School Closure
Dear Families,
Recently, we were notified of a small number of COVID-19 student cases in the District. It is also important to mention that none of the cases were school related in regards to transmission. As members of the school community, we understand that this might raise concerns, alongside a caring response. We are working closely with Lane County Public Health to respond to this news.
Each situation calls for different protocols. In this case:
- The school was notified on April 27, 2021 that a member of the school community had tested positive.
The following protocols were put in place:
- The 4 students who tested positive are staying home from school.
- Anyone who was in close contact with the person who tested positive, has been notified and they are self quarantining.
The School has been working with our District Health Nurse and Lane County Public Health to review classroom logs. Anyone who was identified as having a close contact with the person who tested positive has been notified.
The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is through staying home when ill, wearing face coverings, physical distancing, and practicing good health hygiene habits. Be sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, cover your coughs and sneezes, and avoid contact with people who have signs of illness. Get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat a healthy diet.
Protect the community by following the Governor’s safety requirements. Wearing cloth face coverings reduces the spread of viruses.
We will keep you updated with any new information as it comes out, while meeting the requirements to honor everyone’s right to privacy.
More information can be found on the Oregon Department of Education’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners page, and the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our District nurse at tparsons@fernridge.k12.or.us
On Monday night, the FRSD School Board adopted the 2021-2022 Calendar presented to them by the FRSD Calendar Committee. The link is on the right hand side of our webpage. The direct link is here: 2021-2022 Calendar
Absent any significant increases in restrictions put out by ODE or OHA as a result of COVID-19, we fully expect to return to a normal school calendar in 21-22 with every student attending every day, and having early release Wednesdays. While there almost certainly will be additional safety protocols and practices in place for some time, we are committed to doing whatever it takes to maintain a normal calendar.
This year has continued to be like no other. The planning, prepping, communication, and working with others has never been so important. We could not do this work without the amazing administrative professionals we have here in FRSD. The work they do day in and day out has a big impact in many workplaces but definitely here in FRSD. They make our offices more efficient and productive every single day. Much of the work they do is behind the scenes so we want to make sure that we take a moment to thank them for EVERYTHING that they do!
Thank you Michelle Cook (District Office)!
Thank you Dawn Northey (EES)!
Thank you Becky Walton & Shelby Humphrey(VES)!
Thank you Tammy Eutsler & Casey Anderson(FRMS)!
Thank you Lorie Hafner(EHS)!
Thank you Tammy Boren(Special Services)!
Lane County Public Health will be holding a vaccine clinic for people 16 to 17 years old.
Where: Lane Community College
When: April 24 and 25 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
What: 2,400 doses of Pfizer will be made available for those 16 to 17 years old. Additional doses will be made available to the general public.
How: This clinic is by appointment only, please go to http://lanecounty.org/vaxclinics to schedule your vaccine appointment.
Important: All Lane County Public Health clinics are free. You do not need insurance and will not be asked for any financial information
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our FRSD SIA Community Engagement Session this evening!
As promised, you can review the slides here: FRSD – SIA 21-22 Community Engagement
Please complete: FRSD SIA Input Survey- Community
Zoom video presentation is available here: https://youtu.be/4CuhKtzFdi4
The new guidance around social distancing and changes to the Ready School Safe Learners guidance has taken some time to work through and problem solve. Below is a description of our current plan/goals, along with some additional information on this topic.
All of our staff are in full agreement that the best thing for our students is to get them all into classrooms, everyday, all day. Unfortunately, the social distancing restrictions in place regarding proximity to adults, passing in halls, cohorting, and maintaining 6 feet while eating meals have us approaching this slowly. We are doing our best to ensure that we DO NOT find ourselves having to backtrack due to a potential outbreak and return to hybrid learning or even Comprehensive Distance Learning. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact your building Principal.
Kinder and 1st Grade Students: Beginning April 20th, all of these students will return to a 4 day a week model (Tuesday-Friday).
2nd – 5th Grade Students: Beginning tomorrow, teachers will begin to identify 5 students per classroom that are MOST in need of additional in-person instruction. The families of these students will be contacted (the goal is by the end of the day Monday, April 12th) to offer this opportunity. It is not required. If a particular family, based on their situation, does NOT want to return 4 days a week, that is fine. In that case, we will just move down the list of students. IF OUR RETURN OF K-1 GOES WELL, WE WILL BE REASSESSING IN A FEW WEEKS, AND LOOK TO BRING BACK ALL 2ND AND 3RD GRADERS FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
6th-8th Grade Students: At FRMS, similar to grades 2-5, we will be expanding to bring in 15 more students per grade level 4 days a week (an additional 45 students). FRMS staff will be reaching out to you before Monday the 20th to offer this opportunity to the parents of our students most in need of additional in-person instruction. If you or your student are not interested in this opportunity, just let us know when contacted.
9th-12th Grade Students: At EHS, the model is exactly the same as at FRMS. 15 students per grade level (about 60) will be contacted about moving to a 4 day a week model.
What will it look like for 2nd – 12th grade students that return 4 days a week, but whose peers have not all returned to 4 days. It will look different at each level, stay tuned for more detailed information that will be shared on their school website. If you have specific additional questions, do not hesitate to contact the building principal.
Transportation: We hope to get the names of returning students to First Student by the end of the day Monday so that they can begin the work of adjusting route pick-up and drop-off times. As soon as updates/changes are made, we will get this information out.
Food Service: This plan will require adjustments in our food service plan. There WILL be an opportunity at the K-8 level for single breakfasts to be picked up and taken home each day for any student that attends all 4 days of the week.
OPTIONS Program Students: This change MAY have some of our K-1 OPTIONS families considering a return to their home school. We would ask these parents to make this decision by Wednesday, April 14th. By that date, please make the decision to either remain in OPTIONS for the remainder of the 2021 school year OR notify both the OPTIONS Program and the school that you would like to return 4 days a week. A reminder, this is just for Kindergarten and 1st grade students for now.
FRSD Families,
As many of you are aware, over spring break, the State released new guidance that allows for a reduction to “3 Feet of Physical Distancing under Certain Conditions.” Since that time, I have been in communication with building administrators, association leadership, and other partners to identify how this change could assist us in expanding our in-person instruction offerings. Unfortunately, the 6 feet of physical distancing requirement remains in tact any time students are eating, passing in the hallways, and between staff and students at all times as well as between staff and staff at all times.
A final decision on when/how we can expand our in-person offerings, and I do expect us to expand, will be made soon. As early as the next 24 hours and no later than the end of this week. Any changes would begin the week of April 19th (start of 4th quarter) at the earliest. Unfortunately the restrictions still in place will prevent us from bringing back all students every day. Having said that, I am doing everything in my power to get more students in, each day, at all levels, K-12. Stay tuned.
All Fern Ridge Schools will be closed from Monday, March 22 thru Friday, March 26 for Spring Break. Classes resume for students on Tuesday, March 30.
Food service staff are also taking a break next week – there will be no meal service March 22 – March 26. They will start serving meals again on Monday, March 29.
There will be no tech support during the break and the district office will be closed on Thursday, March 25 and Friday, March 26.
Everyone have a safe break!