Welcome Back!

Welcome Back!
Posted on 01/04/2022
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Welcome Back From Winter Break!

We look forward to seeing everyone back in school on January 5th! Here is the green/silver day schedule and the bell schedule for the spring 2022 semester. All schedules have been posted in Campus, so please make sure you check out your updated schedule for the spring of 2022.

Here is important information about updated Covid guidelines from Superintendent Dorland's email on January 3rd.

Dear #TeamJeffco,

I personally want to share with you that I am isolating at home due to a positive COVID test. While I am still feeling well enough to work, I am also relying on cabinet members to support the work of the district, including a strong return to school. I share this because I know some of you are having the same experience. COVID cases continue to trend upward, and I hope you and your family have been able to avoid the recent surge in cases. 

We need to rely on one another to support as strong a return as possible to second semester—#BetterTogether. Our care and concern for everyone’s well-being is foremost on our minds. If you are sick and plan to be out, please put your absence in the sub system as soon as possible so we can work with schools to return safely. Please find the following clarification on isolation and quarantine protocols as well as an update on our COVID-related practices. A more detailed FAQ will be forthcoming later this week.

Let me start by reiterating what we communicated last week—healthy staff and students will be returning to school in-person as scheduled and masks continue to be required per public health order 21-006 in Jefferson CountyWe want healthy students and staff, those who are not positive for COVID or not symptomatic, to come to school daily. We are committed to safety and mitigation efforts that make that possible. We also continue to work with, and rely heavily on, Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) who are the experts responsible for the health and safety of our local communities as well as those around the state amid the pandemic.

We are not considering districtwide delays to our return, nor are we planning to implement remote learning as an entire district. However, we will consider remote instruction on a school-by-school basis should we have significant staffing shortages or not be able to operate in-person instruction effectively for other reasons. If the Omicron variant peaks over the next week as public health experts expect and we have to close schools or move to remote learning, we are optimistic that we will be able to return to in-person learning relatively quickly. 

Isolations & Quarantines

As we return to work and school, we are updating our practices aligned with CDC guidance. Here is what you need to know:

  • Isolation (when COVID positive or symptomatic). Regardless of vaccination status, positive cases of COVID and those with symptoms should isolate for 5 days past symptom onset or positive test collection date for asymptomatic cases. The person can return to school on day 6 so long as they have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without using medication, and they no longer have symptoms. If you have symptoms you must stay home and we encourage you to keep testing. No test is required to return. 

  • Quarantine (when exposed to COVID). Vaccinated asymptomatic people are not required to quarantine. Quarantines for asymptomatic, unvaccinated people exposed to COVID are now 5 days past the exposure date. If the unvaccinated person has not developed any symptoms of COVID since exposure, they can return to school on day 6. No test is required to return. Note that this also applies for schools in “outbreak status” as we have not yet received information that says otherwise. 

COVID Testing 

Our district strongly encourages testing, which we feel is key to keeping COVID out of our schools, giving our staff and families peace of mind, and being responsible citizens who consider the needs of others in our community. All staff and students are strongly encouraged to test if symptomatic regardless of vaccination status. See COVID testing sites here. CDPHE is providing free over-the-counter tests for parents, guardians, and caregivers to administer to school-aged children at-home. Click here to find out more.

Asymptomatic staff and students can continue to test weekly, however Mobile Health testing sites and schedules are changing after January 11 and we will be sharing more on that soon. Regular testing is especially encouraged during the months of January and February when public health officials believe the Omicron variant will be at its peak. 

Student Athletic/Activity Testing

With the expiration of Jefferson County public health order 21-002, we encourage but will not require unvaccinated students participating in CHSAA sponsored athletics and activities to test on a weekly basis in the spirit of sportsmanship and for their own health and safety. Mask requirements remain in place.

Staff Testing Requirement for Unvaccinated Staff

All unvaccinated staff will continue to be required to regularly test. We need healthy staff to operate our schools and operations safely and efficiently and believe the regular testing we already have in place for unvaccinated staff support this effort. The first required test for unvaccinated staff is due on January 11. Please check the mobile health testing sites and schedules as they have changed and will no longer be in each high school daily. We do not anticipate any changes to testing requirements for unvaccinated staff members.

COVID Vaccination Clinics

Jefferson County Public Health and partners are hosting clinics to provide free COVID-19 vaccines in many locations across the county. Please check this page for more information.

Our commitment to every student has never been more critical and we are so grateful for #TeamJeffco who remain committed to serving students amid these challenges.

Sincerely, Tracy Dorland Superintendent

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