Fridays with Frazier - COVID Update 8-20-21

8.20.21

We now have the first full week of school under our belt.  My hope is that it has been a great start to the year.   I realize that this is not the beginning we had expected in relation to the pandemic.  We are doing all we can to mitigate the spread of the virus within the recommendations from the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the current law.  It is easy to get overwhelmed with data and information regarding the pandemic.  It's impossible not to hear about it on the news, social media, and yes, even at school.  

I want you all to know we are monitoring our numbers very closely.  Daily we are tracking the effects of the virus as it impacts our students, staff and families.   CPS is working closely with the OSDH, OSDE, and the State Epidemiologist to obtain and gather information and data.  The recommendations from OSDH are being followed to the best of our abilities.  We are not perfect but we will continue to improve as we progress through the pandemic.  Of the five mitigating recommendations, masks mandates are currently against the law, school buildings are not built for social distancing, making numbers 3 thru 5 even more important.  We are focusing on controlling what we can control. 

We want our students to be as safe as possible and in school face to face every single day.  For us to stay in school, quarantines will be necessary.  We will deliver services to those students until they can safely return to face-to-face instruction.  

By following some simple procedures, you can help us mitigate this virus and reduce the number of quarantines:

  1. If your student has Class A symptoms which include: Fever, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of taste or smell - PLEASE  keep your child at home and  Consider testing for Covid.  We have tests available at our sites with an appointment through our nursing staff or you can find several testing locations in the City of Claremore.  Our sick policy is in effect and students that are ill should remain at home, especially now.

  2. If you or any family member has Covid, please keep your child at home. The virus has an incubation period of approximately five days, which means you can have the virus in your system, be without symptoms, but still be able to transmit to other persons.  So again, please stay at home, quarantine at least 5 days before testing and do not return to school until you have a negative test result.

  3. If you are waiting on a test result, please do not send your child to school until the results are received and negative.

  4.  If your student is quarantined, this means they are quarantined from all school and community activities.  That includes family gatherings, college sporting events, youth sports, and even church.   The quarantine IS NOT limited to Claremore Public Schools but rather recommended guidance from the  OK State Department of Health.

  5. We also strongly encourage you to wear masks indoors especially, whether you are vaccinated or not.

Vaccination is both a personal and emotional decision; we respect and understand this.  We will protect our students and families the best we can and work with agencies entrusted to protect the public health of all Oklahomans, the OSDH.  CPS will continue to monitor daily the numbers and the effects of this virus.  We are also closely monitoring the actions of other districts.  We will consider all options to protect our students and staff.

Together, we will overcome this pandemic, but only if we partner and work with each other.  We realize the anxiety and inconvenience that quarantines and isolations are causing.  We are also concerned about the social, emotional and physical toll the pandemic is taking our students.  Let us band together, work side by side, trust each other to get through this time, always remembering we want the same thing, students healthy and in school. 

Have a great evening and weekend

Superintendent Bryan Frazier
Claremore Public Schools

 

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