Issue link: http://accesshealth.uberflip.com/i/1398865
Parents, How You Can Help: With mask mandates being a strong possibility for every school hosting in-person learning in the fall, it is important to prepare students for the expectations that will be present in their classroom. Here are a few considerations for reintroducing masking: ● Have your child wear the mask at home or in public for a few hours each day. This way, they can get accustomed to wearing the mask again if they haven't worn one consistently during the summer. ● Allow students to be a part of the process in deciding the mask that they are most comfortable with, as they will be wearing it for a large portion of their school day. ● Buy extra masks and make sure they always have a spare in their backpack. Teachers need parent support more than ever before. They have always worn several hats in the classroom: educator, friend, mentor, therapist, and nurse. The safety of the children is always a priority, and student needs have been heightened during this pandemic. Now, teachers have the additional layer of maintaining not only a socially distanced, constantly disinfected classroom, but a hyper-awareness of their personal health. In addition, teachers must manage expectations about academic progress, concerns about their students falling behind, and the information that they lost from a lack of traditional learning during the 2020-2021 school year. Teachers are tasked with assessing students, filling in any academic gaps and still making sure children advance this school year. While many students will be in the classrooms learning, these huge tasks that teachers will undertake require time, patience, and understanding from parents. This pandemic has essentially added several balls for teachers to juggle daily. They will not be able to manage these tasks throughout the school year without supportive administrators and parents. It's safe to say the COVID-19 pandemic has altered what schooling looks like inside and outside of the classroom. However, proactively centering safety in schools will allow for the necessary progress in student learning to happen. According to medical professionals, the Delta variant has a viral load 1000-times higher than previous variants. Consult your local school district to find out if COVID-19 masking or other safety protocols are required. As of July 30, 2021, there were 77 active cases and 8 hospitalizations in Lafayette County, with an infection rate of 12.5% (according to the CDC, infection rates should be under 10%). There were 221 new cases in Lafayette County during the month of July. PAGE 11 August Issue 2021