October 5 update: Our goal for this year is to keep our students in school with face to face instruction. We have been very fortunate! As I have told you over and over this year will be a year of change and flexibility. Guidance from the state will continue to change and we will adjust as needed. Last week I sent home the latest guidance on loosening quarantine restrictions (see buttons below). After receiving this information, I consulted with Blackhawk County Health, our Return to Learn Team and the School Board. The overwhelming response was to follow this new guidance. In choosing to follow this guidance we will now need to have all K-8 students wear masks at school. Both the Iowa Department of Health and Blackhawk County Health have made it clear that face coverings mean masks. Face shields or gators will no longer be acceptable to eliminate the quarantine requirements. If a student or teacher has a condition that makes it necessary to wear a gator or shield please let me know. This new requirement will go into effect on Oct. 12. - Lynette Hackett, Principal
IDPH Quarantine Recommendations
September 28 update: The Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Department of Public Health jointly released guidance for schools and local public health agencies regarding public reporting of COVID-19 cases, instituting limitations in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
The new guidance states:
● Schools that have no cases can report zero cases (we will use the number "0").
● Schools with 5 or fewer cases should not provide a specific count but can confirm there are cases within the school population (we will report by saying we have less than 6 cases).
● Schools with counts of 6 or more cases can release specific case counts (we will use the actual number of cases)
● No other demographic identifiers should be included in the school-level release
We are committed to safety and transparency while maintaining student privacy. Beginning immediately, we will report the number of active positive cases in the Thursday principal letter. We will not report grade level or any other demographic information. We will not send a letter home to notify families of each case. Parents will be notified by the Department of Health if their child has been affected by a school exposure.
September 2 update: See the new flyer from the State of IA, IA Dept. of Education, and the IA Dept of Public Health for information on procedures regarding symptoms, testing, and identifying close contacts.
Evaluating Sick Students and Staff
The following is a summary of the procedures we are following to ensure the safest possible environment for students and staff. We will continue to communicate as new information becomes available. As you know this is a very fluid situation and guidance continues to come out daily.
Face coverings (updated 10/5/20)
All K-8 students are required to wear masks at school. Both the Iowa Department of Health and Blackhawk County Health have made it clear that face coverings mean masks. Face shields or gators will no longer be acceptable to eliminate the quarantine requirements. If a student or teacher has a condition that makes it necessary to wear a gator or shield please let me know. This new requirement will go into effect on Oct. 12.
Safety procedures for the school day
Air Quality
We continue to monitor mitigation strategies and work closely with public health officials to make sure our school is providing the safest environment for all students. This summer Paul Schafer and I met with Matt Hein, school parent and Manager of Energy Services with Cedar Falls Utilities. We walked through the ASHRAE guidance for air quality within our school. Our HVAC system will assist with the fight against COVID in our school environment. The Preschool already has a UV system that cleans the air and rids it of infectious particles and our main building will also have filters in place to do the same. This means that should infectious droplets become airborne they will be filtered and eliminated. We will be working closely with Matt to ensure air quality throughout the building.
Virtual Learning
Virtual learning is available. See the information on our hybrid learning model below and contact the office with your questions. Read our Expectations for Virtual Learners.
School Closure due to a Student or Staff Member Testing Positive
Guidance from the Blackhawk County Health and the State Department of Health states that contact tracing will be used to identify who would need to quarantine and for how long. The guidance states that school closures would only be considered if there is a "greater than 20% positivity in a county on average over the past 14 days with healthcare resource capacity concerns." So if we should have a student test positive that does not mean St. Patrick would close the whole school.
Cedar Falls Public Library
The Cedar Falls Public Library has asked that I share the following information: "When school starts, the public library will still be in phase three, which means we will be open to the public by appointment only and have reduced hours. The next phase of our plan (whenever we implement it) will still limit our hours and the number of people in the building. With these restrictions our building will probably not be available as an after school destination for the foreseeable future."
Lynette Hackett
Principal
Sarah Montgomery, associate professor of elementary education at University of Northern Iowa, is also a certified mindfulness educator. She shares her insight on how a holistic approach to learning can be part of your days during COVID-19.
Right now, you or the young people you love may be struggling to make sense of the current pandemic and all of the changes we are experiencing. It is important to recognize that every day each of us is navigating a new reality and to be gentle with ourselves and with one another.... Read more in her UNI College of Education blog post.
Need help with internet service for your student's learning? CFU will work with Cedar Falls residents to retain utility services as the community faces hardships in response to the COVID-19 health threat. Service disconnections will be suspended, late fees will be temporarily waived and flexible payment options will be available. Additional assistance on internet service may be available for families with students in grades 7-12 on free or reduced lunch.
Mediacom is also assisting families.
CFU (319) 268-5280
Mediacom (855) 904-2225
A Prayer During the Coronavirus Pandemic
A Prayer During Coronavirus Pandemic
O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother Mary,
We, your children of every nation,
Turn to you in this pandemic.
Our troubles are numerous; our fears are great.
Grant that we might deposit them at your feet,
Take refuge in your Immaculate Heart,
And obtain peace, healing, rescue, and timely help in all our needs.
You are our Mother.
Pray for us to your Son.
Amen