Hearst Family Update
February 25, 2022
Principal's Message
Good afternoon, Owl Families!
I hope that you've had a wonderful mid-winter break and are excited for the return to school on Monday. In order to ensure a safe return from break, here are the two steps that must be taken for every student:
- On Sunday, February 27, take the easy to use, at-home test distributed before break and follow the instructions provided. You may choose to utilize your own testing option, but tests administered before February 27 will not be accepted.
- Upload your test results the same day: Provide proof of your test results to dcpsreopenstrong.com/safereturn on Sunday, February 27 between 6:00am and 9:00 pm. So that Dr. Chen and I aren't working late into the night on Sunday, if you can upload your results by 3pm, that would be much appreciated!
While we appreciate the extra vigilance from some families in both uploading and emailing their child's test results, there is no need to email staff with results unless your child tests positive or we reach out to you asking for them.
Thank you for your continued support and I hope that you enjoy the weekend,
Jen
About Us
Email: attendance@hearstes.org
Website: www.hearstes.org
Location: 3950 37th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, United States
Phone: (202) 282-0106
Facebook: facebook.com/hearstes
Twitter: @hearstes
News and Announcements from Hearst
Upcoming Key Dates
- February 21-25 - Mid-Winter Break (no school for students and teachers)
- February 27 - Rapid test results must be uploaded to dcpsreopenstrong.com/safereturn by 9pm at the latest.
- March 4 - Virtual Open House for Prospective Families, 9:00-9:45
- March 10 - Parent Teacher Conference Day (virtual; no school for students)
- March 11 - DCPS PD Day (no school for students)
- March 16 - LSAT Meeting, 4:30-5:30, PTA Meeting
Quick Updates
- Reminder: Middle of Year (MOY) data reports for K-5 students will be sent home with students after the February break, in time to discuss at Parent Teacher Conferences in March.
- Reminder: Individuals who were positive for Covid 19 should not participate in asymptomatic PCR testing within 90 days of the initial infection, as the virus may continue to be detected within the body. However, if someone was positive for Covid 19 does participate in asymptomatic testing, DC Health is requesting that we submit a DC Health consult so they can investigate further and confirm whether the positive results are a new exposure and new infection. The individual would need to quarantine until that determination is made by DC Health. Because of this, if your child tested positive in the past 90 days and you haven't already done so, please email kestaganer.johnson@k12.dc.gov, noting the date they tested positive and when they would be able to resume asymptomatic testing. Doing so will ensure that we do not pull your child for asymptomatic testing during their 90-day period.
Reminder: Hearst Yearbooks on Sale
Yearbooks are on sale for pre-order! The early bird special is $25 until the end of March. After that, each book is $30. The yearbooks will arrive near the end of the school year. Please do not pay for shipping; click the free shipping to the school! The Hearst yearbook contains portraits of each homeroom class and some candid photos from the year. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Boyle and Ms. Schiers at ashley.boyle@k12.dc.gov and sarah.schiers@k12.dc.gov
Every year we sell out of yearbooks; don't let it happen to you. Reserve your copy today!
https://freedphotography.simplephoto.com/prepay/44607122?code=HEARST22YBEB
CODE: HEARST22YBEB
FAQs from Families
Reminder: FAQs on KN95/KF94 Masks
Put together by the Hearst Public Health Group for Use By Hearst Elementary Families & Staff
Can I reuse these masks?
Yes! KN95 and KF94 masks can be worn multiple times - even up to 5 days/40 hours – unless they become wet, soiled, damaged, or harder to breathe through.
When reusing masks it is recommended that you alternate masks or keep 1-3 different masks in rotation instead of reusing the same one daily. Keep the used masks that are in rotation in a paper bag when they are “resting.” Do NOT wash these masks.
How do I properly fit my child’s mask?
Securing a tight fit is extremely important. You can have the best filtering mask material in the world, but if there are gaps where air can come in and out, you are breathing air that is not filtered. Please take 30 seconds before dropping your child off to adjust their mask properly. Don’t assume this is something your child’s teacher will do.
Masks must cover your child’s nose AND mouth. The mask should fit snugly and there should be no gaps where air can escape.
If your child can feel their breath coming out of the sides or their glasses fog up, you do not have an adequate fit.
Make sure you adjust the metal nose clips to secure a tight fit by shaping the metal to the shape of your child’s nose.
