Dear Cedar Bluffs Families,
COVID RISK LEVEL: ORANGE
The first week of school went great. I am so proud of our students and staff for being able to adapt to the new normal. For the Week of August 17, we have been elevated to Orange. So that means masks are now required in all areas of the school. Orange does NOT mean we immediately go to the hybrid model. We still have in person sessions for all students and all grades at this time. We have just heightened all precautionary measures. Students should be able to take their masks off when outside and when they can social distance. I don’t think the kids will notice the difference between yellow and orange, for the most part it is adjustments we need to make.
COVID POSITIVE: 0-Students, 3-Parents/Family Members, 0-Staff, 0-Exposures at School
COVID Quarantined: 3 Students, 1 Staff
This week we had two parents and an older sister from different families inform us they tested positive for coronavirus, so their students did not start school with us. They will quarantine for 14 days past last exposure. Our teacher, whose wife tested positive, has tested negative. He still must quarantine for 14 days after last exposure to her. So in the end, he will be quarantined for 24 total days. Ten days of her isolation plus 14 days from last exposure. This is required by Three Rivers Health and why I keep saying it is so important to wear a mask and social distance, so Three Rivers Health won’t quarantine an entire class.
The Nebraska School Activity Association has issued additional guidance regarding high school and junior high sports that Cedar Bluffs will be following. Some of the recommendations include no concession stand, separate entrance for visitors and home fans, students not participating (sitting on the bench) must wear a mask, spectators indoors must wear a mask and they have directed us to limit seating, encourage family seating and block off row of bleachers so social distancing can be maintained.
Since the CDC recommends that you take off your shoes before entering your house, take off all your clothes and put them immediately into the washing machine each day, I have relaxed the dress code for my staff. I do apologize ahead of time if you see them in jeans, a polo or even scrubs. I felt like with the busy schedule our teachers, whom may also coach may not have an opportunity to wash clothes each day or take their dress clothes to the dry cleaner each day.
We have a handful of parents who have chosen to keep their kids’ home and remote learn with Cedar Bluffs Public School. We truly respect each parent’s decision to do what they believe is best for their child and we want to serve our students and families as best we can. Having really never done “remote learning” with students from all grades, we know there will be some hiccups along the way. Therefore, I have assigned Mrs. Kate Chrisman as our parent liaison and compliance officer for remote learning. Mrs. Chrisman will be a second contact if you are choosing to remote learn. Mrs. Chrisman will work with our staff to assist them with a smooth delivery of content through Canvas Learning and will be in contact with each parent who chose to remote learn to make sure students are being successful. Please note, remote learning is not the same quality as in person and remote learners may not participate in any extracurricular activities.
Lastly, I have purchased fabric covers for all of our brass instruments. So, all of our brass instruments will have CB logo fabric over the end of the instrument thus trying to eliminate discharge. I have also purchased face shields for the wind instruments designed to allow the instrument to go in front of the shield. If we are able to have an in-person concert we will. However, the current plan for our Holiday Concert is to video tape each grade and our band, then create a compilation that will be available around Winter Break. #WildcatPride