Message From The Principal
Dear Montair Families,
We had quite an eventful return to school last week. I loved seeing our staff and students back on campus full of positive energy and school spirit. In addition to the fun festivities that welcomed our students and staff, COVID made its presence known on our campus last week. We had 5 COVID cases last week. Classmates of the students who tested positive received a “Group Contact Tracing Letter”. This is an updated approach our district is taking to inform our families of positive COVID cases and steps families should take to keep their children safe and limit their time out of class.
The Contra Costa County Department of Public Health has expanded the protocols schools can use to trace COVID in our schools. In response, SRVUSD will no longer conduct CLOSE contact tracing, instead we will be conducting GROUP contact tracing. Thus, when we get a positive case, we will send Group Contact Tracing Letters to the entire classes and small instructional groups of the student who tested positive. Updated Contact Tracing letters include the following information regarding school attendance, testing and mask wearing:
Your child may remain in school unless they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Being exposed to somebody with COVID-19 does not necessarily mean that your child will become infected. In fact, scientific research, experience from around the country, and data from California during this school year demonstrate that schools remain among the safest places for children to be.
Your child should get tested for COVID-19 if your child starts to show symptoms. You may get tested at the SRVUSD Education Center on 3-5 days after exposure, or at a County testing site. At-home tests may also be used. If your child does not have any symptoms of COVID-19, you do not need to share negative test results from this exposure with your school.
If your child develops symptoms of COVID-19 or tests positive for COVID-19, please ensure they isolate at home immediately and notify the school right away.
Your child must continue to wear a mask indoors in the school and community per school, local, and state requirements. Follow school policies to protect against COVID-19. High-quality masks with the best fit and filtration will provide the best protection for your child and the school community.
Your children will be receiving their report cards this Friday, 1/21 in manila envelopes. The envelopes do NOT need to be signed and returned to school. You can also access your child’s report card on Illuminate after 3:30 on 1/21. HERE are the directions for downloading your child’s report card on Illuminate.
Our children will participate in the Great Kindness Challenge Week, January 24th-January 28th. They will receive a Great Kindness Challenge list and are encouraged to spread kindness across our campus and community throughout the week. During lunch time, we will have a Kindness Station manned by our leadership students. Each day, our students will have the opportunity to write notes of appreciation or gratitude to members of our community. We’ll have days to write notes to our police department, fire departments, local hospital, staff, and care facilities in town. If you would like to bring the Great Kindness Challenge to your home, I invite you to print out the Great Kindness Challenge Family Edition and encourage your children to continue the kindness among your family and neighborhood
Last Friday was our 90th day of school. We are halfway through our school year. Time is going by so quickly. Your children are growing and learning so much. I can’t wait to see all the beauty and joy the next 90 days will bring us. Have a beautiful week!
Kind regards,
Elizabeth Lyons, Ed.D.
Principal
Montair Elementary School
