Updated Mask Guidance & COVID Protocols

UPDATED ON AUGUST 4, 2021

Dear Englewood Schools Community,

We are very excited to be welcoming students into our schools in just a few short weeks! As we prepare for the start of the school year, we have been monitoring the changing health conditions in the community and having discussions with our partners at Tri-County Health regarding the best way to keep students and staff healthy and safe as well as provide an optimal in-person learning environment.

What we know about COVID-19 is that a layered approach to safety is one that keeps staff and students healthy and in school learning. Based on current conditions, and subject to change as conditions change, Englewood Schools will have the following protocols in place for the 2021-2022 school year:

MASK REQUIREMENTS FOR THE START OF SCHOOL

• Masks will be required for all students, visitors and staff while inside all Englewood schools, regardless of vaccination status.
• Masks will not be required outside, since the risk of COVID transmission is significantly lower outdoors.
• Per federal law, all bus riders must wear masks while being transported on school buses. Buses are considered public transportation.

The latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and endorsed by TriCounty Health is for universal masking.

HEALTH SCREENINGS

Students: Students and parents should be monitoring for any symptoms of illness. Students should NOT attend school if they have any symptoms of illness. Students with any signs of COVID-related symptoms will be sent home and must follow return to learn guidelines.

Staff: Staff should be monitoring for any symptoms of illness. Staff should NOT come to work if they have any symptoms of illness.

QUARANTINES

At this time, there will not be quarantines for routine classroom exposures. Individuals with symptoms who test positive will need to stay home and isolate according to guidance. Limited or targeted quarantines may be required in certain circumstances.

Please note, though we do not require quarantine for routine classroom exposures, students are still required to quarantine if they are exposed outside of school.

Why? Due to the precautionary measures we have in place at our schools, the spread of COVID-19 is much lower than in other settings. We want students to be able to have as much in-person learning time as possible, and therefore do not require all close contacts at school to quarantine unless we have a suspected or confirmed outbreak or students were exposed in a higher-risk setting.

However, being exposed outside of school, especially if it is a close contact the student lives with, means they are much more likely to come down with COVID-19. In order to keep our staff and students safe, we require that these students stay home from school for 7 days (with a negative test) or 10 days AFTER their last exposure. We also require that students with symptoms of COVID-19 stay home and await instructions from a district nurse or school health assistant before returning to school. Our weekly school COVID testing should be for students who do NOT have symptoms prior to testing.

FAQ on who needs to isolate/quarantine.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Students and staff members will be encouraged to maintain at least three feet of space when possible.

HAND WASHING/SANITIZING

Frequent and proper handwashing will continue at all schools. Our protocols will continue to allow adequate access and time for washing and sanitizing hands.

SCHOOL VISITORS

Visitors to schools should be limited when possible. All visitors to schools must wear masks for the duration of their visit. No exceptions.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS/ACTIVITIES

After school clubs and activities will follow all safety protocols that occur during the school day.

VACCINES

Vaccinations remain the best way to limit the spread of COVID-19. We encourage all eligible students, staff and family members to get vaccinated to protect themselves and our community against COVID-19. Vaccinations are free and available to students, staff and family members at TEC check-in day on August 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Englewood Campus Commons (3800 S. Logan St.) Many other places have vaccines available in our community.

ADDITIONAL ACTIONS

Ventilation: We will continue to change our HVAC filters above and beyond what is currently required to ensure the best possible ventilation of our indoor spaces.

Cleaning Protocols: We will continue our upgraded cleaning and sanitation protocols of our classrooms, rooms and facilities.

Testing: COVID testing is still widely available. We encourage any student or staff member with symptoms or a known exposure to get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible.
 

As you know, we expect the unexpected with COVID-19. These are the protocols we will have in place based on the current situation, but may be subject to change as the situation evolves or as health guidance or restrictions are updated.

Thank you for trusting us with your students for this upcoming school year. We look forward to welcoming students back into our buildings very soon.

Kind Regards,

Wendy Rubin, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Feeling Stressed During these Times?

AllHealth Network is here to listen free of charge.

Contact them at 720-707-6789 or visit ALLHEALTHNETWORK.ORG/COLORADO-SPIRIT

Here are some suggestions to help cope during a stressful time. 

Parenting Resources during COVID-19

Linked here are six strategies to help parents with their children during this time of confinement. Strategies include: one-on-one time, staying positive, creating a daily routine, avoiding bad behavior, managing stress and talking about COVID-19.

Access all six here.

Health and Mental Wellness Resources

This can be a stressful and scary time for everyone. Feeling prepared and knowing what you can do to help you and your family stay well are some ways to help minimize stress. This resource for parents/caregivers provides ways for families to prepare as well as how to help children from different age groups cope with what is going on. If you think you are having symptoms of COVID-19, please follow these guidelines from CDC. These resources from Tri-County health can also help you stay informed and reduce the risk of spreading or catching COVID-19. Additional mental health and food resources can be accessed here.

Additional Resources:

"I Matter Colorado" is a new resource to support youth emotional and mental health. Parents or youth can take a survey to make sure they get the appropriate help. The answers are confidential and used to match you with a clinician who can best support you.

Get started by filling out a survey now.

Protecting Your Mental Health During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Self-Care Strategies for Resilience

As a reminder, Safe2Tell is a resource students can access right away if they have worries or concerns about themselves or a friend.

Resources for Undocumented Communities

This document contains information about healthcare, food, and other resources for undocumented communities. On the last tab are fundraisers allies can donate to if they are so inclined.

Resources from the City of Englewood

Find local information and resources for businesses and residents by checking out the City of Englewood's COVID resource page. 

Onward Colorado

If you've lost your job, this website will help you get unemployment benefits and start looking for work.