NCSD strongly recommends that parents monitor the health of their child/children on a daily basis.
If students or staff exhibit any symptoms of illness they should stay home.
(Review the symptom list in the second section below)
Please remember to stay home if you have a pending COVID-19 test.
COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are encouraged for all eligible individuals.
In our experience during the 2020-2021 school year, families sent children to school with COVID symptoms and with pending COVID-19 tests in their household, sometimes including themselves. For the safety of our students, staff and volunteers, this cannot continue to occur.
Please continue to notify building administration or the attendance office for the school(s) you child/children attend if they exhibit any symptoms or illness and DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL.
Masks
Masks are required when returning from isolation during days 6-10.
If you have been exposed and are unvaccinated you may come to school/work but must mask for 10 days. If you are unable to mask you cannot come to school/work and must quarantine 10 days.
Otherwise, masks are optional for students and staff, per updated guidance from MDHHS and Oakland County Health Division.
Mask optional means just that. In all spaces in the district -- except when returning from isolation during days 6-10 -- wearing a mask is a choice. Students, staff, and community members will make their own choices regarding masks.
Teachers should make it clear to students that their choices will be respected and supported regardless of whether they wear a mask or not.
The CDC makes these recommendations on masks:
- Have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric
- Completely cover your nose and mouth
- Fit snugly against the sides of your face and don’t have gap
Other medical professionals have suggested cloth masks are insufficient and should be paired with at least a three-ply surgical mask, including options such as N95 and KN95.
COVID-19 Screening/Testing/Vaccination
COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are encouraged for all eligible individuals.
If a student is currently experiencing any of the following symptoms - unrelated to a known pre-existing condition or recent illness -- they should stay home:
- New cough accompanied by other symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fever (100.4 degrees or higher)
- Chills (rigors)
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea (2x in 24 hours)
- Nausea or vomiting (2x in 24 hours)
- Congestion or runny nose accompanied by other symptoms
If symptoms -- of any illness -- persist, go to the doctor or consider getting tested for COVID-19.
Do not come to school until 24 hours fever free and/or significant reduction of symptoms without the use of any medication.
Please remember to stay home if you have a pending COVID-19 test.
This also applies to students at Early Childhood Education Center. In the case of students who are less than two years of age, the previous 10-day isolation remains in effect because those students cannot be vaccinated and do not mask.
For all other buildings, the current recommendation is to isolate for five days if positive.
Current recommendations say Day Zero is first day of symptoms and you return on Day 6 if symptoms are significantly reduced.
If you return from isolation on Day 6, you must mask in every situation days 6 through 10. (For example, a basketball player would need to wear a mask during an entire game, even when the on the court, despite the current MHSAA recommendations).
There is no need to retest after a positive result to return to school.
ISOLATION/QUARANTINE
Isolation means you are positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation from everyone in your household.
Quarantine means you are exposed to COVID-19.
Students and staff -- either vaccinated or unvaccinated -- who have been exposed to someone who is COVID-positive do not need to stay home from school. They must continue monitoring for symptoms and should stay home (isolate) if symptoms develop.
Recommendations for those in isolation:
- Isolate at home for five days.
- If symptoms have improved and no symptoms developed, may leave isolation after day 5 and wear a well-fitted mask for five more days (ending after Day 10).
- If positive with no symptoms, monitor for symptoms for 10 days as well.
Recommendations for those in quarantine (exposed to COVID-19)
Personal or household contact
- Monitor symptoms for 10 days
- Test 3-7 days after exposure or if symptoms develop
- Wear a mask around others for 10 days after exposure
- Avoid unmasked activities or activities with higher risk of exposing vulnerable individuals.
Other exposure (from community, social, work setting)
- Monitor symptoms for 10 days
- Test if symptoms develop
- Consider wearing a mask around others for 10 days after exposure; at a minimum, mask in settings with higher risk of exposing vulnerable individuals
Social distancing
Staff and students are encouraged to create social distance when possible (lunchrooms, media centers, etc.)
NCSD will not be able to provide six feet of social distancing in classrooms for the 2021-2022 school year, based on the number of students attending and the size of classrooms.
Ventilation
Ventilation systems in buildings will continue to increase outside airflow during the 2021-2022 school year.
Drinking water
In lieu of using a common source of drinking water, staff and students should use individual water bottles brought from home. These bottles may be refilled at bottle filler locations within buildings.
Cleaning and Disinfection
NCSD will emphasize handwashing and respiratory etiquette and provide hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to classrooms.
NCSD will continue to emphasize cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched areas.
Students will be responsible for wiping desks. Staff will be responsible for wiping some classroom areas.
Visitors
NCSD began the year with a no-visitor policy. The policy changed in mid-March to allow parent volunteers in the buildings. We are grateful for this movement, but we are reminded that due to security protocols we do not allow parents to randomly walk through or visit our classrooms without a prior request from a teacher. Volunteer opportunities will be prearranged and communicated by teachers. All visitors and volunteers must check-in at the front office and must submit the annual volunteer background check form at least 48 hours prior to volunteering.
