Changes for Extracurricular Events

McKenzie families,

As you know, COVID-19 is quickly spreading in our community and surrounding areas. Our students, staff, and their family's health and safety will always be our number one priority.

We want to continue our winter activities, but we have had to make some temporary changes. These decisions were hard to make but adhere to local and state guidelines.

Starting immediately:

All student-athletes will be required to wear face coverings while practicing and competing. Visiting student-athletes will be required to do the same.
Through January 31, spectators will be limited to only those connected to McKenzie athletes.
Concessions will not be available during the month of January as well. No outside food or drinks will be permitted inside.
Hand sanitization will be required upon entry to events.

As cases continue to rise, if either our high school or elementary school is unable to safely operate and educate students in person due to staffing shortages, we will reach out to families with information.

We know our students learn best in person, where they have access to other on-site critical services. We need your help to maintain in-person instruction for children across Oregon.

Here's how you can help:

If your child has COVID-19 symptoms, do not send them to school. Seek a COVID-19 test.
Families with school-age children and educators should limit gatherings and non-essential activities with people from other households to the extent possible through February. Before getting together with family, friends and loved ones, ask if attendees have received their COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and consider postponing visits if many attendees are not up to date with recommended doses. If you are visiting people from another household, you should wear a mask, maintain a physical distance of at least 6 feet, and keep activities outdoors as much as possible.

Thank you for your continued understanding of these changes to extracurricular activities. We will continue to monitor guidelines hoping that these restrictions can be lifted as case rates decline. We know there have been many and we thank you for doing your part as an Eagle!

If you have any questions about these new guidelines, please reach out.

Lane Tompkins

McKenzie Superintendent

Vaccination Clinic

Vaccinations: Vaccinations are proving to be the best defense against COVID-19. Everyone age 12 and over is eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 now. Get vaccinated now if you’re not. Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness from COVID-19 and reduces the spread of the disease.

We will be hosting a clinic on campus on January 20th from 3- 4 p.m. for kids and then from 4-6 p.m. for the community.

Get boosted. If you’re eligible for a booster, make your appointment today. Boosters provide an extra layer of protection needed to slow the spread of the omicron variant.

Additional Health Protocols

Face Coverings: We will continue to follow Oregon Health Authority’s statewide rule (OAR 333-019-1015) requiring face coverings in all indoor school settings, both public and private, for all individuals 5 years and older, including all students, staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors. Face coverings will also be mandatory on district buses due to CDC requirements for public transportation.

Physical Distancing: Reflecting the guidance, we will continue to support and promote the physical distancing of students and staff. We will continue to distance in classrooms, the playground and during transitions when students are standing in line. Floor markings will remain a fixture of McKenzie’s spaces.

Cohorts: Students will continue to be tracked and placed into stable cohorts to the greatest extent possible, especially in our younger grades who cannot benefit from vaccinations. Cohorting helps reduce the number of people exposed and helps identify those who may have been exposed in case of an identified COVID-19 case in the school.

Entry Screening, Isolation and Testing: Students will continue to be screened for illness when arriving at school each day. Preventing ill students from coming to school helps prevent the spread of many illnesses beyond COVID. Students who show sickness symptoms during screening or during the day will be referred to our isolation room in the elementary office. Parents will be notified to pick up their student. We will continue to provide COVID-19 rapid tests this year to ill students with parental consent. The District is required to exclude students who demonstrate primary symptoms of COVID-19 as we were last year.

Hand Hygiene: Regular hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer will continue to be emphasized throughout the school year. Practicing safe hygiene helps prevent the spread of COVID and other illnesses we regularly encounter at school.

Increased Sanitation: McKenzie’s custodial staff will continue focusing on increased sanitation efforts throughout the buildings, playgrounds and other common areas.

Air Purifiers: Thanks to a generous donation by BlueAir last year, McKenzie’s classrooms will continue to have HEPA filters in place during the year. This filtration can help ensure cleaner air for students and staff.

Increased Airflow: Buildings will continue to be opened up as much as possible, including doors and windows to get more fresh outdoor air circulated into classrooms.

Training: Regular training for staff regarding health and safety protocols will occur at the beginning of the year and regularly during the remainder of the school year.

Visitor Policy: Visitors must wear face coverings and check-in at the office for health screening. Visitors will not be allowed in the building past the office.

Quarantining and contact tracing: If we have a confirmed case of COVID at school, we will work directly with our district and Lane County Public Health to communicate with families. If students must quarantine, they will have access to class materials and assignments.