No In-Person School: Feb 22 and Feb 23

Given the most recent updates from the National Weather Service (NWS) and with the safety of our school community in mind, PreK-12 students will not report to in-person learning tomorrow, Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, February 23, 2023. 

• Wednesday, February 22 will be a traditional snow day for students. 
• Thursday, February 23 will be a Connected Learning Day (CoLD) for students, also referred to as an e-learning day. Teachers will provide direct instruction on CoLD packets and activities that can be used during the extended learning day on Thursday, February 23; this includes Stepping Stones Preschool. Electronic devices have been sent home today. Students will be expected to participate in their courses in Canvas or through pre-assigned activities that can be completed at home. Additional details for families on CoLD can be found here.

Afternoon activities, YMCA after-care, athletics and Community Education activities or classes that meet immediately after school today, Tuesday, February 21, will be held as normal. It is possible that schedule changes, including cancellation, may still be made this evening. In that situation, participants will be contacted by Community Education or the Activities/Athletics Office directly regarding adjustments/cancellations.

Additional Reminders for Wednesday, February 22 and Thursday, February 23:

• All in-person Pearson Early Learning Center Programming will be canceled.
• All River Valley YMCA before/after care will be canceled.
• All Community Education activities or classes will be canceled. 
• Students and families should look for communication (i.e. social media, email, website) from their coaches and the Activities office on whether Saber Activities/Athletics will be canceled or delayed. 

February 21, 2023 - 8:30AM

We are continuing to monitor the weather forecasts and working with the National Weather Service. Per the National Weather Service, our district will be under a Winter Storm Warning from 3:00 PM today through 6:00 PM February 23. As such, we want to share reminders as to our weather related protocols. 

The first weather-related no school day for students in each semester of the school year is considered a traditional snow day for students and their families where students do not report to their buildings nor participate in online or school instruction. For teachers, this day is a preparation day to plan and prepare for any Connected Online Learning Days (CoLD)that may occur that semester, after the first traditional snow day.

We are currently in the second semester of the 2022-23 school year. To this point, we have not had a weather-related no school day this semester. Thus, the first weather-related no school day for students will be a traditional snow day for students and their families. Any additional weather related closures will result in Connected Online Learning Days (CoLD). 

While no final decisions have been made at this time, there is a possibility we could see consecutive days of school closures this week, starting with tomorrow, Wednesday, February 22. If that occurs, Wednesday would be considered a traditional snow day for students. Any days after that would be considered Connected Online Learning Days (CoLD). 

We plan to send a message to families late afternoon or early evening with the final decision and plan for tomorrow. It is likely we will follow the same communication timeline tomorrow for any weather related decisions on school schedules for Thursday. 

School closings or delays are communicated through an automated phone calling service, email and text message, posted on the district and school websites, social media and WCCO. Student and family contact information can be updated in Infinite Campus at any time. 

Staff will plan accordingly and ensure students bring home any materials and devices that may be needed for Connected Online Learning Days (CoLD). 

To be clear, no formal adjustments or changes to this week's school schedules have been made at this time. This information is being shared to provide clarity on any future weather-related schedule adjustments. Thank you for your support. 

Health Services Reminders

As we navigate through the annual cold/flu season, Shakopee Public Schools encourages parents and guardians to keep students home if they are exhibiting flu-related symptoms such as fever, dry cough, sore throat, headache, extreme tiredness and/or body aches. These symptoms usually begin suddenly and may be severe enough to stop daily activities. The Department of Health offers the following guidance to protect one’s self and others:

• Avoid being around others who are sick.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Protect infants by not exposing them to large crowds or sick family members when flu is in your community.

• Do not share drinking cups and straws.

• Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces (door knobs, refrigerator handles, phones, water faucets).

If a student will be absent from school, please call their school’s attendance line. In addition to calling the attendance line, positive COVID-19 cases can also be reported using our Optional Self-Reporting tool by clicking here.

Additionally, the district’s custodial staff has increased their efforts to frequently clean commonly touched surfaces in our schools.

Optional At-Home COVID-19 Tests

BinaxNOW at-home test kits are now available to all district families (PreK-12) who wish to have a kit on hand to test their child when COVID-like symptoms are present. The test kits are provided at no cost to the district and at no cost to families/students by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) via the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).  Click here to learn more.