Key News for Families
December 3, 2020
Information Regarding New CDC Quarantine Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today that they will modify their guidelines for the length of quarantines. Per the CDC the length of a quarantine for close contacts will be shortened from 14 days to ten or seven days:
Quarantine can now end after 10 days without a test if the individual has not reported any symptoms, or after seven days with a negative COVID-19 test and no reported symptoms, said Henry Walke, the CDC's COVID-19 incident manager. People should continue to monitor for symptoms for the full 14 days after being exposed to the virus "especially if quarantine is discontinued early," he said. A 14-day quarantine remains the best way to prevent spread, according to the CDC. Walke added, “Everyone should follow this specific guidance from their local public health authorities about how long they should quarantine.”
The district supports these changes, but will continue to follow the recommendations of our local health department which is the Waukesha County Health Department (WCHD). The WCHD is awaiting a review from the Wisconsin Department of Health of Services (DHS). We will wait for that approval prior to making any changes to our procedures. We are hoping for a speedy approval process.
Speak Up, Speak Out Confidential Reporting System
Tips can be reported in three ways:
- Use the SUSO website
- Download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play to make reports from your smartphone
- Call 1-800-MY-SUSO-1 (or 1-800-697-8761) to speak to a live, trained dispatcher.
Substitute Teachers Needed
- Have you ever thought about teaching in a classroom?
- Has the pandemic caused you to want to get out of the house and interact with people?
- Do you want to earn some extra money?
- Do you enjoy working with students?
It is now easier than ever to become a substitute teacher. A three year short term sub license is available for applicants who hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university and who has successfully completed an approved substitute training program, but has not completed a state-approved educator preparation program.
Training opportunities are currently available through Stedi.com, CESA 1, or CESA 2.
Students Home in Quarantine
In order to ensure a continuation of learning, please help to make sure that your child is joining the livestream classes or doing his/her work off the learning platform (Seesaw or Google Classroom). If students are not able to complete their assigned work, families should contact their child's teacher(s). Students are expected to be caught up with work when they return.
Thank you for your support as we maintain a continuation of learning!
Family Meal Kits Are A Big Hit
On November 18, the MASD food service department made a popular change in the meals being offered free of charge to virtual students. The new format provides a meal kit that can be enjoyed as a family meal. Chicken Fajitas Burritos, Big Daddy's Pizza, Pancake Slam-wiches and BBQ Pork Sliders with Mac & Cheese have been featured so far.
Meal kits are designed to fulfill the USDA menu requirements for five days of school lunch. This virtual menu format is also being used by many other school districts in the U.S. It makes meal prep easy for one family meal, while using other household funds to purchase lunch.
COVID-19 mitigation measures in our school cafeterias have made it necessary for us to reduce the variety on our menus. That, in turn, causes a decline in lunch counts and financial hardship for our school lunch program. Emergency federal funding will help prevent the loss of the cash balance we need for replacing refrigeration, dishwashers and other critical equipment - but only if families order our meals.
So don't miss out on next week's virtual menu! The meal kits for December 9 include Twisted Chicken Pasta Alfredo, Stuffed Baked Potatoes and our usual Cold Pack Sandwich Kit (easy for kids to prepare on their own). December meal kits include a holiday sticker and coloring page - plus three lucky families will win a holiday DVD each week!
Check out the Nutrislice menu app at https://www.masd.k12.wi.us/depts/masd-foodservice.cfm. Orders are now due by 9PM on Mondays. Questions? Contact Pam Harris at 262-363-6200 ext 25601 or harripa@masd.k12.wi.us. Thank you for supporting our school nutrition program!
Friends of Mukwonago Athletics Christmas Virtual Auction
Visit www.biddingowl.com/FOMA to view items, register, and bid! Check out FOMA's Facebook page for updates. Bidding ends Sunday, December 6, at 8:00pm.
Bid high and bid often!
Winter Classic 8 Sports Spectator Guidelines
"As practices begin for our winter sports season, the Classic 8 Conference Superintendents and Athletic Directors have determined that in order to do our part in controlling the spread of COVID-19 while also recognizing the importance of family support in our stands, the conference will only allow parents of the 'home' school student-athletes to attend winter events.
