Dear SMM Families,
As much as I hope and pray that COVID and all its’ implications for the school day soon become a part of the recent past, there remain updated guidelines to follow. The CDC provided updated guidelines on August 5, 2022, for K-12 Schools and Child Care. We take our lead from our local health district (Snohomish) to whom we report obligatory data.
Vaccination Requirements
All employees, volunteers and indoor contractors in educational settings are required to be fully vaccinated (defined as 1 J&J, 2 Pfizer, 2 Moderna) – unless an exemption is provided, and accommodations can be made. All SMM employees work directly with students, in person, therefore we don’t have the capacity to accommodate for non-vaccination.
If you volunteer outdoors – vaccination isn’t mandated, however, you are required to show proof on a negative test, weekly.
At-Home Isolation Protocol and Returning to School
An individual who tests positive for COVID-19 with a viral test (Molecular (PCR/NAAT) or antigen, including self-tests) is required to follow isolation guidelines outlined below.
A student, child, or staff who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at home or where they are currently residing, regardless of vaccination status. The individual may return after 5 full days of isolation if they are asymptomatic, or their symptoms have improved, and they have had no fever for the past 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Day 0 is the first day of symptoms. For people without symptoms, day 0 is the day of the positive viral test.
Repeating initial tests does not change the isolation protocol; a positive test initiates the isolation protocol. Additionally, individuals who test positive using antigen or at-home tests towards the end of the full 5 days of isolation, and/or on days 6-10, are required to complete the 10 full days of isolation. Testing after day 10 is not recommended.
Presenting Symptoms in the School House
This is where the families play the biggest part. STAY HOME WHEN SICK! Be available promptly to pick up your students should they come to the office ill. Send your student with a mask as they will be expected to wear it while waiting for you. This is to mitigate any spread of any illness that those in proximity are exposed to. This is a new guideline.
Notifying Groups or Individuals of Potential Exposure
Schools and childcare providers are required to have a process in place to inform students, children, and their families when there are cases and outbreaks in the school or childcare. We will keep families informed of cases and outbreaks in the weekly newsletter from the office.
When you report absent or tardy, please advise if this is because of a positive COVID test. The office will keep families and staff informed of the presence of COVID in the schoolhouse via our weekly newsletter. You will not receive reports from your classroom teacher regarding COVID. These updates will advise if there are students/staff out as a result of a positive COVID test. **Please note – this is not an indication of an outbreak, just notification of potential exposure.
Remember, keep kids home when they are sick – this is the first line of defense in mitigating the spread of any illness. And don’t send students back unless they have been symptom free, WITHOUT THE AID OF MEDICATION, for 24 hours.
Thank you so much for your cooperation and understanding. Continued prayers for good health and well-being.
Blessings,
Bernadine Mahar, Ed.D
Principal