• November 20, 2020

    IHD Distance & Pearson Early Learning Center Families,

    While our teachers and building teams work to transition K-12 IHD students to the Distance 2.0+ learning model and adjust Pearson Early Learning Center programming, we are asking for your support in continuing to report illnesses, specifically positive COVID-19 results or COVID-19 related symptoms. The district will continue to track lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst students and staff alongside County and State related data while in the Distance model. We will continue to report such district-wide COVID-19 data on our district website.

    Symptoms of COVID-19 & Who to Contact

    Should your child/children in grades K-12 of the IHD Distance program and/or at Pearson Early Learning Center experience COVID-19 like symptoms OR receive a positive test result, please contact one of the following COVID Nurse’s as soon as you are able. 

    The COVID Nurse will track your case and also provide supporting resources and guidance alongside the Minnesota Department of Health and Scott County. The below information is also available on the district website under health services.

    Distance Students, Grades: Preschool,  K-5 (all elementary schools, includes Pearson Early Learning Center) COVID Nurse Contact: Tayla Hasch; thasch@shakopee.k12.mn.us 952.496.5962

    Distance Students, Grades 6-12 (all secondary schools) COVID Nurse Contact: Julie Bocock; jbocock@shakopee.k12.mn.us 952.496.5154

    Reminder that symptoms of  COVID-19 can look like many other illnesses. The symptoms for children can look different than symptoms for adults. Many children have no symptoms at all and could infect others.

    • More common COVID-19 symptoms: fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; a new cough, or a cough that gets worse; difficulty or trouble breathing; and new loss of taste or smell. 

     

    • Less common  COVID-19 symptoms: sore throat; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; chills; muscle pain; excessive fatigue (being very tired); a new or severe headache; and new nasal congestion or a runny nose.

    If there is any other serious illness for your student other than COVID, please contact your building nurse. 

    Please note that due to full-time, at home school status of Shakopee Online students, COVID-19 cases or related symptoms do not need to be reported to your home school or above COVID Nurses. However, please note that the above COVID Nurses have extensive COVID-19 training and are able to provide resources to any district families that have questions or concerns.

    Attendance During Distance Learning  

    As a reminder, IHD Distance students in grades 6-12 will mark themselves present in Infinite Campus during Distance learning; elementary students will be marked present by their teachers each day based upon:

    • Participation in a group meeting (online meetings)
    • Phone call or text message exchange between teacher and student or parent
    • Accessed Seesaw during the day
    • Completion of assignments

    Should your child/children become ill due to COVID-19 or any other illness and is unable to participate in Distance Learning, please call in to the attendance line of your child’s home school to report absence due to illness and work with your child’s teacher to manage learning needs. 

    Pearson Early Learning Center families can connect directly with the front office.

    For a master directory of all K-12 attendance phone numbers within the district, please click here. 

    Family COVID-19 Communications 

    While Shakopee Public Schools is in Distance learning, only families that are considered close contacts to a lab confirmed positive COVID-19 case with school exposure will be notified. Building wide courtesy communications will not be sent during Distance learning.  

    COVID-19 Testing Resources

    Scott County continually updates COVID-19 testing sites and related resources on their website.

    The MN Department of Health is also promoting at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for any person who wants to be tested, with or without symptoms, at no cost. More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Health’s website, including information on how to order a test.

    Continuing to Minimize the Spread of COVID-19

    • Protect yourself and others by wearing a face covering when it is hard to stay 6 feet away from people; washing your hands often with soap and water; covering your cough and sneeze; and avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands.
    • If you or your child/children are sick, stay home from work, child care and other activities.
    • Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home. Keep enough food, regular prescription drugs, and other necessities on hand in case you need to stay home and are not able to go out easily.
    • Frequently clean all commonly touched surfaces (e.g., telephones, doorknobs, countertops, etc.).
    • If you are considered a close contact to a lab confirmed case of COVID-19, get tested yourself and receive a negative test result, continue to quarantine until the end of your exclusion period.
    • Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website on how to care for yourself at home; see What to Do If You Are Sick.

     Thank you for your support in keeping our community safe.

     

    Sincerely,

    Shakopee Public Schools District Health Services Team