The latest news for you from School District of Sheboygan Falls

March 10, 2020

An Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

With the recent escalation of information regarding Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in the news, we want to take time to reinforce preventive safety measures and reference our plans and methods of communication.

It is important to remember that at this time, there have only been a small number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States. As a school district, we are closely monitoring the situation. We follow the guidance of the Sheboygan County Public Health Department, the Wisconsin Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although one case of COVID-19 has been detected in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is currently indicating that the immediate health risk to the general public in Wisconsin, and the U.S. as a whole, remains low. Local health officials are providing us with regular updates and localized information.

We have a team in place who has developed protocol for a range of health-related incidents and situations, including the common cold or flu . Our protocol includes carefully monitoring patterns related to illness and making necessary plans in case the virus becomes prevalent in our school community. Our custodial team has increased its cleaning routines to wipe down door handles, hand rails, tables, etc. In addition, our administrative team is planning for the use of virtual learning days in the event of an extended school closing should that be needed.

It is important to note that practicing everyday preventive actions is the most effective way of halting the spread of illness or disease . We encourage our students, staff members, and families to be mindful of the key preventive actions listed below. Parents and guardians, please reinforce these practices with your child.

We will continue to communicate with you in the days and weeks to come. Our social media accounts, Infinite Campus messenger, website, and newsletters will be used as needed for communication. It is possible that we may need to cancel classes if it appears the COVID-19 has affected our community in a significant way. As always, the safety of our students, staff and families remains our top priority. We will act out an abundance of caution to protect everyone’s health and well-being.

What is COVID-19?

Because the situation is quickly evolving, the best way to stay informed is through the Wisconsin Department of Public Health website or the CDC website. Following are some useful links for accessing more factual information about COVID-19.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary

Cases in the United States

Global Map

What You Should Know

How it spreads
Prevention and treatment
What to do if you are sick
Symptoms
Stigma and COVID-19
Frequently Asked Questions

Traveling for Spring Break?

Our District continues to monitor travel advisories and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as our state and county health authorities. The COVID-19 outbreak is a concern for anyone considering traveling at this time. Those with travel plans are strongly encouraged to closely monitor travel advisories and guidance from the CDC, available online at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/after-travel-precautions.html . Wisconsin Department of Public Health will communicate with us regarding any official quarantine/monitoring restrictions for travelers. We realize some of our families have plans to travel over spring break, and we respectfully request that if you or any member of your household is traveling please follow the CDC recommended guidelines.

FAQ for Travelers

Key Preventive Actions

The following is CDC’s list of key preventive actions we can all take to avoid the spread of disease:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
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.

When Should I Keep My Child Home from School?

If children are sick, they should not be at school. Students need to be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to class after any illness. Please refer to the health guidelines outlined on our student/parent handbooks. Keeping children home when they are sick is critical to limiting the spread of disease or illness.

Please remember to call your child's school office if they will be absent due to illness. When you call your child’s school office, be prepared to describe their symptoms so that we can continue to monitor trends within our school communities.

Talking with your Children

Everyone needs a reminder now and then!

In addition to adult and student conversations, our schools have age-appropriate visuals in key locations to help remind students and adults of safe practices, like hand-washing and covering coughs or sneezes.

Resources for at home.

A three-minute podcast (with accompanying transcript) from the University of Utah Health, an academic healthcare system, offers multiple tips for teaching young kids how to wash their hands. If parents want to teach them how viruses spread, Dr. Cindy Geller suggest putting a little glitter on their hands and then letting them off and play. When they're done, explore the room to see where all the glitter has landed — other than on their hands.

A four-minute podcast from Brainpop may be helpful to our students and families to listen to and to keep in mind where their source of news is from. It also reinforces good practice of washing hands and decreasing anxiety.

Information from National Association of School Psychologists on talking to your child about COVID-19

Concern over this new virus can make children and families anxious. While we don’t know where and to what extent the disease may spread here in the United States, we do know that it is contagious, that the severity of illness can vary from individual to individual, and that there are steps we can take to prevent the spread of infection. Acknowledging some level of concern, without panicking, is appropriate and can result in taking actions that reduce the risk of illness. Helping children cope with anxiety requires providing accurate prevention information and facts without causing undue alarm.

It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents seem overly worried, children’s anxiety may rise. Parents should reassure children that health and school officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the country stay healthy. However, children also need factual, age appropriate information about the potential seriousness of disease risk and concrete instruction about how to avoid infections and spread of disease. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety. Read more here.

Contact information for our School Counselors:

Elementary School 920-467-7820