December 8 Update
*All categories of the Return-to-School Plan are subject to change
Category | Important Notes |
Face Coverings |
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Visitors |
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Promoting Vaccinations |
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Strategies for Safety |
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Online Learning |
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Individualize Care Support |
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Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 |
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Extracurriculars/
Activities/ Events |
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Transportation |
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Mental Health Supports |
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August 18, 2021 Update – 2021-22 Return-to-School Plan
At the August 16 GFW School Board meeting, Superintendent Horton presented on the 2021-22 school year COVID-19 plans. Parents are encouraged to review all information in order to make informed decisions for their students. GFW Public Schools supports and serves all learners regardless of vaccination status or face covering preference. Please support our community by respecting the rights of all persons.
Detailed plans are below. Download the Return to School Plan
*All categories of the Return-to-School Plan are subject to change
Category | Important Notes |
Face Coverings |
|
Visitors |
|
Promoting Vaccinations |
|
Strategies for Safety |
|
Online Learning |
|
Individualize Care Support |
|
Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 |
|
Extracurriculars/
Activities/ Events |
|
Transportation |
|
Mental Health Supports |
|
May 24, 2021 Update
GFW Hosting COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic for ages 12-17
Sibley County Health will be holding a vaccination clinic at GFW Jr./Sr. High School on Thursday, May 27th for students ages 12-17 after survey results showed there was a demand for vaccinations in our district.
COVID-19 vaccines have opened to Minnesotans aged 12 and over. The Pfizer vaccine is a two-dose series that is injected into the upper arm three weeks apart. Sibley County Public Health will be providing the Pfizer vaccine at school for interested students. The COVID-19 vaccine is completely FREE and no insurance information is required.
- Location: GFW Jr./Sr. High School – Winthrop (Art Room)
- First Dose: Thursday, May 27th from 2:00-3:00 p.m.
- Second Dose: Thursday, June 17th from 8:30-9:30 OR 3:30-4:30 p.m.*
*Two time options are available for the second dose to accommodate transportation of the students as school will not be in session. Your student will need both doses to be fully vaccinated.
To register your student for their first dose use the following link:
A second dose link will be sent to the email used to register after your student receives their first dose.
Parental consent is required and your student will need to be registered by Wednesday, May 26th at 11:00 a.m.to receive their vaccine.
What to expect:
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Kids will be excused from class to receive their vaccine.
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Each student will be given a COVID-19 Vaccination card with their information.
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They will receive their vaccine in the upper arm from a Sibley County Public Health Nurse.
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Please have your student wear a shirt that allows for easy access to the upper arm (like a t-shirt)
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After they receive their vaccine they will be asked to stay for 15 minutes so they can be watched for any reactions.
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Your student can then resume normal daily activity.
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Your student will receive their COVID-19 Vaccination card after their second dose.
*Soreness at the site of injection is common and will dissipate after a few days.
For additional information visit: https://www.health.state.mn.
If you have questions please contact [email protected]
May 21, 2021 Update

- Pfizer 1st dose: Wednesday, May 26 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Pfizer 2nd dose: Wednesday, June 16 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
May 3, 2021 Update
GFW holding optional COVID testing for students 16+
- Thursday, May 6
- Thursday, May 20
April 27, 2021 Update
GFW is hosting a vaccination clinic for staff and students (over 18) on Thursday, April 29
Sibley County Public Health is offering a COVID vaccination clinic to staff and students (over 18 years old) on Thursday, April 29th from 1:00-2:00pm at GFW Jr/Sr High School in the gymnasium.
There is no cost for this vaccination clinic.
The clinic will be administering the Moderna vaccine, which is a two dose vaccine. The second dose clinic will be held on Thursday, May 27 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. It is important to be available for the second dose.
Register for this clinicIf you are interested, but this date does not work for you, please contact Sibley County Public Health for other vaccination clinic opportunities at 507-237-4000.
Vaccination now available for anyone 16+
Visit the CDC’s Vaccine Finder to schedule an appointment for a Pfizer vaccine at a pharmacy near you or sign up on Minnesota’s COVID Vaccine Connector to receive more information about vaccine opportunities.
Getting vaccinated will help give Minnesota’s teens the best chance to learn in-person, participate in sports and activities, attend graduation and go to prom. Of course, they still need to remain vigilant in regards to masking, hand washing and social distancing. And for those still too young to be vaccinated, testing is critical.
