5/21/2021 Message from McDaniel | Weekly COVID-19 Update
OKCPS families and staff,
This week has been full of celebrations - most notably, our Class of 2021 who have been graduating each night this week! You can watch all of our graduation ceremonies on the district’s YouTube channel and I encourage you to check out all the amazing photos of our graduates on our Facebook page.
But, as we celebrate our OKCPS scholars who will be leaving us soon, we must also begin to think about the next school year. August will be here before we know it! As a reminder, the first day of school for the 2021-22 school year is Monday, August 9th. At this time, OKCPS plans to return in the fall with 5 days of in-person learning. District leaders will continue to work with OCCHD and other health officials to closely monitor the situation in our city, and we will work to keep our families informed during the summer months.
Speaking of summer -- I want to take one last opportunity to encourage our students and families to take advantage of OKCPS’ new “Jump In!” To Summer Learning programs! Students who will be going into PK - 12th grade (2021-2022) will have a number of ways to engage in summer learning activities to keep them connected to learning and provide an opportunity to close learning gaps. OKCPS will provide meals for all students attending any of our in-person summer learning opportunities, as well as curbside meal service for all families at all of our summer learning locations. You can learn more and register for different options by visiting www.okcps.org/SummerLearning, or call the PK-12 Schools Office at (405) 587-0049 with any questions.
Reminders & Supports
e3 Pre-Registration: OKCPS continues to accept pre-registration for our online learning program, which provides a 24/7 online learning environment to meet each student’s unique needs. e3 Online Learning courses are monitored and supported by OKCPS teachers, counselors and administrators. Learn more or pre-register for e3 Online Learning for next school year by visiting, www.okcps.org/e3.
School Calendar: As a reminder, the last day of classes for OKCPS students is next Wednesday, May 26th. The calendar for the 2021-22 school year can also be found here.
Safety Protocols: As we move through these last 3 instructional days together, it’s important that OKCPS students, families and staff continue to remain vigilant in the safety practices outlined in our OKCPS Six-Point Safety Plan. And, based on current recommendations from the CDC, OKCPS will continue to require the use of masks for all students, families, staff, volunteers and visitors during the month of June. This includes those participating in our Summer Learning programs.
COVID-19 Vaccine: Still looking to receive the vaccine? OKCPS encourages our students age 12yr and above, as well as our families and staff to receive the vaccine if they are interested. We will continue to pass along information on vaccine opportunities throughout the summer, and you can also find information on vaccine PODS across the city by visiting www.vaxokc.com.
Supports: OKCPS remains committed to supporting you in every way possible. Below are some resources for families and staff:
- OKCPS recently launched Family Connect, a resource program for OKCPS families offering support with mental health, physical health, GED prep/academic classes, employment resources, senior citizen support and transportation.for our families. Families can request support by calling (405) 587-FEEL to speak to a case manager Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm.
- OKCPS Employee Assistance Program is available to district staff for emotional support, legal and financial guidance and much more at no cost.
- 2-1-1 HeartLine is open 24/7 for help with counseling, rental assistance, food pantries, affordable housing, health resources, child care, after-school programs, caregiver support, financial programs, literacy, and job programs. As always, please call 911 for emergencies.
- If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call 2-1-1 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255) for 24/7 support.
As summer break approaches, I hope each of you will have an opportunity to rest and recharge over these next few weeks. Spend time with family and friends, curl up with a good book, find a summer job, volunteer in your community, or just challenge yourself to try something new!
But, before we officially say good-bye to our 2020-21 school year, I want to thank each of you one last time for support you have provided and for the trust you have placed in me, in #TeamOKCPS and in each other during this challenging year. In the midst of it all, I believe that COVID-19 helped to bring out the best in our community...something we, as Oklahomans, have come to rely on. It feels odd to say I’m proud of us after all we’ve been through, but I am. We did it...safely...and together.
Let’s finish strong, everyone...and then enjoy your summer!
OKCPS Weekly COVID-19 Update
On May 19th, OSDH reported that the cases per 100,000 for Oklahoma County were 4.5, which keeps Oklahoma County in the OSDE’s Yellow Alert Level.
“Close Contact” Exposure refers to the number of cases when a staff member or student was in “close contact” with a person who has tested positive for COVID and has been asked to isolate. “Close contact” as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention occurs when an individual is within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days (or 48 hours) before the infected person’s onset of symptoms.
Self-Reported Positive Cases refers to the number of cases when a staff member or student has notified OKCPS of positive results from a COVID-19 test.
COVID-19 Reporting
OKCPS families and staff should continue to report a positive COVID-19 test and/or an exposure to a known positive case. The reporting procedures are listed here for both students and staff: www.okcps.org/Page/5673.