Dear SJS Families,

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the last weeks of summer.

Looking ahead to the start of the school year next week, I am sending this email to review with our SJS families our school plans related to COVID.

COVID cases in our community are rising.  This has caused some businesses and school districts to implement mask mandates to help reduce the spread of the virus, and especially of the Delta variant.

At this time, mask-wearing for students, staff, and visitors of St. Joseph School is optional.

NOTE FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS WHO RIDE BUSES

Masks are currently required on school buses, per federal law.  The RLASD and the bus company will provide families of bus riders with details on that rule later this week.

St. Joseph School will continue to work with the Barron County Health Department on quarantines if there is a case of COVID in our school.  Here are a few important notes from Barron County Health. You may also refer to the updated mask guidance on the Barron County Department of Health Website.

1. Mask wearing will help limit or even prevent the need for quarantines in our school.
2. Per the guidelines from County Health, if a student who was wearing a mask tests positive for COVID and was in close proximity with another student who was also wearing a mask, the other student who does not have COVID will not have to quarantine.
3. For vaccinated students and adults who have been exposed to COVID, and are symptom-free, exclusion from school will not be necessary.

OPEN HOUSE WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25

We are looking forward to seeing all students and families at our Welcome Wednesday Open House tomorrow, Wednesday, August 25^th from 4:00 pm – 7:30 pm.

For those families attending scheduled classrooms meetings (3K, 4K, Kindergarten, 1^st Grade and Middle School) we are requesting that parents and students wear masks in the classroom during those meetings.

During these meetings we will have a possible 40-60 people in a classroom which is considered a large group gathering. Please help us reduce the spread of any illness so that we can have a successful first week of school. Thank you!

In addition to the protocols related to COVID, we will continue our practice of asking parents to keep sick children home.  Children with colds, flu, and other common ailments should not be in school.

We will also continue our other mitigation practices, including increased cleaning and sanitation, using MERV 13 filtration on our air handling systems, providing as much distancing as possible, and encouraging good hand hygiene,

Again, at this time there is no plan to require masks at school.  We will continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly.

Please feel free to contact me directly with questions or concerns.  Through respectful conversation, we gain an understanding of one another’s opinions.

Enjoy the last week of summer with your family.  We look forward to seeing the children next Wednesday.

Jerry Van Dyke, Principal