Stockton USD #271

Rooks County Update - October 9, 2020 2020-10-09 Rooks County continues to have significant COVID-19 activity, including new positives and deaths since our last update. While we have some students who are quarantined at home, we have no known transmission of COVID in our schools. We plan to continue in-person learning for the week of October 12-16, 2020 and will monitor the data over the coming week closely. If there is any adjustment required to the learning setting due to concerns in the schools, we will update your family quickly following a decision. We continue to limit attendance by spectators at sporting events. All spectators must wear masks at all times during every sporting event. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Bill Lowry, Supt. USD #271 421 Main Street Stockton, KS 67669 785-425-6367

MCEL Volleyball is Saturday, 10/10/20 -  Our Lady Tigers are the #2 seed..  We will be hosting on Saturday, at the SHS Gym starting at 9:00 am.  Schools involved are Stockton, Oakley, Norton and Plainville.  Lady Tigers will play the 1st, 4th and 6th matches of the day.  The winner from the 3 sites on Saturday will be play in a triangular on Monday, 10/12/20 at Phillipsburg at  5:00 pm Spectators will be limited.  Here are the guidelines for the MCEL TournamentMCEL Volleyball TournamentCOVID-19 Policy In order to protect against the spread of COVID-19 and to protect our athletes and communities, the Mid-Continent Elementary League (MCEL) has adopted the following guidelines for this weekend’s tournament: Roster size is limited to 12 playersNo pep club, unless they have a ticketTwo managersThree CoachesNo Cheer/SponsorsEach School will receive 50 tickets for admissionPass gate will be limited Masks are required for all spectators at all times

The SHS Spirit Squad is hosting their annual Pink Out Night on Friday, October 16th! Click the link to purchase your T-Shirt: stocktonpink.itemorder.com. We will also raffle off a gift basket at the game. All proceeds go to the Rooks County Cancer Council

USD 271 Important Dates for October 2020 +October 14 is a 2:15 pm dismissal date for all students. Staff will have professional development for the last hour of the day. +October 16 is a school day - we will be in SCHOOL! +October 19 will be Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences. More details to follow. +October 29 K-5 Music Program has been cancelled due to COVID.

Due to the continued COVID-19 activity in our county USD #271 Athletic Department will begin allowing limited spectators at sporting events held at district venues. Student participants in sporting events, cheerleading and marching band will each be given spectator vouchers for each event. In order to obtain entry into the event, the voucher must be exchanged for paid admission at the venue’s ticket booth. There will be no admission without a voucher. There are no special discounts including student activity passes, employee passes, senior citizen passes. In order to ensure the safety of those in attendance, the following safety precautions will be in place: • Spectators will be expected to wear a mask at all times, sit in the group they arrived with and practice social distancing from others. Spectators will be expected to follow the guidelines stated above. If someone does not abide by the guidelines, they will be removed from the event. Family members and other spectators unable to attend events in person can watch via live stream on USD 271 YouTube channel

School Picture Retake Day October 6, 2020 School Picture Retakes on Tuesday, 10/6/20. 1. If you were absent on the first picture day, you will need to get your picture taken on this day. 2. If you are wanting a re-take you need to bring back the first packet you ordered. 3. If you did not order the first time and you viewed your photo online and would prefer a new photo before ordering, please let the photographer know on the 6th. Please let your child's teacher know also.

Friday Update 10-02-2020 Rooks County continues to have significant COVID-19 activity, including new positives and deaths since our update on Monday. Our schools currently have three modified quarantine learning groups based on exposure at the school from those who became infected outside the school system. We have no known transmission of COVID in our schools. We plan to continue in-person learning for the week of October 5-9, 2020 and will monitor the data over the coming week closely. If there is any adjustment required to the learning setting due to concerns with transmission in the schools, we will update your family quickly following a decision. We continue to limit attendance by spectators at sporting events. All spectators must wear masks at all times during every sporting event. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

SJHS Volleyball at Hill City on Thursday, 10/8/20 - VB - 4:00 pm - Jr./Sr. High Gym - B, A. 6:00 pm - Ringneck Stadium. VB - Mask will be required to be worn and social distance. FB - Mask are highly recommended. At this time there are no restrictions on the number of fans attending our events at Hill City. *Please be aware this could change as we move forward.

JH and HS(MCL) XC at Phillipsburg on Thursday, 10/8/20 at Phillipsburg 4:30 pm

SHS Volleyball at Hill City on Tuesday, 10/6/20. 4:30 pm - High School gym. Order of play: JV (Best 2 out 3), Varsity(best 3 out 5). Masks are required and social distance as much as possible. There are no restrictions on number of fans attending at this time.

