Return to Headlines

COVID News at Wakefield

Updated  2.23.22

Register for a Covid Test HERE

Board Meets to vote on Face coverings 

Consistent with recent guidance from state and local health officials, the Board of Education voted 2.22.22 to make face coverings recommended but not required in our schools. The effective date for the decision is Monday, March 7.  

Here are several important points from tonight’s decision:

  • The face covering guidance will apply to all staff, students and visitors.
  • Masks are optional at all athletic events effective immediately. 
  • Face coverings will be optional for all other extracurricular activities after 5 p.m. Feb. 25.
  • Federal regulations continue to require face coverings when staff and students are riding on buses and other school transportation, per a CDC order issued January 29.

It is possible that masks could become optional in schools sooner than March 7. However, that will depend on decisions made by the governor and General Assembly in the coming days. We will send updates immediately if the effective date is changed.

If families or staff are concerned about the decision to make masks recommended but not required in our schools, encourage them to get fully vaccinated and to continue wearing a face covering. Face coverings and vaccinations are an extremely effective way to reduce the likelihood of becoming infected with COVID-19, according to health officials.

Updated health guidance will be sent in the coming days regarding other details affected by this decision.

 

 Returning to School After a COVID Diagnosis, Exposure, or Illness

Students and parents may contact Mr. Cummings, wcummings@wcpss.net or 919.562.3600 x22232, with questions.  

 

LINK to WCPSS Covid-19  News

 

Guidance for students who are in quarantine during the 2021-22 school year:

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for schools regarding the utilization of a Learning Management System (LMS) landing page to support students who may be absent for an extended period - including those in quarantine - during the 2021-22 school year as referenced in Policy 4400 and 4400 R&P.

Expectations for all teachers:

  • All teachers in general education and special education areas will have a WCPSS landing page in Canvas or Google Classroom.  Virtual Academy teachers will have a landing page in Canvas.  
  • All teachers of general and special education utilize the WCPSS landing page on a weekly basis to ensure that students are familiar with how to access and effectively use the content.
  • All teachers will provide an orientation for students to the content on the landing page and direct students to reference the landing page if a quarantine or other circumstance results in an absence from school.
  • Teachers or the PLT will post assignments and instructional resources that will support students while absent.
    • Assignments will be updated at least weekly.
    • The postings will provide students and parents with instructional goals and activities along with relevant resources to support learning and or learning extension / remediation as necessary.
  • School staff will post regular live office hour times and dates for student connection, engagement, and support.
    • Live office hours will be provided a minimum of one time per week.
  • When feasible, district-level instructional support and live office hours will be made available across grade levels and content areas to supplement what teachers and schools are able to provide. The district will also create a specific Let’s Talk portal to provide an additional means of communication and support for students and families affected by quarantine.

When quarantine results in all students leaving the in-person classroom:

When the quarantine requires that the entire classroom including the teacher quarantine, the class will become virtual when feasible, including live instruction for the duration of the quarantine. Teachers will utilize Canvas or Google Classroom to communicate with students while in quarantine.  

When quarantine results in some students in quarantine, yet the teacher remains with in-person students:

As outlined above, absent students will refer to the teacher’s Learning Management System (LMS) page to gain information about assignments, and weekly live office hours will be available for direct feedback and support. Teachers will utilize Canvas or Google Classroom as a primary means of communication with students while in quarantine.

 

FOR ALL NEWS RELATED TO COVID

TESTING

You can get free Covid testing with results in 7 hours at a drive-thru system at 907 Gateway Commons Circle Wake Forest  ALL INFO including vaccine distribution in Wake Co.

CASES at WAKEFIELD HS

Wakefield High School families and employees,

We have been notified that four individuals associated with our athletic teams have tested positive for COVID-19. These individuals were last on our campus 12-8 + 12-9.

We have been notified that an individual associated with our school has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual was last on our campus 12/3.

We have been notified that two individuals associated with our school has tested positive for COVID-19. These individuals were last on our campus November 20 and 24. 

 We have been notified that an individual associated with one of our athletic teams has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual was last on our campus November 18, 2020.

We have been notified that an individual associated with one of our athletic teams has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual was last on our campus November 9, 2020.

 

We are working closely with the Wake County Public Health Division and the individual  to identify and notify anyone who may have been in close contact with the individual to provide them further instructions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines close contact as being “within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more.” 

 

There is nothing for you to do unless you are contacted by your local health department. If you are contacted by your local health department, please respond immediately and follow their instructions.

 

If you are worried you may have been exposed and are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you can be tested at one of the free testing locations throughout Wake County. You may also consult with your healthcare provider or call the Wake County COVID Hotline at 919-856-7044. 

 

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever or chills, a new cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or a new loss of taste or smell.

 

Following guidelines from the NC Department of Health and Human Services and WCPSS, the person with COVID-19 will not return to a WCPSS facility until they have met the requirements outlined on the Returning To School After Diagnosis, Exposure, or Illness website.

 

Privacy Laws

While we understand the concerns of families and employees, the school system is prohibited by state and federal law from disclosing the health information of students or employees. Each individual’s health information is a private matter. No one should publicly declare another employee or student as sick. In the event others need to be notified of a suspected or positive case of COVID-19, local health officials will notify them and provide them further instructions. Do not notify colleagues, students or families of positive cases. To protect individual privacy, notifications will not identify anyone by name or contain information that could be used to identify them.

School Cleaning

We will have areas that may have been exposed to the virus thoroughly cleaned in accordance with NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and Wake County Public Health guidelines, using an EPA approved disinfectant for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Precautions to prevent the spread of germs

To help prevent the spread of germs, the CDC, NCDHHS, and Wake County Public Health Division emphasize the importance of complying with the 3 Ws: 

  • Wear a cloth mask over your nose and mouth.

  • Wait apart, in order to create as much distance as possible. Avoid close contact.

  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.

Emotional support

Students feeling anxious about this situation should reach out to their school counselor or principal for support. 

Employees feeling anxious about this situation can visit the Employee Assistance Program site on WakeConnect for additional resources and support.

Additional Information about COVID-19

For more information about COVID-19 (Coronavirus), please visit these websites:

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Yours,

Malik Bazzell, Principal

#PracticethethreeWs