Beacon News 01.23.2022
Principal: Lutashia Dove Assistant Principal: Greg Hackmann
This Week at Ballentine Elementary School
January 24th:
- Track 4 Students return
January 25th
- SILT(School Improvement Leadership Team) Mtg @ 7:45
Morning Carpool
We have noticed an increase in student tardies. If your child is tardy, they will have to be signed in by the parent or guardian bringing them to school. Please plan to walk your child up to the building and physically sign them in for the day. Please do not drive away and leave your child standing outside the school building.
New Updated Covid Guidance
HAVE YOU BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19?
Diagnosed with COVID-19 - no symptoms
- May return if it has been 5 days since diagnosed with COVID-19 AND
- Have not developed any symptoms
- Must continue to wear a mask when returning from 5-day quarantine
- If unable to wear a mask, must stay home for an additional 5 days
Diagnosed with COVID-19 - has symptoms
- May return from quarantine if it has been at least 5 days since you first had symptoms or from date of positive test AND
- Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine AND
- Symptoms have improved
- Must continue to wear a mask when returning from 5-day quarantine
- If unable to wear a mask, must stay home for an additional 5 days
EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH COVID-19
Have you been exposed to someone with COVID-19? (meaning you learned you are a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19.)
- Whether you are excluded from school will depend upon where your contact occurred (e.g., in the home, at school, in the community), whether you have symptoms, and whether any other exemption applies. In many instances, you will be able to remain in school following a non-household exposure.
Have you had a non-household exposure to COVID-19?
- Because we require masks in our district, you may remain in school without any exclusion period following a non-household exposure to COVID-19 (e.g., during an afterschool activity, while eating lunch, at a community activity) as long as you do not have symptoms. This exemption applies to both masked and unmasked non-household exposures.
- Following the exposure, you must continue to wear a mask at school. If possible, you should get a COVID-19 test on the day that you are notified you are a close contact and 5 days after the exposure.
- If you develop symptoms, you should stay home and follow the “If You Are Experiencing Symptoms” guidance below.
Have you had a household exposure to COVID-19?
Unless one of the exemptions below applies (“Exposed and Vaccinated” or “Diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 90 days”):
- You must stay home for 5 days following your last exposure to the household member who’s been diagnosed with COVID-19.
- If you are not able to separate from the household member, your “last exposure” would be the day your household member’s isolation period ends, and your five-day quarantine period begins after that.
- You should get a test, if possible, once it’s been 5 days since the household member began experiencing symptoms or was diagnosed.
Following the end of your quarantine period, you may return to school if you are not experiencing symptoms. You must continue to wear a mask at school. If you are unable to wear a mask, you must remain home for an additional 5 days. If you develop symptoms during your quarantine period refer to the “If You Are Experiencing Symptoms” section.
EXEMPTIONS TO QUARANTINE REQUIREMENT, EVEN IF YOU HAD A HOUSEHOLD EXPOSURE:
IF YOU ARE EXPOSED AND VACCINATED
You do not have to quarantine if you are up-to-date on recommended vaccines:
- You have received either:
- 2-dose vaccine - It’s been at least 2 weeks since you received the second dose OR
- Single-dose vaccine - 2 weeks since you received the single-dose vaccine
- AND, if applicable, you have complied with any booster requirement:
- Eligible for booster (18 years and older) - 2 weeks since you received the booster dose (there must be at least 6 months between your last vaccine dose of the 2-dose vaccine and at least 2 months between your last dose of the single-dose vaccine to be eligible for the booster dose) OR
- Ages of 5-17 and have completed a primary series of COVID-19 vaccines (boosters are not required for this age group)
- AND you have not developed symptoms since your exposure to COVID-19.
Must provide dated proof of vaccination to return to school without completing the quarantine requirements. If you are 18 years old and older, eligible for a booster, and have not received it, you are not considered up-to-date on recommended vaccines.
DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19 IN THE LAST 90 DAYS
Individuals who have not developed symptoms since their exposure to COVID-19 and have had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days (tested positive using a viral test) do not need to quarantine. The person must continue to wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING A SYMPTOM OF COVID-19
The NC Department of Health and Human Services requires additional health precautions if you have one of these symptoms often associated with COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
With COVID-19 symptoms and a negative COVID-19 test
May return if:
- Negative test, meaning:
- Negative PCR/Molecular or
- Negative rapid antigen test as long as at least one of the following applies: (1) you have not been exposed to COVID-19 in the past 14 days, OR (2) you have received your primary vaccination series, OR (3) you were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 90 days
- AND fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine
- AND symptoms have improved
With COVID-19 symptoms and have not been tested for COVID-19 or does not have an alternative medical diagnosis
- May return if it has been at least 5 days since first symptoms AND
- Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine AND
- Symptoms have improved
- Must continue to wear a mask when returning from 5-day quarantine
- If unable to wear a mask, must stay home for an additional 5 days
With COVID-19 symptoms and an alternative medical diagnosis
- May return if there is a diagnosis other than COVID-19 (like a stomach virus, ear infection, etc.) from a healthcare professional to explain the COVID-19-like symptoms AND
- Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine AND
- Have felt well for 24 hours
- The health care provider is not required to detail the specifics of the alternate diagnosis
Symptoms due to COVID-19 Vaccination
If you experience side effects during the first few days after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, you should stay home until you are no longer experiencing symptoms and fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine. You are not required to present an alternate diagnosis, negative COVID-19 test, or stay home for 5 days in order to return to school or work.
