CEDAR RIDGE SCHOOLS

#NeverForget 🇺🇸

Cedar Ridge High School will continue virtual instruction through the week of September 14th. Elementary and High School students will return to on-site instruction September 21, 2020. Dr. McMasters has worked with Rachel Horn at DESE to review the regional and local data. This need to pivot is largely based on COVID-19 impact to staff. This pivot allows staff to complete the quarantine period. Dr. McMasters has worked to continue to provide onsite instruction for students who need it. A Facilitated Technology Area for Virtual Instruction will be set up in each school (Elementary and High School) for NON-QUARANTINED students who need to be on campus due to the lack of dependable internet access. Students will login and complete virtual instruction while on campus. Parents/Guardians who want district-provided transportation for their student(s) must call the elementary or high school office before 3:00 pm Friday, September 11, 2020. Be prepared to provide the following information for transportation purposes: Student(s) name Student(s) address Day(s) transportation is needed (Monday-Friday) Routes will be revised for September 14th - 18th based upon the number of students who will be utilizing a bus for transportation during that week. Parents/Guardians may contact Ms. Annette Ward, Transportation Director, (870-201-2577 ext 0243) for their child's estimated time of pick-up and drop-off. Students will arrive on campus at 8:00 am and load buses to go home at 3:00 pm. Students may be dropped off and picked up by parents/guardians throughout the day so that their child can complete online assignments. Meals will be provided for those students who are on-site and meals will continue to be delivered to the designated pick-up points for students who continue virtual instruction from home.

Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members, An elementary student tested positive for COVID-19 today, Wednesday, September 9th. Contact tracing has been completed and all probably close contacts have been contacted. Dr. McMasters encourages anyone with symptoms to be tested. Thank you.

Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members, An additional district faculty member tested positive for COVID-19 today, Wednesday, September 9th. Additional reports have been made to the CDC, ADH and DESE. Communication will be ongoing and adjustments made as needed. Parents, no students have been identified as Probable Close Contacts to today’s positive case. Dr. McMasters encourages anyone with symptoms to be tested. Thank you.

School and sports pictures for this week will be rescheduled.

Parents, Guardians and Community, The decision to switch to virtual instruction is not an easy decision; however, it is the best option for our students at this time. Several High School faculty have been identified as probable close contacts (PCC) with COVID positive individual(s). Due to the lack of substitute teachers during the PCC quarantine, the High School will pivot to virtual instruction for the remainder of the week. (September 9th - 11th). Data will be reviewed throughout the week to determine plans for the week of September 14th - 18th. Individuals identified as a probable close contact must remain quarantined for the full 14 days from the last contact with the infected person, regardless of a negative COVID test result. Hot spots for virtual instruction are located at: Oil Trough City Hall Thida General Store The old Cord-Charlotte Health Clinic Cord Baptist Church Magness Church of Christ Cedar Ridge Elementary parking lot Cedar Ridge HS parking lot All athletic events are cancelled through September 18th. The Cedar Ridge School Cafeteria will prepare meals for Cedar Ridge students. Parents and guardians of Cedar Ridge students should call the high school or elementary office before 8:30 a.m. to order meal(s). Please provide the following information when calling: Name of students Name of person picking up the food Number of days they want meals Which pick up location Meal Pick up Locations: Oil Trough City Hall Thida General Store Cord Baptist Church The Old Cord-Charlotte Health Center Cedar Ridge High School Cafeteria There will be no door-to-door deliveries. Thank you, Dr. Sherry McMasters Superintendent

Parents, Guardians, and Community Members, Approximately 40 individuals, including teachers and students, were tested on the CRE campus Monday, September 7th. Five individuals tested positive. Contact tracing is ongoing to determine probable close contacts (PCC). The district will provide the PPC names to the ADH. ADH will determine which individuals are considered close contact (CC). The PCC individuals will be notified as soon as possible. Thank you, Dr. Sherry McMasters Superintendent

| Elementary Chomebook Pick-Up | Tuesday 9-8-20 Schedule: 8-10:00 | K & 1st 10-12 | 2nd & 3rd 12- 2 | 4th & 5th 2 - 3:00 | Anyone that can't meet scheduled time Siblings should pick up during youngest sibling time period Parents, please join Dojo so that teachers can communicate with you! All parents need to join Google Classroom for the homeroom teacher and each of the special teachers like PE, Music, Art, Library, STEM.

