Brentwood Elementary Communication
August 24, 2021 - DIG IN AND BUILD UP! 2021-22 COVID Edition
BRENTWOOD ELEMENTARY, SHOW US YOUR P.A.W.S! 🐾
PERSONAL BEST, ACTIVE LISTENING, WITH RESPECT, & BEING SUPER RESPONSIBLE
DISCLAIMER: SUBJECT TO CHANGE - LAST UPDATED 8/27/21
Notification from Brentwood/Austin ISD to Our Families
A letter is sent for each time a child tests positive (even if it was before classes and the quarantine period overlapped).
We are unable to provide additional information to our school community, other than the individual phone call conversations with those directly affected and the district provided written communication.
Close Contact (Between Adults & Adults and Children) ADDED 8/27/21
You were within 6 feet of an infected person for over 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period within 48 hours prior to the person feeling sick until the sick person goes into isolation.
You were sneezed or coughed on or somehow got the infected person’s respiratory drops on you.
You cared for an infected person at home.
You shared eating or drinking utensils with an infected person.
You had direct contact (touched, hugged, or kissed) with the infected person.
You were within 6 feet of an infected person for over 15 minutes or more over a 24-hr period in a classroom within 48 hours prior to the person feeling sick until they go in isolation.
You were within 6 feet of an infected person for over 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period on a bus within the 48 hours prior to the person feeling sick until they go into isolation.
You were within 6 feet of an infected asymptomatic (no symptoms) person for over 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period within the 48 hours prior getting tested until they go into isolation.
Close Contact (Between Children) - ADDED 8/27/21
You were within 3 feet of an infected person for over 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period within 48 hours prior to the person feeling sick until the sick person goes into isolation.
You were sneezed or coughed on or somehow got the infected person’s respiratory drops on you.
You cared for an infected person at home.
You shared eating or drinking utensils with an infected person.
You had direct contact (touched, hugged, or kissed) with the infected person.
You were within 3 feet of an infected person for over 15 minutes or more over a 24-hr period in a classroom within 48 hours prior to the person feeling sick until they go in isolation.
You were within 3 feet of an infected person for over 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period on a bus within the 48 hours prior to the person feeling sick until they go into isolation.
You were within 3 feet of an infected asymptomatic (no symptoms) person for over 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period within the 48 hours prior getting tested until they go into isolation.
BEGINNING 8/27/21 AISD WILL IMPLEMENT THIS CDC EXCEPTION:
In the K–12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time.
COVID Contact Tracing and Notifications at Brentwood
I thought that the protocol and procedures were linked to the district's website, but I could not find them when I recently looked. Here is some information that we use when we are processing contact tracing and COVID symptoms/COVID.
If your child is in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID, has symptoms, or is presumed positive please contact the school immediately. Contact your child's teacher, administrators, and the nurse. Writing COVID in subject line may help. The Nurse, Principal, or Assistant Principal will contact you, gather information, and provide you with next steps and specifics on a quarantine period, if needed.
Return for Students to In-Person Learning Criteria After Isolation
Lab-Confirmed Positive & Symptomatic
10 days have passed since symptoms started, AND improvement in overall symptoms, AND 24 hours have passed without fever and use of fever-reducing medication
OR receive a negative test result AND provide that documentation to campus health room staff
OR Provide doctor's note to campus health room staff with a diagnosis other than COVID and a safe return to school date.
Contact school health room for criteria
- Must complete the specific quarantine days assigned by AISD Health Director (typically 10 days from date when symptoms start), AND improvement in overall symptoms, AND 24 hours have passed without fever and use of fever-reducing medication.
Showing Symptoms, But Tested Negative
- Provide negative PCR test results to campus health room staff AND 10 days have passed since symptoms first started
- OR Provide doctor's note to campus health room staff with a diagnosis other than COVID and a safe return to school date
- Stay at home for 10 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID AND monitor health for symptoms
OR
- AISD has updated protocols for quarantine due to close contact. [updated 8/27/21 9:30 AM] Student may be released from quarantine after completing 7 full days, if they get tested on or after day 5 and receive a negative test result. Documentation of test results will need to be provided to the campus health room. The test can ONLY be a PCR. The person must still complete 7 full days of quarantine.
Student learning during quarantining
- Classroom teachers will contact families and provide asynchronous assignments for students to access during their time away from school. Teachers will be available to check in, as scheduled between teacher and family.
- The district is meeting on other learning options and will share once they have been determined.
Recommendations during a quarantine [added 8/24/21 6:30 pm]
During a quarantine, we are asking you to follow the Centers of Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines, by staying at home and not leaving home, unless seeking medical attention. The CDC recommends to seek COVID-19 testing around Day 5 of quarantine. Our health room must reserve their rapid tests for students and staff who are showing symptoms. You can access free testing through Austin Public Health. Please utilize any testing service that you can find.
Sign up for free COVID-19 testing here: https://www.austintexas.gov/covid-testinfo
If your child tests positive for COVID-19 or starts to experience any symptoms (fever, respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, trouble breathing), new loss of the sense of smell or taste, headache, sore throat, muscle or body aches, chills, repeated shaking with chills, diarrhea, or you just aren’t feeling well in general), please do the following immediately:
1. Contact your child’s physician
2. Contact your child's teacher, Brentwood's Nurse, and Administrators
As a district, we are actively implementing and following all health measures, which include asking everyone to do the following: stay home if you or someone in your household is sick, wear a face mask whenever you are around others that are not in your household/when accessing AISD grounds, wash/sanitize hands frequently, routinely disinfect commonly used areas/surfaces, and social distance when feasible.
COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS
COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Masks are required for anyone on district property.