Consent Guidance:
Children under the age of 18 must have consent signed on their behalf by a parent or guardian when scheduling an online appointment. It is very important that the scheduling forms are filled out correctly in advance and to have a parent or legal guardian go to the vaccine appointment with their 16 or 17-year-old to learn about the COVID-19 vaccine and provide consent for the child to receive the vaccine. Additional information on Parental Consent can be found here.
Very important: Only the Pfizer vaccine has been authorized to vaccinate youth ages 16 and up and will only be administered to those ages 16 and up.
FUN FACT: If someone is fully vaccinated and is exposed, they do not need to quarantine if ALL of the following are true:
- The COVID-19 exposure was at least 14 days after their vaccination series was fully completed.
- They do not currently have any symptoms of COVID-19.
People who have had COVID-19 (with a positive lab-confirmed test) in the past 90 days also do not need to quarantine.
This push comes as Minnesota is seeing a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, especially among younger Minnesotans.
Getting vaccinated will help give Minnesota’s teens the best chance to learn in-person, participate in sports and activities, attend graduation and go to prom. Of course, they still need to remain vigilant in regards to masking, hand washing and social distancing. And for those still too young to be vaccinated, testing is critical.
February 18, 2021 Update
The State of Minnesota has announced the launch of the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector, which is a tool that helps Minnesotans find out when, where and how to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
This system is a proactive way for all Minnesotans to indicate their interest in receiving a vaccine, so that when they become eligible, they can be alerted and connected to resources to schedule a vaccine appointment.
Below is some information about the Vaccine Connector that you may find helpful.
Should I complete the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector form?
All Minnesotans who would like to receive a COVID-19 vaccine should fill out the form to ensure they stay updated on vaccination opportunities in their area when they become available.
Who can get vaccinated now?
Demand for vaccine far exceeds supply, and Minnesotans are encouraged to remain patient as more vaccine arrives in the weeks and months ahead. Minnesota is continuing to distribute vaccines using a phased approach to immunize for impact by focusing on populations with the highest risk of getting COVID-19, as well as those most at risk of severe illness and complications if they become infected.
In Minnesota, you are eligible now to get vaccinated if you are a:
- Minnesotan age 65 or older
- Health care worker
- Long-term care resident or staff member
- Prekindergarten through Adult Basic and Community Education school staff member, or contracted school staff member
- Child care staff member at a licensed and certified child care center or program
How do I sign up?
- Signing up for the Vaccine Connector is easy, safe and secure.
- All Minnesotans 18 years of age and older should sign up, no matter their current vaccine eligibility status.
- There will be no cost and no restricted time period for signing up.
- Health insurance and personal identification forms are not required for signing up.
- Go to gov/vaccineconnector to sign up.
- Minnesotans unable to sign up online can have family or friends help them sign up online, or call 833-431-2053 for assistance signing up over the phone.
- Translation is available by phone in all languages. Minnesotans can call the translation hotlines at 833-431-2053 and 651-318-0989 for assistance signing up over the phone.
- All Minnesotans have to do to sign up is provide basic information such as contact information, demographic data, medical history, and employment to determine their eligibility based on state guidelines.
- The State of Minnesota is committed to the equitable distribution of safe and effective vaccines for protection against COVID-19 and the Vaccine Connector form has included questions about gender identity, sexual orientation, race, cultural identification, and disabilities to help us track and measure equity and fairness throughout the vaccine distribution process. These questions do have the option to select “prefer not to answer” or “none of the above,” and selecting these answers will not prevent you from signing up for the Vaccine Connector.
What happens after I fill out the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector form?
As more vaccine becomes available, the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector will send you updates about your COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and opportunities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Minnesota.
In the months ahead as vaccine supply increases, the Vaccine Connector will help Minnesotans know where vaccine is in the state, find out when they are eligible to get it, and connect them to a vaccine opportunity near them — no matter where they live or their personal circumstances. Before and after you are vaccinated, it’s important to continue to take simple steps to slow the spread of illness by wearing a mask, staying 6 feet away from others, washing your hands, and staying home whenever possible
For more information, please visit https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/
The Vaccine Connector is open to all Minnesotans. Please feel free to share this information with your family, friends and others who may be interested.
January 11, 2021 Update
COVID Health Checklist for families
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.