Yes. This is the same as last year. Hands should be sanitized or washed after using the restroom and before lunch at a minimum. Sanitizer will be supplied by the district. 

We are following DoH guidance which requires classrooms be cleaned and disinfected each night, but they do not need to be cleaned and disinfected during the day or between classes.

Yes. There are no restrictions under the updated guidance. 

Drinking fountains will be turned on and can be used, but water bottles or cups are preferred. 

Last year, we adjusted all of our HVAC systems to meet or exceed the recommended air exchange rates for COVID safety. These remain in place this year.

No. Attestation is no longer a school requirement. Instead, we ask that any individual who is ill or has COVID symptoms, to please stay home. 

For students, a close contact is less than three feet apart for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period. If both are masked and 3 feet or more apart, it is not a close contact and quarantine is not required. For adults, it is the same definition, except the spacing is 6 feet. However, students and staff who are vaccinated are not required to quarantine in case of close contact if they have no symptoms, which is why we strongly encourage vaccination.

Contract tracing will be handled the same as last year, which means it will be led by our nurses in conjunction with King County Public Health. Students and staff who are vaccinated and asymptomatic are not required to quarantine in case of close contact.

Staff will use their usual record keeping system for small groups and normal seating charts. We are no longer using the QR code system at lunch for 6-12, which was problematic. Elementary students will sit with their classes at lunch, and for secondary we can ask students who they sat by, which are often the same students each day.

Each close contact will be notified just like last year, including those who are vaccinated.

Yes, Since the first week of school, our district has been monitoring and reporting the number of confirmed COVID cases here. We update our District Dashboard every Friday afternoon. 

Yes.

Yes. Families interested in 100% online learning should contact our district's Parent Partnership Program (PPP) and enroll their student in our Full-time Remote Learning program (using STRIDE curriculum/support).  

Yes. SVSD students who choose the 100% online learning will remain enrolled in our school district, but transfer to the PPP program for support. Learn more.

Yes. PPP is now a K-12 program, with full-time remote learning available for all grades. 

Yes, provided there is space available. However, we ask that transitions be made at logical breaks (grading periods, quarter, semester, etc.).

Yes. Under the Secretary of Health's Mask Order, all students, staff, and visitors must wear masks indoors at school and on buses - even if vaccinated. Like last year, students should bring their own masks to school. 

No. Masks are not required outdoors, but are suggested for everyone in crowded settings, especially for unvaccinated individuals. We plan to require them for the beginning of the year outdoor open houses, since there will be so many people there meeting with teachers. Masks are not required for other outdoor activities including PE, sports, music and recess.

Yes. While PE students and teachers are not required to wear masks outdoors, masks are required indoors for PE.

No. The Secretary of Health's Mask Order does not permit any religious or philosophical exemptions to the mask order. 

Yes. All major medical organizations (including the American Association of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association) recommend that everyone ages 2 and up wear masks indoors when around individuals outside their household, regardless of vaccination status.

Anytime staff are in group settings indoors, per the Secretary of Health's Mask Order, they must wear a mask. However, vaccinated staff are not required to wear masks indoors when working alone in their room/office. 

We hope so, but they may not arrive here in time for the start of school. 

They are suggested in crowded outdoor settings with individuals outside your household, especially for unvaccinated individuals.

All students should wash or sanitize their hands prior to lunch like last year. Students should not crowd into lines and should maintain some spacing. We will be serving normal style meals on the trays. As of right now, we plan to have the condiment tables and will clean after each group is done like normal.  

The answer will depend on each school's lunchroom capacity, configuration and schedule. Schools are looking at their lunch spaces and working to spread out students as best they can. Strategies may include adding a lunch period and/or allowing students to eat outside the lunchroom (classrooms, outside, gymnasiums, etc.).

Food Services staff will use a tally sheet rather than the normal keypads at elementary and middle school levels.  High school students will need to use the keypads since there are so many serving areas and we have to track that they only receive one meal, at no cost. Additional food items will be available for purchase as well. 

For elementary students with early or late lunches, students may be allowed to have a snack in the classroom. However, they should only remove their masks when eating or drinking and desks should be spread out to the maximum extent possible. Eating snacks outdoors in preferred when possible. Snacks at secondary are only permitted as they were or were not pre-COVID.

School-aged students enrolled in the Full-time Remote Learning program may go to their neighborhood school during the scheduled lunch time to receive a lunch at no cost.  However, curbside pick-up service at our schools and bus delivery of meals to neighborhoods, will no longer be available, since kitchen staff are needed to serve the majority of our students at school. 

Yes. Students may congregate. If they are indoors, they must be masked and are encouraged to stay 3 feet apart. 

Under the Governor's order, classroom space can not be a barrier to bringing all the students back. The goal is 3 feet of distancing, but if space does not allow, we are to do the best we can. Schools and teachers are urged to remove excess furniture and other items to maximize the space for social distancing. 

Yes. Orientations in small groups of masked students are allowed as normal. 

No. There are no social distancing requirements on school buses, but we will load the buses in a way to try and spread students out. Windows will be opened based on the weather. We have asked parents to try and drive their students to reduce bus loads. Masks are required at all times on the bus.

They may face each other, but they should be separated to the "maximum extent possible." (DoH page 6) It might be easier to have them face the same way, but this isn't required.

We hired additional teachers at all levels to help manage class sizes and paid particular attention to K-5 since they are not currently eligible for the vaccine. The average K-3 class sizes are currently about 19 students, and in grades 4-5 the average is below 22.

Kids may face each other, but we must still strive to provide 3 feet of spacing to the extent possible. It may be easier to maximize spacing with them facing one direction.

