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End of School Year Announcements 6/11/21
6-11-21 
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Kirtland Local Schools
End of School Year Announcements

Hello Kirtland Staff and Families,

We did it! The key word being “we”. It truly took the support of our staff, students, parents and community to make this school year a success despite historic challenges! I can’t thank you all enough for your flexibility and patience as we navigated through so much uncertainty.  I am so proud of our school district!

 

Over the summer, I encourage you to please let your kids be kids. Have them unplug their devices, get outside, play with friends and explore nature. I hope they swim, fish (email me the fish pictures), participate in some extracurricular activities, collect fireflies and laugh often. I hope that your family will take time to sit down and play board games. While being a kid and enjoying all that summer has to offer please have your child continue to read for pleasure. We have a great public library with a fun reading program taking place. We do have other options at school that will be short and engaging to support and continue the learning with our Brain Boost program. Use this link for more information: https://www.kirtlandschools.org/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=6YI00G2&dasi=3UY0

 

I have been asked what next school year will look like. The one thing I have learned about COVID-19 is that it has been hard to predict so I will start with the expectations for the summer months for our students, athletes, adults and staff that will be on campus. 

 

Here is the guidance from June 14-August 16th for the Kirtland Local Schools. These are subject to change based on the guidance of our local health officials:

  • Parents will be expected to do the following prior to a student leaving the home to go to practice/school daily:

    • Conduct a student wellness check. Any student who has a fever of 100.4F or higher or any of the symptoms related to COVID-19 must stay home.

    • Any student that has symptoms of COVID-19 (Fever or chills, Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, Fatigue, Muscle or body aches, Headache, Loss of taste or smell, Sore throat, Congestion or runny nose, Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea) must stay home from school and should see their primary care provider and/or be assessed for COVID-19. 

  • If any student/staff have been in close contact (as defined by the CDC) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, the student must stay home for 10 days from their last exposure and closely monitor for symptoms through day 14 (unless the student or staff are vaccinated or tested positive less than three months prior to the close contact)

  • If a child tests positive for COVID-19 or becomes a close contact, please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/kC8SiqcUpN89mPSu9

    • The link to this form will also be posted on our website

  • People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not have to quarantine or get tested again as long as they do not develop new symptoms. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.”  This follows the 10 day quarantine after testing positive.  Here is the link to the information: When to Quarantine 

  • Students will have access to hand sanitizer in the classrooms, the weight room and hand washing will be encouraged.

  • Effective June 14, 2021-August 16, 2021 according to the Lake County General Health District (LCGHD): 

• Students in elementary school will not be required to wear masks. 

• Masks do not need to be worn by vaccinated persons. 

• For unvaccinated students in middle school and high school: 

  • (1) Masks should continue to be worn as these students still likely transmit the virus as efficiently as adults 

  • (2) Masks should be worn outdoors in crowded outdoor settings (such as sitting in the stands while watching a football game) 

  • (3) Masks do not need to be worn during active participation in indoor athletic activities (e.g. basketball, or indoor gym class) 

  • (4) The rationale for maintaining masks in non-elementary students is driven by data showing that they likely transmit the virus as efficiently as adults and while they are certainly far less likely to develop severe or debilitating disease than adults. There are still some potential significant long term risks to their health that are under investigation (e.g., heart injury/myocarditis) which is of particular concern for athletes. 

 

Because the LCGHD does not state that adults and students must wear a facial covering, whether or not a student/adult wears a mask while on the Kirtland campus will be determined by each family on an individual basis. All students and adults will be permitted to wear masks on a voluntary basis. 

As we get closer to August, I will communicate the updated guidance and protocols for the 21-22 school year.  I hope you have a relaxing and fun-filled summer! If you have any questions, please email me at chad.vanarnhem@kirtlandschools.org.

 

Thanks,

Chad VanArnhem, Superintendent 

 

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Kirtland Local Schools - 9252 Chillicothe Road - Kirtland, OH 44094 - 440.256.3311

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