COVID-19 Update - Return-to-School Plan (8/18/21)

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	Face coverings are recommended in school buildings, but are not required. Families who choose to have their student wear a mask throughout the school day should ensure the student has 2-3 face coverings with them at all times. Face Coverings are required at all times while riding on school provided transportation per federal law. Families should ensure the student in their care has 2-3 face coverings with them at all times.
Visitors	Parents/Guardians are being asked to drop off and pick up their student(s) at the front entrance of each building. In certain instances, such as parent meetings, concerts, and classroom presentations, visitors may be allowed into the GFW buildings for limited periods of time with prior approval. If you are sick, please stay in your car. We will be happy to send your student out to you when you arrive and call the office.
Promoting Vaccinations	Families interested in information about vaccines (locations, dates, etc) may contact the school office, Director of Health Services Ms. Bruns, Public Health, or contact their healthcare provider. The school district strongly encourages families to learn more about vaccinations and consider getting vaccinated.
Strategies for Safety	Ventilation Hand washing Sneeze/Cough etiquette Voluntary screening/testing Cohorting (if needed) – keeping people together in a small group and keeping them together for the duration of the day, to limit the spread. Assigned seating as needed Continued cleaning and sanitizing
Online Learning	The school district will provide online learning for students. Online learning is not intended to be used for short-term absences. It is intended for students attending full courses for the quarter, semester, or the school year. The school district will be utilizing Seesaw and/or Schoology to support learning for general absences. Students may start online learning at any time with principal approval; however, they will need to create a transition plan to come back to in-person learning with the building principal or designee. Contact the school office for additional details.
Individualize Care Support	GFW Public Schools will adhere to all federal and state requirements regarding the services provided to students. Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) will be followed and evaluated to ensure appropriate access and equity. Individual plans based on medical need(s) will be developed in conjunction with the appropriate school teams.
Confirmed Cases of COVID-19	If you have a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19, report the information to the school office. Schools are required to report confirmed cases. If you are sick, please stay home.
Extracurriculars/ Activities/ Events	The school district strongly encourages families to learn more about vaccinations and consider getting vaccinated. Spectators will be allowed at all extracurricular activities. The District reserves the right to limit capacity based on local and state agency recommendations. Face coverings are recommended but not required. Regular preventative testing of students in extracurriculars is recommended but not required. If you are sick, please stay home.
Transportation	The school district strongly encourages families to learn more about vaccinations and consider getting vaccinated. Face Coverings are required at all times while riding on school provided transportation per federal law. Families should ensure the student in their care has 2-3 face coverings with them at all times.
Mental Health Supports	School Social Worker Social Emotional Learning Interventionists Sioux Trails Mental Health Services 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.

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:

Kids will be excused from class to receive their vaccine.
Each student will be given a COVID-19 Vaccination card with their information.
They will receive their vaccine in the upper arm from a Sibley County Public Health Nurse.
- Please have your student wear a shirt that allows for easy access to the upper arm (like a t-shirt)
After they receive their vaccine they will be asked to stay for 15 minutes so they can be watched for any reactions.
Your student can then resume normal daily activity.
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.us/diseases/coronavirus/vaccine/basics.html

If you have questions please contact [email protected]

May 21, 2021 Update

Children ages 12 and older are now eligible to get a COVID 19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines are now open to Minnesotans 12 years old and older. Minnesota is leading the nation in vaccination and the Minnesota Department of Health has a lot more information on vaccination. While cases of COVID-19 are often milder in children, health officials have said vaccinating younger Americans would help avert future surges of cases in the adults around them and could accelerate the lifting of some public health restrictions.

Glencoe Regional Health is scheduling appointments online for ages 12+ to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The next clinic is:

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.

Schedule an appointment online

May 3, 2021 Update

GFW holding optional COVID testing for students 16+

Seeking to slow the spread of COVID-19 and buy more time to vaccinate more Minnesotans, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education issued updated guidance to support COVID-19 testing for students in middle and high school as well as any Minnesotans participating in organized sports.

GFW Public Schools will begin hosting bi-weekly testing for any students (16+) who wish to be tested with two upcoming testing opportunities. Testing will take place at GFW Jr/Sr High in the mornings (6:45-8:30 a.m.) and at GFW Elementary in the afternoons (3:00-4:00 p.m.)

Thursday, May 6
Thursday, May 20

It is strongly recommended that parents pre-register their students to be allowed to be tested.

Pre-Register for Testing

Tests will be no-cost to students or schools. The State of Minnesota will provide test kits and resources for all testing options.

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.

If 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.

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-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

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.

Download the Shortened Quarantine Request Form (PDF)

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.

MDH COVID-19 Decision Tree for People in Schools

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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