COVID-19: Information and Resources
Updated as of 2/28/22. Information will be updated as it becomes available.
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- What has changed for the 2021-2022 school year?
- Masks in School
- Mitigation Strategies
- Adjustments or Return to Pre-Pandemic Protocols
- Contact Tracing, Isolation, and Quarantine
- Supporting Students in Quarantine
- Athletics and Extracurricular Activities
What has changed for the 2021-2022 school year?
Masks in School
We remain committed to a mask optional policy beginning on February 28, 2022.
As a school community, we commit to respecting the rights of students, staff, and visitors to wear a mask or not to wear a mask. The transition to mask choice may be difficult for some in our community. We have developed a series of talking points to support everyone through this change.
Please know that when the mask optional policy goes into place, if you choose to send your child to school wearing a mask, our staff will not be responsible for enforcing that expectation for you.
Speech and Language services: Clear masks should be worn by SLPs who choose to wear a mask when working with students who require seeing the therapist's mouth during speech therapy. Additional clear masks have been purchased for speech therapists who choose to remain masked when working with students. Also, the PPT may recommend that based on the intensity and nature of a student's disability, that service providers should unmask (intermittently or longer) when servicing students.
Mitigation Strategies
Beginning Monday, February 14, we will continue to mitigate against the spread of COVID 19 with the following strategies:
- Daily, personal assessment of COVID-19 symptoms. Students and staff who are not feeling well should stay home. Please conduct a home test to determine if you are positive. Our schools can provide these for you if you need one.
- Encouraging vaccination for those eligible
- 3 feet distancing whenever possible
In addition, our staff may choose to use plexiglass barriers when working with students in small groups, sitting in close proximity, for an extended period of time
All other strategies and protocols will no longer be in effect.
Daily Self-Checklist
Vaccinations
We strongly encourage vaccinations and boosters for all who are eligible.
- COVID-19 vaccines are not mandated for students.
- Proof of vaccination for students is not required. However, we strongly encourage those who have been fully vaccinated to provide documentation to their school nurse. You may email a pdf or photo to your school nurse (email addresses are on your school website), or send in a copy with your child.
Social Distancing
Adjustments or Return to Pre-Pandemic Protocols
- Arrival/Dismissal
- Buses
- Recess
- Lunch
- Snack
- Visitors
- Parent Meetings
- Staff Meetings/Professional Development
- Classrooms and Instructional Groupings
- Music Rehearsals / Performances
- Events
- Lockdown Drills
Arrival/Dismissal
Buses
Effective February 25, 2022, CDC is exercising its enforcement discretion to NOT require that people wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/child care programs. CDC is making this change to align with updated guidance that no longer recommends universal indoor mask wearing in K-12 and early education settings in areas with a low or medium COVID-19 Community Level. More information is available at https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/masks/mask-travel-guidance.html.
Schools will return to pre-covid protocols, as follows:
- No seating charts; students may sit with friends.
- Parents may request to have their child dropped off at an alternative location. They should follow pre-pandemic practices for requesting that decision with the building principal.
- Multiple classes may share buses for field trips.
Recess
Lunch
Three feet distancing is still in place. Students' assigned seating will no longer be a mitigation strategy. Elementary schools will return to any pre-pandemic seating requirements based on safety and classroom management. Students may use barriers if they choose. Middle school students will continue to have lunch in grade level groups.
Snack
Visitors
School visitors are allowed. Schools may restrict based on the activity and the ability to maintain social distance. Schools should check with Central Office before not allowing an event that includes visitors.
Parents must follow all pre-pandemic visitor/volunteer protocols, as well as current mitigation strategies, during their visit.
Permitted elementary activities include class parties, book buddies, mystery readers, school stores, book fairs, etc. Birthday Visits: Schools will reinstate parent birthday visits. Each school has their own special approach to celebrating student birthdays, please contact your child’s teacher before scheduling your visit.
Parent Meetings
Staff Meetings/Professional Development
Classrooms and Instructional Groupings
Classrooms should be set up with three feet of distancing. However, small pods or other combinations may be used.
The teacher's first recommendation for grouping should be the grouping strategy that best fits the instructional purpose. The mitigation strategy should be considered thereafter. For example, small group reading instruction at a kidney table is appropriate if the teacher's approach is to instruct a similar skill group during the reading lesson.
Small group instruction is imperative to students' success and should be a common feature of classroom instruction as indicated by the teachers' planning and students' needs.
Student desktop barriers may not be used in the classroom. Staff may use a plexiglass barrier if they choose.
Cohorting will no longer be in effect. Classes and grade levels may mix as appropriate.
