COVID INFORMATION (& IMMUNIZATIONS)
PHONE HELP
IMMUNIZATIONS - 7TH GRADERS NEED SHOTS OR THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND SCHOOL
- TDAP booster
- meningococcal vaccine
If they are not updated on vaccinations by 9/22/2021 they will not be allowed to come to school until they get those shots.
SAY TO EVERYONE: FMS FOLLOWS ALL FCS COVID GUIDELINES CAREFULLY
WHY WE ARE SO SERIOUS ABOUT MASKING AT FMS - FCS GUIDELINES BELOW
Required masking indoors at all times for all preK-12 students, staff and visitors to campus, with the exception of meal and mask breaks and in the event of a district-approved mask exemption for medical reasons. This includes sports, band and other extracurricular activities.
Based upon new required quarantine guidance from the CDC, if there is a COVID-19 case in a classroom, students will not have to quarantine if there is a “mask-to-mask” exposure.
Rationale: CDC, NCDHHS, and FC Health Department all recommend this requirement. Current metrics demonstrate increased cases, impacting younger children, with Delta variant. Mask wearing protects not only the wearer, but others with whom they interact. New quarantining guidance is based on effective masking, so a mask requirement would help to curb potential quarantining.
FCS: WHEN STUDENTS WILL BE ISOLATED AND WILL NEED TO STAY HOME:
(+) Test result reported
Exposure to COVID (+) person in last 14 days
Student classroom exposures may not require quarantine if masks are worn appropriately and with diligence
Exposures outside of classroom setting will continue to require 14 day quarantine
Symptoms
Fever (temperature >100.4)
Cough (persistent cough, not just once/twice)
Difficulty Breathing (not related to asthma, exercise)
Runny Nose (persistent drainage, difficulty masking due to runny nose)
Congestion/Stuffy Nose
Sore Throat
Loss of Taste/Smell
Vomiting
Feeling nauseous is not vomiting! Student may feel unwell and go home, but would not be excluded/required to test for nausea only.
Several issues last year where child reported vomiting, but did not actually vomit: i.e. - spit in trash can, felt like they were going to vomit (nausea);
Diarrhea - this is 2 or more very loose stools
New onset of SEVERE headache, especially with fever
Not in people with known history of headaches/migraines
**The goal is to have sick individuals remain at home, and also avoid unnecessary exclusions. Teachers may need to ask questions before sending students home.
**Students/staff with known medical conditions that may cause these symptoms can avoid multiple unnecessary exclusions with medical documentation.
**Household members of symptomatic individuals will NOT be required to be excluded this year unless the symptomatic person is confirmed COVID (+).
FCS: HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOL
If a student or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual/parent should contact the school and report the diagnosis to the COVID Point Person. The individual may not return to any FCS school or facility until all three of the following criteria are met:
At least 24 hours have passed since recovery (including the absence of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications)
The individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath)
At least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
If a student or staff member has symptoms that may be related to COVID-19 and they want to return to school before completing the above criteria, the individual must:
Obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or
Provide written documentation of a negative COVID-19 PCR test. Results from rapid antigen tests will not be accepted
Be fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication - Tylenol, Advil, etc.) with the improvement of symptoms
*Staff who test positive for COVID-19 are required to stay home until approved to return to work by the District.
If a student or staff member has been in close contact in the past 14 days with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, they must:
Contact the school and report the exposure to the COVID Point Person
Follow the guidance from the local health department regarding quarantine and testing. This should include remaining at home for at least 14 days from the last date of contact.
Report positive test results to the school upon receipt.
* The Health Department may advise additional quarantine days based on symptom development, positive test results or continued exposure in the home.
** Students and staff who have a household member that has symptoms and is being tested for COVID-19 should remain at home until test results have been received. Those whose family member has a positive test result should follow the guidelines for close contact.
Franklin County will notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a school if the Franklin County Health Department identifies a COVID-19 cluster within a Franklin County Schools site. Individuals who are identified as having close school contact with individual positive cases will be contacted separately.