Dear Parent/Guardian,

As you are aware, the current surge in the omicron variant is creating immense pressure on our schools and staff members as we work to keep classrooms staffed and in-person learning possible.

To help alleviate some of the pressure on our schools, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), along with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), support schools implementing a 30-day temporary suspension on all contact tracing activities.

Beginning Thursday, Jan. 20, non-household COVID close contact students and staff remaining symptom free will no longer be required to quarantine or participate in the testing protocol to stay in school or school activities. Currently, close contacts of COVID positive cases are required to quarantine at home or agree to daily testing through our stay in school quarantine (SISQ) protocol. Beginning Thursday, January 20, parents and guardians will be notified via email (see sample below) when there is a case within your child’s classroom or extra-curricular activity. As with all other illnesses, it will be the responsibility of the household to monitor for symptoms. If your child begins exhibiting symptoms, you may make arrangements with the school nurse to have him or her tested with a diagnostic test.

Do not send your child to school if they are sick or if they test positive. Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 should stay home for at least five days and be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before leaving home. After that, your child may resume normal activities but should wear a well-fitting mask around others indoors and outdoors for an additional five days. Please notify the school if your child tests positive.

Household close contacts, meaning any student or staff member with a confirmed case within the immediate household, will be required to quarantine at home and cannot participate in school activities. Any household close contact that is fully vaccinated, will have the option to agree to daily testing through our SISQ protocol to continue attending in-person. Quarantine guidelines are included below. Please contact the school nurse for more information.

If you have any questions regarding this change to school contact tracing protocols, please contact our district nurse, Karin Allen at kallen@knusd331.com. To learn more about this guidance change, visit https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/283/Education-K-12.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this challenging time for our schools and communities. We will continue to keep you informed as guidance changes are announced.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status:

Stay home for at least 5 days.
Return on day 6 IF you are asymptomatic OR symptomatic and fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and symptoms are resolving and with a negative antigen test result.
Continue to wear a mask around others through Day 10.
Students MAY NOT participate in activities where masks cannot be worn until after Day 10.

Non-household close contacts to a positive case of COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status:

Notification sent to parents informing them that a student in their classroom or school activity has tested positive and asking them to monitor for symptoms.
Students may remain in school and wear a mask around others for 10 days.
School nurses will monitor for symptoms and MAY request to test a student if symptoms are noted.

Household close contacts to a positive case:

If fully vaccinated or have evidence of recent COVID-19 infection in the last 90 days.*

Fully vaccinated is defined as:

Having received a primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have not received a booster for persons up to the age of 17.
Having received a primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine and the recommended booster for persons 18 years of age and older.

Household contacts are those in which positive cases are identified within your immediate household. Close contacts identified within the household may choose one of the following:

Option 1

Quarantine at home for 5 days
Wear a mask around others for 10 days
Return on day 6 IF you are asymptomatic and with a negative rapid test result. (If symptoms develop you MUST stay home through Day 10)
See school nurse daily (on school days) for 5 days for symptom check and additional rapid testing on day 7.

Option 2

Get tested upon identification as a close contact to a positive case
Wear a mask around others for 10 days
See school nurse daily (on school days) for 10 days, for symptom check and rapid test on Day 3, Day 5, and Day 7 (If Day 3 or 5 falls on a Sunday, a test will be administered on Monday). If any symptoms develop, a rapid test will be required at that time as well.

If unvaccinated or having no evidence of recent COVID-19 infection in the last 90 days.*

Quarantine at home for 5 days
Wear a mask around others for 10 days
Return on day 6 IF you are asymptomatic and with a negative rapid test result. (If symptoms develop you MUST stay home through Day 10)
See school nurse daily (on school days) for 5 days for symptom check and additional daily rapid testing on day 7 .

*If participating in any evening school-sponsored activities (not including practices), a negative rapid test just prior to that activity will be required as well, even if negative test before school that day.

(Sample Letter) Dear Parent/Guardian,

Today we were informed that a person in your child's classroom/school activity tested positive for Covid-19. Please monitor for symptoms and keep your child home if they have any of the following symptoms:

Allergy type symptoms such as runny/stuffy nose, excessive sneezing
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fever
Chills or shivering
Muscle or body aches
Headache
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell
Diarrhea
Fatigue or feeling more tired than normal

If your child remains symptom free, they will NOT be excluded from school related activities. If your child exhibits any symptoms, please contact the school nurse if you are interested in having them tested.

Norwich School