Music Rehearsals / Performances
Before school elementary music rehearsals can go back to classroom mixing (i.e.: common instrument types are grouped together). Band and strings participation will be noted in the daily update.
Middle and High School performances for grade 5 students at elementary buildings may resume. Students should maintain distance in the performance location.
Due to spacing concerns, grade 5 chorus concerts will be incorporated with the (outdoor) moving up ceremonies for grade 5.
Middle and High School rehearsals/performances will be held in person with appropriate spacing considerations. The performance schedule is also posted on the Calendar page.
Events
Building assemblies or group meetings: Three feet distancing is still in place, however, assemblies can be planned and carried out. This includes having multiple classes in a building's space at the same time (e.g.: library media center).
Dances, Pep Rallies, Battle of the Houses, and other large events may be held indoors with appropriate spacing considerations.
Lockdown Drills
With the three feet social distancing requirement still in place, emergency drills will continue to be performed in a modified way to maintain social distancing. Teachers will verbally review where the safe zones are in the classroom during the lockdown rather than have the students physically move shoulder to shoulder and crouched down in the safe zone (corner or smaller room) of the room. All other lockdown procedures will remain the same.
Contact Tracing, Isolation, and Quarantine
New guidance from the State Departments of Public Health (DPH) and Education (SDE) supports the transition to the state's general public health approach to the routine management of respiratory viruses in PreK-12 schools.
Isolation and quarantine guidance remains the same for anyone who tests positive or has symptoms, including the need to mask for an additional 5 days upon returning to school. Quarantine will be based on out of school exposure only (as we do currently). There may be a need to go back to temporary masking and additional mitigation measures in the event of a cluster or outbreak (as determined with our health department). We will continue to track and communicate positive cases via Infinite Campus messages and the FPS website dashboard.
For the most current information, go to: https://fairfieldct.org/covid19.
Supporting Students in Quarantine
Athletics and Extracurricular Activities
New guidance from CIAC is aligned with current DPH/CSDE guidance: February 18, 2022 CIAC Winter Sports Guidance UPDATE
All other student activities are possible as long as distancing is followed. Activity advisors should consult with their school administration.
News
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Current Updates to CSDE State Guidance
- February 18, 2022 Transitioning to a Model of Routine Respiratory Disease Prevention and Enhanced Outbreak Management and Control for COVID-19 in PreK-12 School Settings
- February 18, 2022 Considerations for Boards of Education, District Administrators, and other Local Decision-Makers Regarding Potential Changes to School COVID-19 Policies and Practices
- February 18, 2022 CIAC Winter Sports Guidance UPDATE
- January 4, 2022 Amendment to Implementation Guidance for Executive Order 13G (School Worker Vaccine)
- January 10, 2022 CSDE School Update FAQ
- January 10, 2022 DPH Athletics UPDATE
- December 31, 2021 Updated Considerations for Quarantine, Isolation, Testing, and Contact Tracing Policies and Procedures in PreK-12 Schools
- December 31, 2021 Remote Learning Guidance
- December 22, 2021 CIAC Winter Sports Guidance UPDATE
- November 29, 2021 CIAC Winter 2021 Sports Guidance
- November 29, 2021 UPDATED DPH CSDE Athletic Guidance
- November 5, 2021 Screen and Stay Guidelines (full PDF) and slides
- October 19, 2021 Addendum 7 update
- October 7, 2021 Addendum 5 update (rev 9/28/21)
- August 30, 2021 Tracking Attendance 2021-22 (Students in Quarantine/Isolation)
- August 25, 2021 School Worker Vaccine FAQ and State Supported Testing Sites
- August 19, 2021 DPH CSDE Fall Mitigation Guidance
- August 19, 2021 Fall 2021 Quarantine Guidelines
- August 19, 2021 Fall 2021 Isolation Guidelines
- August 12, 2021 CIAC Fall 2021 Sports Guidance
- August 7, 2021 DPH Universal Masking Order
- August 5, 2021 Executive Order 13A
- July 15 CSDE Future of Remote Learning
- Adapt, Advance, Achieve: Connecticut’s Plan to Learn and Grow Together — Fall 2021
Isolation/Quarantine FAQ
Updates
![COVID-19 Update May 27, 2022]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1616516175/fairfieldschoolsorg/oe6wysgz1cegtr6qil76/Covid.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1616516175/fairfieldschoolsorg/oe6wysgz1cegtr6qil76/Covid.jpg","width":400}])
CSDE State Guidance and Resources
- February 18, 2022 Transitioning to a Model of Routine Respiratory Disease Prevention and Enhanced Outbreak Management and Control for COVID-19 in PreK-12 School Settings
