Dear DCSD Families,
We wish you all a happy and relaxing Thanksgiving. While current circumstances are less than ideal, there is still so much to be grateful for. We thank our students, families, teachers, staff, and community for your continued support and partnership during these challenging times.
During the Thanksgiving Break, all DCSD schools will be closed and no direct instruction will take place (this includes eLearning). If your child attends a DCSD charter school, please check in with them directly about their schedule for next week.
As our schools will be closed, we will not have office staff available in our schools to take phone calls, or to check voicemails or emails. Should your child receive a positive COVID-19 test, or exhibit symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19, please isolate your child in accordance with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE’s) Isolation and Quarantine Protocols, and contact your medical provider for additional guidance.
If your child is currently in quarantine, please follow that quarantine through the end date.
With DCSD schools closed next week, we may not know if a staff member or student tests positive or becomes symptomatic during the break, and thus may not be able to notify families if their children were exposed to a positive or symptomatic person. Therefore we ask families to use caution and continue to follow health and safety guidelines during the break such as wearing a face covering in public, avoiding social gatherings, washing hands frequently, and staying home when sick.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include sore throat, congestion/runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache/body aches, and new loss of taste or smell. If you have a concern, please contact your medical provider for guidance.
COVID Testing Sites
There are a variety of free COVID-19 Testing Sites available in Douglas County. Click here for more information.
Mental Health Resources
Last, but certainly not least, holidays can be stressful for families and children but even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. There may be feelings of loss associated with being unable to travel or gather with family or friends. In addition, the holidays can trigger memories of the loss of loved ones and other traumatic events.
If you are concerned that your child or other loved one may be experiencing changes in their mood or suicidal behaviors, please reach out to one of the resources listed below. If there is an immediate threat to your child or others, please call 911.
- Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-TALK (8255)
- Douglas County has an anonymous reporting system available at all times. Anyone with a concern for someone’s well-being or safety can use Safe 2 Tell (1-877-542-7233) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- To lessen the risk of exposure for people experiencing behavioral and mental health concerns and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, all are encouraged to call and access community centers. This will allow the Emergency Rooms to focus on the physical health needs of others during this time. Below is a list of community centers in our metro area:
Thank you for doing your part in keeping our students and staff healthy and safe. We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Douglas County School District