Burro Blast
February 2022
Principal's Corner
Thank you parents/guardians for all your support!!
Counselor's Corner
Senior Families - Most local scholarships have been updated and are available on our website. As we receive more opportunities I will continue to post on the site. Many scholarships require a letter of recommendation so I have encouraged students to start requesting them well before the due dates!
In addition, please mark your calendars for upcoming Senior events/deadlines. Community Service Forms and Senior Biographies will not be accepted after posted due dates.
- March 1st - All Community Service Forms are due for recognition at Graduation since you will receive a cord to wear at graduation.
- April 4th - Senior Biography Due
- May 11th - Scholarship Awards Night
- June 9th - Mandatory Graduation Practice and all outstanding payments due.
- June 11th - Graduation
Notes From Our Superintendent
February 9, 2022
Families,
I was out of the office for two weeks when my father passed away. I returned last week and was busy playing catch up with day-to-day business that I missed. I reached out to you last week but it was primarily to address the pick-up situation. Although I mentioned masks, it was not my primary focus as I was looking into the situation but was not ready to communicate things at that point.
As promised, I have been continually monitoring the situation and observing what is going on around us. At the end of November, I sent out a survey to parents and staff about the mask requirement. The response was split, right at 50/50. If the results had been significant either way, it would have given me better direction on decision making but because of the results, I felt the appropriate action was to maintain until things around us changed. Recently, the guidance around quarantine changed which lessened the amount of time students and staff would need to be out of school. This was great news.
The state, and Park County, witnessed a spike right after the holidays but that spike has receded and numbers are looking much better. This is evident as many entities and schools around us are lifting the mask requirement. I have said, all along, that educating with masks is not how we want to do education but we will do whatever it takes to keep our doors open and to keep kids in school. As we move along the COVID continuum, we simply must get to a place where we establish the new normal. I do not believe trying to teach, especially young children, while wearing masks will ever be best. I believe it was important for a time but I hope that time is behind us.
Park County RE 2 schools will lift the mask requirement starting tomorrow, Thursday, February 10, 2022. At that time, mask wearing will be personal choice although encouraged. We will adhere to the most recent guidance from the CDC for our quarantine procedures, which I have included below. This is the guidance for unvaccinated people. Those who are vaccinated still do not need to quarantine if exposed to a positive case.
Additionally, CDC is updating the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure. Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure.
For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
Unvaccinated, exposed individuals will either need to quarantine for 10 days, or quarantine for 5 days followed by 5 days of mask wearing or if unable to quarantine, must wear a mask for 10 days.
Thank you for your patience!
Cindy Bear, Superintendent
Notes From Our Nurse
At-Home Covid-19 Testing Information
Colorado is distributing free rapid COVID-19 over the counter (OTC) self tests directly to people’s homes. The program uses Abbott BinaxNOW™ rapid antigen tests that show results within 15 minutes. Click on link to find more information and to order.
School Based Health - Something To Think About...
Marijuana Risks: Marijuana use can have negative and long-term effects:
Brain health: Marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss of as much as 8 points when people start using it at a young age. These IQ points do not come back, even after quitting marijuana.
Mental health: Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes. It is not known, however, if marijuana use is the cause of these conditions.
Athletic Performance: Research shows that marijuana affects timing, movement, and coordination, which can harm athletic performance.
Driving: People who drive under the influence of marijuana can experience dangerous effects: slower reactions, lane weaving, decreased coordination, and difficulty reacting to signals and sounds on the road.
Baby’s health and development: Marijuana use during pregnancy may cause fetal growth restriction, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with brain development, resulting in hyperactivity and poor cognitive function. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other chemicals from marijuana can also be passed from a mother to her baby through breast milk, further impacting a child’s healthy development.
Daily life: Using marijuana can affect performance and how well people do in life. Research shows that people who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship problems, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement, and reduced life satisfaction.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS
- Wednesday, February 16: Collaboration Day/ Early Release Day. Students will be release at 2:02 PM.
- Mid-Winter Break: Thursday, February 24 - Monday, February 28.
HS BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL (February)
Friday, February 11 @ Home vs Monte Vista - First Game 5:00 PM
Saturday, February 12 @ Home vs Sargent - First Game 1:00 PM
Monday, February 14 @ Home vs Cotopaxi - First Game 5:00 PM
Thursday, February 17: @ Home vs Denver Academy - 5:00 PM
Saturday, February 19 @ Crested Butte - First Game 2:00 PM
Middle School Girls Basketball (February)
Friday, February 11: @ Cripple Creek - 10:00 AM
Friday, February 18: @ Home vs Custer - 10:00 AM
Friday February 25: WCL Tournament @ Cripple Creek - 9:00 AM
Staff and Student Recognition
Employment Opportunities
https://www.teachers-teachers.com/employer/park-county-school-district-re-2-10785