Woodside High School
Woodside HS Weekly Wildcat Notes: January 09, 2022
2nd Semester: A Fresh Start for All
Message from the Principal
Dear Woodside Families:
This newsletter contains the most up-to-date information including Superintendent Williams's communication that was sent on Friday, January 7th, 2022. I will include key components from our District communications here as well as provide information to questions that our community members have asked:
- Health and Safety Updates from Superintendent Williams 1/7/2022
- Student Absences & Academics / Education Code
- Questions About Remote Learning / CA AB 130
- Home Antigen Testing Kits/ KN95 Facemasks / Worksite Labs On Site Testing
Since we started school on Tuesday, January 4th, I started typing updates at least three times. Guidelines and updates would shift and make my message outdated before completing them. Our Woodside staff, students and parents deserve praise for their flexibility, patience and cautionary perseverance as we navigate the third year of COVID health and safety protocols and the new Omicron variant. I want to give a big "Thank You" to our ABO (Athletic Boosters Organization) for allowing us to use their orange Tote Bags for an efficient classroom distribution of Home Test Kits in 7th period classes. A "Shout Out" to our Office Team members: Zayra Padilla and Erika Zelaya along with AVP Ms. Porter who distributed Home Test Kits before the school day began in a Drive-Thru last Tuesday starting at 6:30AM and they continue to distribute kits for those who were absent along with admin assistants: Lupe Flores-Robles and Denise Hines. Our Health Team: Nanette Pasion and Kristin Coronado are fielding emails, calls and in-person needs -- THANK YOU!
Health and Safety Updates from Superintendent Williams 1/7/2022:
SUHSD follows the California Department of Public Health, San Mateo County Health, and San Mateo County Office of Education guidance, which has recently been updated and is reflected in this communication.
ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE UPDATES
If staff/student have been exposed at school please refer to the following:
-testing is recommended 5 days after the date of last exposure OR following any symptoms
-if fully vaccinated (14 days past final dose in COVID-19 vaccination series):
-No symptoms you may continue coming to school
-if unvaccinated (or not fully vaccinated) and were in close contact (within 6 ft for more than 15 minutes) with no mask you must quarantine and are not able to attend school
-continue to monitor for symptoms and wear a well-fitting mask at all times for at least 10 days following an exposure
-if experiencing ANY symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home and seek testing (see below for resources)
-Isolate from all school activities for at least 5 days
*Email CovidResponse@seq.org for follow-up and cc npasion@seq.org for absence notification.
-Isolation can end after day 5 if:
-Symptoms are not present or resolving AND a diagnostic specimen* collected on or after day 5 is negative (*antigen test preferred as PCR results may continue to show positive for up to 90 days after)
-Must wear a well-fitting mask around others at all times for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings
Isolation can end after day 10 if:
-Unable to test, or choosing not to re-test
-Symptoms are not resolving by day 5, especially fever
-Unable to wear a well-fitting mask while around others
-No quarantine required
-Test on/after day 5, continue coming to school if negative
-Unvaccinated OR Vaccinated booster eligible* (*6 months past final dose) but have not yet received booster dose:
-Quarantine for at least 5 days following the date of last exposure to person with COVID-19
-Test on/after day 5, return to school if negative
-Quarantine can end after day 5 if:
-Symptoms are not present AND
-A negative test collected on day 5 or later
-Quarantine can end after day 10 if:
-Unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present
-Regardless of vaccination status, continue to monitor for symptoms and wear a well-fitting mask at all times for at least 10 days following an exposure
-If you/your student are experiencing ANY symptoms of COVID-19 stay home and seek testing (see below for resources)
Vaccinations and boosters continue to be the best way to provide protection against contracting and spreading COVID-19. Another benefit of being vaccinated is those who are vaccinated experience less severe illness if they do become infected. San Mateo County Health is offering pediatric COVID-19 vaccines at eight sites throughout the county during the month of January. Free and open to the public, these clinics will offer the Pfizer vaccine to children aged 5-11.
