Bluejacket Family Update

Dear Bluejacket Families,

As the first day of school approaches, we are focused on one goal: Safely welcoming all students and staff back to school! As parents and educators, we know that children need the structure, routines, social interaction and high-quality teaching to learn and grow and thrive. We believe that students are best served in-person in our schools. Our second goal is to keep children in school. We are confident that with everyone’s cooperation, we can achieve both goals and have an outstanding school year.

Back to School is typically filled with a lot of energy and emotion. And this year seems exceptionally so. It’s helpful to remember that we all have the same goal: we want our children to thrive in school. We’ve learned over the last two school years that kindness and patience goes a long way. When children are having “big feelings” — excitement, anxiousness, confidence or uncertainty — they rely on the adults in their world to bring a sense of calm and security. Our staff are skilled at meeting children where they are, making a connection, and helping them gain the confidence and skills they need to achieve their goals.

We can’t wait to see your child, to talk about their hopes and dreams for this year, to see them interact with classmates, and to rekindle their joy for learning. Thank you for allowing us to be partners in learning with your family. We look forward to providing a great learning environment for Every Student, Every Day.

Let’s work together Bluejackets!

Nate Rudolph

Superintendent

As anticipated last year, our state is facing a serious shortage of bus drivers. The driver shortage started as many as five years ago, but has been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cambridge-Isanti Schools took action last spring to reduce the number of routes and bus drivers needed when we moved to a two-tier system; Most recently additional routes have been required due to increased enrollment and road construction projects in the county. We are still working to recruit a few more bus drivers in order to be able to provide timely service. However, some students may experience delays due to the driver shortage.

In addition, all of our drivers are learning new and more routes. As we head into classes this fall, it is likely we will experience challenges with busing. Students could experience some route delays. Masks will be required on all school buses (per federal mandate). We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Supply lists are available 24/7 from any device—even on your smartphone while you’re out at the store. Simply scroll to your school and grade level. While in your grade level supply list, you may also click one of the retailers at the top of the page, prefill your online shopping cart with your child's supplies, and have it shipped directly to your door. We hope this tool helps to make the back-to-school process easier and smoother for you!

The registration deadline for Cambridge-Isanti Schools Online is Friday, August 27. Please go to the website for more information and for a link to the registration form for students in grades K-8. If you have questions about availability of online classes in grades 9-12, email Jeremy Miller, Dean of Students, at jmiller@c-ischools.org.

As schools open across the country, we are paying close attention to safety guidance from the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, Minnesota Department of Health and our local public health departments. As we watch surges in various areas of the country and state, it is a good reminder that certain precautions and cooperation are needed to protect our students, families and staff.

Our district has layered prevention and mitigation strategies in our updated Safe Return to Learn Plan for 2021-2022 which is publicly available on our website for your review. We will continue to follow MDE and MDH guidelines based on school-based case rates. This means that if an outbreak occurs, in order to isolate and limit spread, there may be different instructions at one school or level than another. We will communicate via email from your school principal or school nurse if your child’s school has any additional precautions or recommendations throughout the school year. We are asking for your cooperation on the following mitigation measures. Again, our goal is to keep students in school all year.

1. Daily Self-Check and Self-Report of COVID-19 Symptoms

The practice of self-checking and self-reporting of COVID-19 symptoms will remain the same as was last school year, which includes families and staff conducting a daily self-check for COVID-19 symptoms and staying home if they are sick or display any symptoms. Please do not send children to school if they are sick or display any symptoms. All staff and students should self-quarantine when showing one common or two uncommon COVID-19 symptoms. They can return when they do not have symptoms for 24 hours. This includes no fever for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine.

Parents/Guardians should contact the school nurse assigned to their child’s school to report a lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 case. Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to stay home for a minimum of ten (10) days from the time symptoms started and/or the time they tested positive for COVID-19. They may not return to school until after that time AND must be symptom-free. If the Minnesota Department of Health revises their guidance, the district will communicate this information.

2. Safety Precautions

Cambridge-Isanti Schools will continue to implement mitigation strategies. Some of those strategies include:

• Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout buildings

• Social Distancing will continue to be encouraged when possible

• Signs will be posted throughout the buildings to remind everyone of continued proper hygiene and mitigation strategies

• Masks will be required on school buses and other District transportation (per federal public transportation requirements)

• General “high touch” areas will be cleaned and sanitized regularly

Vaccines are available without charge to all students age 12 and older through public health departments and local pharmacies. All eligible students and staff are encouraged to be vaccinated. The middle school and high school will be operating at full capacity and on a regular schedule where students may come in close contact with a large number of classmates; unvaccinated individuals are encouraged to wear a mask. Our schools will continue to assist our public health partners by offering space outside of school hours for public vaccine clinics. Please follow Isanti Public Health for vaccine information.

To assist families who are interested in having their child vaccinated, we are collaborating with Isanti Public Health to offer an optional vaccination clinic at our secondary schools during open house. If you are interested, please click on the corresponding link to register for a slot:

• September 1 - Cambridge-Isanti High School - 4:00-7:00 - Registration Link

• September 1 - Cambridge Middle School - 5:00-6:15 - Registration Link

• September 1 - Isanti Middle School - 6:15-7:45 - Registration Link

The Pfizer shot will be available to be administered at the vaccination clinic for students age 12 and older; additional details for the clinics will be provided after registration.

4. Mask Guidance

At this time, masks are recommended by the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Education. Likewise, Cambridge-Isanti Schools recommends masks within our public school buildings and other District sites. Masks are not required inside our schools; we respect each family’s decision about masking. Masks are required on all public transportation (planes, trains, buses, taxis) including school buses, per a federal mandate.

5. Take Home COVID Testing Opportunities

Based on current levels of community spread across Minnesota, the CDC and MDH recommend that all unvaccinated school-age children and school staff should get tested for COVID-19 at least weekly throughout the school year. Unvaccinated children involved in any extracurricular activities or sports should be tested more frequently. Vaccinated students and school staff should get tested if they are experiencing symptoms or were exposed to someone who has COVID-19.

Cambridge-Isanti Schools will offer free COVID testing on a voluntary basis. These optional tests are provided by MDE and MDH as part of a statewide educational testing program and are similar to the saliva tests offered last spring.

With parent permission, students will be able to get a Zoom enabled test kit from the school nurse’s office on a specified date (TBD) each week. Students can take tests home and complete it with a parent/guardian by following the kit directions. They will then return the kit to the nurse’s office the next day. Completed test kits will be mailed by the District each week. Test results will be sent to the parent/guardian from Vault and data will not be shared with the School District. If the student receives a positive test, the parent/guardian is required to call and inform the school nurse and follow protocols accordingly.

The district will also have the availability of optional rapid tests for symptomatic students. This is optional and would only be conducted with informed consent from a parent/guardian.

Order an at-home test at no cost

Vault: No-Cost COVID Testing For All Minnesotans Families are invited to order in-house test kits to keep on hand. Minnesota and Vault Medical Services have teamed up to offer at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for everyone who lives in Minnesota, with or without symptoms, at no cost. Typically Vault saliva test kits ship within a day of receiving the order. Note that shipping and delivery does not happen on Sundays or holidays. If you need a test immediately, visit Find Testing Locations for in-person options.

Email: dist-communications@c-ischools.org
Website: c-ischools.org
Location: 625a Main Street North, Cambridge, MN, USA
Phone: 7636896188