With over 85,000 COVID-19 cases in New York City, on New Year's Eve alone, the amount of Tower Hill students who traveled to extremely high-risk areas over break, and the overall spike of cases in Delaware because of Omicron compared to last January, Tower Hill students ask that more measures be put in place to combat the continuing pandemic. 

While students are required to take a COVID-19 test before returning to school, that does not negate the fact that Omicron does not always show up on COVID-19 tests. In addition, this is a one-time testing day; parties, improper mask-wearing, and sports events will still occur outside of regular school hours after the January 3rd testing date. With all of this activity, many of the students, because of the nature of Omicron, will appear asymptomatic and, without testing, will continue to attend Tower Hill school, leading to more people being infected and possibly passing it on to at-risk individuals, unvaccinated family members, and lower schoolers. 

Many students do not feel comfortable in the current environment Tower Hill School had created during this pandemic, and as a result, should not be forced to attend school. If further safety measures were enacted, this situation could be much different. However, the current policy disregards people's living situation, at-risk status, and overall mental health.

The pandemic and possibility of getting COVID-19 or passing it to a loved one are causing many students and families extreme anxiety and worry. As mental wellbeing seems to be of importance to Tower Hill School, we ask that the school take our concerns seriously and make a more impactful reaction plan to the Omicron spike. We ask that the school acknowledge uncomfortable individuals (whether because of family risk, personal risk, or skepticisms of Tower Hill School's ability to react to the Omicron spike) and take accountability for our safety by implementing some or all of the following:

-allowing students to opt-in to virtual learning

-implementing required testing (monthly, biweekly, etc)

-imposing safer restrictions at lunch 

-enforcing social distancing

-being more transparent with students about plans to combat Omicron

-if necessary, going all-virtual for school