St. Luke's School Teacher Positive For Coronavirus On First Day

NEW CANAAN, CT — On the first day that students returned to school, a teacher at St. Luke's School in New Canaan has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), school officials announced.

The teacher, whose identity was not released, is an Upper School teacher and is now isolating, said Julia Gabriele, associate Head of School and CFO, in a message to parents. Gabriele also serves as the school's coronavirus coordinator.

"The reality of these times is that we expect members of the community will test positive," Gabriele wrote. "The goal is to contain transmission through strict adherence to safety procedures including mask-wearing, physical distancing and hand hygiene. Every classroom is set up to keep the teachers six feet away from students. Additionally, all teachers follow strict guidelines for wearing masks at all times during class and while in the building."

Orientation at the school was last week, where 18 new staff members were welcomed.

As of Monday, no other cases of the virus had been reported at the private school, but the school is "monitoring this situation very closely and will notify families immediately if we learn of additional cases."