I am sending you a special Wednesday message to alert you to a change to how you should contact our schools when it comes to reporting cases of COVID-19. Beginning immediately we would ask that ALL COVID-19 related inquiries be sent to the COVID-19 email addresses below.
Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 related illness, the health offices are experiencing a much higher than usual volume of telephone calls, emails, and office visits. Much of this increased volume is inquiries related to tests, testing, quarantine, and isolation procedures. Please note that because of the higher volume, our school nurses may not be able to reply as they would like or as quickly as has been their practice in the past. Please know that they are doing everything possible to meet the needs of our students and families during these challenging times and that they truly appreciate your support, cooperation, and patience.
In order to streamline communication from families to our schools about COVID-19, we created school-based COVID-19 email addresses.
Beginning immediately we would ask that ALL COVID-19 related inquiries be sent to the following COVID-19 email addresses:
- For the Davis School please email [email protected]
- For the Lane School please email [email protected]
- For JGMS please email [email protected]
- For BHS please email [email protected]
Please note, all positive tests including rapid antigen and PCR tests from a healthcare provider, as well as positive home tests should be reported to your child’s school. When you are reporting that your child has tested positive for COVID-19, please include the following information:
- Name of child
- Grade of child
- Date of symptom onset (if no symptoms were experienced, please note the date the test was taken)
- Date of testing, type of test performed (home, PCR or antigen).
- If the positive test was obtained from a home test, if possible, please schedule a PCR lab test to confirm.
- Date the last time your child was present in school
- Does your child attend school activities or sports and list the activity or team
As a district, we continue to follow the most recent guidance from DESE regarding COVID -19 management in schools. Below is a summary of FAQs based on the latest updates.
- What do I do if I am a close contact (outside of the school setting – household or other out-of-school settings) of someone who has tested postive for COVID-19?
- Asymptomatic, fully vaccinated close contacts are exempt from testing or quarantine. You may return to school.
- If you are a close contact and develop symptoms within 5 days of the initial exposure, stay home and get a PCR test.
- For out of school close contacts – household close contacts, or other out of school close contact and you are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated (2 weeks since the 2nd dose) and you are a close contact, please stay home for 5 days and wear a mask for an additional 5 days. A COVID-19 test (PCR, Antigen and/or home test is acceptable) is recommended on Day 5. You may return on DAY 6.
- What if I am ill and have symptoms on the COVID-19 symptom checklist?
- If you are ill, please stay home and get tested for COVID-19. You may return to school after you have received a negative PCR or antigen test result. An antigen home test may be self-administered. If you test negative, you may return to school as long as your symptoms are improving and you are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
- What if I test positive for COVID-19?
- For anyone who tests positive, they will need to stay at home and isolate for 5 days. Day 0 is the date of the onset of symptoms or date of the positive test, and they may return to school on day 6 as long as you have:
- Been without fever for 24 hours (and without taking fever-reducing medications),
- Experienced improvement of other symptoms
- Following the day 5 isolation period, individuals must mask for 5 additional days when around others.
- Can I continue with weekly pooled testing after I tested positive for COVID?
- No. If your child has tested positive by home test, antigen or PCR – they should NOT participate in weekly testing. It is not recommended that any individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days participate in routine COVID-19 testing.
As always, thank you for your patience, your participation, and your continued commitment to our schools.
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