You may have to try several styles/brands before finding a good fit. In our experience, the KF94s seem to fit younger kids better (ages 4-9), while the KN95s can be used by older kids.
What’s the difference between an N95, KF94, and KN95?
All have similar filtration efficiency. KF94 is tested and approved by the Korean FDA. KN95 is the equivalent from China. N95 is approved by US NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health).
Because of the way masks are regulated in the U.S., there are no children’s N95 masks available or made in the U.S. This is why we are using KF94s and KN95s for children’s masks. If a mask is advertised as an FDA-approved N95 for children, this is a false claim.
Beware of buying masks off Amazon, as many of them are not legitimate, especially those labeled as KN95s.
What are some useful resources?
Our favorite masks include the Tiger Blue KF94s (https://behealthyusa.net/collections/blue-industry-1/products/blue-kf94-kf80-tiger-3d-masks-small-kid-size) and the Powecom KN95 Kids’ Masks (https://bonafidemasks.com/powecom-kn95-sm-respirator-mask-10-masks-per-pack/). Many masks are out of stock at the moment, but keep checking back.
The Mask Nerd Google Doc spreadsheet also lists other great KF94/KN95 kids’ masks: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1i06OAItoOwIUaMjElr8mhh0Rw-it6WL-ODIQMZUOQxE/htmlview?usp=sharing&pru=AAABflU8eYc*CnowSzdnL8Qid_ZuB4HJGw
CDC’s Guide to Masks: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html
Reminder: The Return of the Hearst Auction- Volunteers Needed!
Reminder: Asymptomatic Student Testing on Wednesdays
Starting the week of 11/8, our asymptomatic testing time will move to 9:45am on Wednesday. During a typical week, we will pull test a random sample of approximately 25% of students who have not opted out of testing. Knowing that some students in this group will not be able to produce a sample or their saliva sample will be rejected, this will allow us to ensure we are hitting the goal of testing 20% of our students each week. Know that we will attempt to test at least one student from each homeroom each week. Here are a few things to know about asymptomatic testing :
- Teachers will be provided with names of students to be tested and those students will be escorted by staff to our testing location.
- Because the test is a saliva test, students identified for testing cannot eat, drink, chew gum, or have on chapstick an hour before their testing window.
Families of kids who are tested will receive notification that their child was tested and information on how to access the online portal where they will be able to view results. Your child may indicate that they were pulled for testing but they were not given a letter with online portal log in information. If this is the case, this means that your child did not produce enough saliva to fill the test tube. Please reach out to Ms. Johnson (kestaganer.johnson@k12.dc.gov) with any questions and/or if you would like to opt your child out of asymptomatic testing. If you wish to opt-out your student from receiving any COVID-19 test at school, you must complete the available at osse.dc.gov/page/school-based-covid-19-testing and email it to the school at kestaganer.johnson@k12.dc.gov.
The website to access results is: https://shieldt3k12.pointnclick.com/ and our Agency Code is: HearstES and the website . As a parent, you should be able to enable notifications be sent to you if a testing result is available for your child.
We believe that the email you use to register on site has to be the primary contact's email used to enroll your child. You will also have to wait at least 12 hours until after the student was tested for the agency code to work.
News and Announcements from DCPS
Reminder: Pre-K Test to Stay Pilot Expands
Over the last few weeks, we have been utilizing a test-to-stay protocol for a limited number of positive cases in classrooms with our youngest learners who are not yet eligible for the life-saving vaccine.Beginning this week, if any positive COVID-19 case is reported in a Pre-K classroom, all students in that classroom will be participate in the test-to-stay pilot.
Through a mix of at-home and in-school testing, Pre-K students will be tested at least two times within a week should there be a positive case reported in their classroom.
The test-to-stay pilot program is designed to keep our youngest learners safely in the class with rigorous testing and limit the disruption that classroom closures have on families. However, there may be times when operational impacts may require a class to transition to virtual learning for a period.
As a reminder, all students who are fully vaccinated may continue to attend school in-person if they are identified as a close contact. We encourage all eligible students to get vaccinated as best way to avoid serious illness and to be able to continue to attend school in-person.
Reminder: Audience and Spectator Guidance
For any DCPS athletic event, arts performance, or student showcase, it is important we balance maintaining social distancing guidelines and wanting our students to enjoy the support of having their families and community in attendance at special moments.
At this time, student participants will be able to have two spectators at each event. Athletic directors or event organizers will provide parents with information on how to access tickets or attendance lists as needed.