January 11, 2021 Update
COVID-19 cases continue to rise and GFW Schools is increasing our efforts to enforce safety measures in order to maintain our current learning model of in-person learning following hybrid guidelines.
We need support from our community to keep our schools open. Social distance, wear masks, and follow the guidelines to stop the spread. If you have symptoms, please get tested and follow the process while awaiting results.
If you have any signs or symptoms, stay home.
COVID Health Checklist for families
All families should be asking these COVID questions daily prior to sending their child to school.
Additional Resources
- MDH Decision Tree
- MDH COVID-19 Home
- MDH Protect Yourself & Others
- MDE COVID-19 Updates
- GFW COVID-19 Data
December 10 Update
The Minnesota Department of Health has adopted the CDC guidelines for possible shorter quarantine times after exposure to COVID-19. GFW will follow these guidelines but it is important that you know your options and the expectations for quarantine.
The safest option is to stay away from others for 14 days.
- In certain situations, you may end your quarantine after 10 days, or after seven days with a negative COVID-19 test result.
- You cannot end your quarantine before seven days for any reason.
- Some work settings, like health care, have different rules about quarantine. Check with your employer.
You should stay away from others for 14 days if:
- Someone in your home has COVID-19.
- You live in a building with other people, where it’s hard to stay away from others and easy to spread the virus to multiple people, like a long-term care facility.
You may consider being around others after 10 days if:
- You do not have any symptoms.
- You have not had a positive test for COVID-19.
- No one in your home has COVID-19, and you do not live in a building with other people, where it’s hard to stay away from others and easy to spread the virus to multiple people, like a long-term care facility.
Even after 10 days you must still:
- Watch for symptoms through day 14. If you have any symptoms, stay home, separate yourself from others, and get tested right away.
- Continue to wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet away from other people.
You may consider being around others after seven days only if:
- You get tested for COVID-19 at least five full days after you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, and the test is negative.
- You do not have any symptoms.
- You have not had a positive test for COVID-19.
- No one in your home has COVID-19, and you do not live in a building with other people, where it’s hard to stay away from others and easy to spread the virus to multiple people, like a long-term care facility.
Even after seven days you must still:
- Watch for symptoms through day 14. If you have any symptoms, stay home, separate yourself from others, and get tested right away.
- Continue to wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet away from other people.
December 1 Update
GFW Schools continue to provide a safe and caring environment for staff and students. Current active cases of COVID 19 remain in the single digits within our schools. Despite these low numbers, other data points indicate that we need to make some changes to support the safety of our entire community.
Starting on December 7th, 2020, GFW Public Schools will move students in grades 9th-12th to distance learning.
The Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Education guidance allows some students to continue in-person learning during the distance learning period. GFW Public Schools will utilize its Multi-tiered System of Support Team to identify students who will have the option to continue in-person learning on a part-time or full-time basis.
Students in PreK-8th grade will continue in-person following hybrid guidelines with additional social distancing and safety procedures which will include dividing each class in half during the day.
GFW Public Schools believes in-person learning best meets the educational needs of students. At the end of December, the GFW School Board will review its learning models to determine potential changes.
November 19 Update
On November 18, Governor Walz issued a four week pause on a number of industries including youth sports and activities. Schools are to continue to follow the Safe Learning Plan using local data to determine learning models.
While there is an uptick in COVID-19 cases in our communities, we are happy to report that it does not involve students or staff to a great extent. GFW Schools now features COVID-19 data and resources on the new COVID-19 Data webpage.
The page will be updated as needed to provide a snapshot of confirmed cases in our buildings.
Current local, state, and national data indicates that schools are generally safe; however, COVID-19 is spreading in the communities. School districts follow the Minnesota Department of Health Decision Tree to determine how to respond to positive or potential cases of COVID-19. School districts are required to follow these rules. In order to allow students to attend school, school districts need support from the community. Some of the best ways to support schools is to follow Minnesota Department of Health Guidelines and the executive orders.
School districts don’t ask for you to agree with them; however, school districts do ask that you follow them. It will take a community effort to keep students in school.
We are here to support students and families, and we need your help in order to keep supporting you.
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