Special Edition
Coronavirus COVID-19 news & updates
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Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus and its impact on our schools.
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Dear Cedarburg Families,
Please know during this unusual and unprecedented time we must continue to look out for each other. It is our compassion and empathy that will help support each of us during this unpredictable time. The role of the district traditionally is one that focuses on providing high quality instruction. Know that we will continue to strive to provide instructional engagement opportunities for our students during this closure.
However, given the unique times we are facing, the district must be more than just an academic institution. We must be an institution that provides stability, comfort and support to our entire community to manage this crisis together. We must expect the best from ourselves and offer the best of ourselves to others. We are monitoring not only what our students, parents and staff may need, but we are monitoring the entire community so we can support each other as we face the challenges ahead.
CSD will continue to send regular weekly updates. As a follow-up to our March 13 newsletter about school closure, we are continuing to closely monitor rapidly changing conditions about the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
CSD is committed to ongoing student learning opportunities while the district is closed. Education is essential and we have worked quickly to begin delivery of alternate forms of instruction following spring break. Parents will receive information from your home school as to how instruction will continue for students on March 30th.
Thank you for your continued support as we work in keeping our students, staff, and community healthy.
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Todd Bugnacki
Superintendent
262-376-6115
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Please note: If displayed at the end of the newsletter: “[Message clipped] View entire message", the contents of the Update are automatically cut if the content is too lengthy. When that occurs the link is inserted, so to view the newsletter in its entirety, the reader must select the link at the end of the message. Please be sure to click that link as it will ensure you won’t miss any important information. Thank you.
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The Cedarburg School District continues to keep the health and well-being of all our staff, students, families and the community a high priority. We closely follow any new updates regarding COVID-19, most importantly any new preventative guidelines recommended by the Washington Ozaukee County Health Department, CDC, and the Department of Health Services.
We all will benefit if everyone plays an active role in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. For many of us, if contracted, it likely will be a mild illness, but it’s important to note that it won’t be for everyone. The older adults in our community, grandparents, family members, friends and co-workers with chronic health conditions or those with an insufficient immune system are most at risk. In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, minimizing the number of cases that develop will not only benefit us, but also our healthcare system. If we all play a role in slowing down the transmission of COVID-19 we are doing our part in trying to reduce the number of critically ill patients that will require hospital services at the same time.
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The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, it is important to keep the following CDC recommended preventative guidelines in mind as all of us continue to navigate through this ever fluid situation.
The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (at home or in a health care setting).
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing or after returning home from a trip to the grocery store, pharmacy, etc.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
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For the next 8 weeks, avoid, cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more.
Avoid kissing, hugging, shaking hands as a form of greeting and instead wave, smile or bump elbows.
In your daily interactions with others maintain a social distance of 6 feet. Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between yourself and others to avoid spreading illness. Staying at least six feet away from other people may lessen your chance of contracting COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses.
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There is currently no vaccine and the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed. Postpone any travel. If travel is absolutely necessary, you need to coordinate with your
local health department
. If you travel and become ill, you may not be able to return home.
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Wash hands often. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. As long as you feel healthy, you may leave the home for a limited time to take care of necessary activities, such as grocery shopping or visiting the pharmacy. Try to avoid busy times of day.
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A
void close contact and practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet away from others. Stay home (or other location approved by your
local health department
)
. This means do not go to school, work, public areas, attend large gatherings or use public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
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Seek medical care, separate yourself from others, and limit contact with pets and animals. If you need medical care, call your healthcare provider. Call ahead before you go to your doctor’s office or to an emergency room. Tell them your symptoms and that you traveled to an area of the world experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak.
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Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and wash hands. If quarantined, postpone all non-essential medical appointments. If you have an essential appointment during a quarantine, please tell your local health dept who will help coordinate the visit.
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. Avoid sharing personal household items such as dishes, towels, and bedding.
