FAQ's for Parents Concerning Students Who are Quarantined
UPDATED DECEMBER 2020
Parents,
We appreciate your questions and concerns about the recent notification of your students' quarantine. Since many of you have shared the same questions, we thought we might clarify some common issues:
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There may be rumors that there is a major COVID-19 outbreak at school. Is this true?: NO. When a student or group of students are quarantined, that DOES NOT MEAN that we are experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 at our school. Quarantine means that we are containing the spread of COVID-19. We have had to place a number of students on quarantine due to contact tracing so that we can keep the number of cases as low as possible.
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What is the difference between “Isolation” and “Quarantine”? Positive cases of COVID-19 are isolated to limit the chance that they could infect anyone else. Typically, positive cases are isolated for 10 days after the onset of symptoms. Persons who come into close contact with a positive case (defined as being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) are placed in quarantine to monitor whether or not they have contracted COVID-19 and to prevent them from unknowingly transmitting the virus themselves.
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Why Quarantine?: The "Big 3" of fighting COVID-19 are masks, contact tracing, and quarantine. We are doing our best to practice all 3 as faithfully as we can so that we can keep the doors to the school open as long as possible; we hope until May. Unfortunately but realistically, we can anticipate that more of our students will be quarantined this school year. This is not a negative; it is "normal operating procedure" during a pandemic and helps to stop the spread of the virus.
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How did you determine my student’s dates of quarantine?: If an Anderson student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, their last day of close contact with any other student or staff member will be the starting point (DAY ZERO) of the 10 days of quarantine. If a student lives in a household with a positive COVID-19 case, their 10 days of quarantine will begin at the end of the positive case’s 10-day infectious period after the onset of symptoms.
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If my student tests negative for COVID-19 during their quarantine, may he or she return to school early? The incubation period for COVID-19 (the time between the initial infection and the appearance of symptoms) is up to 14 days, so a student who has contracted COVID-19 can test negative for the virus and still be at risk for COVID-19 for 14 days after exposure. Therefore, all students placed in quarantine must stay away from school for the duration of their quarantine. If there are no symptoms present after 10 days post exposure, the student may return to school (a return date will be given to you). A student may return to school after 7 days if a negative test result is given - as long as the test was taken during the final 48-hours of the 7 day quarantine period (once again, a date will be given to you for return). In order to return early, negative test results must be provided to the school.
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Who? When? Where?: Understandably, many parents would like more detail about who the positive case is and where their student came into contact with that case. We cannot divulge any information that jeopardizes the confidentiality of any student involved, including yours. That is why parents are all "BCC'd" on emails so that they cannot see anyone else's email address. Divulging confidential information is a violation of students' medical (HIPAA) and educational (FERPA) rights to privacy in these matters. The dates of close contact and return are the only information that we can legally provide.
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May my student participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities during quarantine?: NO. Students may not attend school, participate in or attend any athletic or extracurricular activities during the quarantine period, nor may they be in any Anderson building or facility, including buses.
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May my student still eat school meals during quarantine?: YES. Students on quarantine are still eligible for school meals, including free and reduced lunch and breakfast. Meals will be provided as they were during the first quarter of school during distance learning. Distribution will take place on Monday mornings from 9:30-11:00. For more information, please reach out to the school. (918)245-0289.
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Why was I notified by email?: This is the quickest and most efficient way to get the message to you.
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Will my student be counted absent during quarantine?: NO. Quarantined students are not considered or counted absent during the period of quarantine. They are recorded as “Distance Learning” and are considered present as long as they keep up with their school work.
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How will my student complete schoolwork during quarantine?: Our teachers have digitized all of their classes. If you have any questions or concerns about individual classes, please email the teacher through email. Students may also message teachers directly through Google Classroom.
Our goal is to keep the doors to the school open for the entire year, and the present situation is a critical part of our overall strategy to do so. We appreciate your understanding and support and welcome your further questions should you have any.
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Why was I notified by email?: This is the quickest and most efficient way to get the message to you.
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Will my student be counted absent during quarantine?: NO. Quarantined students are not considered or counted absent during the period of quarantine. They are recorded as “Distance Learning” and are considered present as long as they keep up with their school work.
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How will my student complete schoolwork during quarantine?: Our teachers have digitized all of their classes. If you have any questions or concerns about individual classes, please email the teacher through email. Students may also message teachers directly through Google Classroom.
Our goal is to keep the doors to the school open for the entire year, and the present situation is a critical part of our overall strategy to do so. We appreciate your understanding and support and welcome your further questions should you have any.