Hello Ledgers! I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Allisen Willis, the new Coordinator of Health Services at St. Mary’s Springs Academy. I have been a Registered Nurse for almost 11 years. I bring with me a background in Surgery, ER and Urgent Care. My family and I are Fond du Lac natives. I graduated from SMSA, as did my husband, Jake. We have two young children who will also be starting their journey at SMSA this year. I am so excited to once again be a part of the SMSA community and look forward to the school year ahead!
After an unbelievable 18 months of successfully navigating COVID-19 in our schools and community, SMSA is excited to provide in-person learning and virtual learning options this fall. While in-person, we continue to ask our parent(s)/guardian(s) to monitor their child for symptoms and keep them home, if they are sick. If symptoms are noted at school, parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified and the child will need to be picked up from school promptly. Testing will be recommended. Students may return when they are symptom-free. Any student being sent home will be asked to wear a mask until they are picked up.
Symptom Checker: Please check your child for the following symptoms prior to each school day.
At least two of the following symptoms = stay home
- Fever over 100℉
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Sore Throat
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Unusual Fatigue
- Congestion or runny nose
OR
At least one of the following symptoms = stay home
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of taste
- Loss of smell
Quarantine Guidelines
- Students or staff members who test positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for 10 days.
- The 10-day isolation period begins the day the individual becomes symptomatic OR if asymptomatic, the day the positive test sample was collected.
- Individuals must quarantine through day 10 and can return to school on day 11 (some may have to isolate longer because of symptoms not improving).
- Students or staff members who are identified as a close contact to someone who has COVID-19 outside of their household will not need to quarantine if they are asymptomatic or if they have been vaccinated.
- Students or staff who are close contacts to a household member who has COVID-19 will need to quarantine unless they are vaccinated. A 14-day quarantine is recommended; however, it may be shortened to 7-10 days (depending on symptomatology and test results) from the last contact with the positive individual.
- If the close contact has still not had any symptoms of COVID-19 after 10 days from when the close contact occurred, they can return to school.
- If the close contact has not had any symptoms of COVID-19 and receives a negative COVID-19 test result on day 6 of their quarantine or later, they can return from quarantine after 7 days.
- “Close contact” remains defined as six feet for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period of time.
- It is still recommended that anyone who is found to be a close contact be tested, regardless of whether or not they are experiencing symptoms.
- Students or staff members who become symptomatic after being identified as a close contact to someone who has COVID-19 must quarantine until they have been fever-free for 24 hours, have seen an improvement in symptoms and have received negative PCR test results. IF A POSITIVE PCR TEST – follow the above guidelines.
- Those who are symptomatic and don’t get tested must be quarantined for 10 days from when their symptoms first began.
We will continue to promote hand washing, sanitizing, and covering one’s cough/sneeze. Routine cleaning and disinfection of common surfaces in schools will also be encouraged. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. I can be reached at (920) 322-8017 or via email at awills@smsacademy.org. I look forward to our partnership!
Be well and stay healthy, Ledgers,
Allisen Willis (‘04)
Coordinator of Health Services
