COVID & WCS
October 29, 2020 at 6:29 p.m.
By -
Dear WCS Community,
We wish to thank you for your partnership and collaboration as we celebrate 10 weeks of in-person education within Warsaw Community Schools (WCS). Due to our community commitment and understanding of COVID-19 health related modification, our schools have stayed fully open for all students. We have also followed protocols allowing many extra-curricular, enrichment, club, and athletic opportunities to continue for 2020-2021.
Our schools and their daily service are of critical importance to our community for academic growth, mental/social health, and economic welfare. For these reasons and others, keeping our schools safely open is our number one priority. WCS opened in August with both an Elementary and a Secondary Reopening Plan. WCS implemented advanced cleaning procedures, hand-washing and sanitizing procedures, classroom modification, face mask protocols, and social distancing guidelines for all facets of the school environment. Through these procedures and a commitment to staying informed on current federal, state, and local guidance, WCS has not been a factor in community spread. Also, no quarantined students due to close contact at school have contracted COVID-19.
COVID has created a fatigue. We all yearn for the sense of “community and normalcy.” Recently, our local community has seen a significant uptick of COVID-19 positive cases. While Kosciusko County Health Department (KCHD) has gone on record that our schools are not spreaders but rather one of the safest places, greater community positivity numbers do impact our educational environment.
At this time, WCS plans to stay physically open at all schools for the well-being of our community. To accomplish this feat, there might be minor pivots required due to COVID related illnesses. Some of these things could include limiting numbers at community events, especially as winter activities move indoors. There could be changes with specific school schedules if warranted by the conditions. These are decisions that are not taken lightly. Any and all decisions are made collaboratively with our local health department, state health department, CDC guidance, Warsaw Community Educators Association, school administration, and our local school board.
We need your help and partnership. As stated previously, the community COVID rates do impact our schools. Based on KCHD findings, we do have three requests:
Please continue the practice of limiting social gatherings without proper distancing. Many cases have been traced back to indoor social gatherings, carpooling, sleepovers, etc.
Please also continue to self-monitor health symptoms and do not send children to school if symptoms of illness exist. If you have your child tested for Covid, please keep them home until the results are received.
Lastly, please provide grace, patience, and understanding. Any modification or pivots required are in the best interest of the health and safety of our students and staff.
Many have asked for ways to help our schools. Nationwide, COVID-19 has created a support staff (paraprofessionals, food service, transportation) and sub shortage. Like all schools, WCS has felt this pinch. If interested in learning about opportunities to work or serve inside of our schools, please visit the careers link at www.warsawschools.org. Another great way is to simply “thank” and uplift our teachers and staff. They are truly “front line” heroes working with our students every day. Their commitment to our students and community is simply incredible. Thank you for the privilege and honor of partnering in the education of our next generation.
David Hoffert – Superintendent
Terry Sims – Warsaw Community Educators Association President
WCS School Principals / Administration/ Athletic Department WCS Board of School Trustees
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Dear WCS Community,
We wish to thank you for your partnership and collaboration as we celebrate 10 weeks of in-person education within Warsaw Community Schools (WCS). Due to our community commitment and understanding of COVID-19 health related modification, our schools have stayed fully open for all students. We have also followed protocols allowing many extra-curricular, enrichment, club, and athletic opportunities to continue for 2020-2021.
Our schools and their daily service are of critical importance to our community for academic growth, mental/social health, and economic welfare. For these reasons and others, keeping our schools safely open is our number one priority. WCS opened in August with both an Elementary and a Secondary Reopening Plan. WCS implemented advanced cleaning procedures, hand-washing and sanitizing procedures, classroom modification, face mask protocols, and social distancing guidelines for all facets of the school environment. Through these procedures and a commitment to staying informed on current federal, state, and local guidance, WCS has not been a factor in community spread. Also, no quarantined students due to close contact at school have contracted COVID-19.
COVID has created a fatigue. We all yearn for the sense of “community and normalcy.” Recently, our local community has seen a significant uptick of COVID-19 positive cases. While Kosciusko County Health Department (KCHD) has gone on record that our schools are not spreaders but rather one of the safest places, greater community positivity numbers do impact our educational environment.
At this time, WCS plans to stay physically open at all schools for the well-being of our community. To accomplish this feat, there might be minor pivots required due to COVID related illnesses. Some of these things could include limiting numbers at community events, especially as winter activities move indoors. There could be changes with specific school schedules if warranted by the conditions. These are decisions that are not taken lightly. Any and all decisions are made collaboratively with our local health department, state health department, CDC guidance, Warsaw Community Educators Association, school administration, and our local school board.
We need your help and partnership. As stated previously, the community COVID rates do impact our schools. Based on KCHD findings, we do have three requests:
Please continue the practice of limiting social gatherings without proper distancing. Many cases have been traced back to indoor social gatherings, carpooling, sleepovers, etc.
Please also continue to self-monitor health symptoms and do not send children to school if symptoms of illness exist. If you have your child tested for Covid, please keep them home until the results are received.
Lastly, please provide grace, patience, and understanding. Any modification or pivots required are in the best interest of the health and safety of our students and staff.
Many have asked for ways to help our schools. Nationwide, COVID-19 has created a support staff (paraprofessionals, food service, transportation) and sub shortage. Like all schools, WCS has felt this pinch. If interested in learning about opportunities to work or serve inside of our schools, please visit the careers link at www.warsawschools.org. Another great way is to simply “thank” and uplift our teachers and staff. They are truly “front line” heroes working with our students every day. Their commitment to our students and community is simply incredible. Thank you for the privilege and honor of partnering in the education of our next generation.
David Hoffert – Superintendent
Terry Sims – Warsaw Community Educators Association President
WCS School Principals / Administration/ Athletic Department WCS Board of School Trustees
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