6 feet from the front of the room is ideal, but it should be no less than 3 feet. 

Yes.

Yes. While cohorting is not required at recess, many of our schools are planning to use grade-level cohorting anyway.

While there are no rules about assemblies, if they are needed, we will still strive to provide 3-foot spacing between students to the extent possible. Reduced capacity through smaller gatherings is definitely recommended.

The DoH and L&I do not prescribe any signage requirements. Directional arrows and standing dots are no longer required, but may be useful in some settings to ensure 3-foot distancing. We do plan to have signage on doors regarding both the mask and vaccination requirement for visitors.

No. According to L&I 1.7 Guidance (page 10) states, "6 feet of physical distancing...OR appropriate face protection must be implemented...for K-12 schools." As long as staff are masked, physical distancing is not required. However, we will accommodate staff who wish to have additional distancing to the extent feasible in each space.

Yes. At indoor athletic and performing arts events, we will be asking spectators to respect others and allow at least 3 feet between them and others outside their household.

The only indoor events we are hosting at this time are extracurricular sports and performing arts. These are in large, well-ventilated spaces. Masks, but not vaccination, are required at these events. (After October 18, volunteers and staff are required to be vaccinated.) Outside users may submit facility requests to use our spaces and those groups are responsible for following state DoH guidelines for indoor activities.

For athletes actively participating in sports outdoors, masks are optional. For spectators outdoors, in crowded settings masks are encouraged, but not required.

No, but it is encouraged since vaccinated athletes do not have to quarantine in case of close contact if they have no symptoms, and students are not required to wear masks for high-risk outdoor sports. (Masks are required for non-vaccinated athletes in high-risk indoor sports.) 

No.

No. See DoH Guidance (page 14-15) for details. 

No, but they are encouraged to if they are going to be physically close to the athletes.

Yes. By October 18, under the Governor's order, coaches, volunteers and contractors (referees) are required to be vaccinated.

Three foot distancing is recommended between groups or individuals outside the same household. We will be asking spectators to respect others and allow 3 feet between them and others.

Per Spectator Events Guidance, there are no specific capacity limits, but indoors we ask family groups to put three feet of space between them.

Yes. Masks are required in locker rooms and 3 feet of distancing is recommended. We may limit the capacity in our locker rooms accordingly.

We will when we can provide them. See the DoH guidance for details.

We may offer concessions outdoors only, as long as servers are masked and gloved. We won't offer them indoors because it requires visitors to take their masks off to eat or drink.

Yes, if this is part of the normal process for a sport and if the volunteers are approved and vaccinated per the Governor's order.

You can find more details on the MSHS website here: Mount Si High School Athletic COVID Protocols and Expectations - Fall Season 2021 (posted August 25, 2021).

Yes. We plan to offer rapid antigen COVID testing for staff.

We are offering and strongly encouraging COVID testing for all staff, but it is not required.

Yes. Any student with symptoms or that is a close contact can be given a rapid antigen COVID test.

Our local health authority, Public Health Seattle-King County, issued this additional guidance on testing on January 25, 2022:

If a person has a positive antigen or PCR test result, the K-12 school or childcare shall trust this test result. No subsequent testing will disprove this result.   

"During the current Omicron surge, where we are experiencing very high rates of community transmission, someone who tests to see if they are infected with COVID-19, a positive test result (antigen and PCR) is very likely a true positive and should follow current CDC/DOH guidance on isolation. Subsequent negative tests (antigen or PCR) during their isolation period should not be used to shorten isolation (i.e., <5days) or to determine if the positive was incorrect (i.e., a false positive).

While the DOH Decision Tree indicates times a confirmatory (PCR or antigen) test for negative results is needed when exposed and symptomatic -- that is not the case after testing positive. 

Yes. By Governor's order, all K-12 employees, volunteers and visitors must be fully vaccinated by October 18.

Yes. The district is required to collect COVID vaccination information from all staff. Staff members who do not disclose will be considered unvaccinated for the purpose of contract tracing and quarantine. Staff who are vaccinated are not required to quarantine in the case of close contact without symptoms. By Oct. 18, all staff are required to be vaccinated by Governor's order, which requires them to receive their last dose by Oct. 4. 

Yes. All childcare providers are included in the Governor's vaccination requirement. 

Yes. We strongly encourage all eligible students to get vaccinated. Currently anyone age 12 and older is eligible. We offered and promoted free vaccination clinics at all three middle schools in August and three weeks later in September. See details.

No. This is optional. However, families are encouraged to provide vaccine and booster verification for their vaccinated students. This helps our nursing staff respond effectively when contact tracing.  Also, people who are vaccinated will not be required to quarantine if there's been a close contact and they have no symptoms.

Until August 31, families can use the RSVP process.  After RSVP closes, once your student is fully vaccinated, or after they receive a booster, please complete our Student Vaccine Verification Form which will ask you to upload proof of your student's vaccination or booster.  A student can also bring proof of their vaccination to their school office.  Staff will then update the student's immunization record in Skyward/Family Access. For more details about what is accepted as vaccine verification - click on the form link.

On August 23, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine received full FDA approval.

To start the school year, we will conduct teacher meet and greets with families virtually or outside. Students can participate in indoor orientations, meet your teacher, and open houses.  

Under the Governor's order, volunteers and visitors to the school must provide proof of vaccination. Until Oct. 18, they may alternatively provide verification of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of visiting/volunteering. This information will not be stored and will need to be presented at each visit. In general, visitors should be kept to a minimum unless it is needed for school to run or programming.

Outside of school hours, yes. During school hours, visitors on site are required to provide proof of vaccination. We are limiting school day visitors/volunteers to those necessary to support and run our programs.