Download Full Letter: COVID 19 Family Letter 3-12-2020.PDF
Dear SDM Families, Staff, and Volunteers:
The School District of Manawa values the health and well-being of our students, staff, and families. Today Governor Evers and the Department of Health Services provided guidance about how to best handle the coronavirus, otherwise referred to as, COVID 19 pandemic. The ultimate goal is to prevent the spread of the virus. Based on the most recent information, the District will be cancelling all events that may draw a crowd of 250 people or more. Please see the list below for immediate cancellations. Events have not been re-scheduled since we are unsure about the duration of the situation.
Cancelled:
- High School Visual Arts Classic Regional Competition at U.W. – Stevens Point (Friday, March 13, 2020)
- District Forensics Meet in Wisconsin Rapids (Saturday, March 14, 2020) & all WHSFA for the remainder of the school year
- Middle School Conference Wrestling Tournament (Saturday, March 14, 2020)
- Gr. 7-12 Band Concert & Art Show (Sunday, March 15, 2020)
- State Solo & Ensemble Festival (Saturday, May 2, 2020)
At this time, the cancellations do not include school closures; however, district staff is working on plans for short-term and long-term closures should the need arise. Please continue to monitor the District website, Facebook, email, and text messages for additional information.
Presently, there have been seven (7) confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. For the most up to date information, please visit the Department of Health Services’ webpage and Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 Information.
The District takes routine steps to reduce the spread of illness in our schools. Our schools closely monitor and track absence rates. Our custodians and staff complete targeted and more frequent cleaning and disinfecting of specific spaces in our schools. Our office staff work to engage parents and guardians to ensure students who are ill stay home and know how to get well. Additionally, our district staff works with the Waupaca County Health Department for direction and updates.
Please note, parents and guardians should work closely with school nurses and office staff about absences due to illness. Student illness details (e.g., fever, cough) help our staff track trends. When reporting an ill student on the school absence line, please let us know the nature of your child’s illness or symptoms as this helps us monitor illness trends and implement appropriate prevention steps.
Public health professionals are the decision-makers regarding isolation or quarantine of individuals at-risk. While much attention has been paid to COVID-19, seasonal influenza (flu) and other respiratory viruses are common in Wisconsin at this time of year. We encourage you to talk to your students about ways to stay healthy. This includes washing your hands often, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when you are sick. It is also not too late for your family to get their flu shots. As a reminder, your child should stay home when sick until they are 24 hours fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications.
The COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving and changing. We understand there is uncertainty involved in this situation. We will continue to update families with new information or guidance as it is made available. We encourage you to contact District Nurse Grignon by telephoning your child’s school office or the Public Health Department if you have further questions. Thank you for your patience and understanding as the SDM and the community responds to this important health situation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Melanie J. Oppor
District Administrator
