BV Schools Monday Minute
Weekly Update for BV Schools
August 16 | 2021
Making Moments Matter ... A Kick Off to the Best Year Yet!
6th-12th Grade Special Speaker - Dominic Miller Sunday, August 22 - 5:00 pm
See a preview of Dominic here: https://www.iamdommiller.com/
School Opening in Recovery Phase
BV Schools plan for opening has been distributed and discussed over the last weeks. Our plan remains the same as communicated. We continue to monitor local data which remains stable. Each Monday, you can join a video call during which I share more information and can respond to questions. The link from last week that includes local data shaping our decision to open as we are is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Ct9uj_9CahjFcX1xzan-I6GR6NJV9DR7sdGt6WgX2XWx4sehOXY8RClws5te2jp7.kSnfTT_cwA2tqTpQ?startTime=1628549980000
Linked here is the full BV Schools Opening Plan.
Please make sure your student has a mask with them at school at all times so it can be used in higher risk situations that the staff will identify. See the plan for information or join the Zoom call.
A few highlights from current, local data shared by Chaffee County Public Health:
- Incident rates in our county are stable.
- Colorado ranks 45 of all states in the country in incidences - that is a big shift when not too long ago we were near the highest.
- 70% of Chaffee's eligible population have received the first dose of vaccine. About 65% are fully vaccinated. 70% fully vaccinated shifts a community to "low risk."
- Positivity rate is about 6%
Some of our Districts own data:
- 99.5% of the over 680 students quarantined as close contacts last school year were NOT infected even though identified as close contact and then out of school for 10-14 days at a time.
- Boys and Girls Club operated in our school throughout the summer with no reported positive cases
- Summer School was held in our schools this summer over several weeks and we had not positive cases or transmission.
REPEATED Article from August 9, 2021 Mitigating Risk While Providing High Quality Learning
BV Schools continues to monitor local health data and is in communication with Chaffee County Public Health. The District position remains: provide a consistent in-person learning experience using the least disruptive mitigation practices. Based on our successful experience last year and current, real, and local data, we will balance health protocols with a comprehensive approach emphasizing academic learning, social and emotional well-being, and opportunities for students. Unrestricted in-person learning is not only possible, but essential to the overall well-being of our students, staff and community.
Below are the mitigation practices we will have in place to begin the year, recognizing we can add layers of protection as local data indicates is needed.
Ventilation – The Least Disruptive Indoor Protective Measure
The District has a brand new ventilation system at the middle and high school. Filters are changed with increased frequency. Air Quality indicates "high performance" similar to outdoors. Avery Parsons added an ionization system to our ventilation and also increased our filter changes. CCHS has a more residential system and so window and door ventilation is prioritized.
Disinfecting
Portable UV, ionization and oxidizing devices are used routinely for added air cleansing. We have retained four day time custodians to support frequent surface disinfecting.
Personal Responsibility
COVID is part of our reality in schools now. Recovery phase means learning how to operate a high quality learning experience and attend to yet another risk in our society. Schools have done this with other risks and will do so with this one. Personal prevention and responsibility is always a critical part of our shared success. Personal responsibility with COVID primarily means staying home when ill. Generally, personal responsibility includes:
1) staying home if you are sick;
2) frequent and thorough handwashing;
3) covering coughs and sneezes;
4) avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;
5) and, using a face covering if you are immuno-compromised, at high risk, or live with someone who is at risk.
Mask Wearing
At this time, mask wearing will not be required except on buses (federally mandated). Every staff and student must have a mask with them each day to use in situations when learning experiences include an extended close contact (typically more than 15 minutes consecutively, less than 3 feet, and in low ventilated areas). Our Response Team will consistently evaluate data and make decisions about additional needs for masking.
Any person may voluntarily wear a mask and we will fully protect and honor the person’s choice as a school community. It will be our responsibility to ensure this is protected.
Zoom Meeting Monday at 5:00 pm (link below). Local data will be shared demonstrating the District's position to open.
FEEDBACK: Please give your feedback on BV Schools Plan using the survey below and linked here. Staff, Students, and Families may respond by Wednesday, 8/12/2021.
Weekly Zoom Meeting for Families
Each Monday, BV Schools will host a virtual meeting at 5:00 pm. This is open to all families to hear more about the status of learning in the school and to ask questions.
Join through the link below or by going to ZOOM and entering: 821 3222 5223
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82132225223?pwd=a01jaHphSER6cHJLMTJBRGliclF3dz09
Online School Enrollment for 2021-22
Speaker: Dominic Miller
See a preview of Dominic here: https://www.iamdommiller.com/
Sunday, Aug 22, 2021, 05:00 PM
Performance Commons at Buena Vista Middle/High School
Buena Vista School District
Email: lyates@bvschools.org
Website: bvschools.org
Location: 113 North Court Street, Buena Vista, CO, USA
Phone: 719-239-0435