March 22, 2021
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
We have learned that individuals associated with the following Colonial Schools have tested positive for COVID-19:
Gunning Bedford Middle School (1): Individual was last on campus, Wednesday, March 17th
Southern Elementary School/George Read Middle School/William Penn High School (1): Individual was last on campus Wednesday, March 17th
These individuals will not return to school until the isolation period has passed. Anyone who has been in close contact with these individuals has been contacted and may be required to complete a quarantine before returning to school. Individual decisions on quarantining are made in consultation with the affected individual and DPH epidemiologists and may depend on whether the individual was wearing a mask.
Please visit https://coronavirus.delaware.gov to learn more about DPH protocols around positive COVID-19 cases in schools.
We always encourage you to monitor your child for any symptoms of COVID-19. If a student or staff member is sick with any of the following symptoms, stay home: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, chills, shaking with chills, loss of smell or taste, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, or headache or congestion or runny nose without a known cause such as allergies. Our school nurses are available to support your family by reviewing symptoms to watch for, answering questions you may have, assisting with follow up communications, and providing further information on available testing sites. COVID-19 testing is free and available in our local community.
DPH encourages all Delawareans – whether you are experiencing symptoms or not – to consider getting a free test. That will help our state more accurately track the spread of the disease and keep our communities healthy.
Visit https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/testing/ for the latest updates on COVID-19 in Delaware and information on free COVID-19 testing in Delaware.
Colonial School District continues to adhere to strict cleaning, social distancing, and hygiene protocols. This is our best defense against COVID-19 and its spread. District custodial staff are informed of the positive cases as appropriate and are following prescribed protocols for cleaning in accordance with the most up-to-date health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DPH.
In response to parent feedback, the Colonial School District will continue to post notification of positive COVID-19 cases on the district and impacted school websites. Notifications will also be posted on all district and school social media pages. Parents of students at impacted schools will receive notification to their email on file. Building principals will discontinue phone calls informing parents to check their email for latest COVID-19 notification beginning Monday, March 22nd.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your building administrative team.
Sincerely,
Jon Cooper, EdD
District COVID-19 Coordinator
COVID-19 Student and Staff Health Assessment Screening Tool
Colonial students and staff who are on site during the COVID-19 outbreak must perform a self-screening at home BEFORE reporting to the building each day.
Please answer the following questions.
- In the past 14 days, have you been near (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) a person who has a lab confirmed case of COVID-19, or have you had direct contact with their mucus or saliva?
- In the last 48 hours, have you had any of the following symptoms?
- Fever of 100.4 F or above (or symptoms like alternating shivering and sweating)
- New cough
- New trouble breathing, shortness of breath or severe wheezing
- New chills or shaking with chills
- New muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- New loss of smell or taste, or a change in taste
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Headache, congestion or runny nose with no other known cause (such as allergies)
If you answered YES to any of the questions above, do NOT report to the building today. Staff should contact their supervisor and doctor. Students/Parents should contact their school nurse.
This screening tool was adapted from the DHSS COVID-19 Staff Health Assessment Self-Screening Tool