Weekly Communique
November 12, 2021
Thoughts from Dr. Pacatte
As we continue to move forward with opening our doors to volunteers and spectators, I continue to monitor our metrics. I am well aware that the positive test results are increasing in Lake County and in local area school districts. While we continue to remain stable, we are preparing for the likelihood that we will see our rates increase. As I have said before, November 2020 was the highest positivity rate we have seen during the pandemic. The weather gets cold, people stay indoors, and holiday events bring others together. We all need to do our part to avoid that rise in positivity from happening again.
How can you help? Please continue with all of the safety protocols recommended to the best of your ability. If your children ride the school bus, please remind them to stay in their assigned seat and keep their masks on. Staying seated is always the safest behavior on a school bus and combining that with consistent mask use will help to keep kids in school.
What about vaccinations? COVID - 19 Vaccinations are not required of students as of today. They are available for students aged 5 and older. Students considered fully vaccinated (2 weeks after the second inoculation) are not considered close contacts. As an example, a student who tests positive and has been removing their mask around other students would be sent home to isolate, while fully vaccinated students who crossed paths with this student would not be considered close contacts.
We are doing our best to minimize the possibility of close contacts, but we cannot be everywhere all the time. We have students playing sports, band instruments, singing in choirs, and musicals. These are all activities that help to bring back more options for our students but come with a higher level of risk.
If you are not planning to have your children vaccinated, you still have the ability to participate in the testing program being offered in our schools. Should a student be exposed to the virus in the school setting and are participating in our testing program, they are able to participate in Test to Stay. Test to Stay allows a close contact, exposed in school, to participate in frequent testing, following the exposure, and stay in school. Students exposed to the virus at home, a party, gymnastics practice, or Sunday school, as examples, are not eligible for Test to Stay.
Please be aware of all of your options and do your best to keep all of us safe during the upcoming months.
Covid-19 Update
Tweet of the Week
River Trail National Junior Honor Society
The Book Fair is coming to D56
Viking Drama Fundraising UPDATE!
Viking Drama had to change the event on 11/12 Pasta Dinner Drive-Thru
to a Jimano's fundraiser night.
River Trail National Junior Honor Society Fundraising
Adler Arts Center November News
Message from Community Action Partnership of Lake County
Gurnee School District 56
Email: returningstudent@d56.org
Website: www.d56.org
Location: 3706 West Florida Avenue, Gurnee, IL, USA
Phone: 847-336-0800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GurneeD56
Twitter: @GurneeD56