All Jackson Public School District schools will return to in-person learning on Thursday, January 6. Teachers will report on January 5. We will continue to offer a virtual instruction option for Pre K-6th grade scholars for families that would like to continue virtual learning. Families who prefer to end virtual instruction will have the option to have their scholars return to our traditional, full-day, in-person schedule by notifying their school.
The Mississippi State Department of Health reported a recent surge in new coronavirus cases following the Christmas and New Year holidays. Additionally, the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recently updated recommendations for isolation and quarantine to balance the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses. According to the new CDC guidelines, any student or employee who tests positive will be required to isolate for at least five days, regardless of vaccination status. If the positive individual has been free from fever and all other COVID-19 symptoms for five days, that individual may return to the school setting.
Due to the recent surge in positive COVID-19 cases in the Jackson area, we are reducing attendance by 50% at all indoor athletic events effective immediately. We will continue to monitor the coronavirus data from state and local officials and make the necessary adjustments to our attendance guidelines. All attendees should continue to wear masks, practice social distancing, and use clear bags at all of our indoor athletic events. Unvaccinated athletes are still subject to weekly COVID-19 tests. We will continue our regular practices of sanitizing each venue.
We currently have over 83 percent of faculty and staff members fully vaccinated and will continue to follow the same layered approaches implemented last semester for health and wellness:
· Mandate proper facial covering/mask-wearing
· Monitor temperatures of students and staff
· Provide hand sanitizer throughout all campuses
· Clean and sanitize all high traffic areas
· Use mitigation strategies to limit student interaction and slow the spread of the virus
(e.g., staggering schedules, movement in cohorts)
· Practice social distancing where possible
· Promote and coordinate vaccination events for staff and students
· Provide screening testing for staff and students in co-curricular activities
Parents are encouraged to keep their scholar at home if their student feels ill.
Masks will continue to be worn by riders and drivers on all school buses and by all faculty, staff, scholars, and visitors inside our school buildings.
