Update Regarding Large Gatherings: Open House, Promotion Ceremonies, Events, On Campus Volunteers and Field Trip Chaperones
As we prepare for the closure of the 2021-22 school year, we know that families may have questions about guidelines for open house, promotion ceremonies, end of school year field trips and events, and other occasions when families may be gathering and/or on campus or with students. Please take a few minutes to read the following information closely. Doing so will help you understand the actions being taken in Robla School District to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Some of this information you may have read before, however, there are some new updates available toward the end, please read it through.
Background: Due to the change in mask mandate to “strongly recommended” and other COVID-19 requirements, we are providing the following guidance on how school sites should handle large gatherings with students and families.
There are still many variables to consider and our community’s safety is our primary focus while they enjoy events at the campuses. Therefore, the following precautions should be taken for large gatherings. We will remain in communication with health authorities so that we are able to make adjustments should circumstances change:
A. Sites are encouraged to hold events outdoors when possible and weather permitting.
For events held outdoors, masks are strongly recommended but not required. Sites need to make masks available for attendees; however, staff may not require any attendees to take or wear a mask.
B. For indoor student assemblies:
1. Masks are required for students and staff; provide masks if necessary.
2. No all-school assemblies. At minimum, divide your assembly into two sessions and have half your school attend a separate session.
3. Seat your students in their classroom groups and keep spacing between groups as much as possible.
C. For indoor student plays/performances:
1. Performing students do not need to wear a mask while performing
2. Audience members (parents, staff, students/other children) must wear a mask and the site needs to make masks available to audience members. There is no need to “police” audience members to wear the mask once they are in for the performance.
3. Sites are to advertise the event with “Masks required for all attendees while indoors” language and post signs at the entrances on the day of the event.
4. The Principal needs to contact Nichol Sullivan two weeks prior to the event date to verify the event can still take place. She will discuss the current state of the pandemic with the School Nurse and the Superintendent. If this team determines that holding the event holds too much risk, the event will have to be canceled or rescheduled.
*NEW UPDATE*
D. Open House:
1. Masking is strongly recommended when attendees visit the classrooms or other indoor areas of the campus. Sites need to make masks available to attendees; however, staff may not require attendees to take or wear a mask.
2. If the site intends to have information booths or a PTC table for example, those activities should be held outdoors and spaced apart to allow large groups of people to socially distance themselves when visiting the tables/booths. Social distancing does not need to be monitored by staff; we simply need to provide the space to allow for social distancing to occur.
*NEW UPDATE*
E. Promotion Ceremonies:
1. Sites are strongly encouraged to hold all promotion ceremonies outdoors.
2. If held outdoors, masks are strongly recommended but not required. Sites need to make masks available for attendees; however, staff may not require any attendees to take or wear a mask.
3. If the ceremony must be held indoors, follow the same procedures as above in “C. For indoor plays/performances”.
*NEW UPDATE**
F. Field Trip Chaperones and Students:
1. Parents/Guardians need to provide proof of vaccination to the school office prior to the field trip or show proof of a negative covid test from the past 72 hours. If the parent/guardian has no proof of vaccination or negative test, he/she must take a rapid test with the school office staff and demonstrate a negative result immediately prior to the field trip. Rapid tests will be provided by the school site.
2. While on the school bus and in indoor settings on the field trip, chaperones and students are strongly recommended to wear a mask. If the venue requires a mask, then one must be worn.
Sites need to make masks available to chaperones and students.
*NEW UPDATE*
G. Parent/Guardian Volunteers On Campus
1. Volunteers are allowed on campus by special invitation or on a pre-arranged schedule in order to limit the number of people on campus at any given time. All volunteers must check in with the school office prior to participating in the pre-arranged activity. At that time, they will need to
provide proof of vaccination, show proof of a negative covid test from the past 72 hours, or take a rapid test with school office staff. Masking indoors is strongly recommended and sites will provide masks as needed.
2. Capacity will be limited to no more than one volunteer per indoor space at any given time.
3. Unscheduled volunteers or “pops-in”parent visits are discouraged but allowable at the discretion of the school principal. The volunteer/parent will need to provide proof of vaccination, show proof of a negative covid test from the past 72 hours, or take a rapid test with school office staff. Masking indoors is strongly recommended and sites will provide masks as needed.
April 28th Update
Masking Is Optional Beginning March 14, 2022
Notice to Families Regarding New Masking Guidelines
Student with Symptoms
COVID-19 Illness and Exposure Guidelines
Based on the updated schools guidance from the Sacramento County Department of Public Health, the following guidelines will be used for students:
STUDENT WITH NEW SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS
Students with symptoms of illness should stay home and test for COVID-19.
STUDENT EXPOSED TO PERSON WITH COVID-19 AT SCHOOL
Parents/Caregivers should be notified of the potential exposure. The student may continue to attend school as long as they do not develop symptoms of illness. Recommend the individual test for COVID-19 5 days after the exposure.
STUDENT EXPOSED TO PERSON WITH COVID-19 IN A NON-SCHOOL SETTING
The student may continue to attend school as long as they do not develop symptoms of illness. Recommend the student test for COVID-19 5 days after the exposure.
STUDENTS WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 IN THE PAST 90 DAYS Asymptomatic students that have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days are not required to quarantine or test for COVID-19 in response to a new COVID-19 exposure. However, if a child develops new symptoms after being exposed to COVID-19, they should quarantine and test.
CONTINUOUS HOUSEHOLD EXPOSURE (PERSON LIVES WITH SOMEONE WITH COVID-19) If a student lives with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19:
Obtaining a COVID‐19 Test for Students
If your child is experiencing symptoms or has been exposed, you should have your child tested for Covid‐19.There are several options to obtain a test:
An at Home Test Kit can be used in conjunction with submitting an Attestation Form to the school office with the final result. The Attestation Form declares that the test specimen was obtained from the student represented on the form, including the date the specimen was collected, and that the test was processed according to the instructions provided. The Attestation Form can be obtained from the school office or you can download it below.
Attestation Form
COVID-19 Vaccinations
Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccination for Children
Infographic Source: Centers for Disease Control
How much will it cost for my child to get the vaccine?
The US federal government provides the vaccine for free to all people over the age of 5 who live in the United States. This service is available regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.
No matter where you take your child to get the vaccine, even if it is out of your network, or if your family doesn’t have health insurance, the vaccine is available to every person at no cost.
COVID-19 Testing
Studies show that regular COVID-19 testing can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. That is why we are offering weekly testing for students at our schools. We also encourage families to utilize the free COVID-19 testing services that are available in our community and through at-home tests.
Register Your Student for Weekly Testing
With the rise in COVID 19 over the winter holiday we are encouraging all students and staff to participate in weekly self-testing at school at no cost.
The tests are self-administered and take just a few seconds. Parents receive their child’s results typically about 24 hours after the test was administered. This testing helps keep all of our students and staff safe at school.
If you would like to register your student up for the weekly testing please complete the following steps:
For registration assistance, email [email protected]
Free At-Home Testing Kits: Every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order 4 free at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests. Getting tested, along with vaccinations and masking, help us reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19 and its variants. For free at-home COVID-19 tests, visit covidtests.gov.
Free COVID-19 Testing in the Sacramento County: Sacramento County is offering free COVID testing.
Downloadable: Your Child Has COVID-19: Here are the Next Steps
Proper Hand Washing Techniques