Our students will have access to mask breaks organized by classroom teachers.
Please send your child to school with at least 2 masks to change out after recess, PE, or any other time.
PPE & Hepa Filters are in every classroom.
We will follow district protocol for contract tracing of COVID-19.
Visitors, Family members, and others are available to access our campus to go to the office, attend meetings (outside of the classroom during the school day), and other educational needs.
Please read the district's COVID Protocols for more information
If your child is in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID, has symptoms, is presumed positive please contact the school immediately. The Nurse, Principal, or Assistant Principal will contact you, gather information, and provide you with next steps and specifics on a quarantine period, if needed.
From Nurse Sarah Dunningan
Rapid COVID testing on campus can only be conducted on a limited and case by case basis by the campus staff, who have a duty to meet the multiple health care needs of all the students on campus throughout the school day. Please contact Sarah Dunnigan at 512-414-4335 (School Health Office) if you need additional information about COVID, isolation, quarantining, and testing.
Some testing options Austin Public Health
Testing is available with or without an appointment. However, scheduling an appointment is recommended to save time on-site and confirm test availability for a given day. Schedule online at http://covid19.austintexas.gov or by calling 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000. As with all APH testing sites, the services are free.
George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center (Walk-In Site)
· 5801 Ainez Dr, Austin, Texas 78744
· Tuesday, Wednesday, 3-7 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
St. Johns Testing Site (Drive-Through site)
· 7211 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd, Austin, Texas 78752
· Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Curative https://curative.com
Walgreens https://www.walgreens.com
I will be setting up case by case covid testing for individuals on Wednesday mornings from 10-11am. Please reach out to my email or call the health office to set up an appointment, however, spaces are very limited. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help and thank you for your understanding.
Sarah Dunningan
Brentwood Nurse
Hours vary each week
512-414-4335
Lunch Outside at Picnic Tables (or Inside Cafe)
WHAT IF I WANT MY CHILD TO EAT IN THE CAFE DURING LUNCH?
Please complete this google form by, Fri., 8/27/21, if you want your child to eat in the cafe only. Please know that your child may be seated with students from other classes during this time, based on the number of responses. The cafe tables will have accordion dividers down the middle of the table. Students may sit directly next to another student while eating, depending on table space available. CDC states that the spreading of COVID is greater when indoors and without masks. As a campus we will do all we can to provide safe ways for students to eat, learn, and limit the frequency of contact tracing.
WHY IS MY CHILD EATING LUNCH OUTSIDE?
Throughout August we had families reach out about the concern of students eating in the cafe. CDC states that the spreading of COVID is greater when indoors and without masks. Brentwood PTA and some staff members met to create a plan where students would eat outdoors (CDC recommendation for meals) to increase our commitment to our students' safety. This plan was communicated through PTA and in our 8/13 Family Newsletter. Our PTA raised over $12,000 to provide picnic tables and umbrellas for our campus (and to share with Webb Middle School). For the first 3 days of classes only 1/2 of the umbrellas were used, due to delivery. By day 4 (Friday) every table had an umbrella.
We understand that each situation is not ideal for everyone. We put this plan in place truly for the safety of our students. We adhere to the heat and cold weather guidelines. Lunch is 30 minutes for each class, which is the same amount of time children spend during recess.
Thank You
Our first Principal Chat is scheduled for, Friday, September 3, 2021, 8:00 am via Zoom. Ms. Dymkowski, Ms. Slaten and Ms. Mckenna will join. Our main topics will include: introduction, communication, COVID safety, and time for you to share and spend time together.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://austinisd-org.zoom.us/j/96989727842?pwd=a0N2WW1NTDUzOU5FUkszU09Odk8xdz09
Meeting ID: 969 8972 7842 Passcode: Bulldogs
With Appreciation,
Amber Laroche
Proud Principal
Meet Our Staff
Back to School Nights (In Person Only)
Back to School Nights are tailored for adults in the family to learn more about your child's classroom experience, spend time with the classroom teacher, and get an overview of school year.
August 24 5:30-6:15 pm PreK & Kindergarten
August 24 6:15-7:00 pm 3rd Grade
August 25 5:30-6:15 pm 1st Grade
August 25 6:15-7:00 pm 2nd Grade
August 26 5:30-6:15 pm 4th Grade
August 26 6:15-7:00 pm 5th Grade
*Masks are required at all events.
*All events below are at Brentwood Elementary's Temporary Campus - located at, 601 East St. Johns Avenue, Austin, TX 78752.
*Brentwood Arrival/Dismissal Entrance is located off of Roland Johnson Dr. (gate with Brentwood Elementary sign).
*Brentwood Main Office Entrance is located off of E. Huntland Dr.
*All events are in person.
AISD 2021-2022 Calendar
Before We Go
Stay Connected with Brentwood
Brentwood Elementary, "Where we always do our personal best!"
2021-22 School Year Theme: Dig In And Build Up!
Brentwood Elementary is temporarily located on site at Webb Middle School from Aug. 2020-June 2022 while our building undergoes a beautiful and massive partial rebuild and full modernization construction. We are located at, 601 East St. Johns Avenue, Austin, TX 78752.
https://www.austinisd.org/hr/customer-service/rave
Click on the link to recognize an AISD staff member who is going above and beyond! The Recognizing All Valuable Employees, or RAVE, Program was established to publicly honor those who exemplify the highest level of customer service.
Facebook: Principal Laroche
PTA Facebook: Brentwood Elementary PTA
Twitter: @BrentwoodAISD and @bulldogtechAISD
Instagram: BrentwoodAISD
PTA Website: http://brentwoodpta.com
Brentwood Website: http://brentwood.austinschools.org/
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