Parents,
By now, I am sure that you have received the communication from Superintendent North related to how the DCSS will proceed as it relates to COVID. I appreciate you reviewing the Learning by Design plan that is designed to mitigate or lessen the spread of COVID-19.
As it relates to DCSS schools, positivity rate refers to the percentage of students or staff who came to school and were positive for COVID. Since we have not had any students or staff here in the last ten days, Turner Middle School (TMS) has a 0% positivity rate. Rates reported on the website Mr. North referenced subsequent to January 4 will reflect any positive cases at TMS thereafter.
My purpose for communicating with you is to share with you what specifically Turner Middle will do to continue ensuring student and staff safety. First, I want to thank you for speaking with your students about the foolish TikTok challenges that lured some misguided students into tearing down the soap dispensers in the bathrooms. That seems to have reduced those challenges; however, we will still limit the number of students going to the restroom especially as rates continue to rise.
Let me remind you of the steps that we have taken in the past that have allowed us to have a COVID-safe environment.
- Wearing masks – masks are not mandated but highly encouraged. I want to thank the vast majority of students and staff members for wearing their masks without a mandate. If we continue to do that, it helps to keep us safe.
- Staying home – if one is experiencing symptoms, remain home until there is a certainty that one is not positive for COVID. Parents, you have done a phenomenal job of monitoring your students and not sending them to school when there was a question about their health.
- Cleaning hands – while we did have issues with the soap dispensers for a couple of weeks, the hand-sanitizer stations outside the restrooms and other strategic locations in the building were utilized well. Let us continue to frequently wash our hands or at least use the hand-sanitizing stations.
- Cleaning high-touch areas – areas such as door handles, push bars, sink areas, etc. We will continue to clean these areas on a regular basis throughout the day.
- Sharing objects – we continue to discourage the sharing of supplies, water bottles, or anything that increases the transference of germs.
- Distancing respectfully - every effort should be made to respect individuals' personal space. Let's not crowd around one another whenever possible.
Use this link if you need to contact the Cobb/Douglas Public Health. Click here for Free COVID-19 testing. Click to find another testing location.
Remember, school resumes on January 5. Report Cards will also be sent home that day as well. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me: [email protected] or 770-651-5512
Working with you,
Darron E. Franklin