SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATES
What a Week! The first week of 2022 brought many firsts:
First snowstorm since 2019
First time plowing the new secondary campus parking lot
First drive-thru Covid testing event
First time we’ve had more than 25 Covid cases in a single week (more on that below)
I want to give a huge shout-out to all of the FCCPS staff. It has been a week when everyone needs to #HandlewithCare.
Our custodial and maintenance teams were first on the scene to start shoveling sidewalks and plowing parking lots, and keeping the buildings clean and safe inside.
Our school building staff are doing their regular jobs, covering for colleagues, and navigating their own family health situations - while taking care of our FCCPS students.
This is a perfect storm of circumstances, and…a few reminders below to help us weather the storm.
If you missed my Return to School Town Hall presentation from last Sunday, January 2, here is the link to watch it.
ISOLATE, QUARANTINE, OR COME TO SCHOOL
If you are sick, stay home until symptoms have resolved and get tested–a negative test or doctor’s note is required to return to school/work
Fully vaccinated persons who are exposed to a positive case do not have to be quarantined, provided they have no symptoms, and should test 5 days after exposure
Unvaccinated persons who are exposed to a positive case must quarantine for 5 days from the date of exposure, monitor for symptoms, and should be tested after 5 days
COVID positive cases should be isolated for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or date of the positive test and only return when symptoms have resolved (Do not return to the school location if you are coughing, sneezing, have a runny nose, achy/fatigued…) and you must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication–a test is not required to return to school
When determining an “after 5 days” return date FCCPS follows the same process the CDC, the VDH, and the FCHD follow: Day 0 is the day of symptom onset or the positive viral test (based on the date of testing) and Day 1 is the first full day after. Students/staff can return on Day 6, provided they meet the other criteria for the return based upon the context of the situation. (Example: A student develops symptoms on January 10th (Day 0) with January 11th being Day1 and January 15th is Day 5. The student can return in person on January 16th.)
COMING SOON: FCCPS will be updating the procedures for how cases are reported and monitored. More information will be coming next week once new/updated school-specific information is updated by the CDC, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Fairfax Health Department.
REMOTE LEARNING
Your student’s school will contact you regarding the process for streaming/remote learning.
Remind your student to bring their laptop to/from school each day.
Help to keep your student’s device charged.
Please be patient as we navigate this process during these uncertain times.
HEALTH MONITORING
Monitor your student’s health closely and do not send them to school if they are feeling ill or have any Covid symptoms. Please review Student Self-Monitoring Health Screening each morning before sending students to school. Please help to support FCCPS in maintaining a healthy learning environment by ensuring symptoms (coughing, runny nose, congestion…) have resolved and students are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication as they return from isolation after testing positive for COVID.
FCCPS COVID By The Numbers
Data: | Number of Cases Since 12/17/21 | Cumulative Since August 1 |
# of Student Cases: | 133 | 175 |
# of Staff Cases | 44 | 53 |
# of Students in Quarantine Due to Being a Close Contact | 29 | 160 |
FCCPS Rate of Transmission | HIGH for Falls Church City HIGH for Fairfax Health District | |
Please note that this data is just a snapshot of FCCPS in total and is adjusted based on the outcomes of each contact tracing investigation.
Next week, Tuesday, January 11 will be the first School Board meeting of 2022, with the four new School Board members joining the three veteran members. At this meeting I will also be presenting the proposed FY 2023 budget. In the upcoming weeks the community will have the opportunity to weigh in with the School Board to share ideas and opinions on the budget through the public hearing process.
Thanks again for all your continued support through these tough times.
Enjoy your weekend!
Peter