Dear MPCSD Parents and Guardians,
We did it! Together--staff, students, parents, leadership and our Board--have accomplished what many districts have yet been able to do: bringing every interested student back in-person or attending a high-quality daily virtual program if desired. I can’t thank everyone enough for your flexibility, confidence, and teamwork. MPCSD is a truly special place.
Our return-to-school success is always at risk, especially now when cases of COVID are rising throughout the country. Regionally, we continue to see relatively low incidences of transmission, but that is likely to change quickly and may already have begun; time will tell. If we are going to stay in school, we need everyone’s steadfast commitment to health and safety recommendations both in and out of school.
High-Risk Alert
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching and the December holidays and Winter Break not far behind, it will be especially important that we all make safe choices about how we celebrate. After months of separation, it is tempting to want to meet up with family and have a “normal” celebration. I urge you to please avoid giving into that temptation this year. We don’t want to spread the virus, risk the health of our aunts/uncles and grandparents, and unintentionally bring COVID to our schools after holiday breaks. The CDC and San Mateo County Health have prepared guidelines for safer ways to celebrate this year. And with the state's cases now topping one million, the California Department of Public Health just released a travel advisory urging residents and visitors to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival from any non-essential travel. Let’s keep things small and low key this year with those with whom we live and look forward to a joyous return to our traditions in 2021!
Beyond travel, we must also be cautious of well-intentioned, yet equally and sometimes more dangerous socializing in our own homes. As an article in yesterday’s Washington Post reminds us, it’s casual get-togethers indoors that are fueling the recent surge in daily cases--something that is likely to increase as temperatures drop and people move their lives more indoors. We must be vigilant if we are to avoid COVID spread in our area.
Superintendent’s Expectation: If you do decide to engage in high-risk behaviors such as travel this Thanksgiving holiday, please prepare to isolate/quarantine your children from attending school for two-weeks upon your return, in accordance with the state's travel advisory. Your teacher and school site will work with you to arrange an Independent Study Plan (ISP) for the time that your child would be in school in person. We really want everyone to do the right thing. There is no judgement; there are myriad of reasons why a family may choose to travel. That choice, however, shouldn’t put others at risk. We’ll make it easy for you to keep current on learning; you can isolate knowing that you are doing the right thing for the health of all involved. Please contact your teacher and school’s front office to arrange a quarantine ISP.
Updated PRF
San Mateo County’s Pandemic Recovery Framework, the guiding document upon which our reopening plan was designed, has been updated by the county on November 9. The new version includes updates on face coverings, including a new Face Covering FAQ prepared by the county. It includes an update of isolation guidelines for those with confirmed or suspected cases of Covid; people may now be around others after 10 days from symptom onset including 1 day (24 hours) after recovery from symptoms (previously this was 3 days). And in time for the holidays, the PRF also updates its travel guidance, recommending that we avoid any travel outside the Bay Area and quarantine for 14 days upon return from travel. All this new information has been updated and/or linked in our Covid FAQ and One Pagers. If you have printed the One Pagers for your reference, you will want to print a new copy that includes the recent updates.
Support for Parenting in a Pandemic
Finally, I would like to invite you to our next Speaker Series event. We are fortunate to have the Children’s Health Council prepare a special event for us “Mental Health & Learning: Living in Uncertain Times” on Tuesday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m. This webinar and live Q&A with CHC experts will discuss what you can do to support your children and their learning during these unusual times. CHC has been part of our community for almost 70 years and offers best-in-class learning and mental health services for children, teens, and young adults. We are very grateful to them for offering this event exclusively to our MPCSD parents. Click here to register.
Of all the many things I am thankful for this season, top of the list is the incredibly dedicated staff and the supportive and resilient families who I have the honor of serving as Superintendent of MPCSD. Thank you for journeying this difficult road alongside me with grace, appreciation, flexibility and hope.
Warmest regards,
Erik
