1/29/2021 Message from McDaniel | Weekly COVID-19 Update
OKCPS Families and Staff,
We look forward to having the OKCPS Family back together in-person next week when our 5th-12th grade students return to campus! Below are a few important updates for the spring semester that I want to share:
OKCPS Return To Campus
5th-12th GRADE RETURN: We look forward to welcoming our 5th-12th grade students back for in-person learning in the A/B setting next week. Below is a reminder of what this looks like for OKCPS. If you are unsure which learning group your student belongs to, please reach out to your child’s teacher or school.
CURBSIDE MEAL SERVICE: In an effort to maintain meal service when the remainder of our students Return to Campus on February 2, OKCPS will make adjustments to our Curbside Meal Service by reducing the number of sites where curbside meals will be available for pick-up on Tuesday - Friday. This adjustment to our Curbside Meal Service gives OKCPS the ability to make staffing adjustments and be confident that students attending school in-person will not have any disruption to their meal service, while still providing availability for students who are not attending classes in-person to receive curbside meals at locations across the District. It is important to note that our Curbside Meal Service will continue to be available at all schools on Mondays. These changes will go into effect next week. For a list of Curbside Meal Locations available to our families on Tuesday - Friday, please visit: www.okcps.org/Page/6873
As a reminder, all students who are in our buildings for in-person learning will continue to receive meals as usual. These are served either in the classroom or socially distanced in the cafeteria.
EXTRACURRICULARS: As of February 1, the 90 minute extra-curricular block will be allowed at all OKCPS schools. You will remember that these gatherings/events are scheduled at the principal’s discretion and must involve no more than 15% of a school’s total enrollment. Watch for more information from your child’s school!
SPRING ATHLETICS: This week, OKCPS shared our new guidelines for the middle and high school 2021 Spring Athletics season. Although our high school athletes have been competing most of the year, we are pleased to also be able to bring back middle school sports as OKCPS moves into the spring. For more information, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/y5werxnv
2021 GRADUATION: At this time, OKCPS is moving forward with our plans to host an in-person graduation ceremony with limited seating for each of our high schools. This, of course, could change based on input from our public health officials. If so, we will update our families immediately. In the meantime, more information about graduation can be found here: www.okcps.org/graduation
SPECIAL EVENTS: At this time, OKCPS is allowing schools to move forward with plans to host special events such as prom, senior breakfast, etc. To help ensure student and staff safety, written plans for each and every event must incorporate a variety of COVID-19 safety guidelines and must be reviewed and approved by district leadership. This, of course, could change based on input from our public health officials. If so, we will update families and staff immediately.
ACCESS FOR VISITORS/VOLUNTEERS: To help ensure we maintain a safe environment for OKCPS students and staff, we will not allow access for outside guests at this time. Parents/Guardians may visit the school’s front office (preferably with an appointment), but we will not allow access of any kind for other visitors such as volunteers, outside speakers, or members of the media at this time.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: OKCPS Parent/Teacher conferences will take place Thursday, February 11th in the evening and Friday, February 12th during the day. Students will not have class on Friday, February 12th. Conferences will once again be held online or over the phone, and your child’s teacher will contact you to schedule a conference. Over-the-phone interpretation is available for families who do not speak English, so please ask your child’s teacher about Language Link if you need interpretation services. Please note the OKCPS meal service will not be available on Friday, February 12.
OKCPS APPLICATION SCHOOLS: The window to submit applications for one of our five OKCPS Application Schools is now open through March 5. Students interested in attending one these schools for the 2021-22 school year must complete an application online to be considered for admission. For more information or to start your application, please visit the district’s website at www.okcps.org/applicationschools.
Safety & Support
OKCPS remains committed to supporting you in every way possible as we move into the next phase of our Return to Campus plan. Below are some resources for families and staff:
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58-STUDY (587-8839) for academic support and 587-HELP (4357) for technical support, and our Student Services Team is also available for emotional support and crisis intervention at 587-0489.
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OKCPS Employee Assistance Program is available to district staff for emotional support, legal and financial guidance and much more at no cost.
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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.
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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.
While OKCPS is very excited to welcome the remainder of our students back for in-person learning next week, we must do so safely and responsibly by remaining vigilant with our hygiene and safety practices. I am deeply grateful to the district teams who are working tirelessly to create a safe learning environment and am proud of OKCPS’ Six-Point Safety Plan, but we know that our ability to return to campus and stay there is ultimately based on the choices that we make as a community. So, let’s all continue to do our part.
Thank you for your ongoing support of OKCPS. I will update you again next Friday. In the meantime, please stay safe, everyone.
Dr. Sean McDaniel
Superintendent
OKCPS Weekly COVID-19 Update
Today, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) indicates that the cases per 100,000 for Oklahoma County are 59.7, as compared to 60.5 last week, leaving Oklahoma County in the OSDE’s Red Alert Level. And, while we are pleased to see our case numbers declining, our entire community must remain vigilant and closely follow all safety protocols if we want our students to be able to remain in the classroom.
Each Friday, OKCPS reports the number of “self-reported” positive COVID-19 cases, along with the number of individuals who have been asked to isolate due to potential exposure to the virus.
“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
Staff
OKCPS employees who work at a school building (with the exception of SNS staff) should report a positive COVID-19 test or exposure to your principal and/or your school’s contact tracer.
OKCPS employees who work at the Clara Luper Center for Educational Services, the Operations Center, Student Support Services at Westwood should report a positive COVID-19 test or exposure by calling the district’s COVID-19 line, (405) 587-CV19. SNS staff members should also use the CV19 line to report a positive COVID-19 test or exposure.
Families
Families should report student positive test results for COVID-19 or exposure to a positive case by calling their child’s school. The school’s designated contact tracer will provide instructions related to isolating and receiving instruction remotely during the isolation period.