Cardinal Connections Parent Copy

January 24, 2022

Important Dates

January 24 - Kindergarten Registration Begins - https://www.chippewavalleyschools.org/for-parents/kindergarten/
January 28 - Progress Reports Sent Home
January 28 - End of the first semester
February 2 - MCHD Hearing and Vision Testing for GSRP, ECSE, and Kindergarten
February 3 - MCHD Hearing and Vision Testing for GSRP, ECSE, and Kindergarten
February 4 - MCHD Hearing and Vision Testing for GSRP, ECSE, and Kindergarten
February 7 - WIDA Testing - ELL Students only
February 9 - WIDA Testing - ELL Students only
February 9 - Count Day
February 14 - WIDA Testing - ELL Students only
February 16 - WIDA Testing - ELL Students only
February 18 - Half Day - Dismissal will be at 11:55 am
February 21 - 27 - Mid-Winter Break
February 28 - WIDA Testing - Makeups
March 2 - WIDA Testing - Makeups
March 2 - NAEP Assessment (4th Grade) - Information will be sent out soon

COVID-19 Update

Dear School Community,

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Chippewa Valley Schools has worked closely with the Macomb County Health Department (MCHD) and it's expert guidance in the development of health and safety protocols. This week, the MCHD has revised its guidance for how schools should approach the isolation and quarantine of students and staff for in-school exposure. The most important pieces have stayed the same - sick students must stay home and the district will still notify families of positive cases in the school buildings.

Keep those who are sick home
Staff/Families must report positive COVID-19 cases and isolation remains at five days
Cases will continue to be reported on the district’s COVID-19 Dashboard

PROTOCOL CHANGE
The Macomb County Health Department has adjusted their contact tracing and school-based case notification from individual to entire classroom. No longer will individuals be identified as close contacts. Instead, the entire class where a positive case was reported will be notified of the potential exposure.

All students and staff in the impacted classroom should monitor for symptoms.
Those who have or develop symptoms should isolate and test for COVID-19.
Students in the impacted classroom may quarantine but are not required to unless symptoms develop.
Live streaming is available to students who are required to isolate due to a positive COVID test or quarantine because of an in-home exposure.

These changes follow CDC guidance and will support our commitment to ensure healthy students who do not have symptoms remain in school. They will also help with staffing issues and the massive amount of time being spent in schools on individual contact tracing. The continued daily contact tracing has moved the focus of our staff from other critical work, including supporting students’ social/emotional needs, school safety measures, staff development, and building leadership. We need our education professionals focused on the education and well-being of our students and staff.

The countywide protocol changes will become effective on Friday, January 21. If your student/staff is currently quarantined due to in-school exposure or is on Day 6 or later of a COVID-19 illness and has significantly improved symptoms, they can return to school on Monday, January 24. Students/staff who are in Days 0-5 of a COVID-19 illness and unvaccinated siblings of those in Day 0-5 of COVID should remain home until Day 6 and symptoms improve. The MCHD website reflects the new protocols.

Your partnership remains critical. All families should continue to self-screen every morning and children that do not feel well must remain at home. In addition, I encourage you to take advantage of a federal program (https://www.covidtests.gov/) that provides up to four free COVID-19 testing kits to families.

Thank you for your continued support.

Ron Roberts
Superintendent

New! COVID Case Report Form for Families

If your child has tested positive for COVID-19, or has been exposed to a positive case, please fill out the following form. The questionnaire will help us determine what actions you may need to take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you are reporting for multiple children, please complete a separate form for each child. After your responses are received the district nurse will contact you as soon as possible.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Community Reporting Form

Medical Waiver Form for Masks

CVS will offer a mask exemption to students with a district-approved medical waiver from a physician that treats the student for a known health condition or disability. Forms must be approved by the district nurse before a child can attend school without a mask. The medical waiver form is available on our website.

Medical Waiver Form

What's Happening in 4/5 Blend with Ms. Ford...

Day at the Zoo - An educational program that provides an opportunity for students to experience a virtual visit to the zoo. The virtual learning lab for 3rd-5th grade is the Conservation Project: Falkland Island Penguins. The students will learn more about penguins who live at the Detroit Zoo and the conservation work being done to protect penguin habitats in the wild. The students will also experience the zoo through an interactive zoo map. There are interactive photos of animal habitats, videos, and written information about the animals who live at the Detroit Zoo. There is also access to live cameras in select animal habitats.

Ms. Ford applied for a grant to make this happen for our students at Clinton Valley. She found out she was approved this week. Thank you, Ms. Ford!

What's Happening in 4/5 Blend with Ms. Ford...

The students are learning about fractions and after the students finished their activity for today some of them went to my whiteboard table and continued practicing fractions on their own.