GES Family Newsletter 10.18.21
The Green Gem...Where Students and Staff are Treasured!
Mark Your Calendars...
October 22nd -3rd Fun Friday! - School Colors Day! Wear your green to show your GES pride!
October 29th - 1/2 Day for Students with a 1PM dismissal
Halloween Parade - 9:30AM to 10:30AM
PTA
GES Halloween Parade!
At GES we do our best to understand and value everyone's beliefs and traditions. If you do NOT wish for your child to participate in our Halloween parade, please inform your child's teacher by sending in a note ahead of time, an email or by placing a call to the school. We will have other fun alternative activities for your child to do during that time.
Parents are encouraged to park across the street at the Greensboro VFC Community Center. Parents will be unable to park in the new school lot because that is where we are having our parade! Parents are permitted to watch the parade from the sidewalk in front of the school and on the sidewalk underneath the canopy.
Parents will not be permitted inside the building.
Outdoor PE
News Release: Guidelines Updated for Requiring Students to Quarantine
October 15, 2021 - Beginning Monday, October 18, CCPS will be following a modified process for quarantining unvaccinated students identified as close contacts of a positive case of COVID-19. Based on updated guidance from the Caroline County Health Department (CCHD), quarantining protocols will be as follows:
With masking:
In settings where all students are masked, an asymptomatic student who is identified as a close contact will no longer need to quarantine from school as long as the following conditions are met:
- If at any time the student develops symptoms of COVID-19, he or she should isolate and get tested right away.
- The student must continue to wear a mask properly for 14 days after the exposure in all settings.
- The student cannot participate in activities within a school or public setting for 14 days where universal masking and social distancing are not in place. This includes sports and extracurricular activities.
- Testing is recommended 3-5 days following the exposure.
Parents will be notified by email only if their child is identified as a close contact while masked. Parents should ensure their email address is current with the school, and check their email regularly.
If parents choose to keep an asymptomatic child home to quarantine, they should notify the school and the absence will be excused until a specified return date.
Without masking:
Students who are identified as close contacts while not wearing a mask (such as during meals) will continue to be quarantined.
Parents will be notified by phone, followed by a letter in the mail. There are two options for quarantined students:
- Option A: Quarantine at home for 10 days from the last date of known exposure. Your child can return as long as they remain without symptoms.
- Option B: Quarantine at home for 7 days from the last date of known exposure with testing on or after day 5 from exposure. Your child can return to school on day 8 with a negative test result.
According to CCHD Health Officer Robin Cahall, “Based on a regular review of quarantine and testing data, it is evident that the layered prevention strategies instituted within the schools are working. Situations where masking and social distancing are required and adhered to show a reduced likelihood of COVID-19 transmission within schools over the first five weeks of in person education.”
She added, “COVID-19 continues to evolve and change, this guidance may need to change. If COVID-19 spread within schools is not contained following this guidance, changes may need to be made. Schools and public health officials will continually evaluate the guidance being followed and adapt as needed.”
“We appreciate this modification made by CCHD in response to data from the first five weeks of school,” said Interim Superintendent Derek L. Simmons. “Our goal remains to keep schools open full time for in-person learning for all students. With this cautious step forward, we can safely keep more students in the classroom.”
CCPS will continue to implement layered prevention strategies as outlined in the 2021-2022 Reopening Plan. These include universal masking (except while eating), distancing to the extent possible, and contact tracing to identify close contacts.