September 16, 2021 | Volume 2 • Issue 6
2021-22 COVID Quarantine Information for Students,
Families & Staff
St. Louis Park Public Schools will continue to follow CDC and MDH recommendations regarding quarantine for students who test positive for COVID and those who are close contacts.

Positive COVID Cases:
  • Stay home for 10 days from symptom onset, OR 10 days from positive test, if no symptoms.
  • People who test positive for COVID should stay at home until all three of these things are true:
  • It has been 10 days since they first felt sick or tested positive;
  • They are feeling better; and
  • They have had no fever for at least 24 hours, without using medicine that lowers fever.

COVID Exposure at School:
  • When a student or staff member is a close contact in school (exposed to COVID at school), they need to stay home and quarantine for either 10 days with no COVID testing or 7 days if a negative PCR test was done on day 5 or after. 
  • Exception: In the K–12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student (laboratory-confirmed) if both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time. This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting.

Communications from School for Positive COVID Cases & Close Contacts:
  • Schools and Programs will communicate with parents/guardians and families as follows:
  • Parents/guardians of students who have been identified as positive COVID cases will receive a phone call from the school health office.
  • Close contacts to the positive case will receive a phone call alerting them to the positive case and giving them quarantine instructions as well as a COVID-19 Fact Sheet from Hennepin County Public Health.
  • Parents/guardians of students in the classroom will receive an email alerting them to a positive case in the classroom.
  • Teachers and Staff will receive email notification of all positive cases in the school. 

COVID Exposure at Home:
  • Quarantine 14 days from last contact with the positive household member.
  • When separating is not possible, the 14 day quarantine starts when the COVID positive individual finishes their isolation.
  • A shortened quarantine is not an option for COVID positive household members.

Who does not need to quarantine?
  • If someone is vaccinated and is exposed, they do not need to quarantine if the following are true:
  • The COVID exposure was at least 14 days after their vaccination series was fully completed. They do not currently have any symptoms of COVID.
  • If someone has recovered from COVID in the past 90 days and is exposed again, they do not need to quarantine if ALL of the following are true:
  • Their illness was laboratory confirmed in the past 90 days.
  • They have fully recovered.
  • They do not currently have any symptoms of COVID.

COVID Exclusion Guidelines:

"More Common Symptoms" consistent with COVID: Fever greater than or equal to 100.4 F; New onset and/or worsening cough; Difficulty breathing; and New loss of taste or smell

"Less Common Symptoms" consistent with COVID:  Sore throat; Nausea; Vomiting; Diarrhea; Chills; Muscle pain; Excessive fatigue; New onset of severe headache; New onset of nasal congestion or runny nose

Students with one “more common symptoms” or two “less common symptoms” will need to stay home and isolate for either 10 days from symptom onset, or they may return sooner if they test negative for COVID or receive an alternate diagnosis from their health care provider. 

Siblings/household members who are not fully vaccinated, or who have not had lab confirmed COVID in the last 90 days, should stay home as well unless the ill household member tests negative for COVID or receives an alternate diagnosis. 
Student Work During Quarantine
It is possible that your student might have to quarantine at home due to a COVID exposure at some point during the 2021-22 school year. Teachers and staff at each of our buildings are committed to ensuring that students continue to learn while at home during those times of quarantine.

Click here to view detailed information by grade level (K-5, 6-8 and 9-12) on what school will look like for your student during quarantine.
2021-22 COVID Testing Options
FOR STUDENTS: BinaxNOW Rapid Tests
If a student develops symptoms at school, they will be sent to the health office. The parent/guardian listed as the first emergency contact will be called to pick up their child (if the first emergency contact is not available, the school will move down the list of contacts). The parent/guardian will be called to pick up their child. They will be sent home with a BinaxNOW test. These tests will be completed at home. The results are rapid (15 minutes) and the parent/guardian will call the school health office to report the result to the Health Aide or Nurse, where they will receive further information as to whether or not they have to quarantine and for how long. If a student is at home and is showing symptoms of COVID, a parent/guardian can pick up a BinaxNOW test from school to administer at home. 

Tests are allocated to Minnesota schools based on 2020-21 student enrollment. St. Louis Park Public Schools is waiting on the arrival of tests; an update will be sent once the tests arrive.

Information on BinaxNOW Rapid Tests is available here:

FOR STAFF: Vault PCR Tests
The school district’s current allocation of VAULT PCR (saliva) tests are being distributed to buildings for staff use. Testing dates will be scheduled at each site and tests will be returned via UPS mail in batches for analysis. Results are usually available 48-72 hours after samples are received at the lab. Vault tests are for staff use only and available in the school office. Once the testing dates are scheduled we will send updated information.

Information on Vault PCR Tests is available here:

For additional testing opportunities for families see below.

ADDITIONAL LOCAL OPTIONS FOR TESTING:
COVID Dashboard
The District's COVID Dashboard will be updated every Wednesday with the exception of Winter Break and Spring Break and can be found on the District's COVID Updates & Information page at www.slpschools.org/families/covid-updates-information.
Reminders Regarding Face Coverings and Staying Home When You Are Sick
Please remember that masks are required to be worn by all students (K-12) and staff when indoors with the exception of when individuals are eating breakfast or lunch. Masks are also required on school busses at all times.

