlying medical conditions and mental health; COVID-19 testing and tracing; PPE inventory and usage.  Ensure that IDPH, ISBE and CDC guidelines are followed.

    Corry Braasch, RN, Chair
    Nurse

  • Personnel Work Group

    Priorities of the Personnel Work Group include: employment issues, training for pre-return to work, how to use PPE, attendance, sick leave, remote working, work with those with underlying medical conditions, revise policies as necessary.

    Matt Smith, Chair
    Human Resources Director

  • Student Life Work Group

    Student Life Work Group ensures that the campus response meets the needs of student development and safety in all aspects of their LA experience with a focus on athletics, ministry and cocurriculars.

    Genevieve Atwood, Chair
    Vice President for Athletics and Fitness
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at covid.information@loy.org.

Health & Safety

List of 6 items.

  • Wear A Mask

    As Ramblers, we are called to be women & men for others—something as simple as wearing a mask helps to keep everyone within the community healthy.
    More Info

  • Keep A Safe Distance

    COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are within close contact of each other (within 6 feet). Recent studies indicate that a significant portion of COVID-19 transmission is done through people that have no symptoms. That's why one of the first tools to employ in the fight against COVID-19 is physical distancing. We all have a personal responsibility and community accountability to help stop the spread.
    More Info

  • Contact Tracing, Quarantine, Isolation

    Quarantine and isolation helps protect the our community by preventing exposure to people who may have come in contact with COVID-19 or who may have tested positive. Contact tracing allows us and the public health department to identify who should quarantine and/or isolate.
    More Info

  • Wash Your Hands

    Handwashing is one of the best ways to stop the spread of germs. Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds especially after you’ve been in a public place, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
    More Info

  • Symptom Checks

    For the health and safety of our entire community, Loyola Academy will be conducting symptom checks and temperature screens of all students, faculty, staff and visitors upon entering the building.
    More Info

  • Stay Home If Sick

    If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 including coughing; fever; chills; body aches; loss of sense of taste or smell; sneezing; runny nose; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; extreme fatigue; diarrhea; nausea/vomiting; or sore throat—STAY HOME.
    More Info

Bell Schedules for the 2020–21 Academic Year

List of 3 items.

  • Hybrid Bell Schedule

    Updated 9/2/2020
    Our Hybrid Bell Schedule allows for one or two grade levels to be learning at school while other students are learning from home. We began the school year with one grade level coming to campus each day; however, beginning Tuesday, September 8, our updated Hybrid Bell Schedule divides students from two grade levels in half alphabetically by last name and requires them to report to campus based on the schedule, while other students are learning from home.
    Read More

  • E-Learning Bell Schedule

    E-Learning will be used when it is not safe to have in-person learning, and all teaching and learning will be done remotely. Based on feedback we received from year-end surveys of students and teachers, we modified our E-Learning Bell Schedule to include a lunch period, start the school day earlier and increase class periods by 5 minutes in length. Visit the E-Learning Days web page for additional information.

  • Traditional Bell Schedule

    It is our goal to return to our Traditional Bell Schedule as soon as possible. ISBE’s guidance suggests that it is best to return to school in phases. When we do return to full-capacity learning in the building, we expect that we will need more time in the morning to screen students for symptoms of COVID-19; therefore, we’ve adjusted our daily school schedule to start at 8:00 a.m. for the entire school year when there is in-person learning happening in the building. Class periods will be 55 minutes long and time will be added to the second period and fifth period of the day to accommodate homeroom announcements and the Examen prayer, respectively.

Back to School Safety Precautions

Student Videos

Communications Sent

7 Announcements displayed.

Prevention Tips

List of 8 items.

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

    If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

  • Wipe down surfaces regularly with disinfectant wipes.

  • Avoid touching your face, especially eyes, nose and mouth.

  • Elbow bump instead of shaking hands.

  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw it away immediately.

  • Do not send your student to school if he or she is sick.

    Absences due to illness, including fever-related absences, will be recorded as an Excused Absence without a doctor's note. Teachers will work with students to create a plan to make up missed work.

  • Per our local authorities, it has been recommended that students stay home until they are fever-free for 48 hours.

  • If your student has a combination of a fever, cough and shortness of breath, contact your doctor.

    As recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately.

    • COVID-19

      Symptoms of Coronavirus

    • COVID-19

      Stop the Spread of Germs

    • COVID-19

      Face Coverings Dos & Don'ts

    • COVID-19

      Social Distancing

Important Links

Travel Advisory Links

List of 1 items.

Maintaining a Positive School Culture

As a Jesuit school, we operate from a place of love and compassion rather than fear in our pursuit of creating an environment that is healthy, safe and free from bias or discrimination. Worldwide and in times of viral outbreak, there has historically been an uptick in racial harassment, xenophobia and insensitive remarks. Loyola Academy will not tolerate discrimination of any kind.

Loyola Academy

1100 Laramie Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091-1089  |  847-256-1100
Loyola Academy admits students of any race, color and national origin or ethnic origin.
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