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Keystone Oaks to resume hybrid, in-person classes January 11; schedule released through January 29

Good Morning Keystone Oaks Students, Staff and Families, 

I hope that this email finds you and your families safe and healthy. The Keystone Oaks School District is planning to resume Option #1: In-Person Hybrid Learning on Monday, January 11, 2021 and I am writing today with an important update to the schedule for the remaining three weeks in January. Please be sure to read this email in its entirety. 

Since the start of the second nine weeks on November 9, 2020, the Cohort Eagle students (last names M-Z) have missed more days of in-person instruction than Cohort Golden students (last names A-L) due to the District closing school buildings because of the number of COVID cases reported early in the week. Therefore, Cohort Eagle students will attend classes in-person at the beginning of the week and Cohort Golden students will attend in-person classes at the end of the week for the remainder of January. 

Additionally, for the time being, the District is going to return to offering online instruction on Wednesdays for all Option #1 students. Given that the District must now close buildings once a given number of cases are reported, this will allow us to have one built in day each week to complete cleaning and contact tracing should there be a number of reported cases early in the week. Our hope is that by not having students in the building on Wednesday there will be fewer instances of canceling in-person classes. 

The schedule for the remainder of January is as follows: 

  • Week of January 11, 2021 through January 15, 2021

    • Cohort Golden (A-L): In-Person Instruction Thursday and Friday
      Online Instruction: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

    • Cohort Eagle (M-Z): In-Person Instruction: Monday and Tuesday
      Online Instruction: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

  • Week of January 18, 2021 through January 22, 2021

    • No School Monday, January 18, 2021 - Professional Development Day

    • Cohort Golden (A-L): In-Person Instruction Thursday and Friday
      Online Instruction: Tuesday and Wednesday

    • Cohort Eagle (M-Z): In-Person Instruction Tuesday and Wednesday
      Online Instruction: Thursday and Friday

  • Week of January 25, 2021 through January 29, 2021

    • Cohort Golden (A-L): In-Person Instruction Wednesday and Thursday
      Online Instruction: Monday and Tuesday

    • Cohort Eagle (M-Z): In-Person Instruction Monday and Tuesday
      Online Instruction: Wednesday and Thursday

    • No School on Friday, January 29, 2021 - Clerical Day

Option #2: Online Synchronous students and Option #3: Keystone Oaks Cyber Academy students should continue to participate in their classes as they have done throughout the school year. 

The Keystone Oaks School District understands the importance of in-person instruction and is committed to following health and safety guidelines so that we can continue to offer in-person classes. While we will be doing our best to provide a safe learning environment, we also need students, families, and the community to be honest, cooperative, and to do what you can to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in school buildings. We ask that you adhere to the following guidelines and recommendations: 

  • Face Coverings - Face coverings are required by all individuals while on the school bus, in the building, and outdoors when six feet of physical distancing cannot be maintained. Face covering means covering of the nose and mouth with material that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears or is wrapped around the lower face. A disposable face shield is considered an alternative to a face covering and may be worn when wearing a face covering is otherwise not possible. Students and staff must wear face coverings, unless they have a documented medical disability. School entities may allow students to remove face coverings when students are:

    • Eating or drinking when spaced at least six feet apart; or

    • When wearing a face covering creates an unsafe condition in which to operate equipment or execute a task; or

    • At least six feet apart during "face-covering breaks" to last no longer than 10 minutes.

The November 23, 2020 updated Face Covering Order and a list of FAQs is available on the PA Department of Health’s website. 

  • Daily Health Screening - All students and staff must complete a daily health screening before reporting to work or school. Anyone who answers “yes” to any of these questions should stay home and consult with a medical provider: 

    • Have you experienced a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in the past 24 hours?

    • Do you have a cough?

    • Do you have a sore throat or runny nose?

    • Are you suffering from shortness of breath?

    • Are you currently experiencing a new loss of taste or smell?

    • Are you experiencing vomiting or diarrhea?

    • Are you experiencing any body aches, headaches, or fatigue or generally feeling unwell?

    • Within the past 14 days, have you or anyone in your household had close contact with someone who is currently sick with suspected or confirmed COVID-19?

More information about the Daily Health Screening is available on our website.

  • Travel Guidelines & Recommendations -  On Friday, December 4, 2020, the Secretary of Health issued an order requiring travelers over age 11 entering Pennsylvania from locations outside the Commonwealth, including Pennsylvanians who are returning home from locations outside the Commonwealth, to:

    • Produce evidence of a negative COVID-19 test or 

    • Place themselves in quarantine for 10 days without testing or 

    • Place themselves in a 7-day quarantine with a negative test on or after day 5 of quarantine.

    • If someone cannot get a test or chooses not to, they must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Pennsylvania. 

While this order does not apply to children 11 years of age or younger, we do ask that families consider self-quarantining any child who travels to further help limit exposure to COVID-19 in the school setting. Students who are self-quarantining may participate in classes via Google Meet. 

  • Quarantine Guidelines- The following guidelines now apply to individuals who have been exposed to a positive case of COVID-19: 

    • An individual may end their quarantine 10 days after exposure if they are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19. A negative test is not needed for an individual to end their quarantine after 10 days. However, the individual must continue to follow public health guidelines, including wearing a face covering at all times and maintaining a minimum 6 feet of distance from others, until the 14 day period ends.

    • A individual may end their quarantine 7 days after exposure if they meet the following criteria:

      • A COVID test is conducted on day 5 or later after exposure and the result of the test is negative AND

      • The individual is not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.

    • The test may be the PCR or the antigen (rapid) test. 

      • The individual must continue to follow public health guidelines, including wearing a face covering at all times and maintaining a minimum 6 feet of distance from others, until the 14 day period ends.

      • For those who are a household contact of a positive individual, the quarantine begins after the last date of exposure. If the positive individual cannot isolate at home, the quarantine will not begin until the positive individual’s isolation period is over.

      • Anyone returning to the school building must provide written documentation that they have not experienced COVID-19 symptoms at any point during their quarantine period.

      • If your child is currently in quarantine and is not experiencing symptoms, he/she may return to school after 7 or 10 days, provided that he/she meets the criteria above and if you can produce written documentation. Please send your documentation to your building principal and school nurse.

Again, I thank you for your continued patience, cooperation, and support during this challenging and ever-changing school year. I believe that if we continue to work together to follow the mandates, guidelines, and recommendations, we will be able to continue to offer in-person instruction to our students. 

We can’t wait to welcome students back to the buildings on Monday! 

Sincerely, 
William P. Stropkaj, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Keystone Oaks School District
Posted: Wednesday, January 6, 2021