Werner Weekly
October 30, 2020
Note from Mr. Camp
Dear Werner Community,
The snow was a welcome relief this week with the fires and I know there were a lot of happy children with the snow day! We are finishing off with the first month of having students back and it has been going well. We appreciate all the support and attention you are providing to protect our children and school with the health and safety measure.
One area that we would encourage more modeling and support in is having all adults wear masks while on the school grounds. While we can't require adults to wear them while outside, we know that by wearing them we are providing more support and encouragement for our students to wear their masks. Please help us by doing your part to care well for others.
I hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy the nice weather!
Sincerely,
Hayden
Halloween Costume Contest
Unfortunately, we will not have Halloween parties or parade this year at school. We will continue with our tradition of a Halloween Costume contest. We will create a video from the photos submitted for our community. Please submit your child's Halloween costume photo to Werner Halloween Costume Contest 2020 and add a comment with your child's first name and homeroom teacher to the picture. For students in PSDV, please indicate which grade level instead of the teacher. All photos need to be submitted by Nov. 1. You can send your picture to to hcamp@psdschools.org if you are not comfortable adding to the Google Photo Album. If you would like your child entered in the contest, but not be part of the video, please let Mr. Camp know. Our classrooms will have a special time for students to show off their costumes at their remote class meeting on Friday, Oct. 30.
Halloween is a great opportunity for dressing up in costumes that are creative and fun. We ask that you help your students plan for costumes that are not scary (e.g. zombies, vampires, etc.) and that do not use pretend weapons of any kind. Guns, knives, nun-chucks, bows/arrows, etc. will not be permitted. Students are okay with wearing facemasks.
Safety Drills
Safety is a top priority at Werner. Each year, we practice safety drills to reinforce what to do in case of an evacuation, lockdown, lockout, and shelter in place. Next week, we will have drills to practice what to do in case of an evacuation. Drills will be practiced with health/safety measures in place.
Werner Spirit Gear
November Cares and Shares
Virtual Assembly
Teaser Trailer (2 minutes)- https://youtu.be/eDh8WW9OEWA
Gold Assembly Detail
Students learn to look through their golden goggles and see the gold in them and the gold in others. They meet 4 animals that teach them 4 behavior types. GOLD creates identity, brings harmony, deals with bullying & racism and improves behavior as everyone feels understood. Follow the golden rule: “Treat others how you want to be treated!” It’s fun, simple, easy to understand and has won a national award.
Phase 3 Reminders
PSD Protocols for COVID-19
For up-to-date information about protocols for COVID-19 in PSD, go to: https://www.psdschools.org/psd2020-21/psdprotocolsCOVID19.
What happens if there is a case of COVID-19 in PSD?
We anticipate there will be cases and outbreaks in PSD that will lead to health department-mandated quarantines and shifts from in-person to remote education at schools – and these will likely happen with little notice. PSD closely consults with the LCDHE and monitors the agency’s COVID-19 community data dashboard when making decisions about which educational phase to operate in.
PSD follows current health guidance for K-12 schools from public health agencies, including:
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment guidance for cases and outbreaks in schools
- LCDHE guidance for schools (subject to change per state orders)
Processes when staff or students are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19
Protocols
PSD protocols include information about when and how parents, guardians and staff should notify their school or supervisor if there is a positive COVID-19 case or possible exposure, as well as what students or staff should do if they are in isolation or quarantine. Note: Those who are feeling ill should not go to work or school.
The following district protocols are updated as needed to reflect current state and local public health guidance:
- PSD Staff Protocols for Isolation | PSD Staff Protocols for Quarantine
- PSD Protocols for Students
- COVID Face Covering Protocols for Students
Returning to work or school in PSD following a positive COVID-19 symptom screen
PDF versions:
Return to Learn | Arabic Return to Learn | Español Return to Learn
Note: This guidance is NOT intended for cases or close contacts of COVID-19. A confirmed COVID-19 case or close contact should follow public health isolation or quarantine instructions for return to school/work.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recently released new guidance for K-12 schools to guide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A group of nurses and PSD staff evaluated the new guidance, which is now in effect and outlines when staff and students can return to work and school. Please note that PSD’s adopted guidance has been reviewed by the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment and is in some ways stricter than the state’s guidelines. As a reminder: PSD staff and students are required to wear a mask on school grounds.