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CDC Travel Guidelines & Your Plans Over Break
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Sp
ring Break begins on March 20th and many of our students, families, and staff travel during that time. We urge you to weigh the risks and potential consequences for yourself and others in traveling abroad or to
states or
communities with known community spread COVID-19
CDC map of U.S. states with the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19
.
Crowded travel settings, like airports, may increase your risk of exposure to COVID-19, if there are other travelers with COVID-19.
Furthermore, as new outbreaks occur and government travel restrictions shift, be aware that, if you choose to travel outside the United States, you may encounter difficulties in returning.
Additionally, If your family travels to any of the countries within the Level 3 Travel Health Notice or to a state with community spread COVID-19,
you must contact the District Nurse, Nicole Cofta, at 262-376-6149 or your child’s principal prior to returning to school
. We will need to know where you visited, when you left that country/state, and when your self-quarantine began as we coordinate with the local health department. We ask that you continue to monitor the CDC reports closely for any additional areas that may be added to this Level 3
CDC Travel Health Notice
in the near future.
At this time it is currently recommended that any travelers returning from countries with a
Level 3 travel advisory
, which now also includes Ireland, the United Kingdom, and many parts of Europe; the CDC and Department of Health Services recommend that returning travelers follow the voluntary self-quarantine and self-monitoring instructions detailed above and below.
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Self-quarantine (
isolation of people who are healthy and exposed outlined above
) as recommended by Department of Health Services and the CDC:
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If you need emergency medical attention at any time during the 14 days after your return, call 911 and let them know that you traveled to an area of the world experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak.
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Virtual Learning Platform
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District teachers are currently preparing virtual learning experiences for students to start on March 30. Here is the current teaching schedule:
- Week of March 16 - Teachers planning and preparing virtual learning experiences for students. This includes recording lessons, working together virtually to prepare materials, and getting organized for March 30th’s first virtual teaching session.
- Week of March 23 - Spring Break
- Week of March 30 - Virtual Instruction begins
Elementary and Secondary teachers will be providing families with information about each week’s learning requirements through a Virtual Learning Schedule (
elementary
) and through our learning management system (
Canvas
).
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Special Education Services
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As part of the school district's virtual learning platform in the upcoming weeks, special education services will be delivered. Parents will be receiving communication from their student's case manager as to the online process and learning expectations. If a school provides services through virtual learning, the school must ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the same opportunities and that to the greatest extent possible, special education and related services. Special education staff have been hard at work developing options to make sure students have access to virtual learning opportunities to receive their intervention(s). They have also been collaborating with general education staff to ensure that lessons are reasonably accessible to all. Please contact your student's case manager with any questions or concerns.
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In an effort to support our community, CSD will be offering free meals to families in need. Any family with school age resident children is eligible for meals regardless of free/reduced lunch status, per Federal guidelines. Breakfast and lunch will be made available by the CSD Food Service provider, Aramark, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM during the following dates:
- Monday, March 16 - Friday, March 20
- Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3
- Monday, April 6 - Thursday, April 9
Please note that meal availability for the week of Spring Break (March 23-27) and Good Friday (April 10) will be determined later this week based on available resources.
Meals will be available as “grab and go” and can be picked up in the CHS south parking lot area. Please enter the CHS south parking lot and follow the signage. Additional assistance for delivery of meals is also being made available by the CSD Transportation provider, Riteway. Availability of delivery will vary and families will need to contact Laura Augustine, Food Service Director, if interested.
During this challenging time, it’s imperative we look out for our neighbors and do our part to extend a hand to support each other. If you have any questions, please direct them to Laura Augustine at
laugustine@cedarburg.k12.wi.us
or 262-376-6240.
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- The National Assoc. of School Psychologists NASP offers this resource to assist in talking with your child about COVID-19.
- For tips on social distancing and how to balance that with your young child's need for interaction, please visit the DPI's information on Social Distancing and Coping with Stress.
- Free internet offer: Charter Communication announced this past Friday morning it will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a subscription.
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Stay informed with factual information regarding COVID-19 by visiting reputable sources such as the
CDC
or
Wisconsin DHS
websites.
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