Important information for families.  This information was emailed from Superintendent Laura Myrah early last week.

Greetings Arrowhead families and staff members,

Due to the dramatic increase in the number of positive or presumed positive COVID-19 cases amongst Arrowhead students, we will no longer be providing individual notices that your student was a close contact to someone who tested positive. Currently, we are operating 3 days behind on identifying close contacts and find that as the information becomes increasingly delayed it has less of a useful impact. 

Arrowhead has 67 students who have active, confirmed COVID-19 cases. Last week, we averaged 137 students per day absent from school for all illnesses, whereas during pre-COVID school years that average was approximately 20 students per day.  These numbers are updated at least weekly on Arrowhead’s COVID-19 Communication webpage. 

We closely monitor and track cases at our schools, classrooms, and community. With the rapid increase in cases of the new Omicron variant there are a few things that will help to reduce the spread: 

• Students stay home if they are not feeling well. Students and staff who are experiencing the following symptoms are expected to stay home: Temperature of 100.4°F or higher, chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea, cough, difficulty breathing or new loss of taste or smell.

• If your student has tested positive for COVID-19, please complete this form to help us expedite our process of following up with students who test positive.

The updated Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance now allows for ending an isolation period after 5 full days and returning on day 6, provided that there has been no fever for 24 hours and other symptoms have improved. The day that a person tests positive or first experiences symptoms is considered day zero (0), day 1 is the first day after the positive test or first onset of symptoms. CDC states that if people are ending isolation after 5 days they should wear a mask for the following 5 days because they are still infectious, though less so than the initial days of illness. To be sure of your student's return date, log into your student's attendance record via Skyward. 

If you have any questions about the change to procedure please feel free to contact our Director of Student Services, Adam Boldt at boldt@arrowheadschools.org or 262.369.3611 ext. 4112. 

SEMESTER EXAMS

Additionally, we realize that with semester exams approaching (January 19-21) many students are worried about the impact of absences during finals week. Please know that if your child is ill resulting in absences during the days of finals, they will have time to make up final exams and an incomplete will be recorded for the exams they miss. We have extended testing windows and grading deadlines to allow time for students to make up any necessary work or tests and replace the (I) Incomplete. Students should communicate directly with their teachers to make up any missed exams.

Take care and stay healthy,

Arrowhead Administration Team

A Community Conversation with the School Board

Attention Arrowhead students, parents, staff, and community members!  The Arrowhead School Board will hold a Community Conversation with the School Board on Monday, January 31 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the South Campus Library.  

The purpose of this gathering is to hear from, and converse with, the public on topics of interest to you; no predetermined agenda topics will be scheduled, nor will any decisions be made or votes be taken. The format is an informal discussion forum, rather than the "Comments from the Public" agenda item during monthly school board meetings, wherein the board just listens rather than engages in discussion with attendees. 

At the request of our school board, we are sharing our Student Support Board Presentation with families that outlines how AHS staff support student behavior, positive decision making, and efforts toward a safe environment.  The presentation can also be viewed on our school board meeting recording, starting at about 1:18 minutes in.  

Part-Time Position Opening: 

Are you interested in being part of an amazing TEAM and looking for part-time employment?  We are looking for a part-time Study Hall Aide (12:00pm-3:00pm) and Lunch Room Aide (10:00am - 12:00pm).  This position is a school-year position and is located at our South Campus. You can find more details on this position, as well as other staff positions, on the WECAN.education.wisc.edu website or the Arrowhead website https://www.arrowheadschools.org (scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "WORK").  Please feel free to spread the word!  Thank you for your continued support!