Dear Students & Parents/Guardians,

Recently the school district released an updated addendum to our Health and Safety plan for the Wayne Highlands School District that can be found on our website (https://whsdk12.me/News/2021-2022/08202021). We want to highlight specific portions of that plan and address how it will impact the opening of school for students at Honesdale High School. Many of the mitigation measures that will be addressed are familiar to our students from last year.

Masking/Face Coverings

Per the updated plan, face coverings/masking will be required when the level of Community Transmission is in the High Transmission category for Wayne County during two consecutive weeks.Currently, Wayne County is in a High Transmission category.Updated data will be released and analyzed on Friday August 27^th, if the county stays in a High Category all students and staff will report to the first day of school with properly fitted face coverings. If the level of transmission in the community changes at that point to Substantial, Moderate, or Low, then face coverings would be recommended, but not required for the first day.During times throughout the school year that face coverings/masks are required, please remember that teachers will still be able to institute masks breaks for periods of time when proper distancing is able to be accomplished.

Breakfast/Lunches/Stairways

Stairwells in the building will be labeled either up or down only, except for the main large stairway in the academic wing. In addition, during breakfast and lunch, students will be spaced out to maximize physical distancing while eating.Like last year, we will be utilizing the cafeteria and auditorium to provide effective distancing during eating times.

Lockers

Many of the Health and Safety plan details are familiar to Honesdale High School students. Unlike last year, all students will be issued a locker. Students will not be permitted to carry backpacks to and from classes.

Dress Code

There will be one temporary change to the student dress code to start the school year. Students will be permitted to wear shorts until the end of the 1st quarter. Any shorts students choose to wear must meet the following guidelines

• Need to be at least fingertip length
• Cannot be made of spandex or yoga pant material
• No rips, holes, or tears
• No swimsuits or board shorts

Students should monitor the weather forecast to determine if shorts are appropriate each day.

Contact Tracing/Quarantining

We will continue to contact trace if notified of a COVID positive case within the school setting. Students and staff following the updated mitigation measures outlined above will be helpful in preventing quarantines and potential spreading. If it is determined a student has been in close contact of a positive COVID case, they would need to quarantine. However, students would be exempt from quarantining if they meet any of the following provisions:

• Provide medical documentation that they have been fully vaccinated (2 weeks after the final dose).
• Provide medical documentation that they have had COVID within the last three months.
• Provide medical documentation that they have COVID antibodies.
• It was determined that the person that is a positive case and the person who is a close contact were both wearing a properly fitted mask during the exposure, the close contact would not need to quarantine.

If it is determined that a student is a close contact and they do not meet any of the above exemptions, then they will follow a 5,7, 10-day rule.Five days after the last known contact, the student is eligible for a COVID test. If the test result is negative, the student can return to school on the 7^th day after contact.A student is eligible to return to school on the 10th day after the last know contact if they there is no testing.

As we begin a new school year with an ever-changing pandemic, we appreciate your flexibility and understanding. We will frequently keep our students and parents/guardians updated with any changes to the plan as soon as they are made.We will also go over each of the above topics in detail with our student body on the first day of school.Our ultimate goal is to keep our students safe while still providing a first-class educational experience, and we thank you in advance for your collaboration in accomplishing these goals.

Sincerely,

Patrick Blaskiewicz
Assistant Principal, Honesdale High School