SLCS District Update
May 6, 2021
Note from the Superintendent
Greetings SLCS Community,
It has been a great week celebrating our teachers and staff. Thank you to all the PTO’s, students, and parents who have shown our staff how much they are appreciated. The depth of your gratitude and continued support throughout the school year help make this a special community. Thank you!
I am delighted to share that on Tuesday evening, the Board of Education approved the recommendation to name Jim Brennan as the new principal at SLHS. Mr. Brennan has held a number of positions during his 20 years in the district all of which have been at SLHS. Mr. Brennan’s experience includes years as a ELA teacher, coach, and assistant principal. He has been serving as the interim-principal since mid-February. Mr. Brennan has established himself as a strong, positive, and enthusiastic leader. He has the ability to unite individuals and work tirelessly and faithfully to serve the best interest of students, staff, and the school community at-large.
On Tuesday of this week, the OCHD released revised quarantine guidance. This guidance provides the opportunity for individuals who are identified as a close contact quarantine to return to school after 10 days provided the individual is symptom free and remains so through the 14-day period. Also, on Tuesday, the SLCS Board of Education voted to implement the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) option related to the quarantine period for close contacts of a COVID-positive individual. As such, individuals identified as a close contact may return to school after seven days with written evidence of a negative PCR test. The test must occur on day 5 or later from the last date of exposure.
The Board of Education and administration recognize the importance of maintaining a quarantine period to help reduce the risk of the spread of the virus. We also recognize the burden that a lengthy quarantine period placed on students, staff members and families. Of additional concern is the disruption to student learning during quarantine. In making this decision, the Board and administration considered positive trends in our community, such as lower case numbers and the school district’s own data that demonstrates a low rate of spread among close contacts.
SLCS QUARANTINE DATA FOR FEBRUARY THROUGH APRIL
- 101 school associated cases resulting in 1,390 school associated quarantines
- 14 of the 1,390 (1.007%) school associated quarantines subsequently tested positive
- 12 tested positive within 4 days
- 2 tested positive within 8 days
Please be assured that we will continue to monitor our data closely in order to maintain the safe school environment that we are striving for while allowing students the ability to return from quarantine to in person learning in a timely manner.
SLCS Strong!
Steve Archibald
Learning Pathway Selection for 2021-2022
If you would like to enroll your child in the In-Person Pathway for the 2021-2022 school year, please complete the In-Person Pathway form in Skyward using this link to log into Skyward.
If you would like to enroll your child in the Virtual Learning Pathway for the 2021-2022 school year, please complete the Virtual Learning Pathway form in Skyward using this link to log into Skyward.Food Service
Lunch will be offered, free, to all students who are attending in person class.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: Meals are set up as a “Grab and Go” with choices of hot or cold entrees. A free meal consists of entrée, fruit, vegetable and milk.
Wednesday’s Lunch is offered as a “Take Home” to all students every Tuesday. Students can stop by outside the cafeteria on Tuesday’s after school to pick up Wednesday lunch and 5 breakfasts.
Tuesday “Take Home” meals consist of:
(5) Breakfast, (5) Juice and (5) 8oz Milk
(1) Lunch, (1) Fruit, (1) Vegetable and (1) 8oz Milk
Ala Carte Milk: .50 cents (Milk is only free with a school lunch.)
Supply Chain Struggles: Menu is subject to change, if product is not available from the manufacturer. Menu items will be replaced with something similar or a different item.
Menu is located on the District Website under the Food Service Department.
Food distribution is available for all students not attending in person class, whether 100% virtual or quarantined, on Wednesday from 4:30-6:00 at South Lyon High School door 11.
P-EBT cards have been mailed out to families that qualify. Question & Answer Sheet, along with Help Desk phone number and email address are posted on the District Website under Food Service. Please direct questions to the MDHHS Help Desk
(833) 905-0028.
P-EBT cards are issued to families who are Free/Reduced through Direct Certification or have a current Free/Reduced application on file for SY 2020 - 2021. Families can fill-out a Free/Reduced form on-line via the District website or email a signed, hard copy to myers-trentc@slcs.us.
Transportation
Reminder that students will need to keep their face mask on during the entire ride to/from school.
Students are assigned a seat by the driver. When possible, they will be seated with a sibling. It is possible students may be seated with someone they do not know.
Drivers will try to space students out, however there are some routes where social distancing is not possible. It is important to use hand sanitizer and keep face mask on the entire ride to/from school.
Remember to not send your student on the bus/to school if they are showing symptoms of illness.
Note: In regards to bus drivers wearing face masks - there may be situations where it is not safe for the bus driver to wear a facial covering. If it hinders their driving in any way, they are allowed to pull it down.
Special Education Department
The Special Education Department is excited to have the Summer Experience return face to face this year. In light of the pandemic, we have made a couple changes to our Summer Experience. Students will be able to attend 5 days a week for a total of 3 weeks. This year, teachers will be focusing on literacy activities 3 days a week (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) and social emotional learning activities 2 days a week (Tuesday/Thursday). The registration links are below:
Elementary/Middle School Summer Experience Registration Form
High School and Adult Transition Summer Experience Registration Form
SLCS Shout-out
Youth Assistance - Free Tutoring
SLCS Student Screening Guidelines Updated May 2021
The SLCS Student Screening Guidelines have been updated to reflect the quarantine changes recently made. Visit the SLCS Website to view:
COVID Update
While quarantining individuals for 14 days from the date of exposure is ideal, our District recognizes that reducing the length of quarantine can be beneficial for students and families. Following the guidelines from the Oakland County Health Department (OCHD), persons may reduce the quarantine length from 14 to 10 days if the following conditions can be met:
The daily health screener continues to be implemented;
The student remains home if they exhibit symptoms consistent with the COVID-19 virus;
Mitigating factors remain in place (wearing a facial covering/mask, social distance when possible, and frequent hand-washing).
In addition, South Lyon Community Schools has recently approved that an individual who tests negative through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test five or more days after the exposure date, can return to school after quarantining through 7 days. Verification of the test is required and will be processed as quickly as possible during school hours. It is imperative that families continue to monitor their child for symptoms and keep them at home should they become symptomatic.