COVID-19 Safety
COVID-19 Symptoms
All teachers, staff, and students and their parents must do a self-assessment of health each morning before arriving at school. As with any student situation, we rely on honest dialogue between the school and the family to make the best decisions for all.
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
If your child has ANY of the following symptoms, they must not attend school or activities and should consider getting a COVID-19 test:
Fever of 100.4 or higher (Daily home temperature check required)
New cough or a cough that gets worse
Difficulty breathing
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Chills
Muscle pain
Excessive fatigue or feeling very tired
New severe (very bad) headache
New nasal congestion or a stuffy or runny nose
Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
COVID 19 Safety Plans Update
Please be aware that procedures for Community School of Excellence may be different than those of our neighboring districts.
As of today, January 14, 2022, if your child is or was recently identified as a close contact of a lab-confirmed positive case of COVID-19:
Parents/guardians will be notified that their child was a close contact.
Students in preschool are required to quarantine for at least 5 full days, starting the day AFTER their exposure. This requirement is in place for preschool due to the nature of preschool classes and because preschool-age children are not yet eligible to receive any COVID-19 vaccines.
It is strongly recommended that unvaccinated students in kindergarten through 12th grade quarantine for at least 5 full days, starting the day AFTER their exposure.
"Unvaccinated" means a student who has not received any COVID-19 vaccines OR who has not completed their two-dose primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine, such as Pfizer or Moderna.
K-12 families can choose to quarantine their student when they are identified as a close contact by reporting the quarantine to the school at 651-917-0073.
Families should monitor their child for any symptoms of COVID-19 at all times, but they are encouraged to be especially vigilant if their child is identified as a close contact.
Students will be sent home if they show any symptoms of COVID-19. All teachers, staff, and students and their parents must do a self-assessment of health each morning before arriving at school. As with any student situation, we rely on honest dialogue between the school and the family to make the best decisions for all.
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. If your child has ANY of the following symptoms, they must not attend school or activities and should consider getting a COVID-19 test:
Fever of 100.4 or higher (Daily home temperature check required)
New cough or a cough that gets worse
Difficulty breathing
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Chills
Muscle pain
Excessive fatigue or feeling very tired
New severe (very bad) headache
New nasal congestion or a stuffy or runny nose
Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade who were previously identified as close contacts AND have no symptoms of COVID -19 may return to school as the updated procedures above go into effect January 18, 2022.
These updated quarantine procedures are viable in our schools thanks to our requirement that all staff, students/families and guests wear a mask, which requires everyone age 3 and older to wear a face covering when inside the Community School of Excellence's building. Please continue to encourage your child to wear their face covering properly to help prevent spread and decrease their chances of contracting COVID-19.
You can view our COVID 19 Safety Plans here: link
Information
Although the executive orders issued by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in the past year and a half have all been canceled, CSE has continued with protocols that are now being reinstated in many businesses; such as wearing a mask. This plan may be changed or modified based on any additional changes or modifications to any executive orders or other guidance that may be announced.
CSE’s key strategies to provide a safe and healthy work environment include:
Conducting daily wellness checks for all who enter CSE locations. The process for checks is included in this document. All visitors, families, students and staff must comply with the daily wellness check in order to work or conduct business at any CSE location.
Maintaining the CDC and MDH guidelines.
Wearing face coverings. Wearing a covering is a requirement for entering any school building. Each employee will be provided a cloth face covering or have the option of wearing one of their own. Students will be provided cloth face covering (masks or shields) or have the option of wearing one of their own.
Disinfecting work surfaces and using hand sanitizers. Supplies have been ordered for use for staff and students.
These strategies are best practices we know of today. We will modify our strategies as time goes on and the situation changes.
Updates
CSE has worked with MDH to provide COVID-19 testing for staff and students. These rapid tests are only available for students and staff that are symptomatic at school. CSE is not a walk-in testing site for students, families and students that are already symptomatic and should NOT be at school.
In order for CSE to provide the COVID-19 test, a signed permission form is required to be completed and on file prior to testing. A permission form was sent home the week of September 20-24th per household. If you need another copy, call the main office at 651-917-0073.
Once we finalize the COVID-19 testing protocol, we will inform staff and families of the CSE on-site testing
Reminders
Masks required to be worn at all times in the building. Masks may be taken off when outside and when eating.
With the onset of cold weather and flu season, CSE wants to remind families of the following:
do NOT have your child(rent) come to school if they display any of these conditions - fever of 100.4 or higher, coughing, running nose, sore throat, shortness of breath, or other COVID-like symptoms
call the school to inform us that your child(ren) is not coming in and leave detailed description of reason for absence
If child(ren) is out for more than 2 days, CSE asks that you get a COVID-19 test done and report the results to the school.
do NOT return to school until child(ren) are symptom free for 24 hours
Attendance - Call the main line for any attendance concerns, absences and covid-19 related absences. Email info@csemn.org if you are unable to leave a message.
Promoting COVID-19 Community Testing Sites
In addition to school COVID-19 testing programs, Minnesotans can get tested at local providers, pharmacies and clinics. The state is also continuing to make free testing accessible to all communities through its test-at-home program and 11 community testing sites. To meet increased testing demand, the state recently expanded its capacity by opening new community sites.
As you communicate with your families, consider sharing the following information.
How Minnesotans can get a COVID-19 test:
Walk in or schedule an appointment for a free test at one of the state’s 11 community testing sites across Minnesota: COVID-19 Community Testing Sites.
Order a free test through the state’s at-home testing program: COVID-19 Test at Home.
Find other testing options near them through the state’s Find Testing Locations map, including through local providers, pharmacies and clinics: Find Testing Locations.
Who Should Get Tested
Even if you are vaccinated, Minnesotans should get tested:
if you have symptoms of the virus;
if you have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19;
if you are returning from international travel;
or if you have attended a large gathering or event where people are not wearing masks and are not able to stay 6 feet apart.
People who are unvaccinated should test before travel (domestic or international).
Unvaccinated teachers, staff and students in K-12 should test weekly at a minimum or more frequently per CDC guidance.
With the at-home program and 11 community testing sites offering free testing across the state, the state has made it easy for Minnesotans to find a test.
Graphics are also available.
Get tested for COVID-19
There are many other places that offer COVID-19 testing in the Twin Cities metro and across the state. Visit Find Testing Locations to search for more testing options near you, like pharmacies, state-run community sites, and local public health. Free at-home tests can be ordered at Vault Health: no-cost at-home tests for all Minnesotans
Roll up your sleeves, Minnesota!
Everyone age 12 and older who has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should get a booster shot when they are eligible. Timing depends on which vaccine you received initially. Visit Minnesota COVID-19 Response – vaccine booster shots to learn about when you should get your booster, and how to find a shot near you.