Education Code requires that students who miss school due to illness be given reasonable time to make up assignments, but current health conditions have heightened this need to a never before seen scale. This is exacerbated by an increase in staff who are out ill and the need for our teachers to balance effectively serving students without burning themselves out. Below are some suggestions for how your student can stay on top of/makeup work they are missing:
If your student is quarantining but feeling healthy, help them to understand that they need to stay on top of their course work while they are home so they don’t return to school with an unnecessarily large amount of assignments to complete.
Make sure your student is aware of how they can access work and information for each of their classes while they are away from school. This includes:
Checking their Canvas class pages daily
Having the contact information of classmates who can help to answer questions - Use a "Buddy System" between classmates to stay connected
Utilizing their 24/7 access to one-on-one tutoring through their Paper tutorial accounts.
- Remember to email npasion@seq.org to report any illness-related absence with specifics.
*A joint communication was created by the Sequoia District Teacher Association and the Assistant Superintendent of Education Services and disseminated among staff last week in order to maintain consistency.
- The California legislature eliminated the option of schools providing distance learning with the adoption of AB 130 last summer. Instead, the only way for schools to deliver remote instruction is through independent study. *AB 130
- The San Mateo County Health Officer has the authority to close a school if he determines that to be necessary to protect public health. Based on prior communications with our partners in County Public Health, we believe it is unlikely that our schools will be ordered to close.
- If it becomes necessary to close a classroom or even a school, the District must either transition students to independent study, or make up the lost days of instruction at the end of the school year.
- This is a rapidly evolving situation and new school guidance is expected from the CDPH in the next few days. We also await additional clarifications from Cal/OSHA.
Home Antigen Testing Kits / Facemasks / Worksite Labs On-Site Testing
Woodside and other SUHSD schools were provided with only enough testing kits for each student. KN95 masks were also distributed with each test kit and additional masks are available for students in classrooms, main office and locations on campus where masks have been distributed throughout the year.
Weekly PCR COVID-19 testing is available for all SUHSD staff, students, and families. Our next on-site testing dates at Woodside are Monday, January 10th and Thursday, January 13th, 2022. The testing window is from 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and it is open to staff, students, and families from all SUHSD schools. You can find more information, register, and schedule COVID-19 testing at: schools.worksitelabs.com/suhsd. You can also find appointments at various SUHSD campuses.
Finally, Congratulations to our Soccer Teams who had big wins this week to keep our spirits up! Girls Varsity won 3-1 while the JV Girls won big 5-1 over Terra Nova on Tuesday and on a chilly Friday evening, Boys Varsity and JV teams earned big wins over Sequoia HS (Varsity 3-0 and JV 1-0).
Paws Up - Mask Up - Spirits Up, Wildcats!
Karen van Putten
Friday, January 14th is Hat Day - Hosted by the Aspirations Group
Let's get back into the Wildcat Spirit!
Wednesdays: Wear College Gear
Fridays: Orange Wildcat Gear
AND this Friday, 1/14, wear a fun, crazy, creative Hat and enjoy music from Mr. Kaufmann's Music Production classes who will be sharing their mixes on the Quad during Lunch!
New Food Service Menu: Students have access to free brunch & lunch
Important Dates & Schedules
- Click Here for the Weekly Calendar of Events
- January 10 - 14 is "A - B - A - B - A" Schedule
- Basketball Game Schedule Resumes 1/10 - 14 with Family Members ONLY
Are You Looking for Academic Support?
- The Den in the MUR
- Quiet Study in the Library
- Tutorial during school - Take full advantage
- Paper - online support 24/7
Health & Safety Reminders
Here are some concrete things you and your family can do to keep yourself safe:
- Get vaccinated.
- Stay home when sick.
- Get a COVID test / screening here on campus on Mondays and Thursdays.
- Use the Home Test Kit provided week of January 4th.
- Practice good hygiene: wash hands with soap & water; use hand sanitizer.
- Wear face coverings.
- Don't share personal items like water bottles.
- Practice social distancing when outside of your home.
As a reminder, if your student is out with any COVID-like symptoms they should remain off campus until they are 24 hrs fever-free without medication, symptoms largely improved AND a negative COVID test result before returning per SMCH Guidelines.
Woodside High School
Email: kvanputten@seq.org
Website: woodsidehs.org
Location: 199 Churchill Avenue, Woodside, CA, USA
Phone: (650) 367-9750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Woodside-High-School-584534558341797/