Please click on the link for new Covid 19 guidelines!
Bertrand Community School Families,
Due to the recent spike and increase of COVID-19 cases in Phelps County and Two-Rivers Health District, Bertrand Community School will be requiring masks in all high traffic areas. Those areas include hallways, transition time between classes, buses, and when students enter and leave the building. Consistent use of masks is an appropriate mitigation strategy to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and is strongly encouraged by the CDC.
We understand that students need a break from masking. During classroom time, it will be at the teachers’ discretion as to when the masks can be taken off. For example, if students are working individually at their desk or table, the mask can be removed. However, if students are involved in small group activities, they should be masked. Again, teachers will have the discretion to make those decisions for students in the classrooms. Having students wear masks is a safety precaution during school, and, as always, our main priority is to keep all students and staff safe during this unprecedented time of COVID-19.
Students who do not feel comfortable wearing a mask may wear a clear plastic shield.
Bertrand Community School will provide masks and shields as long as products are available. If a student chooses to wear a shield, that shield will need to stay at school. The shield will be sanitized for reuse for the student. The school district will have disposable masks available. Each student has been given multiple cloth masks to start the school year, we ask that those masks be used. Please wash those masks after each daily use.
COVID-19 Terminology
Direct contact- is someone who lives in the same household
Close contact-is someone who is unmasked and within 6 feet, for 15 minutes or longer of someone who is COVID positive
Home isolation-is 10 days from the date you were tested, continuing to monitor symptoms
Home quarantine-is 14 days starting from the date of your last contact with the COVID positive person, continuing to monitor symptoms
Symptoms-fever of 100.4 or higher, cough, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath
Self-monitoring-watch for symptoms of COVID-19 in school, in home isolation, or in home quarantine
COVID-19 Guidelines
Contact the school office if you have been tested for COVID-19.
Contact the school office if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
If you are having symptoms-fever of 100.4 or higher, cough, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste & smell, & shortness of breath, please stay home
While awaiting COVID-19 test results, anyone who is tested and a direct contact with the person being tested must be quarantined. A direct contact is anyone who lives in the same household as the person being tested.
Home quarantine can end if you remain symptom free after 14 days
Home isolation starts for 10 days from when you have been tested. The 10 days starts from the day you were tested and you must continue to monitor symptoms.
Home isolation can end if you are fever free after the 10 days without using fever reducing medication such as Tylenol
Close contact is closer than 6 feet, unmasked, for 15 minutes or longer
As this COVID-19 spike in our area continues, we ask that communication be open. Our main goal is to keep all students and staff as safe as possible at this time. We want to keep the students in school and in session. This pandemic continues to throw challenges at all of us, so we need to work together as one, with respect, flexibility, and understanding. If you have questions, please call the office and speak to Mr. Kidder or Mr. Brown.
Sincerely,
Mr. Brown
