Dear Shelby parents, staff and community members:
As our community continues to fight the spread of COVID-19, we believe one of our greatest responsibilities is to communicate transparently and often with you, our school community. It is our hope that accurate and up-to-date correspondence will help you make well-informed decisions for your family. Nothing is more important to the Shelby City School District than the safety and health of our students, our employees and their families. When we work together, we can provide the best care for all involved.
We have learned that a student at Shelby High School has tested positive for COVID-19. We are working closely with the Shelby City Health Department to ensure all appropriate measures are being taken to identify anyone at risk due to close contact with the infected person. Should your child be identified as a close contact, you will be notified by the Shelby City Health Department that your child will need to quarantine. Being identified as a close contact means that your child was within 6 feet of a COVID-19 positive individual for 15 minutes or more, or had direct physical contact, such as a hug or team huddle. If you are not notified by the Shelby City Health Department, your child was not identified as a close contact and therefore does not need to quarantine.
During this time of increased community spread, we recommend that all families monitor their children for symptoms daily. Symptoms of COVID-19 include 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 diarrhea. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after an exposure. If you or a family member exhibits these symptoms, please contact your medical provider.
Shelby City Health Department encourages you and your family to follow The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose.
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.
- Stay at home when you are sick.
- Practice social distancing, leaving at least six feet between you and other people.
- Wear a facial covering in public settings and at school.
- Avoid large gatherings of people
Preventing the spread of this virus requires the vigilance of everyone at school, at home and out in the community. As we learn more about COVID-19 the guidance changes accordingly. For current information on COVID-19, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html or shelbycityhealth.org
There is nothing more important to the Shelby City School District than the safety and health of our students, our staff and their families. If you have any questions or additional concerns about this matter, you are welcome to contact your child’s school or the Board of Education office.
Sincerely,
Tim Tarvin
Superintendent, Shelby City Schools
John Gies
Principal, Shelby High School