Families are also reminded to keep students home when they are sick, including if they have any COVID-related symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, fever, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Middle School Completed Construction Photos
Middle School students and families are enjoying a number of new spaces this year. Click here to view a Flickr photo gallery of more Middle School photos.
High School Homecoming Schedule
St. Louis Park High School will celebrate Homecoming Week, September 20-25. Below is a schedule of events. Specifically note that the events on Friday, Sept. 24 are open to the public. The Homecoming Parade route includes West 33rd Street, Dakota Avenue, W. Lake Street, and Library Lane.

Monday, Sept. 20: Coronation between soccer games, 6 p.m., High School Stadium

Wednesday, Sept. 22: Movie on the Field, 8 p.m., HS Track/Practice Field

Thursday, Sept. 23: Powder Puff/Flag Football Game, 6 p.m., HS Track/Practice Field

Friday, Sept. 24: Homecoming Parade, 5 p.m.; Football Game, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 25: Homecoming Dance, 8-11 p.m., High School Stadium

There will also be a weeklong photo scavenger hunt as part of Homecoming festivities. More information will be provided to High School students at school.
Announcing Fall Out-of-School Time Classes from YEP
Information for Elementary Families

The Community Education Youth Enrichment Programs (YEP) will offer Fall after-school enrichment activities beginning next week! 

Elementary activities include Soccer, Drawing classes, Clay Art classes, and Golf Squad. All activities are available at each elementary school. Click the links above to see when they are scheduled at your school. Please note that transportation home after classes is not provided, students will need to be picked up at the end of class (unless they are attending Kids Place).

YEP is also working to bring an expanded line-up of after-school enrichment in a new format with transportation provided. Look for more information on expanded programming soon!

Information for Middle School Families

COMING SOON! The Community Education Youth Enrichment Programs (YEP) will have a line-up of both before- and after-school programs available at St. Louis Park Middle School. 

Before School MS Programming 
When: 7:45-8:45 a.m., beginning on October 5th
What: Sports programming, Yoga Classes, and Skateboard Club
Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Transportation: Students will need to be dropped off at SLP Middle School at 7:45 a.m.
Pricing: will be on a sliding scale fee structure ranging from $59-$89 for the 12-week session (October thru December)
Registration information will be available next week.

After-School MS Programming 
COMING SOON! YEP is offering MS after-school clubs, beginning with Golf Squad and Chess Club this fall. More after-school clubs will be available as the school year continues including the return of Drone Club, Hip-Hop Club, and more! 

To see all YEP programs currently available (including school release day enrichment programs) click this link

Questions about Youth Enrichment Programming? Contact Kelleen at obrion.kelleen@slpschools.org or 952-928-6399.
District Seeking Kids Place Staff
Are you or someone you know looking for a fun, energetic environment where you get to work with kids? Kids Place is currently hiring a number of positions at our four elementary schools. Find out more and apply by visiting our job postings page
District Seeking Stakeholder Feedback on ESSER III Funds Plan
St. Louis Park Public Schools has received one-time federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), which is part of the American Rescue Plan. The District has been allocated approximately $4 million as part of this legislation. 

In order to receive this federal funding, the District must provide an opportunity for public feedback related to the plan. Stakeholders can click here to view Director of Business Services Patricia Magnuson’s presentation to the School Board on September 14 to learn more about the District’s plan to use ESSER III funds. Stakeholders can click here to submit feedback. All feedback must be submitted by September 27 in advance of the September 28 School Board meeting. 
PowerSchool Parent Portal Access
As we welcome students, parents/guardians, and families for the 2021-22 school year, we are providing many of our communications electronically. Many of our systems rely on - and can be accessed through - the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
If you already have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, you DO NOT need a new one. All student, parent/guardian, and family information entered last year will be forwarded to this school year. You can now review and update the information as requested in the Required Forms communication.

If you created an account and forgot the username or password you chose, click the Forgot Username or Password link found on the PowerSchool Parent Portal sign in screen. If you do not receive a reset email from PowerSchool, contact your child’s school for assistance.

Letters were mailed on August 27 to all students and parents/guardians who NEED TO CREATE a PowerSchool Parent Portal account. Parents/Guardians with a kindergarten student, those who are NEW to St. Louis Park Public Schools, and returning families who have not created an account previously should have received a letter with instructions and access information.

Click here to access the PowerSchool login page where you can also create a new account.

There is more information on how to get started with PowerSchool, including an instructional how-to video on the District website.
REMINDER: Complete the 2021-22 Required Forms
This year we are requesting that students, parents/guardians, and families complete the majority of the required forms for the school year electronically. Forms included are:

  • Annual Student Update
  • Student Meal Accounts
  • Application for Educational Benefits
  • Bus Information & Tracking
  • Student Digital Equity Survey
  • Technology Device Loan Agreement
  • Seesaw (K-5) & Schoology (6-12) Use Agreements
  • Student ID Badges
  • … and more!

Our goal is to increase efficiency for families by completing forms one time and electronically, eliminate the expense of printing and mailing forms, and reduce the environmental impact of paper and ink. We hope you find this helpful in preparing for the 2021-22 school year. And we ask for your patience as we implement this new process.

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