Marie Russell, Chief Communication Coordinator |
As part of our ongoing effort to decode COVID-19 protocols, in this article we are going to tackle the guidance on measures to take for exposure to a positive case in a classroom.
Last fall when we were writing our reopening plan for the TK-6 elementary waiver, the July 17, 2020, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance was clear on what to do for a confirmed COVID-19 case infection:
- Notify the local public health department
- Isolate case and exclude from school for 10 days from symptom onset or test date
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Identify contacts (†), quarantine & exclude exposed contacts (likely entire cohort (††) for 14 days after the last date the case was present at school while infectious
- Recommend testing of contacts, prioritize symptomatic contacts (but will not shorten 14-day quarantine)
- Disinfection and cleaning of classroom and primary spaces where case spent significant time
- School remains open
(†) A contact is defined as a person who is <6 feet from a case for >15 minutes. In some school situations, it may be difficult to determine whether individuals have met this criterion and an entire cohort, classroom, or other group may need to be considered exposed, particularly if people have spent time together indoors.
(††) A cohort is a stable group with fixed membership that stays together for all courses and activities (e.g., lunch, recess, etc.) and avoids contact with other persons or cohorts.
Although not required to reopen secondary, once we completed our elementary reopening plan we moved to create a similar document for 7-12 in order to add information not covered in the TK-6 document such as criteria for electives and sports.
In October, we reached out several times to Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (SCHSA) to determine whether classroom closures for secondary would be the same for elementary as we had heard that many out-of-state schools were utilizing seating chart and/or close contact tracing. After several weeks we received our answer—SCHSA would continue to require us to close a classroom for a positive case which put a damper on our original plan to return secondary students for 6 periods in A and B cohorts twice a week. If we had reopened secondary schools while in the Red Tier last October this SCHSA directive would have been highly disruptive to secondary students attending multiple periods during a school day with the coming winter surge. Several nearby high schools that opened while in the Red Tier wound up returning to distance learning in December.
On January 14, the State released new guidance, COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year. There were many changes in this document, but one we immediately noticed was new language regarding a confirmed COVID-19 case infection:
- Notify the LHD.
- Exclude from school for 10 days from symptom onset date or, if asymptomatic, for 10 days from specimen collection date.
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Identify school contacts (†), inform the LHD of identified contacts, and exclude contacts (possibly the entire stable group (††)) from school for 10 days after the last date the case was present at school while infectious.
- Recommend testing asymptomatic contacts 5-7 days from last exposure and immediate testing of symptomatic contacts (negative test results will not shorten 10-day exclusion).
- Disinfection and cleaning of classroom and primary spaces where case spent significant time.
- School remains open.
(†) A contact is defined as a person who is within 6 feet from a case for more than 15 minutes cumulative within a 24-hour period, regardless of face coverings. In some school situations, it may be difficult to determine whether individuals have met this criterion and an entire stable group, classroom, or other group may need to be considered exposed, particularly if people have spent time together indoors.
(††) See Stable Group Guidance for definition of a stable group. In some situations, (e.g., when seating charts are used, face covering is well adhered to, and teachers or staff have observed students adequately throughout the day), contact tracing and investigation may be able to determine more precisely whether each stable group member has been exposed. In this situation, those who were not close contacts could continue with in-person instruction.
Again, we reached out to SCHSA to see if we could now, at least for secondary, be able to utilize seating chart and/or close contact tracing in order to minimize disruptions to 7-12 students who, unlike elementary, were often in multiple groups on a school day. We received the same answer: not at this time. Unfortunately, although this was the message we and other schools received, SCHSA shared that they were not “stricter than CDPH” at a recent Stanislaus County Board of Supervisor’s meeting, although the context for the question was unclear. It is important to note that both the July 17 and January 14 CDPH guidance do allow for an entire stable group to be quarantined so, on its face, this is true; however, by not further explaining that schools were told they could not do seating chart contact tracing as allowed in the new CDPH guidance it caused confusion among some of our stakeholders.
Over the past week, we have been working closely with neighboring school districts to find a common understanding of the best practice for handling a confirmed COVID-19 infection at the secondary level. We remain hopeful that there will be a breakthrough with Public Health that will allow us to both meet CDPH guidelines and minimize disruptions to 7-12 students’ educational experience. Stay tuned.
