COVID Updates

COVID-19 Update for 12/13/21

Dear WNESU Families,

The numbers today represent positive cases for Monday, 12/13/21. Lately, the numbers are coming in later in the day, so our notifications are running behind

Please see the covid totals link above to view the spreadsheet

As we draw nearer to the extended Holiday break at the end of December, we are looking at ways to continue to support our students and families. However, we again anticipate an increase in our positive cases after we return. Families can help by wearing masks when indoors, social distancing, limiting travel, washing hands, and getting vaccinated. We know that these steps do reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.

We continue to lag in the area of proof of vaccination validation. We implore you, if your child is vaccinated, please show proof of vaccination to your school nurse. Vaccinated students do not have to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact.

I am considering moving to a weekly update on positive cases as opposed to daily. I welcome any feedback. andrew.haas@wnesu.com

Also, If families wish to schedule a meeting at any time with me, they can use this link. This will take you to a program that allows you to see my calendar and schedule a meeting that works for you. These are 30 chats with no agenda, just an opportunity to connect.

I have included a few links that may be of assistance in helping families.

Return to School Following Illness

What to do if you are a Close Contact

Testing

Coronavirus in Windham County

We know that our surveillance testing and Test to Stay program are helping to keep students in school. However, these programs and our ability to ensure our students continue to receive the best educational opportunity only work when families do their part outside of school.

Any student who has been identified as a close contact and is unvaccinated, may participate in our Test to Stay Program. Information regarding this program may be found HERE.

The VT AOE Guidelines have indicated that if a building population were to reach 80% vaccinated (Students and Staff) that mask requirements and close contact tracing would not be required. Currently, the vaccination rate for staff at all buildings is above 80%. Please consider having your child vaccinated.

The majority of these new cases were discovered due to our weekly surveillance testing program. This program has proven to successfully identify many positive cases where those infected were unaware and potentially led to others not being infected. Starting Tuesday, November 9th, we will be switching our weekly PCR surveillance testing from Thursdays to Tuesdays. This will provide our staff better access to individuals to conduct contract tracing and hopefully avoid unnecessary quarantining.

Please remember if you have your child tested somewhere other than their school, those institutions do not always contact the school in a timely manner. We ask that you contact your child's school as soon as you become aware so we can begin contact tracing immediately.

If your child has been identified as being positive for COVID-19 or is instructed to quarantine we ask that this be observed even when home. Please do not let your child play with or visit others while being quarantined. If your child is still able to go to school, please do not let them play with or visit those who are ill or who are being quarantined. Your cooperation in this matter will go a long way to limiting future outbreaks and reducing the number of times we have to send students home or close classrooms.

We want to reassure you that we are working directly with the Vermont Department of Health. Anyone exposed, or has been identified as a direct contact, has been contacted by the school nurse and administration and given guidance on quarantine and other recommendations. If you have not been contacted, your child is not directly impacted by this case.

The most important things to do are:

• Make sure your child is wearing a mask when recommended and required.

• Make sure your child is washing their hands. Keep your child home if they are sick.

• Call your primary care provider if you or your child has symptoms of Covid-19.

• Consider having your child vaccinated if they are eligible.

• Consider having your child participate in weekly surveillance testing.

In order to maintain everyone’s privacy, we cannot disclose who in our community has tested positive. Remember, we are all at risk for getting this virus. These COVID-19 cases are our friends and family and we need to be understanding and supportive during this time. We are following the Health Department recommendations closely. The school will be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned per guidance and no ill employee or student will be allowed to return to school until they are healthy. We will continue to communicate changes and updates with you. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us.

Be Safe,

Andy Haas

Interim Superintendent