Updated Quarantine and Face Mask Guidance:

• The 14-day quarantine will no longer be required for individuals who are considered close contacts when face coverings or masks are properly worn by both the person with COVID-19 and their close contact(s) in a public setting. This includes the school setting, but would exclude household, residential, and healthcare settings.
• Face coverings or masks must meet CDC guidelines.
• As gaiters do not meet CDC and PCHD recommendations for an approved face covering, and would require the 14-day quarantine, gaiters will no longer be an approved face covering while on the school bus or inside a school building. At Valerius, if a student is wearing a gaiter they will be asked to switch to a face mask that will be provided by the school as we work to meet the requirements of this new guidance.
• Face shields do not meet CDC and PCHD recommendations for an approved face covering and would require the 14-day quarantine (note: wearing only a face shield was never an approved face covering on the school bus or inside a school building so no changes required in our district). Face shields may be worn in addition to a face mask.
• A 14-day quarantine will still be required if face coverings or masks do not have two or more layers or if not worn properly by either the person who has COVID-19 or the person(s) in close contact.
• We will still inform staff and parents/guardians if/when you (as a staff member) or your child (as a student) is determined to be a close contact with someone who has tested positive with COVID-19. If the proper face mask requirements are met, then close contacts would not need to quarantine. If close contacts develop symptoms associated with COVID-19, they should not attend school.
• Individuals exposed while living in the same household will continue to be quarantined for 14 days after the last exposure to a COVID-19 positive person in the home, regardless of the use of face coverings or masks.
• This updated quarantine guidance does NOT change isolation requirements for people that are sick and/or test positive for COVID-19. People who are COVID-19 positive are to isolate from others until:
  • If the COVID-19 positive person is experiencing symptoms, the person should isolate for at least 10 days from the date the symptoms started and have had no fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and other symptoms have improved.
  • If the COVID-19 positive person is NOT experiencing symptoms, the person should isolate and stay away from others until at least 10 days have passed since they had a positive COVID

With the unpredictability of COVID-19 circulating at the same time as the flu, it is recommended to get a flu shot in order to decrease the possible negative impacts on your respiratory system. The flu vaccine not only reduces your risk of illness from influenza but can prevent hospitalizations and deaths.

UCSD will not be partnering with Polk County Health this year to have a flu shot clinic. You may contact your health care provider for the vaccine or visit one of the many area pharmacies offering flu shots.

Hi Families,

The 2020 Valerius Virtual Fun Run is looking for a few more sponsors! If you own or have a connection to a local business, please share this opportunity with them to support our one big fundraiser for our school for the year. A $250 donation gets a company logo on our fun run t-shirts! *Deadline is October 7th to be included on the t-shirt design!

Flyers for student incentives and our official fundraising kick-off video will go out to families next week. We look forward to having some fun with this virtual event while we raise money to encourage kids, connect families and serve Valerius!

Please email Nicole Lunders with any questions valeriuspto@gmail.com or call 515-991-5672.

Thank you,

2020/2021 Valerius PTO Board:

President: Carissa Williams

Co-Secretaries: Jessica Romey & Nikki Johnson

Co-Treasurers: Nicole Lunders & Joel Goetsch

Members At-Large: Jana Severson, Scott Reister, Jamie Goetsch, Hannah Horton

Remote Picture Day will be October 26 from 7:30 am to 4 pm at Urbandale High School. Since this is an In-Service day for staff and a no school day for students, we will not need to worry about coming into contact with others and the building will have been cleaned prior to the weekend.

Pictures will be taken in the commons area. You will enter through the front doors and staff will be there to greet you and get you where you need to go. An order form will be sent home with student supplies Friday, Oct. 16 and a reminder will be sent out Friday Oct. 23.

Please let the Health Office know if your child is sick on in person learning days AND at home learning days.

Remote families- we will need you to call into our health office if your student is sick, for attendance.

To ensure that we get the message, please call our health office at 457-6503.

Principal- Valerius Elementary

Email: colem@urbandaleschools.com
Website: www.urbandaleschools.com
Location: 3305 92nd St. Urbandale, IA 50322
Phone: 515-457-6501
Twitter: @MichelleACole