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Getting Ready for the Blended Learning Model |
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Sitara Ali, Ed Tech Coach |
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As our secondary teachers get ready to switch focus to a blended learning model, teaching students synchronously at home and in person, practicing with our new equipment, and figuring out what we want the day to look like is important. But what if we have no idea what to expect? What if we don’t know how we are going to teach because we haven’t ever seen synchronous learning being done before?
It’s okay. All of this is okay. We don’t have to start the first day of blended learning perfectly. We just have to try to do our best, like we have been doing. No one has ever had to teach during a
a global pandemic, but WE did! In 1918, the Spanish Influenza was the last pandemic that really shook the world. Here we are, in 2021, going through a pandemic that has shaped these children’s lives and ours! We learned that toilet paper can be used as currency, grocery stores can sell out of food, and that finding sanitizing wipes equated to finding gold!
Along with trying to get through our own lives during a pandemic, we are teaching this next generation of students how to read, do mathematics, look at facts, question everything, and love
everyone. We have learned so much from where we have come as educators from 1 year ago. All of us should be proud of the effort we have put into our work and the effort in connecting with our students along with our own growth in our technological skills.
As change comes our way, new technology put in our hands, and doors opening to new teaching possibilities, we know that by working together with our colleagues, PLC teams, instructional coaches, administrators, and counselors, that we can get through this and provide our students with everything they need.
Teaching synchronously is going to be hard, but look at everything we have done so far. We didn’t think we could get through distance learning, but WE DID! Elementary teachers didn’t think they could get through the constant closure and reopenings of their classrooms, but THEY DID! Education is a tough field, with long hours and days of planning and grading with this past year probably being one of the hardest for some, but I can’t believe how much each and everyone one of us has learned from it.
As always, I’m here to help to try and make this shift as easy as I can.
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Young@Art Annual Student Exhibition |
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Open March 4 – 27 at the Mistlin Gallery |
After 45 years, CCAA’s annual student show is still going strong. Once called Young Masters, the show is all about showcasing the creativity and artistic efforts of our local youth. Last spring, after hanging over 200 student works, the show was cut short by statewide stay-at-home orders. However, with precautions in place, this March’s show will move forward, exhibiting an array of works in all mediums from preschool through high school-aged students. Prizes are awarded in 8 categories, divided into age groups and mediums. Works may be entered by teachers, families or individuals with a limit of 2 entries per student. Each entry fee is $2.00. This year will feature a collaborative project for kids initiated by the new StArt Magazine — an arts magazine for families now being published by Linda Knoll Graphics.
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Jim Peralta
1st Place in 2-D Art
Overtaken
Turlock Junior High School
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Deziree Meister
Pride and Joy
2nd Place
Turlock Junior High School
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Stanislaus County Office of Education is proud to proclaim March as Youth Arts Month. The arts, Dance, Music, Media Arts, Theater, and Visual Art, are core academic subjects; they are essential elements of a balanced, comprehensive education for all students. Arts learning experiences play a vital role in developing students' capacities for critical thinking, creativity, imagination and innovation. Engagement in the arts enables students to develop discipline, alternative ways to communicate and express ideas, and cross-cultural understanding, which support academic success across the curriculum. #ArtsAreEssential
The Stanislaus County Student Art Showcase is an annual event celebrating student achievement in the visual and performing arts. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the show has pivoted in 2021 to be a virtual event. All disciplines are included in this showcase: Dance, Music, Media Arts, Theater, and Visual Arts. The powerful artistic skills, strengths, and techniques evidenced in the artworks and performances this year are a testament to the power of creating and making during challenging times.
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Cristy Rickets, Turlock High School |
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How long have you worked in TUSD? 5 years
What is your job title? Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Turlock High School
Where did you work prior to TUSD? I was an Assistant Principal in Manteca Unified.
Any info you would like to share about your job? Average day? I love my job because it is always something different! During the course of a week, I can meet with students, teachers, and parents, build a master schedule for next school year, submit courses for A-G approval, work on a WASC report, analyze data, observe teachers and students in the classroom (or via Zoom), so many things!
Things you are most proud of? I have raised two amazing kids with my husband, who I've been married to for 25 years.
Challenges? Finding interesting audiobooks to listen to during my commute! Honestly, I can't complain. My life is pretty good.
Favorite memory/story? Going to college in Los Angeles, I had access to a lot of cool concerts, events and night clubs. The best was going to the MTV Awards at Pauley Pavilion. That was such a fun night!
What are you reading? Blink by Malcolm Gladwell and The Anti-Depressant Book by Jacob Towery
Any favorite shows you’re watching on TV? Reality TV is my guilty pleasure...Temptation Island and Housewives!
