LHS Update vol. 5

I hope this communication finds all of our LHS students and families enjoying their long Labor day weekend. As was communicated in the LCS COVID-19 Mask Update on Thursday, September 2, 2021, the GCHD has adjusted some of the protocols that we are required to follow at the 9-12 grade level. I have included information from the GCHD, as well as LHS expectations and information.

On September 2, 2021 the Genesee County Health Department, pursuant to the Michigan Public Health Code, has issued a public health order requiring masks be worn by students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The order is effective on Tuesday September 7, 2021 and remains in effect until community transmission for Genesee County is categorized as “Moderate” by the CDC for at least fourteen consecutive days, or until further notice from the Genesee County Medical Health Officer. Read the full order here.

Additional Information provided by the Genesee County Health Department:

• 2021-2022 COVID-19 School Toolkit

You may read the full, September 2, 2021, GCHD Health Order here: https://www.gchd.us/wp-

content/uploads/2021/09/Emergency-Orders-Regarding-Masks-9.2.21.pdf

Important facts within and related to the updated Health Order:

• The quarantine window for those students considered a close contact has

changed from 14 days to 10 days.

• Social distancing, for the purpose of close contact, is defined as three (3) feet or

less (when face masks are worn) for a cumulative period of 15 minutes or more.

• Educational Institutions shall ensure that people in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve consistently and properly wear a facial covering while inside any enclosed building or structure of the institution.

• Educational Institutions shall ensure that all persons, regardless of vaccination status, providing service to any persons in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve properly and consistently wear a facial covering while inside any enclosed building or structure of the institution.

• Face masks are not required when individuals are seated at a a table or desk while eating or drinking (ie. lunch time).

• Face masks are not required when individuals are outside (ie. recess)

• Face mask exemptions are listed on page three (3) of the Health Order, and include:

A medical exemption, signed by a medical doctor. Submit to, and contact

your student’s building administrator.

Neurodivergent students meeting exemption criteria. Contact your

student’s building administrator if you have questions, and/or to review

your student’s information.

There is no religious exemption to the mask mandate. Courts in our

federal district and the Sixth Circuit have recently dismissed such religious

challenges. See Resurrection Sch. v. Gordon, 507 F. Supp. 3d 897, 902

(W.D. Mich. 2020), aff’d sub nom Resurrection Sch. v. Hertel, F.3d (6th

Cir. Aug. 23, 2021). The court found nothing in the near-universal mask

requirement order of the Michigan Department of Health and Human

Services Director that infringed on religious freedoms.

Beginning Tuesday, September 7, 2021 LHS will expect our students, staff, and visitors who can medically and developmentally tolerate wearing a mask, to properly wear one while in the school building. If student(s) are in need of a mask, they can secure one in the HS main office. LHS staff will work within each classroom to ensure the safest mitigation efforts to avoid spread of infection.

With our recent uptick in COVID positive students and close contact quarantines, parents/families are encouraged to continue to self-monitor their student(s) for COVID-19 symptoms. DO NOT send student(s) to school if symptoms (even mild symptoms) are present. Please contact your health care provider if symptoms are present. The Genesee County Health Department has defined symptoms of COVID-19 as any of the following not explained by a known medical or physical condition:

• any ONE of the following: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, new loss of taste or smell:

Or

• at least TWO of the following: chills/sweating, sore throat, muscle pain or body aches, new onset of severe headache, diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, congestion or runny nose.

For additional information. please reference the GCHD 2021-2022 COVID-19 School Toolkit

HOW LONG MUST A STUDENT BE OUT OF SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE SAME HOUSE AS THEM THAT TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19?

A student that lives in the same house as someone who tests positive for COVID-19 must remain out of school the entire time the family member is in isolation (typically 10 days) plus 14 additional days of quarantine. The total time out of school if the household members could not remain separated would be at least 24 days. However, as long as the case and household members remain separated, the household member’s quarantine can begin after their last close contact with the case

DOES A SIBLING OF A CHILD IN QUARANTINE ALSO HAVE TO BE QUARANTINED?

