August 2, 2021
BUHSD Students, Parents, and Guardians,
We are very excited for the 2021-22 school year to officially start tomorrow and to welcome students back to the campuses. As we get ready to return, I want to share with you some of the things you can expect starting on Wednesday.
• Face Coverings and masks will be optional for both students and staff on all of our campuses in accordance with state law. Anyone who has concerns or desires to wear a face covering while on our campuses is encouraged to do so.
• As we return to campuses this week, there will be less restrictive social distancing and student grouping measures to return to a more normal traditional high school experience for our students. We will still follow the CDC guidelines for social distancing to the best of our ability, but students will have a more traditional look to their classes and lunch times.
• While we are trying to do everything we can to return to a more normal learning environment, we may still have to ask students and staff to quarantine or isolate should there a positive COVID 19 case identified on a school campus. Any staff member or student that tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to isolate per CDC guidelines. Students exhibiting two (2) or more COVID-like symptoms and/or who are awaiting COVID test results must stay isolated at home for 10 days and be symptom-free for 24 hours or receive a negative test and be symptom-free for 24 hours. Students with chronic health conditions may provide a letter of diagnosis from a medical doctor stating the COVID-like symptoms contributed to the chronic health issue.
• If students are in direct contact with a person who has a positive COVID-19 test may not be required to quarantine. Parents of students who have had direct contact with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19 will be notified and asked to monitor their students for any symptoms that may appear. Parents who wish for their child to isolate/quarantine shall call the school to excuse the child's absences.
• In BUHSD we consider our teachers and staff to be essential workers and will be taking precautions to keep them in their classrooms and on their campuses.
• We learned a great deal over the past year of living through this pandemic and will be continuing some of those practices on our campuses this school year. Students will continue to be encouraged to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands upon arrival at school, after being outside for physical activity, before and after meals, prior to leaving school for home, and after sneezing, coughing, or blowing nose.
• We will continue to have cleaning supplies available for staff. Cleaning of school campuses will still be a high priority and we will continue to ensure that our campuses are cleaned regularly but on a more traditional schedule.
• Lunch times will be more traditional with two lunch periods per day and students will continue to have the opportunity to eat inside or outside as they desire. Lunch food items will be returning to a more traditional look but still may have some items that are prepackaged for safety reasons.
• All after-school activities will resume normal operations and our athletic teams will also return to a more traditional setting following the AIA guidelines for practices and competitions. No student athlete will be required to be vaccinated to participate, but quarantines and isolations may be necessary should we have a positive COVID 19 case on a team.
We would like to thank you in advance for choosing the Buckeye Union High School district and we hope that your 2021-22 school year is outstanding.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steve Bebee
Superintendent
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