COVID Information:

• COVID Symptom and Testing Update: The funding available for testing has started to be scaled back by the federal and state government agencies. Insurance companies are only required to cover the cost for at-home rapid tests at this time. For this reason, we are adjusting our approach when COVID symptoms are present.
  • An at-home rapid test are now required when COVID symptoms are present. You may choose to get a PCR or NAAT test if you are able to or choose to do so, however, only an at-home test will be required. Please send a photo of the test strip result to the office or text it via Remind.
  • If the test is negative and your child has been fever free for 24 hours without using Tylenol/Ibuprofen, your child may come to school if feeling well enough to participate in class. We recommend that your child wears a mask if not feeling 100% in order to stop the spread of all kinds of illness in the classroom. We have masks available in at school for this purpose.
  • You must continue to do an at home test your child every day that symptoms are present. It is very common that a person with COVID does not test positive on a rapid test in the first couple of days of the illness. This aspect of this new protocol is absolutely essential to help stop an outbreak of COVID in your child’s classroom. 
  • If the test is positive, quarantine is required and the office will be in touch with the timeline for returning to class.
  • We will be adjusting to this big change and will update you if we have more details to share. If you have any questions, please contact the office.
  • For a refresher on the symptoms that require an at home COVID test, please see the COVID article found in a different section of this newsletter.
  • All families should stock up on at home rapid tests. The cost for these is required to be covered by all insurance carriers at this time. If you do not have rapid tests at home, testing is available in the school office. Please contact the office to arrange for testing.
  • If your child feels ill in the middle of the school day, you will have the option to pick them up to do a rapid test at home or the school can give the rapid test also.

• My child isn’t feeling well, what is the protocol for returning to school? If your child displays symptoms as described below, an at home rapid test is required each day your child presents with symptoms as described below:
  • ONE of the following:
    • New cough
    • Loss of taste or smell
    • Shortness of breath – OR –
  • Any TWO of the following:
    • Fever (measured or subjective)
    • Chills
    • Headache
    • Extreme Tiredness/Fatigue
    • Sore Throat
    • New congestion or Runny nose
    • Body aches
    • Nausea/vomiting or Diarrhea

• COVID Outbreak Protocol: A COVID outbreak is defined as at least three cases or at least 10% of students, teachers or staff within a specified group, like a classroom, with positive results within 14 days of each other. This is considered an outbreak. In an outbreak situation, we will do the following:
  • We will email the parents right away about the outbreak.
  • The class/group will universally mask for 10 days from the last time the COVID positive person was in class.
  • We will rapid test the class as soon as possible. If you do not want your child to take a rapid test during an outbreak you can opt out with this survey. If you opt out and there is an outbreak in your child’s classroom, as defined by KCHD, your options are: coming to the school to Rapid test your child, picking up your child and taking them home for a Rapid test, or picking up your child and keeping them home for a 10 day quarantine.
  • We will implement other methods of prevention at school such as level zero (no talking) at lunch, increased sanitizing of surfaces in the classroom, etc.

• COVID exposure outside of school
  Please contact the office if your child has had an exposure at home or somewhere else outside of school. Children who have had recent COVID exposure will need to mask in school and we will take precautions at meal times as well.

• Stock Up on Rapids Tests @ Home! If your child comes down with COVID or is exposed, you are going to need rapid tests at home to determine when your child will be able to come back to school. Here are some resources to stock up on rapid tests at home for free:
  • CVS & Walgreens: CVS works with most insurance plans including Medicare and will provide 8 test per family member every month. You may find more information here.  For Walgreens, ask your pharmacist and they will be able to help you.
  • If you don’t use CVS or Walgreens, check with your pharmacy as they likely are able to fill a prescription for COVID tests as well.
  • Area Libraries: MDHHS has partnered with several libraries to provide free at-home COVID test kits. Click here for more information and locations.
  • Project ACT: This program is offering free test to residents of eligible communities while supplies last. To see if you live in an eligible area, click here. (most zip codes around the school are eligible!)