- February 18, 2022 Considerations for Boards of Education, District Administrators, and other Local Decision-Makers Regarding Potential Changes to School COVID-19 Policies and Practices
- February 18, 2022 CIAC Winter Sports Guidance UPDATE
- January 10, 2022 CSDE School Update FAQ
- January 10, 2022 DPH Athletics UPDATE
- January 4, 2022 Amendment to Implementation Guidance for Executive Order 13G (School Worker Vaccine)
- December 31, 2021 Updated Considerations for Quarantine, Isolation, Testing, and Contact Tracing Policies and Procedures in PreK-12 Schools
- December 31, 2021 Remote Learning Guidance
- November 29, 2021 CIAC Winter 2021 Sports Guidance
- November 29, 2021 UPDATED DPH CSDE Athletic Guidance
- November 5, 2021 Screen and Stay Guidelines (full PDF) and slides
- October 19, 2021 Addendum 7 update
- October 7, 2021 Addendum 5 update (rev 9/28/21)
- August 30, 2021 Tracking Attendance 2021-22 (Students in Quarantine/Isolation)
- August 19, 2021 DPH CSDE Fall Mitigation Guidance
- August 19, 2021 Fall 2021 Quarantine Guidelines
- August 19, 2021 Fall 2021 Isolation Guidelines
- August 12, 2021 CIAC Fall 2021 Sports Guidance
- August 7, 2021 DPH Universal Masking Order
- August 5, 2021 Executive Order 13A
- July 25, 2021 DPH/CSDE Interim Fall Guidance
- July 15 CSDE Future of Remote Learning
- DPH Mask and Social Distancing Guidance
- May 20, 2021 CSDE Continued Mask Policies in School Buildings
- May 20, 2021 DPH Order Regarding Universal Masking
- May 17, 2021 CIAC Mask UPDATE
- Interim Guidance for Remote Learning, 2021-2022 School Year
- Notice to Parents/Guardians Re: Participation in Live Video Instruction
- FPS Virtual Attendance Procedures for Hybrid and Remote Learning
- Tracking Daily Attendance on Remote Days in 2020-21
CSDE: Adapt, Advance, Achieve: Connecticut's Plan to Learn and Grow Together
- Addendum 1: Temporarily Opting into Voluntary Remote Learning Due to COVID-19 (Memo previously sent via COVID-19 Update on July 23)
- Addendum 2: COVID Guidance and Considerations for Preschool Located in Public Schools
- Addendum 3: Fall Reopening Resource Document for Students with High Needs
- Addendum 4: Interim Guidance for Decision-Making Regarding the Use of In-Person, Hybrid (Blended), or Remote Learning Models (Revised October 21, 2020)
- Addendum 5: Interim Guidance for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios in Connecticut School Districts (updated January 4, 2021)
- Addendum 6. Reopen Guidance for Educating Students with Disabilities
- Addendum 7: COVID-19 Reopening Considerations for Connecticut K–12 Music Programs (updated March 4, 2021)
- Addendum 8: Fire and School Safety During COVID-19
- Addendum 9: Contact Tracing Scenarios in Schools (Replaced by Addendum 5, updated September 13, 2021)
- Addendum 10: Reframing and Reopening School Discipline Amidst COVID-19 Guidance
- Addendum 11: Interim Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings in Schools during COVID-19
- Addendum 12: Reimagining CT Classrooms: Planning the Instructional Time for Remote Learning in Hybrid and Full Remote Models
- Addendum 13: Guidance and Considerations for School Nutrition Programs for School Year 2020-21
- Addendum 14: Supporting Student Attendance and Engagement during Hybrid or Remote Learning
- CSDE Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Reopening K-12 Public Schools
- CSDE Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Reopening K-12 Public Schools, Volume 2
- CSDE Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Reopening K-12 Public Schools, Volume 3
- Connecticut State Department of Education Re-Opening Slides
- Connecticut State Department of Education Re-Opening Information
- Previous Daily COVID Updates
- 2020 - 2021 Notices
- Community-wide Emergency Meal Program for Children
- Resources and Information for FPS Families
- Meal Program - School Closures
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) - Disinfecting School Surfaces
Previous Daily COVID Updates
2020 - 2021 Notices
- May 21, 2021 CSDE/DPH School District Outdoor Events and End-of-Year Activities
- May 20, 2021 DPH Order Regarding Universal Masking
- May 20, 2021 CSDE Continued Mask Policies in School Buildings
- May 17, 2021 CIAC Mask UPDATE
- Finish Strong
- Decision Tree
- Daily Self Checklist
- December 22, 2020 Quarantine Guidance
- December 22, 2020 Family and Staff Protocols
Community-wide Emergency Meal Program for Children
Resources and Information for FPS Families
General and Community Based Resources for COVID 19
Call 211 for general COVID-19 questions or Yale New Haven Call Center - 1-833-ASK YNNH (275-9644)
Fairfield Heath Department COVID-19 School Data
Guidance for COVID-19 Scenarios in Schools
Fairfield Health Department COVID 19 Webpage
TALK IT OUT line - For CT parents and caregivers who need someone to listen, to understand and to talk your feelings out. 1 (833) 258-5011 http://www.talkitoutct.com/
Fairfield Human/Social Services has social workers on staff, and a variety of programs to support families requiring assistance with essentials (e.g., food, bills, utilities, etc.). Call (203) 256-3169 or email socialservices@fairfieldct.org.
