Dear Shorewood Families,
We hope that you and your families are enjoying Winter Break and are finding time to safely celebrate and relax together. We want to express our continued thanks to all of our families for your commitment to keeping our students safe and in school throughout 2021. We call upon your continued support as we enter 2022.
As we look forward to our return to school on Tuesday, January 4, we continue to monitor changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The District is keenly aware of the increase in positive COVID cases nationally, as well as shortages of testing opportunities. Our local health department continues to encourage vaccinations and testing. This letter from the NSHD and North Shore Superintendents provides uniform guidance to residents throughout our North Shore communities.
Increase in COVID-19 Cases
Please review the information below as our Winter Break comes to an end and students return to in-person learning on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. We along with all North Shore schools are planning a return to in-person learning after Winter Break. Please be aware of the following information and plan accordingly.
Local case numbers are rising. Our Shorewood COVID dashboard has been updated to reflect District numbers as of December 24 and Village numbers as of December 28. When we receive updated numbers from the Health Department, we will update the dashboard.
Monitor Your Symptoms
Please use the COVID-19 Self Screener, and keep your child home from school if they have two or more symptoms of illness.
COVID-19 Symptoms
While many COVID-19 symptoms are common at this time of year, we ask that families exercise extreme caution when making decisions about students attending school.
- If there is any possibility that your student was exposed to someone with COVID-19, we strongly encourage your student to get tested for COVID-19 prior to returning to school.
- If you are awaiting your student’s results from a COVID-19 test, please keep your child home from school.
- If you have received COVID-19 test results for your student, please email the results to [email protected]
Contact your healthcare provider with questions about symptoms of illness.
Accessibility of COVID Testing Options
More information on the District’s testing resources and policies can be found here.
Demand for access to COVID-19 tests has increased dramatically. Please know that the Shorewood School District is continuing to partner with Summit Clinical Laboratories to provide free, optional, diagnostic COVID-19 testing for students, their families, and staff. We are offering expanded holiday testing hours which can be found on the District website along with registration information and testing procedures.
New CDC Guidelines for Quarantine
The District is aware of new CDC recommendations, and we have been in close contact with the North Shore Health Department and other area school districts concerning them. Both the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the North Shore Health Department are seeking clarification on how new CDC recommendations will impact schools; we will maintain our current isolation and quarantine practices until we receive further guidance from our local public health authorities. We ask for your patience regarding this changing landscape regarding quarantine procedures.
Layered Mitigation Strategies in Place - We Need Your Assistance
As we prepare for the return of students next week, the District is reviewing elementary lunchroom and other protocols to ensure our facilities and activities are as safe as possible. As always, families have the option to take students home for lunch; please follow the notification procedures outlined at your school.
Rest assured, we will continue to implement our layered mitigation strategies. For your information, all portable air purifiers and mechanical ventilation systems were cleaned and inspected over Winter Break.
We do ask for your assistance regarding masking. We strongly encourage families to send each student to school with a high-quality, well-fitting mask (N95 or similar, preferred). Please review CDC recommendations for face coverings and appropriate wear, and discuss the importance of proper masking with your students. Your help with this simple request will greatly assist in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
The pandemic has impacted all of us in countless ways, but this community has never wavered in its support of our schools. I am honored to be part of it and to work with you to make sure our students experience joyful and engaging learning as the school year continues.
Look for an update from the District on Sunday, January 2, 2022.
Sincerely,
Dr. JoAnn Sternke
Interim Superintendent, Shorewood School District