Superintendent February 4, 2021 Letter
February 4, 2021
Dear Catasauqua Area School District Parents/Guardians,
The Catasauqua Area School District was notified today of three confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) at Catasauqua Middle School, and a case at Sheckler Elementary. Appropriate family members and contacts have been notified and appropriate quarantine/isolation is in effect for impacted individuals in accordance with CDC and PA Department of Health Guidelines.
Considering our prolonged weather closure, along with current PDE and PA DOH recommendations, Catasauqua Middle School, and Sheckler Elementary will remain open for instruction. However, we are also in the midst of evaluating our facility and regional conditions, as well as the latest forecast. As a result, instruction may be in a Virtual Snow Day mode tomorrow. (Friday) I hope to make that decision soon in order to provide enough time for you to plan accordingly. Please be aware that we will work directly with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and consider local school data when making decisions to alter the instructional mode. To date, health and contact tracing data does not indicate spread occurring within our school buildings, and our mitigation efforts have proven to be successful in creating a safe environment for our students and staff. Thank you for your help!
You are encouraged to do the following to help prevent the spread of illness at home and in school:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow when you cough and sneeze.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Practice social distancing and wear a face covering.
Please keep your child home if they are experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms: fever (I00°F or greater), cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, lack of smell or taste, sore throat, chills, muscle pain, headache, congestion, or runny nose. Also, please follow updated CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health recommendations in an effort to contain the community spread of COVID-19.
The Catasauqua Area School District will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as needed. Please know the health and safety of our students and staff are our highest priorities. If you have any questions or concerns about this information, please contact your building administration.
We thank you for your continued cooperation and support.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Spengler
Superintendent of Schools