• Important Information
    - Daily Symptoms Check: Memo from School Nurse Maggie Secrest. 
    - Next Step Memo: Memo from School Nurse detailing important steps to identify the level of response necessary.
     
    *Due to the recent drop in Covid-19 cases across the county, state, and country, we will suspend the weekly Covid-19 updates moving forward, and resume if another rise in cases occurs. 
     
    * NOTE regarding the close contact notification process: The school nurse will no longer be calling parents of students who are identified as close contacts. Parents will be notified via email, and a text message will be sent as a reminder to check email. Please make sure to frequently check the email address that is on file with the school. 
     
    2021-2022 Weekly COVID Updates
     
    Comments from School Nurse, Maggie Secrest dated 12/21/2021:
    This week's Covid Update comes with a few reminders as we enter the holiday break and prepare to gather with family, friends, and loved ones. The new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has been detected in Gallatin County as of 12/20/2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that it is much more contagious than the delta variant, and it is not known at this time how the variant reacts amongst different populations of people. There's some reason to believe that it may present with milder symptoms than previous variants but more research is needed on this topic. More information can be found on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/omicron-variant.html  Or the WHO website at https://www.who.int/news/item/28-11-2021-update-on-omicron
     
    Symptoms of the Omicron variant, such as congestion, headache, sore throat, and fatigue, may differ slightly than those associated with previous strains. The same precautions are believed to protect against the spread of the virus, including  handwashing, increasing ventilation indoors, wearing masks in indoor spaces, and getting tested if symptoms are present. 
     
    The Gallatin City County Health Department is offering at home test kits, information here: https://www.healthygallatin.org/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/ and Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital has information on testing opportunities here: https://www.bozemanhealth.org/about-us/covid-19-information/
     
    March 10th
    As a district we currently have 0 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive for  Covid-19. 0 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    March 4th
    As a district we currently have 0 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive for  Covid-19. 0 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    February 25th
    As a district we currently have 2 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 1 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 1 students/staff in the Middle School, and 2 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive for Covid-19. 7 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure. 
     
    February 17th
    As a district we currently have 2 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 2 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive for Covid-19. 9 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure. 
     
    February 11th

    As a district we currently have 4 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There was 1 student/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 3 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive for Covid-19. 33 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.

    February 4th

    As a district we currently have 6 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 1 who has tested positive and does not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 3 students/staff in the High School, 1 students/staff in the Middle School, and 3 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive for Covid-19. 71 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure. 

    January 21st
    As a district we currently have 13 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 2 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 2 students/staff in the High School, 6 students/staff in the Middle School, and 7 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 25 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    January 14th
    As a district we currently have 8 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 3 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 4 students/staff in the High School, 4 students/staff in the Middle School, and 3 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 26 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    January 7th
    As a district we currently have 3 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 5 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 4 students/staff in the High School, 2 students/staff in the Middle School, and 2 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 33 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    December 21st
    As a district we currently have 1 student/staff who has tested positive and meets the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There was 1 student/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 10 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.

    If you (as an employee) or your child (as a student) has at least ONE of the following symptoms: cough (new, unexplained, or severe), shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing OR  has at least TWO of the following symptoms:  temperature >100.4F, chills, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, runny nose or congestion, nausea,  vomiting, diarrhea, or fatigue, please stay home from school in accordance with our Next Steps and Illness Guide.
     
    December 17th
    As a district we currently have 0 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. No students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.

    If you (as an employee) or your child (as a student) has at least ONE of the following symptoms: cough (new, unexplained, or severe), shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing OR  has at least TWO of the following symptoms:  temperature >100.4F, chills, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, runny nose or congestion, nausea,  vomiting, diarrhea, or fatigue, please stay home from school in accordance with our Next Steps and Illness Guide.
    December 10th
    As a district we currently have 2 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 2 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 21 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.

    December 3rd
    As a district we currently have 1 student/staff who has tested positive and meets the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 1 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 3 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    November 19th
    As a district we currently have 2 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 1 students/staff in the Middle School, and 1 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 13 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    November 12th
    As a district we currently have 2 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 2 students/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 20 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    November 5th
    As a district we currently have 1 student/staff who has tested positive and meets the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There was 1 student/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 21 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    October 29th
    As a district we currently have 1 student/staff who has tested positive and meets the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There was 1 student/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 13 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    October 20th
    As a district we currently have 2 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 0 students/staff in the Middle School, and 2 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 5 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    October 15th
    As a district we currently have 4 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 0 students/staff in the High School, 2 students/staff in the Middle School, and 2 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 25 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    October 8th
    As a district we currently have 8 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 3 students/staff in the High School, 1 students/staff in the Middle School, and 4 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 66 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    October 1st
    As a district we currently have 9 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 5 students/staff in the High School, 1 students/staff in the Middle School, and 3 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 78 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.
     
    September 23rd
    As a district we currently have 9 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 4 students/staff in the High School, 5 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 78 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure. 
     
    September 17th
    As a district we currently have 6 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 1 who has tested positive and does not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. There were 5 students/staff in the High School, 2 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 44 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure. 
     
    September 10th
    As a district we currently have 3 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 0 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school.  There were 1 students/staff in the High School, 2 students/staff in the Middle School, and 0 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive.  33 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure.  Please continue practicing good hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing into a tissue or elbow, and disinfecting surfaces regularly in order to keep our students and staff as healthy as possible. If you or your child have been identified as a close contact please monitor for symptoms including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and/or diarrhea.  Do not send your child to school if they are sick and be in touch with the school if you have any questions.
     
    September 3rd
    As a district we currently have 3 students/staff who have tested positive and meet the criteria for contact tracing within our schools, and 2 who have tested positive and do not meet criteria for contact tracing within our school. Collectively there were 1 students/staff in the High School, 1 students/staff in the Middle School, and 1 students/staff in the Elementary School who tested positive. 16 students/staff have been identified as close contacts and were notified of the exposure. Please continue practicing good hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing into a tissue or elbow, and disinfecting surfaces regularly in order to keep our students and staff as healthy as possible. If you or your child have been identified as a close contact please monitor for symptoms including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and/or diarrhea. Do not send your child to school if they are sick and be in touch with the school if you have any questions.