Letter to Families -- August 2021

 

 

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Dear Colonial Families,

 

We’re excited to begin school!  We will welcome over 99% of our students back to school for in-person instruction five days a week.  I cannot wait to have our students back in our classrooms and to feel the energy and excitement. 

 

On August 12th, the State Health Commissioner issued a Public Health Order requiring all students, teachers, staff, and visitors age 2 and older to wear a mask indoors in private and public K-12 school settings, regardless of vaccination status. This is consistent with the latest recommendations from the CDC for mask use by students and staff in school settings regardless of vaccination status; and the rapidly growing number of COVID cases in Virginia, largely attributed to the highly contagious Delta variant. The Colonial Heights School Board will comply with this law and require universal indoor masking regardless of vaccination status.  These recommendations are in addition to a current order from the CDC requiring masks on all public transportation, including public school buses.  

 

Reasonable accommodation requests for medical conditions or sincerely held religious objections to wearing a mask in school may be considered, given documentation is provided to the school/division in advance. Please note these are not exemptions, but accommodations in order to keep everyone safe.

 

We continue to work with the Chesterfield Health District to support vaccination efforts.  We will hold a second dose vaccine clinic on September 8  from 3 to 7 p.m. at CHMS.   Please remember that vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.  Promoting vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as extracurricular activities and sports.

 

Be assured that thoughtful, deliberate, and layered prevention strategies will be employed as the team continues to refine the best approach for opening our new school year for Colonial Heights Public Schools. 

 

As always, the well-being of our students, staff, and school community leads all of our decision making.  We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we prepare to welcome our Tigers, Owls, Stars, and Colonials back to school soon.  

 

Go Colonials!

William D. Sroufe, Ed.D.

Division Superintendent

 

Note: An emailed version of this letter denoted we were working with RiteAid to possibly provide adolescent vaccines; however, families will need to contact their primary caregiver about receiving needed adolescent vaccines. 

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