We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday break. It is our collective hope that 2022 will be remembered as the year we finally put this pandemic behind us. With that in mind, we would like to remind you of some very important information as we prepare to return to school on Monday, January 3. 

We will continue to recommend the use of masks for students and staff while indoors at school, though it is not required. Masks will, however, continue to be required for all students and staff on school buses.

Further, we do not require quarantine for any student in close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. This decision will continue to be left to parents. That said, we will continue to publicly report new cases and alert parents of possible exposures. In addition, we ask that any student showing symptoms of COVID-19 remain at home until symptoms are resolved. This is incredibly important as we attempt to navigate another wave of this disease.

COVID-19 symptoms include 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. Students showing symptoms must stay home. 

Vaccination, the wearing of masks, washing hands and maintaining social distance wherever possible all remain important safety measures to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. 

Finally, although you may have heard about new CDC recommendations related to quarantine and isolation periods, currently, our local health department guidelines remain unchanged. Therefore, we will maintain the status quo related to quarantines and isolation periods for staff and students. 

Together, we remain committed as ever to keep our doors open for in-person instruction. We appreciate your assistance and look forward to an exciting 2022! 

Welcome back and happy new year!

Superintendents of Lapeer County School Districts