COVID Update
We want to provide you with a brief update about our school’s operations during the pandemic. We have had no students report a positive COVID test result. We have had only one member of staff report a positive test result, and that incident occurred during teacher training before any students returned. We have had a number of staff members report potential exposures or symptoms, and they have all remained at home until receiving a negative test result. At our last board meeting, Mr. Anderson commended our faculty for the excellent work they have done in policing themselves and keeping their students and colleagues safe and healthy.
Our goal remains to return as many of our students to in-person, full-time schooling as soon as possible and for as long as possible. We recognize that returning to in-person classes is not a possibility for some of our students, and we will continue to offer streaming lessons to help accommodate them. With that said, for all but math in grades three through six, we will discontinue recorded versions of elementary classes after the end of the first quarter. Upper school classes will continue to be recorded as long as we are in the hybrid model.
As we work to re-integrate our students, it bears mentioning that we should continue to be vigilant in our efforts to mitigate the impact of this disease within our community. Please keep your children home from school if they show any signs of illness. For your reference, please refer to the document from the State that was sent previously about when you should consider keeping your children home.
While we are continuing to filter and sanitize the air, screen students upon entry, take temperatures, sanitize both classrooms and public areas, emphasize proper handwashing, and encourage social distancing and cohorting, one of our best defenses is awareness. We are not through the storm yet and we cannot afford to become complacent. Please encourage your children to wear masks when and where appropriate. Review proper handwashing with younger students. Where possible, minimize the number of materials going back and forth between home and school. Ridgeview’s ability to remain open and not return to remote-only learning depends upon everyone’s best effort.
Finally, those who have been watching the Larimer County COVID dashboard will know that the risk indicator was recently elevated from medium to high. Yesterday, the risk score was decreased to medium. While these changes may be noteworthy, I want to insure you that we are continuing to monitor this and other information closely. With respect to health and privacy laws and common sense, where there is information to report, we will promptly report it.
For now, we continue to inch closer to normal and we look forward to seeing you and your children back in our building before too long.
D. Anderson
