COVID Protocols for 2022-2023
Dear Sayles School Families,
I hope this email finds you well and you are enjoying the last days of summer. We are entering the third school year that will be affected by the COVID-19 virus. Our first priority as we enter the school year is the health and safety of the entire Sayles School community. Our second priority is to maintain a robust, safe learning environment for students. In collaboration with the Uncas Health District, State Department of Education and the State Department of Health, Sayles School will be instituting new protocols for dealing with COVID-19. Below are the protocols that the school will institute. We are asking that students and families follow these protocols.
At this time, masks are optional for all healthy students and visitors to Sayles School. Students who are ill, have a fever (greater than or equal to 100 degrees F.) or feel feverish should not report to school until their fever has resolved for at least 24 hours without the use of medication. Students and staff who live with a person who recently tested positive for COVID-19 (within the past 2 weeks) should also not report to school unless the student has had no fever for 24 hours without using medications and tests negative for COVID-19. These individuals should stay home until their symptoms resolve and test negative for COVID-19. Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 should isolate themselves for 5 days and return to school only if they wear a mask in school for an additional 5 days.
Students and staff with mild respiratory symptoms (e.g., infrequent cough, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, etc.) have the option to continue participating with in-person schooling provided:
- they are fever-free (< 100 degrees F.) for 24 hours without the use of medication and feel well enough to participate,
- they do not live with anyone who has had COVID -19 in the past two weeks,
- they can wear a mask consistently and correctly, and they test negative for COVID-19 prior to reporting in-person on every day they have symptoms, as well as one final test on the morning their symptoms have completely resolved.
We will be sending COVID-19 testing kits home with students the first two days of school. Mrs. Houle, our school nurse, is available to help families through this process. She can be reached at 860-822-8264 ext. 111 or via email at phoule@spraguek12.org. We will also send masks home with students if they are needed.
Please note that we may alter these protocols throughout the year, depending on the level of infection in the community. For example, if the level of infection increases during the year, students may be required to wear a mask and social distance at school. In addition, visitors to Sayles School may be restricted. Working together, we can continue to keep the Sayles School community safe and to keep our students learning. If you have comments concerning these protocols, you may contact me at whull@spraguek12.org or attend an in-person forum on Thursday, September 1st at Sayles School from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The meeting will take place in the school library.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
William Hull
Sprague Superintendent of Schools