Students and faculty members who test negative during the following two weeks are not quarantined; however, virtual learning will continue through the 14 days.

Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members, A third elementary faculty member tested positive for COVID-19 today, Sunday, September 6th. Dr. McMasters will move forward with the plan to transition the elementary K-5 to virtual learning for the 14 day period of quarantine. Additional reports have been made to the CDC, ADH and DESE. Communication will be ongoing and adjustments made as needed. Dr. McMasters encourages anyone with symptoms to be tested.

Parents and Guardians, Please contact the elementary office (870-201-2577) at the beginning of the week if you plan to pick up meals for your student(s) while the elementary is closed. Meals may be picked up daily in front of the high school between 12:30 and 1:00. Thank you.

UPDATE: Superintendent Dr. Sherry McMasters has been working with Rachael Horn at DESE. The district will continue to work with ADH and DESE to review data and make operational decisions as needed. Thank you for your patience.

Parents and students: Anyone showing Covid-19 symptoms are encouraged to be tested. Thank you.

Dear parents and guardians, A second employee tested COVID positive today. The students and employees considered possible or close contacts with the employee will be contacted. We continue to work with ADH and DESE to determine the length of school closure resulting in virtual education. Thank you.

COVID-19 UPDATE - Although the initial length of closure was 14 days, after further contact with ARDESE, the elementary school will quarantine until further notice. We will continue to work with ADH and DESE through the contact tracing process. We will provide updates as they become available.

| School Pictures | Elementary school pictures will be rescheduled. As for next week, high school pictures will be taken on Thursday, the 10th, and sports pictures on Friday, the 11th.

Dear parents, guardians, and community, On Thursday, September 3rd, an employee tested positive for COVID-19. As instructed by the CDC, ADH, and ARDESE, the proper and required procedures are being followed for contact tracing, disinfecting and school closure. Each positive case must be evaluated on a case by case basis. The district will utilize the chart when appropriate. In this case the K-5 elementary will close due to the "close contact" of the positive case and the K-5 students and staff in the safe room Tuesday, September 1st during the tornado warning. Probable Close Contact (PCC) : District identified individuals that have likely been within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes or longer within a 24-hour period to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, during the infectious period. Close Contact : An individual confirmed by ADH Contact Tracing who was within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes or longer within a 24-hour period a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 during the infectious period. Secondary Contact: An individual who has had contact with someone identified as a Close Contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19. In most instances, these individuals do not require quarantine, but are encouraged to monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Quarantine: Required for someone identified as a Close Contact to a positive case of COVID-19. This person must remain at home and avoid all public activities for 14 days from the last date of contact with the positive case, even if they receive a negative test result. The incubation period in which symptoms of COVID-19 may develop is considered 14 days. Isolation: Required for someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This person must attempt to completely separate themselves from others for a minimum of 10 days, however, other criteria may apply when the person is either symptomatic or asymptomatic. The ADH Case Investigator will issue an official ADH letter of release when the individual is ready to return to work or school. Employees and parents of probable close contacts and close contacts are secondary contacts and are not required to quarantine. Respectfully, Dr. Sherry McMasters Superintendent

| Elementary Parents | We will do a drive-through to pick up chromebooks on TUESDAY. Here is the schedule. Grades K-1 8:00am-10:00am Grades 2-3 10:00am-12:00pm Grades 4-5 12:00pm-2:00pm All siblings can pick up chromebooks during the youngest sibling time. If none of the above times work for a parent, you can pick up from 2:00pm-3:00pm.

On September 4, 2020, an employee at Cedar Ridge Elementary tested positive for COVID-19. All students and staff in grades K-5 are to quarantine for 14 days (starting yesterday) and watch for symptoms. If you have any questions, please email our COVID-19 Point of Contact at brianna.goodman@cedarwolves.org, or get in touch with your child’s teacher.

If you are unable to make it to tomorrow night's game against Bald Knob, you can listen to the broadcast on 90.9 FM Timberwolf Radio. Tune in for some great high school football action!