Symptoms not associated with COVID-19
If you are experiencing symptoms not on the NCDHHS COVID-19 symptom list above (like ear ache, stomach ache), you may return to school after you have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine AND symptoms have improved.
Exceptions
- You do not need to quarantine (stay away from others) if masks were being worn appropriately and consistently by both the person with COVID-19 and the potential exposed person. This applies to exposures in classrooms, other in-school settings, extracurricular activities, including athletic activities and school transportation.
Living with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
Not vaccinated or have not received booster (18 years old and older and eligible for booster)
- Quarantine (stay away from others) for 5 days
- The 5 days of quarantine begin on the day after the last known close contact with the COVID-19 positive individual
- Should test on day 5, if possible
- Must continue to wear a mask when returning from 5-day quarantine
- If unable to wear a mask, must stay home for an additional 5 days
Vaccinated and eligible for a booster, but not yet been boosted
- Quarantine (stay away from others) for 5 days
- The 5 days of quarantine begin on the day after the last known close contact with the COVID-19 positive individual
- Should test on day 5, if possible
- Must continue to wear a mask when returning from 5-day quarantine
- If unable to wear a mask, must stay home for an additional 5 days
Vaccinated, and have either received a booster or are not yet eligible for a booster and have not developed symptoms since your exposure to COVID-19
- You do not need to quarantine (stay away from others)
- Should test on day 5, if possible
- Must wear a mask for 10 days
COVID-19 CLUSTERS
A “cluster” is defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as five or more linked cases in the same facility within 14 days.
If your COVID-19 exposure is connected to a cluster of cases, Wake County Public Health may require you to quarantine for the full 14 day incubation period. That’s how long it could take from the time you’re exposed to the virus and when you could start experiencing symptoms. The local health department will only impose this requirement if they believe it is necessary to stop the spread of the virus within the facility.
Returning To School After COVID-19 Diagnosis, Exposure, or Illness
Instruction when your child has been Exposed or is Quarantined
Over the last week, we have seen an increase in the number of students who have COVID or have been exposed to COVID. Based on the current guidance, the quarantine time has been reduced to five days. Students will have an opportunity to access instructional materials via Google Classroom. Students will not be able to join their class virtually. Asynchronous assignments will be available 24 hours after the teachers are notified about the positive case or exposure. Teachers will catch students up upon their return to school. Please know that it is not a district expectation that teachers provide virtual instruction.
Virtual Magnet Fair
There are upcoming virtual Mini Fairs for parents to learn more about our magnet schools. The deadline to apply to magnet and year-round schools is Jan. 27.
Track Change Request
Some families have asked about requesting a track change for the 2022-2023 school year. Below you will find the link in English and Spanish to request a track change. Please understand that we cannot always honor requests for track changes, as many factors go into student placement. These include state-mandated class size, enrollment numbers by grade level and track, how many students choose a virtual option, among other factors. We will do our best!
Track Change Request (English)
Rising 5G Families
Below you will find the link to the presentation from Ms. Anne Marie Adkins, the principal at Herbert Adkins Middle School. She held a meet and greet on January 20, 2022, for incoming families.
Meal Benefits
Parents, please consider applying for meal benefits as soon as possible. By submitting a qualifying application, families will also support the district in qualifying for additional funds to support students and learning! Also, the NC Department of Health & Human Services is collecting student free and reduced lunch and attendance data from WCPSS to determine any additional Pandemic Electronic Benefits (P-EBT) that will be issued in the coming months! By not applying for these meal benefits, you will miss the potential opportunity to receive direct P-EBT funds for your family!
Yes, meals will still be free for all students through June 2022 but we still need you to complete a meal benefits application so our school can be eligible for this extra education funding next school year. Also, this ensures your student is covered for the first few weeks of school next year. Information about applying for Meal Benefits can be found at www.wcpss.net/meals. Help our school continue to receive this funding by completing an application online at MySchoolApps.com. Paper applications can be requested by calling 919-588-3535.
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, January 31st: Track 4 Report Cards go home
- Wednesday, February 2nd (Track 2 Only): Twosday Flier
- Monday, February 7th: PTA Meeting @ 6:30
- Tuesday, February 22nd: Twosday Flier (Tracks 1, 3 & 4)
- Monday, February 28th-March 4th: Literacy Week