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January 13, 2022 Update

January 13, 2022 Update
Jo Moccia

Dear South Whidbey Staff, Students and Families:

On Friday, January 7, the Department of Health updated isolation and quarantine recommendations for K-12 schools (linked here). The new recommendations align with updated CDC guidelines. We will begin using the updated recommendations immediately. These include:

Close contacts: When to quarantine

Students, teachers, and staff who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 do need to quarantine for at least 5 days after their last close contact if they are in any one of the following groups:

  • Ages 18 or older and completed the primary series of recommended vaccines, but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible.
  • Received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (completing the primary series) over 2 months ago and have not received a recommended booster shot.
  • Are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series.

If you remain asymptomatic, and test results on day 5 are negative, your quarantine is complete. If you choose not to test, continue to quarantine until after day 10. If symptoms arise anytime during quarantine, get tested.  

Students, teachers, and staff who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 do not need to quarantine if they are in any one of the following groups (continue to monitor for symptoms and stay home if you are sick):

  • Ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
  • Ages 5-17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days.

Positive test results: When to isolate

  • Isolate for at least 5 days. Day 0 is the day of symptom onset (or the day of positive COVID-19 test if no symptoms are present). This applies regardless of vaccination status.
  • Returning to School: Staff and students in isolation MAY test on day 5 but are not required to test. Isolation requirements depend on symptoms. After 5 days of isolation, students and staff may return to school if they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication AND other symptoms have resolvedYour school nurse can help you with your specific case.
  • If a rapid antigen test on day 5 is positive, you must continue to isolate through day 10.  
  • If you continue to have a fever or other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, you should wait to end isolation until after 10 days, you are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, and symptoms have resolved.
  • Continue wearing a well-fitting mask around others from day 6-10, both in and out of school, including during extracurricular and sports activities.

The new flow chart from Island County is linked here (this graphic is interim until WA DOH updates their version). Please note that South Whidbey School District does NOT participate in the "Test to Stay" program. 

Additionally, please note that the instructional calendar was updated to include the Kindergarten through sixth graders in the January 26 and 27, 2022 half days. On these days, grades 7-12 will end at 11:30am after finals and grades K-6 will end at 12:30pm. The staff will participate in district wide professional development and complete other duties related to teaching and learning.  January 28, 2022 is a non-student day for semester break.

January is School Board Appreciation Month.  Please thank your volunteer board directors for their service when you see them. There is an open position for school board director district one (see boundary map linked here). The application is available online linked here.  The deadline for applications is Friday, February 18, 2022 at 4pm. 

Enjoy this three day weekend. COVID is around us. Please continue your safety measures to protect yourself and your loved ones.  Get lots of rest over the weekend as we wrap up the Fall semester and move into finals.

Sincerely,

Jo Moccia, Superintendent