Fairfield CARES Community Coalition has developed a great list of resources for families and students of all ages regarding the current infectious disease pandemic
World Health Organization (WHO) Graphic Fact Sheets for Healthy Parenting in the Time of COVID 19
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) - Effective April, 1 2020
Technology Resources
Meeting Basic Needs of Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Fairfield COVID-19 Relief Fund was established to provide limited, one-time assistance to Fairfield residents who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Intended use of the funds must be directly related to the effects of the virus. For more information, click here. Here is a direct link to the application.
Operation Hope’s food pantry provides not only food, but also other necessities that may not be covered otherwise (e.g., toilet paper, diapers, etc.). They are also accepting donations. Please click here.
Connecticut Food Bank Mobile Pantry Schedule
United Way of Coastal Fairfield County - Link to access medical insurance, core needs (e.g., food, shelter, clothing) and unemployment resources.
Salvation Army Food Pantry (Bridgeport Corp - 30 Elm Street Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203) 334-0995). – Available by appointment on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 10:00AM to 1:00PM. Bring a picture ID.
The ABCD Energy Program provides help to eligible households who reside in Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, Trumbull, Westport, and Norwalk with assistance in paying their winter heating bills. One application covers all programs.
If you require help paying rent, utility bills, getting food and/or accessing free foreclosure and mortgage assistance, click here.
Information/Assistance from a variety of Internet providers is here.
Mental Health Resources
The following resources are intended to support individuals struggling to cope with the stressors resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. If you or a loved one are in imminent crisis, please do not delay seeking support. You are not alone! This is a list of resources that are confidential and available for free 24/7
- 911 or 211
- 1 (800) 273-8255 - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 1 (800) 662-HELP (English/Spanish) for SAMHSA’s National Helpline
- Text HOME to 741-741 for Crisis Text Line
- 1 (800) 985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66-746 for the Disaster Distress Hotline
- 1 (866) 488-7386 or text START to 678-678 to reach The Trevor Project (LGBTQ youth)
- 1 (800) 799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22-522 to connect with The National Domestic Violence Hotline
Coping, Conversations and Coronavirus - Discussing the Impact of COVID 19 with Children
United Way of Coastal Fairfield County - Link to access mental health resources
SAMHSA's Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health: Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak
SAMHSA's Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Free Guide to Living With Worry and Anxiety Amidst Global Uncertainty (available in more than 20 languages)
Resources Available from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), including mental health, crisis, addiction and prevention.
Specialized Resources
Coronavirus: Multilingual Resources for Schools
If you are having trouble accessing any of the suggested resources, please click here and provide additional information. We will connect you with support staff from your respective school buildings as soon as possible.
Meal Program - School Closures
Breakfast and Lunch Program
Beginning on Wed. May 13th, the hours for curbside pickup of meals at no charge at Roger Ludlowe MS only will change to 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. each weekday. The pickup hours at McKinley & Holland Hill will remain the same, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. each weekday.
- Families may take 2 meals at a time for each child in their household (breakfast & lunch). All meals are grab-n-go.
- On Friday, families may take a multiple day supply of meals. Please bring a reusable bag.
- Menu & allergy information are available on FPS Food Services webpage. Visit McKinley’s menu for meals served at all 3 sites.
Please remember you can access this service whether you qualify for free/reduced lunch or not. Any child age 18 years or younger can receive meals at these sites. They do not have to be a resident or attend school in Fairfield
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) - Disinfecting School Surfaces
Below are the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the products being used by the Fairfield Public Schools custodial staff when disinfecting school surfaces:
Product |
Description |
Areas Used |
Occupied/ Unoccupied |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes |
Disinfectant |
Throughout the Building |
Both |
|
Disinfectant |
Throughout the Building |
Unoccupied |
|
|
Disinfectant |
Throughout the Building |
Both |
|
|
Disinfectant |
Throughout the Building |
Both |
|
|
Disinfectant |
Throughout the Building |
Unoccupied |
|
|
Disinfectant |
Throughout the Building |
Both |
|
|
Disinfectant |
Throughout the Building |
Unoccupied |
