Skinner North Update 3/15/21

Good morning!  Please see below for a few updates.  In addition, we have gotten some questions related to travel and COVID like symptoms and school attendance.  Please read below for the guidance.  We appreciate everyone understanding and following the guidance.

Have a wonderful day,
Katie
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4th Quarter In Person Opt In - Please remember to complete this survey sent to you by the district.  You do not need to complete if your student is already opted into in person learning.  If you have not received the survey or are having any issues please call our main office.  CPS is also having an Elementary School Town Hall on Tuesday, March 16, from 5-6:30 p.m. You can register HERE.  (We will send a survey after this survey closes to ask about pod preferences.  We cannot guarantee preferences, but want to try to coordinate with families where possible.  Students already assigned pods will remain in those pods.)

LSC Agenda - Please see this link for the agenda for our upcoming LSC meeting, which is on Wednesday, March 17 at 5PM.  The virtual link is on the agenda.  

Progress Reports - Progress reports will be mailed out by the district starting the 16th.  

Staff Lot - The lots west and south of the school are reserved for staff.  Please do not use this lot to park or drop of students.  Thank you for your assistance in ensuring our students are safe.  The lot across from the school or Target's lot is available for parent parking.

Diverse Needs Committee - As some of you may know, we began a new committee last school year called the Diverse Needs Committee. The committee was born out of the desire to bring together families with children who have diverse needs as well as to create a space for school initiatives that focus on students with diverse needs. We have been hibernating some while virtual learning has been underway but we would like to invite any parent and staff member to join us as we meet again. 

To get a taste of what has already been accomplished in the committee please visit the NEW website. https://sndiverseneeds.org/

Our next meeting will be: Tuesday, March 23 at 8 am
Google Link: meet.google.com/dnu-ezby-jpf

CPS Travel Guidance -  Please see this helpful document for the current travel guidance and CPS policy related to travel.  

Sick Policy with COVID-like Symptoms -  The following symptoms are considered COVID-like:

• • Fever (100.4°F or higher),
    
  • New onset of moderate to severe headache, 
    
  • Shortness of breath, 
    
  • New cough, 
    
  • Sore throat, 
    
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain from unknown cause,
    
  • New congestion/runny nose, 
    
  • New loss of sense of taste or smell, 
    
  • Nausea, 
    
  • Fatigue from unknown cause, 
    
  • Muscle or body aches.
    
• All students and staff sent home with COVID-like symptoms should be diagnostically tested.
  
  • CDPH requires that students and staff isolate and test for COVID-19 prior to their return to school. 
    
  • Students and staff MUST remain home from school until they receive the test results.
    
  • If negative, they can return to school following a negative test. They may be asked to produce the test result for review. 
    
  • If positive, please report their results to the Office of Student Health and Wellness cps.edu/COVIDresults.
    
• If they do not test, they must stay home for 10 days. 
  
• If they received a vaccine in the past 48 hours this may be a vaccine side effect and would not require testing to return to school. However, they must not have a fever for 24 hours before returning to school.
  
• Students and staff who are confirmed cases of COVID-19 must complete 10 calendar days of isolation from the date of first symptom onset and be fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have improved before returning to school.
  
• Students and staff returning to school after experiencing COVID-like symptoms but were diagnosed with a non-COVID illness must meet the criteria for returning to school for the illness with which they have been diagnosed. 
  
  • At a minimum, the individual must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and have had no diarrhea or vomiting in the previous 24 hours. Other diseases have specific criteria for when a student or staff member can return to school.
    
  • A doctor’s note documenting the alternative diagnosis or a negative COVID-19 test result should accompany a student or staff member returning to school with an alternative diagnosis after experiencing COVID-like symptoms. 
    
  • Schools should assist families in locating free or reduced-cost medical clinics for assistance where needed by providing them with the Healthy CPS Hotline 773-553-KIDS for assistance.
    
• In the winter months, as people transition from cold outdoor temperatures to warmer indoor temperatures, some runny nose and sniffles are expected. If these symptoms are persistent and do not resolve within one hour of being inside, these are to be managed as COVID-like symptoms and acted on accordingly.