No, if the sibling was not a direct contact of a person who tested positive for COVID-19, then they should monitor for symptoms and can continue attending school.

IF A STUDENT HAS RECEIVED THE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AND ARE EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WITH COVID-19, DO THEY STILL NEED TO QUARANTINE?

No, if you have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and are exposed to someone with the virus, you no longer have to quarantine for 14 days as long as you remain free of symptoms. However, per the CDC fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms, and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative. Vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks (14 days)) following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks (14 days) following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
• Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure Persons who do not meet both of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
• Please note, fully vaccinated individuals may be required to quarantine for 14 days if exposed to a different variant strain with the potential for reduced vaccine efficacy.

DOES A STUDENT HAVE TO RETEST FOR COVID-19 AFTER TESTING POSITIVE BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED BACK TO SCHOOL?

No, the student who tested positive can return to school after 24 hours with no fever and symptoms have improved (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) and 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. The health department does not recommend a retest. Sometimes a person will continue to test positive even though they are no longer infectious.

IF A STUDENT IS TOLD THEY ARE A CLOSE CONTACT OF A POSITIVE CASE AND THEY GET A COVID-19 TEST THAT IS NEGATIVE ARE THEY RELEASED FROM QUARANTINE?

No, a person can become COVID-19 positive any time during quarantine. No number of COVID-19 negative tests exempt a person from quarantine

Classroom(s)

• Classmates, sitting or often within 3' of someone when masked with COVID-19, either in the classroom or on the bus, for 15+ minutes.
• 3 feet distance is applicable if individuals are masked and there is no physical activity.

Lunchroom

• Lunch mates of person with COVID19 if sitting within 6 feet for 15+ minutes. This is a higher risk time, as face coverings cannot be worn.

Offices

• Coworkers, sitting, or often within 3' of someone when masked with COVID-19, either in the classroom or on the bus, for 15+ minutes.
• 3 feet distance is applicable if individuals are masked and there is no physical activity.

LVS and online students should follow the due dates established in their online classes. The schedule identified below, provides additional guidance as to where student's progress should be throughout the remainder of the semester:

• 8/23/2021 (First Day of School) 0%
• 9/23/2021 (¼ through the semester) 25%
• 10/23/2020 (½ through the semester) 50%
• 11/24/2021 (Thanksgiving Break) 66%
• 12/10/2021 (¾ through the semester) 75%
• 12/23/2021 (Christmas Break) 92%
• 1/7/2022 (End of Semester) 100%

In partnership with HSP Photography, we will be offering a school picture make-up day for all LHS students.

• Wednesday, September 8, 2021

This will be the last opportunity for students to have a school picture taken for the 2021-2022 school year.

Students that do not, or are unable to have their picture taken by HSP will have one taken in house to generate their digital student identification.

• Spirit Week activities will be conducted during the week of September 27-October 1

• The Senior-Junior Powderpuff game will be conducted on Tuesday, September 28.

• The identification and acknowledgement of Homecoming King and Queen, as well as class courts will be conducted.

• Announcement of Homecoming King to be done during the Powderpuff game.

• Announcement of the Homecoming Queen to be done at the Football game.

• Homecoming Parade will be conducted after school and prior to the football game on Friday, October 1.

• Homecoming Hoedown Saturday, October 2, 2021 to take place at Claude Cranston Stadium.

Further information regarding the times of the Powderpuff game, parade, and Hoedown will be communicated as soon as they are finalized.

A reminder that on Tuesday, September 7th. Installation of fencing around the perimeter of construction will, unfortunately impede access through a section of the pathway that runs along the west side of the stadium. In order to maintain a safe route for walkers and bikers, we'll be opening the gates on the South end of the stadium, these gates will remain open for the duration of construction. We will have barricades and signage to help direct people to the re-routed section.