Dear Shorewood Families,
This letter supplements information provided earlier this week about COVID policy updates. Thank you for your prompt attention to these communications, and for all you continue to do to keep students and staff safe, and schools open. If you have any questions, please submit them using the 2021-22 In-Person Learning Questions portal.
Excused Absences Extended Through January 20
We will be extending the excused absence period for students and families who are not comfortable attending school in person due to COVID safety through Thursday, January 20. Please indicate this reason to your school’s attendance office when you phone your child in absent. Work will continue to be provided for your student on Google Classroom and Seesaw. Providing this option to families for the three days of school next week (January 18, 19 & 20) will help us continue to address the Omicron surge in ways that provide options for our students and families and end the first semester smoothly for those learning in-person or at home.
Our plans are to resume in-person learning for all students on Monday, January 24. If you feel that your student needs a virtual learning option for the second semester, we have made arrangements to offer the Kiel Area Virtual Charter School program for the second semester. They have seats available at most grade levels. Please note that a commitment for the entire semester is required. To confirm placement in the Kiel program for the second semester or to get questions answered about this option, please contact Mickey Chavannes, Director of Instructional Technology, at [email protected] no later than Wednesday, January 19. For students who do not want to return to in-person learning after January 24, 2022, this will be the only virtual option available.
COVID Dashboard Revisions
Beginning Tuesday, January 18, the Shorewood School District COVID-19 Dashboard will be updated to reflect current student and staff isolation and quarantine numbers on Tuesdays and Fridays each week. As noted earlier this week, positive home tests reported to the District will now be included in addition to laboratory-verified test results. This new format replaces the weekly active case summary data previously reported, and will offer more up-to-date current COVID isolation and quarantine numbers twice weekly.
Additional COVID Testing Support
We are encouraging COVID testing two times per week regardless of symptoms. We have expanded hours at the Village Center to accommodate more testing opportunities. You can find the schedule here.
Again, thank you for taking time to review the information the District has provided about changes to our COVID policies and procedures. I hope this information is helpful. If you desire additional information or have questions, please use the 2021-22 In-Person Learning Questions portal to forward them to us. The portal is more efficient than phone calls or emails at this time.
As we enter the long weekend, I hope you and your students will take some time to reflect on the impact that Martin Luther King Jr has had on our society and what we can learn from his leadership.
Warmly,
JoAnn Sternke
Interim Superintendent, Shorewood Schools