Return to School 2022- 23 Key Points
Here is what you need to know
The District will start the school year with a "mask recommended" policy.
Contact tracing will continue.
Active cases will continue to isolate at home.
Most close contacts will not have to quarantine, but there may be exceptions.
Daily email morning reminders to screen for symptoms will continue.
The Covid-19 Dashboard will continue with regular updates on active cases.
In-person instruction will be held five days a week for all grades in all schools.
The District's Return to School Planning Guide is rooted in science, CDC guidelines and recommendations from our health experts at Washington University. The Guide may change as guidelines and recommendations change.
The plan strives to ensure our community is safe, healthy, flourishing and connected.
For more details, click here to read the complete Return to School Planning Guide updated on August 19, 2022.
District moves to
"mask-recommended"
"mask-recommended"
On Thursday, August 18, the University City Board of Education approved a new "mask recommended" plan to start the school year on Monday, August 22. Staff, visitors and students (in partnership with their parents or caregivers) may choose whether to wear a mask inside school buildings. The district continues to highly recommend masking in buildings.
The District continues with enhanced health and safety protocols, which include:
Scheduling of regular clinics offering COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters
Expanded testing opportunities
Contact tracing
Public reporting of district active cases and quarantines through a COVID-19 Dashboard.
Availability of face masks for staff and procurement of additional ones for students
On August 19, the District published its full Return to School Planning Guide for 2022. The guide explains the District's safety and health protocols in addition to plans for social and emotional wellness, rigorous and relevant instruction, racial equity, enrichment through athletics and other activities, and more. The guide further provides contact information by school, including principals, nurses and others. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions section at the end of the guide.
Please note, everything in the guide is fluid and may be subject to change as the year progresses given the unpredictable nature of COVID-19. The District remains committed to science, public health metrics, and the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our medical expert partners at Washington University. We will continue to work in collaboration with our full community to ensure everyone is connected and fully informed.
Healthy: Your Actions Matter
Remember: Stay Home if You are Sick
Students and staff must not come to school if they are sick, quarantining or waiting for COVID-19 test results. Do not come to school if you have a current respiratory illness and/or symptoms of COVD-19 or known exposure to a positive COVID-19 case. If any of these apply, parents should notify their child's school nurse. Staff should notify the Human Resources Department.
Important: Report COVID-19 test results for you or any member of your household
It is critical to let designated District staff know the results of any COVID-19 regardless of whether the result is positive or negative.
Students - Contact your building’s school nurse.
Staff Members - Contact the HR Department via covidreporting@ucityschools.org.
COVID-19 Symptoms
Fever or chills (100ºF or greater)
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Safe: District Protocols
Health checks
Parents and staff are asked to assess the health of their children and others in their household every morning before coming to school.
Email reminders will be sent every morning classes are in session with a list of COVID-19 symptoms to check for.
Parents must contact their child's school nurse if their child has symptoms.
Students, parents and staff should stay home if they have symptoms.
Enhanced cleaning
A regular cleaning schedule will be used with an emphasis on high touch surfaces, including sinks, bathrooms and water bottle filling stations.
The district has reduced need to touch objects/ doors with no-touch waste containers, prop open doors, etc.
Staff will reinforce “no sharing” of food, water bottles, utensils, pens and pencils and art equipment.
All toys and equipment will be made of materials that can be cleaned and disinfected.
Sickness
Students who come to the nurse’s office feeling sick will be sent home.
Those with symptoms of COVID-19 will be cared for separately from other students. An emergency contact will be called to pick them up.
Nurses will have protective gear to use when working with students and the health rooms will be cleaned frequently.
Students and staff who are sick with COVID-19 or suspected to be sick with COVID-19 should stay home.
Masking
The District will begin the 2022-23 school year with a "mask recommended" policy in all buildings. Staff, visitors and students (in partnership with their parents or caregivers) may choose whether to wear a mask inside school buildings. The district continues to highly recommend masking in buildings.
This policy is subject to change if the region has a high rate of hospitalization and transmission rates and if the District or a school's transmission rate exceeds 1.5%.
Protective supplies
Staff will be provided with masks, gloves, sanitizers and other protective gear according to their needs and job duties.
Students who need masks will be provided one.
Plexiglass barriers have been placed in certain offices and areas of high interaction.
Wipes, sanitizers, fountains & sinks
Hand sanitizing stations have been added throughout all U. City buildings.
Classrooms and offices will have hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes readily available for use on a regular basis throughout the day.
Restroom sinks have been retrofitted to be hands-free.
Most water fountains have been retrofitted with water bottle fillers. Those without them will be closed.
Visitor limits
Buildings are open to visitors on a mask recommended policy. Buildings may limit visitors if COVID-19 rates increase to concerning levels.
Visitors should not enter the building if they have COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms
The District may limit attendance at indoor athletic events if needed.
Vaccines
COVID-19 Vaccinations remain required for all SDUC staff. Those with medical exemptions are required to continue weekly COVID-19 testing and reporting.
Vaccinations and boosters for all students remain highly recommended.
The District will continue to offer regular clinics offering vaccinations and boosters.
Healthy: Contact Tracing
The District has assembled a team of contact tracers and on-call medical experts from Washington University to safely manage instances when a possible active case of COVID-19 arises in the district.
Examples of the type of work the contact tracing team engages in when there is a positive case include:
Developing a timeline to determine when the person who tested positive for COVID-19 started experiencing symptoms to accurately determine isolation or quarantine protocols.
Identifying students and staff who meet the CDC definition of having “close contact” with a person testing positive for COVID-19 based on class schedules and assignments.
Supporting the school and district administration in developing and implementing a communication plan (phone calls, letters, emails, etc.).
Informing the teaching and learning departments of students who are in isolation or quarantine so their educational programming can be determined.
Flourishing
The District pledges its full attention to academic and social emotional wellness in the 2021-22 academic year so that its community of students, staff, families and partners flourish. Please see pages 9-13 of the Return to School Guide for a full description of our Flourishing plan. The plan highlights:
Mental Health & Well-Being with increased resources
Rigorous & Relevant Learning with new curriculum and continued professional development
Racial Equity in all aspects of our community
Enrichment through activities, special events, field trips, clubs and athletics.
The Peace Place
Parenting, teaching, working, learning, daily life, sudden change and even positive growth can sometimes be stressful. The Peace Place gives you tools for relaxation, mindfulness and calm. We hope you find these resources helpful as you take time for important self care.
Connected: Communications
Please make sure your contact information, including emergency contact numbers, is up to date in the Parent Portal (Sisk-12), and watch for phone calls, emails or texts to ensure you stay informed. Updates to your contact information can also be made by contacting your child’s school office.