Learning Safely in 2021-22
The staff has been busy preparing for the reopening of schools in two weeks! We are very excited to welcome back our students and families from summer vacation. We wanted to ensure you have the latest information about how we are planning for and reopening schools using the most up to date health mandates and protocols. This week, the San Mateo County Health Officer issued an order requiring masks to be worn regardless of vaccination status in all indoor public settings, which includes schools. In addition, Redwood School District (RCSD) has provided an opportunity for RCSD students to test on school campuses for family convenience. The district also reminds families that the CDC travel guidelines include masks, testing, and to self-quarantine after travel.
Masks to Be Worn Indoors:
New updated Health Officer directives state that all students, teachers and staff, and visitors must wear masks at all times when indoors in any RCSD facility.
Details regarding mask wearing can be found in the Pandemic Recovery Framework on pg. 5.
COVID-19 Testing for Students:
This new school year, RCSD will assist in community efforts to offer COVID testing to RCSD students under 12-years of age who are not eligible for vaccination. While District provided testing at schools is not required, the district is offering this service to families as a precautionary measure to help keep students and staff safe while at school. Community testing locations can be found here.
In order to acknowledge that students travel and gather with others during summer, the District is proactively offering Rapid Antigen Testing for students prior to the start of the school year. All RCSD students may test at any of the following locations:
Monday, August 16
9-11am:
Henry Ford School outside of the Library - 2498 Massachusetts Ave. in Redwood City
Hoover Community School near the Family Center - 701 Charter St. in Redwood City
Taft school Community School near the temporary parking lot - 903 10th Ave. in Redwood City
Tuesday, August 17:
9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.
Henry Ford School outside of the Library - 2498 Massachusetts Ave. in Redwood City
Hoover Community School near the Family Center - 701 Charter St. in Redwood City
Taft school Community School near the temporary parking lot - 903 10th Ave. in Redwood City
Any RCSD student from any of its 12 schools is welcome to visit any of these three sites for testing.
By Monday, August 9, families will have received an email link to register for COVID testing. The email will come from an organization under the name of Primary Health. RCSD families can also walk-up, register, and grant permission during the events at any of the three sites. A guardian must accompany the minor. The testing is free to all RCSD students.
Should a student test positive, they will need to stay home and not come to school on the first day, which is scheduled for August 18. The district will communicate with families with any positive test results to provide guidance.
CDC Travel Guidelines:
As families wrap-up their summer vacation and prepare for the new school year, RCSD reminds families of the CDC Travel Guidelines, which continue to be in effect.
It is important to remember that any travel for unvaccinated individuals, children under 12-years of age, means the child must self-quarantine for seven or 10 calendar days. Any travel too close to the new school year may result in the child not being at school on the first day, which is 13 days away on August 18. Families are advised to plan accordingly and avoid missing the first day of school due to a quarantine. To adhere to the CDC guidelines, families should complete their summer travel by Sunday, August 8.
The CDC travel guidelines are:
Domestic Travel:
Fully vaccinated individuals traveling domestically need to: Wear a mask, self-monitor for symptoms, and take other precautions during travel.
Unvaccinated individuals traveling domestically need to: Get tested 1-3 days before travel, wear a mask, self-monitor for symptoms, and take other precautions during travel. They also need to get tested 3-5 days after travel, and self-quarantine for 7 days. Individuals should self-quarantine for 10 days if they are not tested.
International Travel:
Fully vaccinated individuals traveling internationally need to: Test before flying to the United States. This is mandatory. They also need to get tested 3-5 days after travel.
Unvaccinated individuals traveling internationally need to: Get tested 1-3 days before traveling out of the United States. A test is mandatory before flying to the United States. In addition, they need to get tested 3-5 days after travel. Self-quarantine is required after travel for 7 days with a negative test or 10 days without test.
These travel recommendations and requirements can be found on pg. 16 of the Pandemic Recovery Framework.
Redwood City School District
Website: https://www.rcsdk8.net
Location: 750 Bradford Street, Redwood City, CA, USA
Phone: 650.482.2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedwoodCitySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @RWCSchools