Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

We hope the beginning of the second semester last week went well. There have been two significant developments since our last communication concerning COVID on December 31.The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reduced the isolation period for individuals testing positive from 10 days to five days, and second, our COVID testing company, Virus Geeks, has communicated significant delays in processing tests.  We want to address both of these issues and communicate our path forward.  

In summary,  we will immediately reduce the isolation period from 10 to five days for individuals who have tested positive. This change will allow our students to get back to in-class learning more quickly. Second, we will hold school via distance learning on Monday, January 10 only.  We will return to in-person instruction on Tuesday, January 11. This change will allow one additional day to receive the PCR tests results.  There will be no further delay of in-person instruction due to testing delays. We believe that both of these decisions will ensure that Serra conducts instruction in-person for the remainder of the semester.   

Updated guidance on isolation

On January 4, the San Mateo County Department of Education (SMCOE) adopted recommendations from the CDPH to reduce the isolation period in the event of an individual testing positive for COVID, as follows:

  • Stay home for at least five days.  
  • Isolation can end after day five if symptoms are not present or are resolving and a diagnostic specimen (Antigen test preferred) collected on day five (or later) tests negative.
  • As per CIF protocols, student-athletes will need a doctor's note specifically stating that they are cleared for sports participation. 
  • If unable to test or choosing not to test, and symptoms are not present or are resolving, isolation can end after day 10.  
  • If fever is present, isolation should be continued until fever resolves.  
  • If symptoms, other than fever, are not resolving, continue to isolate until symptoms are resolving or until after day 10.  Wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings. 
  • (Note for students who are close contacts:  Protocols regarding quarantine for students who are close contacts will remain unchanged at this time.  We will continue to follow the guidelines set forth in the December 6, 2021 Pandemic Framework.)

COVID Testing Issues

On December 31, Serra communicated that we would employ distance learning for the first two days of instruction to facilitate PCR COVID testing of all students and employees with the reopening of school.  We intended to use these test results to screen positive cases and to provide a baseline for transmission in our community.  We had further planned this testing as an integral component of our surveillance testing moving forward.  

However, due to the surge in demand for tests, our testing company, Virus Geeks, informed us this weekend that they are significantly delayed in processing the tests. Due to this backlog, they are not able to guarantee a date or time when the tests will be processed.  (Most of you are aware that your son has not yet received his test results.)  We will allow one additional day to receive the tests. We expect to receive the majority of tests at that time, and will move forward with the information we have. Further delays are not warranted in light of the change in isolation to five days and the unpredictability of resolving the testing backlog.

Plans for the week of January 10

In light of the discussion above, Serra will implement the following: 
  • Classes on Monday, January 10 will take place via distance learning at the standard schedule.
  • Full, in-person instruction will resume on Tuesday, January 11. This date is firm, regardless of further testing delays.
  • Students who tested positive on Wednesday, January 5 or before and are in their isolation period, may come to school on Tuesday, January 11 if they have been fever free for 24 hours and their symptoms are resolving. Upon entrance to school, they will receive a Rapid Test.  If they test negative, they will be allowed to stay for instruction. If the student tests positive, he will be sent home and can retest on a subsequent day or wait until the 10-day period has passed.

COVID safety protocols will continue to be rigorously enforced at Serra.
  • Students must continue to wear masks at all times when in the building. 
  • Students must have N95, KN95 or three-ply surgical masks.
  • Eating will not be allowed within the building.
  • All classrooms have air filtration systems equipped with HEPA or MERV-13 filters on at all times.  Filters have been inspected and replaced this past week.

COVID testing moving forward
  • Serra is working with the CDPH to secure an adequate supply of rapid tests to facilitate more robust surveillance and response testing moving forward. 
  • Students who are unvaccinated, involved in basketball and wrestling will still be required to take weekly COVID tests through Virus Geeks or a rapid antigen test. 

We appreciate your patience as we move forward and respond to uncertain conditions with options that are less than ideal.  The current surge in COVID cases due the Omicron variant is stressful for all of us - as we are all well aware.  We continue to appreciate the compassion and understanding that our community has demonstrated through this time. Our plan and focus moving forward is on in-person instruction from January 11 through the remainder of the semester.  We believe that the changes indicated above will allow us to achieve that goal.

Sincerely,