Fave movies? P.S. I Love You and Stepbrothers
Anything surprising we may not know about you? My husband and I are big fans of hair bands from the 80s and early 90s and love to go to concerts. We can't wait for the world to open back up so that we can see Motley Crue, Def Leppard and Poison in September!
Anything about your personal life you’d like to share? I love warm weather... sunshine and beaches... I'm there!
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Dave Walls, Pitman High School |
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Girls Golf
Pitman Girls Golf played at Dryden GC on Wednesday as they battled Modesto and Gregori. Tough day on the links as the ladies battled a little bit of the elements and split the day beating Modesto and coming in 2nd to Gregori in the tri-match. The Pride were led by Isabelle Rodriguez and Simon Samra with a 50 and Monet Sayadian with a 52. Hailegh Faria shot a 55 to go along with Candence Perry’s 62 and Tiffany Sommerville’s 65. The Pride will continue with league play on Wednesday if the weather permits as they return Turlock CC for a match against Enochs and Turlock.
Boys Tennis
Boys Tennis continues to improve as they played two matches on the week. On Tuesday the Pride hosted Gregori. The Jaguars took a 6-3 victory over the Pride as Pitman senior #1 Marcos Mendoza played outstanding ... taking a 3 set tiebreaker in his match, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8. Outstanding work by the senior who has been the backbone of the young Pride this year. Marcos lost a heartbreaking 3 set tiebreaker 8-10 last week to Adrian Rosero from Turlock in a battle of two of the top singles players in the league. The Pride ended the week on Thursday with a doubleheader sweep of the Modesto Panther. This was a make-up from a postponement in the first week of the season. The Pride won 9-0 and 6-3.
Swimming
Boys and Girls Swimming travel back to Enochs this week to take on Gregori. The Pride continued its growth as the VB, JVB and JVG all continuing to improve. The Varsity Girls brought home another victory on Friday as they received another good all-around team effort. As one Pride swimmer said, "It's just great to be back in the water."
A special shout-out goes to all of our winners:
Varsity Boys Medley Relay (A) @ 2:05.34
Varsity Girls Medley Relay (A) @ 2:04.19
Varsity Girls 200 Free Relay (A) @ 1:50.97
Varsity Girls 400 Free Relay (A) @ 4:07.87
Girls Individual Winners:
Lily Martin – 200 FREE @ 2:21.57
Maddie Ngo – 200 IND MEDLEY @ 2:30.59
Megan Hall – 50 FREE @ 25.78
Megan Hall – 100 FLY @ 1:09.41
Lily Martin – 500 FREE @ 6:35.22
Grace Linderman – 100 BACK @ 1:09.50
Maddie Ngo - 100 Breaststroke
Upcoming Pride Athletics 3/8-3/12
Monday
No Sports
Tuesday
BOYS TENN @ Downey – 3:00
Wednesday
Cross Country vs. CCAL #2 Cluster Meet @ Pitman HS - 2:30PM
Girls Golf @ Turlock CC (Enochs / Turlock) – 2:00PM
Thursday
BOYS TENN vs. Turlock (Pitman HS) – 3:00
Friday
SWIM @ Modesto – 3:00
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Colin Wenstrand, Turlock High School |
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She’s not throwing away her shot!
“Just had my COVID vaccine and already experiencing unexpected side effects such as relief, hope, smiling for extended periods of time, reaching out to make future plans, increased pleasure in life, excitability about coming out of isolation, and extreme satisfaction to return to a safe home and work life where I can hug my students, my friends, my coworkers, and my loved ones.”
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Turlock High School teacher Foods teacher Linda Bejaran taught students how to make ramen last week. A student shared: “This lab was super fun. I am glad we did it. It’s kind of weird but in a way it made me happy making it.” We can’t wait to see our secondary students back on campus soon! |
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Thank you Brown Elementary School for sharing this picture of your resident Social Distancing Expert! We are so proud of our TUSD students and their resiliency, grit, and determination during this unprecedented year. You rock! |
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Well, hello there, new Julien Elementary office. JL Bray working on grading site and prepping for paint today. We can’t wait for this project to be completed! |
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Share Your Awesome!
Marie Russell
Chief Communication Coordinator
mrussell@turlock.k12.ca.us
209.648.0968
@tusd_mrussell
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We would love to have ALL staff help share our TUSD story to the world, but if that is not really your thing, just email Marie Russell for an opt-out form. |
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