We were informed today that one of our students has tested positive for COVID-19.  Just like our other cases, this one does not appear to have been contracted at school.  Also, no close contacts have been identified because the student was not in close proximity with anyone when they may have been contagious.  If any close contacts are identified, they will be notified personally.  

As always, there is a notification letter on our website and school Facebook page about this as well.  

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to let us know.  

Take care and stay well.  Have a good night.  

Brad

Good Morning, Loon Lake Families, 

As they say, "All good things must come to an end." We had a great run of having no known COVID-19 cases in our school. How quickly things change. 

One of our staff members at Loon Lake Elementary School has tested positive. It has been determined that she acquired it from outside of the school.  Her diligence in distancing and voluntarily quarantining before she was asked prevented any risk to our other staff and students. 

A letter from NE Tri County Health with more information is posted on our website and our Loon Lake Facebook page.

Happy Thanksgiving and take good care – 

Brad

Hello Loon Lake Families,

Brad here from the school.  It’s been a while since I bugged you with an update, so I figured it was time.  Just three items for today.

First, remember that we have conferences on Monday and Tuesday of next week.  Please plan on arriving about 10 minutes early so we can do your health screening.  When you get here, you will head straight to the gym to be screened.  

Second, because we have conferences next week, we have our typical early release tomorrow so our teachers can prepare their report cards.  This only affects our students currently coming in for full days, which for tomorrow only includes our 4th grade green group and our full day special education students.  

And finally, as you may have heard, we are increasing the time kids spend at school starting after Thanksgiving break.  Your child’s teacher will reach out to you with specifics, if they haven’t done so already.  

I know there are questions swirling around in many communities right now about schools.  Are schools going to be shut down again?  Right now, the answer is no.  The governor has said he wants shut down decisions to be made locally.  Our health district, NE Tri County Health, also supports local school districts making these kinds of decisions.  So at this point, I don’t see any kind of forced shutdown happening.  

So this begs another question, if COVID is more prevalent now than it was in March, why did we close then, but are staying open now?  I think it’s important to know that last March, nobody knew anything about COVID.  We know a lot more now.  

Schools have been in session for a while now, including us.  The data is showing that if schools follow safety protocols, the virus is not spreading within schools and schools are not contributing to community spread.  This is very encouraging, and that’s why we can stay open now.

We all wear our masks, we stay 6 feet apart, we wash our hands, and we disinfect regularly.  We take these protocols very seriously.  It doesn’t mean we are immune or that positive cases can’t happen here, but this is where our kids should be.  

Speaking of staying safe, I want to thank you all.  At of the time of this message, we have not had any positive cases in our school (knock on wood).  When your family follows safety protocols when you go out in public, it helps keep your family healthy, which helps keep our school healthy.  Clearly, you are working hard at this.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  

I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving, and I’ll see many of you next week at conferences.

Take care – 

Brad

Loon Lake Elementary students are NOT required to log in to their computers today.  Instead, play outside and make a snowman or two.      

Stay safe out there and have a great day.