Critical symptoms
- Loss of taste or smell
Critical symptom response:
- Follow home isolation for 10 days following symptom onset AND be 24 hours fever free without use of fever-reducing meds before returning to school.
- COVID-19 test recommended.
Major symptoms
- Feeling feverish, having chills, temperature of 100.4 F or greater
- New or worsening cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Major symptom response:
- If symptoms resolve within 24 hours of onset and stay resolved an additional 24 hours, return to school. (48 hours total)
- If symptoms DO NOT resolve within 24 hours, either:
- Follow home isolation for 10 days following symptom onset AND 24 hours fever free without use of fever-reducing meds before returning to school.
- Get a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, COVID-19 test. If test is negative, return to school once symptom-free for 24 hours. If positive, follow home isolation for 10 days following symptom onset AND 24 hours fever free without use of fever-reducing meds before returning to school.
Minor symptoms
- Sore throat
- Runny nose or congestion
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nausea, vomiting
- Diarrhea
Minor symptom response:
- If symptoms resolve within 24 hours of onset and stay resolved an additional 24 hours, return to school. (48 hours total)
- If symptoms resolve within 48 hours of onset and stay resolved an additional 24 hours, return to school. (72 hours total)
- If symptoms DO NOT resolve within 48 hours, either:
- Follow home isolation for 10 days following symptom onset AND 24 hours fever free without use of fever-reducing meds before returning to school.
- Get a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, COVID-19 test. If test is negative, return to school once symptom-free for 24 hours. If positive, follow home isolation for 10 days following symptom onset AND 24 hours fever free without use of fever-reducing meds before returning to school.
If there are questions about when a student can return to school, the school nurse or PSD health staff will make that determination.
How PSD and LCDHE work together on contact tracing and investigations
What is contact tracing?
Disease investigations are an important way that public health officials can help prevent the spread of disease in a community. When someone tests positive for a reportable condition, such as COVID-19, that test result is reported to state or local public health officials. Local public health staff receive that report and work with the patient to identify any close contacts (those who were within six feet for more than 10 minutes with a case) who may have been exposed to the disease and could become ill. This process is known as contact tracing. Learn more on the LCDHE website >>
Public health staff then notify exposed individuals (contacts) of their potential exposure as rapidly and sensitively as possible. Contacts are provided with education, information and support to:
- Understand their risk and monitor themselves for illness
- Separate themselves from others who have not been exposed.
- Understand they could spread the infection to others even if they do not feel ill.
How does PSD works with Larimer County on investigations?
- PSD's COVID-19 contact tracing liaison works closely to evaluate possible exposure to and positive cases of COVID-19 among PSD staff and students in partnership with LCDHE contact tracing experts assigned to PSD.
- LCDHE conducts contact-tracing investigations in partnership with PSD.
- For each case, PSD works with LCDHE to communicate to targeted staff and/or parents/guardians (i.e. LCDHE notifies people if they are close contacts and need to quarantine).
- Please be aware that PSD may need to share some student information requested by LCDHE staff completing contact tracing investigations that includes but isn't limited to parent/guardian name, parent/guardian phone number(s), student name, student grade, student school of attendance, and student date of birth. PSD will never share parent/guardian or student home addresses or social security numbers. All disclosures will be made in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
- Answer the call: It’s imperative that families, students and staff answer the health department’s call and share timely, accurate information to help minimize outbreaks in our community. LCDHE and PSD maintain confidentiality.
Communications
- Evaluating on a case-by-case basis, PSD works with LCDHE to communicate important information to targeted staff and/or parents and guardians (i.e. LCDHE directly notifies people if they are identified as close contacts and need to quarantine).
- PSD and LCDHE staff keep the identity of students and staff who test positive for or are believed to be exposed to COVID-19 confidential.
Staff Favorites
Technology Support Tips
You can also use the Tech Portal for tech support when you need it: https://techportal.psdschools.org/. If you have any other questions about technology, please contact our Media Specialist, Debbie Powers, at dpowers@psdschools.org.
PSD 2020-21 School Year
Stay up-to-date with PSD's plans for the 2020-21 school year at: https://www.psdschools.org/psd2020-21. This site will house all the information needed for the different phases and updates throughout the year.
Werner Elementary School
Email: hcamp@psdschools.org
Website: https://wer.psdschools.org/
Location: 5400 Mail Creek Lane, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Phone: (970) 488-5550
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wernerwildcats/
Twitter: @WernerWildcats