Return to Learn School Portal

Dr. Stiles Simmons

Superintendent

 

The Westwood Safe Return to Learn Plan

Recently, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated its procedures for schools to help protect students, teachers, staff and maintain in-person learning. Therefore, to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our school buildings, the Westwood Community School District will implement the prevention strategies listed below.

Prevention Strategies: The most effective way to prevent transmission within school buildings, reduce disruptions to in-person learning and help protect people who are not fully vaccinated is to layer multiple prevention strategies recommended by MDHHS. All prevention strategies provide some level of protection, and multiple strategies implemented at the same time provide the greatest level of protection. 

 

The key strategies to be implemented by the WCSD to keep schools safer are as follows:  

1. Ventilation
   • The school district will strongly encourage improved ventilation by opening multiple doors and windows, using child-safe fans to increase the effectiveness of open windows, and making improvements to the air filtration systems. 
   • Avoiding crowded and/or poorly ventilated indoor activities by engaging in outdoor activities when possible—academic learning, Gym class, Band class, lunch, and/or athletic practices. 
   • Open or crack windows in buses and other forms of transportation to improve air circulation if doing so does not pose a safety risk. 
2. Handwashing and respiratory etiquette: The school district will promote proper handwashing methods and teach proper coughing and sneezing etiquette. In addition, hand sanitizer will be made available to students and staff.
3. Symptom Monitoring, getting tested and staying home when sick
   • Staff and Students (regardless of vaccination status) must monitor for COVID-19 symptoms—temperature greater than 100.4, loss of smell or taste, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, onset of chills and muscle aches—should get tested for COVID-19 if they become symptomatic, and if they test positive do not report to school and follow the District’s self-quarantine procedures.  The list above does not include all COVID-19 symptoms; please refer to the CDC's website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/ for a complete list.
4. COVID-19 Isolation Guidance:  Staff or Students who test positive for COVID-19 and/or displays COVID-19 symptoms (without an alternate diagnosis or negative COVID-19 test) should isolate regardless of vaccination status:

• • • Isolate at home for the first 5 days (starting with the day after symptoms began or day after test was taken for those without symptoms), and 
    • If symptoms have improved or no symptoms developed, return to normal activities, while wearing a well-fitted mask, for the next 5 days to protect others.

And

• • • If individual has a fever, stay home until fever free for a period of 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to normal activities while wearing a well-fitted mask, until the 10-day period is complete.

Or

• • • Isolate at home for 10 days from symptom onset if you experience shortness of breath/difficulty breathing or are hospitalized for COVID-19.
    • Isolate at home for 10 days if unwilling/unable to wear a mask.

• • • Exposure is to a personal/household contact*:
      • • Conduct symptom monitoring for 10 days; and
        • Test at least one time if possible 3-7 days after exposure and if symptoms develop; and
        • Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days from the date of last exposure and if symptoms develop; and
        • Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days from the date of last exposure to protect others.
    • Exposure is to other type of contact (from a community, social or work setting)
      • • Conduct symptom monitoring for 10 days; and
        • Test if symptoms develop; and
        • Consider wearing a well-fitted mask around others for 10 days from the date of last exposure to protect others.

 

*Personal/Household contacts include individuals you share living spaces with, including bedrooms, bathrooms, living room and kitchens.  It also includes those who live together, sleep over, carpool or have direct exposure to respiratory secretions from a positive individual (e.g. kissing, sharing drinks, changing diapers, etc…).  This would include exposure in childcare settings for those under 2 years of age.

Please understand that our Safe Return to School Plan is flexible and contingent upon COVID-19 trends and the rates in our community. We will continue to work with our local health department and the MDHHS to determine the best safety protocols for our district, and more specifically, this plan will be revisited at the end of each month.

The following factors will be considered when consulting with the Wayne County Health Department to determine if changes to the Safe Return to School Plan are needed:

• Level of community transmission of COVID-19.
• COVID-19 vaccination rates in the community and among students, teachers, and staff.
• COVID-19 outbreaks or increasing trends in the school or surrounding community.
• Ages of children served in the school and risk associated with school, extracurricular and social activities.

Thank you again for your commitment to our schools and for serving as a partner in your child's education. We are committed to ensuring your child's social, emotional, and academic success. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the plan, please get in touch with Superintendent Dr. Stiles Simmons at 313-565-3864 or via email at [email protected]

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine

For more information about COVID-19 in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus.

 

Revised 09-15-2022