SHS Volleyball at Lakeside/Downs on Monday 10/5/20 5:00 pm. Order of Play: Varsity, JV (2 Sets of 25), Varsity. COVID Requirements: Fans must have a ticket to enter(20 tickets per visiting team) Masks and Temperature checks are required.

Stockton vs Hill City Football is the Nex-Tech Game of the week, you can watch it on Channel 1 or on the internet at nex-tech.com, click on the link. Pre-game 6:45 pm

USD 271 approved six early dismissal dates for the 2020-2021 school year. These early dismissal times for students will provide time for our teachers and staff to receive timely professional development. School will dismiss at 2:15 on the following dates. Buses will run as scheduled. October 14 November 11 December 9 January 20 February 17 March 19

Rooks County Schools Update 09.28.2020 Rooks County experienced a dramatic increase in COVID-19 activity over the weekend with 32 new positives and three deaths. There are currently 36 active cases within the county, including several that impact our schools. Due to our careful and consistent use of masks and disinfection protocols, we have been able to limit absences due to COVID-19 and are currently working with two cohorts of students in modified quarantine within the county. These students are allowed to continue in-person learning as a group unless they become ill. We continue to see no evidence of COVID-19 transmission in our schools. After an extensive review of the data and conversation with our local health experts, we will continue in-person learning for the remainder of this week and monitor the situation closely. Due to concerns about the evidence of increasing community-based transmission, we are changing attendance policies at all sporting events in the county. Athletes will receive tickets to disperse accordingly. Each athlete will have a predetermined number of tickets for volleyball and football games. All spectators must wear masks at all times during sporting events. If we follow these measures, we will be able to continue having spectators at sporting events. Without these measures, we will transition to no spectators until COVID-19 transmission rates are lower in the county.  These are challenging times for everyone. We appreciate your continued support and trust in our team. Bill Lowry, Supt.

09/27/2020 Update USD 271 Stockton Schools has received confirmation that an individual at Stockton High School (grades 8-12) has tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total number of active cases to 3 in the district. The Rooks County Health Department is in the process of conducting contact tracing, most of which is complete. The district has been in constant communication, and cooperating fully, with the Rooks County Health Department as they perform the necessary contact tracing and we will continue to follow their guidance. The Rooks County Health Department is responsible for contacting students/staff who need to quarantine due to close contact with the individual who tested positive. If you are not contacted by the Rooks County Health Department or the school district instructing your child to quarantine, your child can continue to attend school. USD 271 is following the procedures of mask wearing, social distancing, temperature screening, and disinfecting so schools can remain open. USD 271 students, staff, and community members should continue to screen yourself and please stay home if displaying symptoms of COVID-19. As we navigate situations such as this, please be assured that the health and safety of our students and staff are of utmost importance. If you should have any questions, please contact your school administrator or the Rooks County Health Department. Thank you for your patience and ongoing support.

September 25, 2020 The weekly new COVID-19 cases in Rooks County have doubled in just one short week, from an average of 9 new cases per week to 18 new cases in the past seven days. Last week at this time we had 11 active cases in our county, this week we have 22. The two-week percent positive test rate rose from 7.5% last week to 11.2% this week. The unpredictability of this virus is frustrating and concerning. Fortunately, our absenteeism rate in the schools remains stable and relatively few students and teachers have been impacted by illness or quarantine. Given these concerning trends, the Rooks County school districts and medical health officials are monitoring the situation more closely this week and will meet again on Monday afternoon to review the information from the weekend and new numbers published on Monday at lunch. We plan to start the week by continuing in-person learning on Monday, September 28, but we recognize that we may need to change the learning environment midweek if these worrisome trends persist or worsen.

Addition to the calendar Jr. High Volleyball Monday, 9/28/20 - Jr. High Volleyball will play in Ellis starting at 4:00 pm - They will play at Ellis High School - Order of Play B Team - Ellis vs. Stockton A Team - Ellis vs. Stockton B Team - Trego vs Stockton A Team - Trego vs Stockton B Team - Ellis vs Trego A Team - Ellis vs Trego

Modified Isolation and Quarantine Requirements

USD 271 and Rooks County Health Department will be using the Modified Isolation and Quarantine Requirements set by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in order to provide students and staff with a safe on-site learning environment in the event of a positive case of COVID-19 in a student or staff member. The details of the Modified Isolation and Quarantine Requirements can be found on our webpage at www.usd271.com. NOTE: We currently have a classroom in our school district using the Modified Isolation and Quarantine Requirements due to COVID-19 exposure. The Rooks County Health Department has already contacted all direct contacts to the positive case, including all staff members and parents of the affected students.

Cross Country for tomorrow 9/24/20 at Hill City has been cancelled.