Fans who are unable to attend in-person may have the opportunity to view events via live streaming coordinated by host schools. These guidelines will be evaluated in early January by the conference. Thank you for your support of our student-athletes during these unprecedented times."
For all winter sports, there will be two tickets issued per athlete. There will be no walk-up or public tickets sales.
Important COVID-19 Updates & Reminders
Families are asked to review this important information which will help keep our students and staff healthy and our in-person schools open for learning:
COVID-19 Information and Reporting Email Address:
Families who need to communicate with our district nurses about COVID-19 related matters including reporting symptoms, sharing test results, or to ask questions should email us at covid19@masd.k12.wi.us. This new email address will allow for more efficient response times and tracking of all student related COVID-19 issues.
Students Awaiting Test Results Must Remain Home:
Families are reminded that students who have been tested for COVID-19 must remain home until their results are returned, even if they begin to feel better. If the results are negative, they can return to school with proof of the negative result unless they are already in quarantine due to a close contact.
Report All Positive Student and Household Cases:
Also, families are reminded that if your child or someone in their household tests positive for COVID-19, you must contact your child's health room or District Nurse Noel Menghe (covid19@masd.k12.wi.us or 262.363.6292 x27515). Contact tracing for all positive cases must be conducted and any delay in notifying the health room or district nurse could result in additional outbreaks or ill students. Thank you for your cooperation!
Mask Use and Close Contact:
We believe that mask use is helping to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our district. While we have had some students and staff who have tested positive, the number of positives related to these cases has been very low thus far.
However, the Waukesha County Health Department still requires students or staff members who come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 to quarantine, regardless of mask use and physical barriers. Close contact is defined as being within six feet or less for 15 or more minutes. Students and staff that have been identified as a close contact must remain in quarantine for 14 days.
Parents should be aware that a negative COVID test does not release a student from quarantine. It's important to note that our legal counsel and liability insurance carrier have made it clear that we need to follow our local health department's guidelines on quarantine procedures.
Assigned Seats on Bus:
Students riding the bus to or from school must sit in their assigned seats. Assigned seats assist us in contact tracing when there are positive cases and help us ensure the proper students are quarantined when necessary.
Student Stigma About COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation:
The Waukesha County Public Health quarantine and isolation procedures are an important part of helping us Stay Safe to Stay Open. Unfortunately, some attach a negative association to those students and staff who are in the quarantine and isolation protocols. Please review this guide to Social Stigma Associated with COVID-19 to learn what you can do to reduce the negative stigma many associate with COVID-19 and help keep everyone in our schools in community safe.
Upcoming Village Players Presentations at Greenwald Foundation PAC
Visit their website at https://mukwonagovillageplayers.org/ to learn about ticket information and performance times!
Parents United December Presentation
When a child struggles with an anxiety disorder family members, relatives, friends, and teachers often intervene to reduce the child’s distress and improve function. We will discuss the role of family accommodation, how it impacts treatment interventions, and how families and others can pull back these accommodations to improve treatment outcomes.
Go to www.parentsunitedwi.org for more information.
MASD Employment Opportunities
- Support Staff
- Instructional Assistants
- Food Service
- Substitute Custodial Positions
- Recess Monitors
Check out our Employment Opportunities Website for more information on available vacancies and be sure to apply today!
Mukwonago Community Bulletin Board
Important Links
District Website | Pandemic Information
School Websites:
Big Bend | Clarendon Avenue | Eagleville | Prairie View | Rolling Hills | Section |
Park View Middle School | Mukwonago High School
Other Important Links:
Mukwonago Education Foundation | MASD Community Education | Lunch Menus |
School Calendars | Infinite Campus Parent Portal | School Board | School Board Agenda/Minutes
Mukwonago Area School District
Email: helpdesk@masd.k12.wi.us
Website: www.masd.k12.wi.us
Location: 385 East Veterans Way, Mukwonago, WI, USA
Phone: 262.363.6300
Facebook: facebook.com/masdschools
Twitter: @MASDSCHOOLS