We return from holiday break tomorrow, January 4, 2021. We wanted to take a moment to refresh and remind everyone of the public safety measures that everyone needs to complete to minimize the risk of spreading the virus any further. As a district we started the school year very cautiously and it proved to be very safe. We do not want to be lax now as the virus has gotten much worse around the country. Our primary goal is to keep the schools open for the students and keep the staff and students safe at the same time.

Daily Health Screenings

• Everyone must complete a daily screening prior to arriving at school. This includes a temperature check. Nurses still have thermometers available, if you need one. No one should be coming to school if you have any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of smell, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
  
  
• If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 you should not be in school.
  
  
• If you have a temperature of 100.4 or higher, Fahrenheit, you should not be in school.
  
  
• If you have traveled outside of Vermont and have not followed the current travel guidance for Vermonters, you should not be in school.
  
  
• When you are called to pick-up your student at school because they are ill it is extremely important that you come within 45 minutes. We are being extremely cautious before we call, but when we do call for you to pick-up your student you need to do so immediately. If your student has the virus, they are contagious and risk infecting others as they wait for your arrival.  
  
  

Return to School Criteria

• If a student answers ‘YES’ to any of the screening questions, has a fever or is sent home with any other symptom that could be associated with COVID-19 they can not return to school until the following criteria are met:
  • The student is fever free for 24 hours, without the use fever reducing medications.
  • The symptoms have improved and it has been 10 days since any symptom first appeared.
    
    
• If the student is able to get tested for COVID-19 (PCR) they can return to school if the test is negative and they have no symptoms for 24 hours. The test results must be provided to the school nurse.
  
  
• In the absence of a negative test result the student can return to school with a note from his or her healthcare provider.
  
  
• In the case of non-essential travel the student must quarantine before returning to school.
  
  

Masks and Cloth Face Coverings

• Anyone inside the school building must wear a face mask at all times unless they are eating. Face coverings must fully cover the student’s mouth and nose.
  
  
• The face covering has to be at least 2 layers and not have any vents.
  
  
• Please make sure to send a second mask in case the first mask gets wet or soiled during the school day.
  
  

Vermont Mandates Relating to Travel and Social Gatherings

• We expect all students and staff to follow the state guidance around social gatherings and travel. If a member of the school staff hears of a violation of the travel or social gathering rules the administration must be notified. The administration will enforce the quarantine rules if a violation has occurred.
  
  

Quarantine Defined

• Quarantine is used to keep someone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others to prevent the virus from spreading. When you are quarantining you do not leave your house for work, school, shopping or recreation. You should stay separate from others in your household.
  
  
• While you are quarantining you should be aware of any symptoms of COVID-19 and call your doctor if any develop.
  
  
• You will need to quarantine for 14 days from the date you returned to Vermont or from when you last had contact with an infected person.
  
  
• If you have been symptom-free you can get tested on or after 7 days. You can end your quarantine when you receive a negative result. You should continue to monitor your health through day 14. If any symptoms develop you need to return to quarantine and contact your doctor.
  
  
• If you are not tested during your quarantine you can return to normal activity on day 15.

Thank you for your attention to this guidance. Please follow it closely and we will all get through this safely together.