COVID case update for March 25, 2021: work together, finish the year strong

The Pierz community has seen a sharp increase in positive COVID cases over the past few weeks. We posted some information last week to keep you informed and share the data that we see. We are adding more information to update you with our facts as of today, Thursday, March 25.

• There are 24 positive cases of COVID in the district schools, including Pioneer, Healy, and Holy Trinity.  
• If we go back 3 weeks and count cases that have now dropped off, that number nearly doubles to 46 cases.
• Several specific grades at Healy High School have had abnormally high numbers over the last three weeks. Grade 9 is the highest with 10 positive COVID cases over the last month. It would seem there is some spread among themselves although we cannot ever say for certain where or when infection occurs.

The District maintains the goal of in-person learning. We know it is the best learning model, and we believe we are doing the best service for the most students, even though clearly it creates added challenges and work for many staff.

The Schools are:

• Spacing students apart  in all classes. 
• Requiring masks to be worn properly in the building.
• Sanitizing tables and desks after every class. 
• Increased the number of lunch shifts, tables, and spaces to accommodate for 6 feet of spacing when masks are removed.

We embrace parenting and community support to help us continue to have school.  That includes:

• Encourage your child to keep the recommended 6 feet from their peers during hallway passing time, after school, and even outside of the school day. 
• Encourage them to wear their mask during the school day. 
• Monitor after school activities and social interactions as a reminder to have fun, but stick to the goal of some distancing to stop the spread. The cause we are fighting for is to keep school and all its activities and events going.
• Ensure your contact-traced or positive students remain at home throughout their quarantine period.
• If you or any one in your household is experiencing symptoms of COVID, please keep your child(ren) home and notify the school nurse. You never know who else you are helping by taking the cautionary path.

Thank you for helping us get this far and finish this final stretch. Thanks to all our staff who continue to show up nonstop to make it work and implement many added rules and duties that are out of our control. 

We have about 40 days left in this school year; let’s finish strong together. The Pioneer Way is to confront challenges and overcome obstacles: that is the part we can control.
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