How to Quarantine

 

PPHD Safety Precautions for Winter Sports & Activities

 

November 30, 2020 For immediate release

For more information, contact: Kim Engel, Director, 308-760-2415, kengel@pphd.org

Safety precautions for winter sports and activities

Winter sports practices and activities have been happening for the past few weeks. As games and competitions are nearing, the Nebraska School Activities Association and the Governor’s Directed Health Measure outline the following requirements for student, staff, and attendee safety:

Participant households are only being allowed entry, they must sit as a household group at least six foot from other household groups. Attendees must also be on the school list to gain entry. Each school may have a specific limit.

Masks are required, if anyone fails to comply they will be expected to leave.

There may be specific guidance from the host school, it is important that participants and attendees abide by that guidance.

Please respect the host school’s capacity requirements.

If anyone is experiencing any symptoms of illness, please do not attend.

Youth sports and activities are being encouraged to implement precautions as well. It’s important to remember, these safety precautions are critical for the continuity of winter sports and activities.
Unified Command confirms 153 more cases of COVID in the Panhandle since last reporting on Friday, November 27. Recoveries are available on the Panhandle dashboard at www.pphd.org. The investigations are underway, all close contacts will be quarantined.

Avoid the Three Cs: Crowded Places, Close Contact and Confined Spaces

 

CMS Winter Sports Health Guidelines

Below are the Chadron Middle School Health Guidelines for winter sports. We are grateful to have the opportunity to host athletic events for our students. Please take special note of guideline numbers 3, 4, and 5. Thank you for your support in following the guidelines as we strive to keep our schools and community safe.

COVID Restrictions - Scottsbluff MS Wrestling Invite - November 7, 2020

 CMS Wrestling Fans and Families,

COVID restrictions for the middle school wrestling invite in Scottsbluff on Saturday, November 7th are listed below. The meet will begin at 9 AM. Thank you for continued patience and understanding and schools work to keep our students, staff and communities safe. 

Fans can access the tournament brackets and live stream here: http://ow.ly/FVXs50CdKZX

No Spectators at Gordon-Rushville MS Wrestling Invite - Meet will Be Live Streamed

CMS wrestling families and fans,

Due to capacity restrictions, no spectators will be allowed at the November 5th, 2020 Gordon-Rushville MS Wrestling Invite. The meet begins at 1:00 and will be live streamed for families and fans to enjoy at home. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as schools work to keep our students, staff and communities safe.

Here are the direct links to access Gordon-Rushville Wrestling invite live stream.

The livestream will be live at 1pm MST provided by Sheridan County Journal Star.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEhy7UI1rP7XKi-LifYO4tw

Trackwrestling tournament name: GR-MS Invite 20

https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/opentournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=615666132

Student Health Screening & CAPWN Dental Screenings

Below is information regarding student health screenings for the 2020-21 school year. Please note that all 6th and 7th grade students will be screened for hearing, dental, vision, height and weight as required by the state of Nebraska. Students in other grades will receive CAPWN Dental screening ONLY IF permission slips were returned. Please contact the Chadron Middle School office at 432-0708 if you have any questions.

October 5th - Wear Blue for World Day of Bullying Prevention

 

The Quarantine Rules - The Latest State Directed Health Measure

Here are the rules that we play by. Chadron Public Schools has been fortunate to avoid large quarantines already due to practicing the protocols approved by our public health district.

But, we'll say it again...

No matter your opinion on masks, health, science, politics, etc. ...wearing a face mask will prevent larger numbers of quarantines so we can keep students (and staff) in school and participating in activities. Thank you for your support!


September 23, 2020 - Directed Health Measure

List of Local Mental Health Providers

Siblings of Autism Support Group and Training

Chadron Middle School Book Fair Information

Book Fair dates: Sept. 14, 2020 – Sept. 18, 2020


Shopping hours: Arranged with classroom teachers


Introducing Book Fair eWallet! Let your child shop the Fair cash-free with our NEW digital payment option. Learn more on our Book Fair homepage and get started creating an account:

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/chadronmiddleschool


We invite you to visit our Online Fair at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/chadronmiddleschool. Our Online Fair is available from September 8 to September 15.

Thermometer Distribution Program

September 9, 2020
To: Students, Parents, & Guardians
Re: Thermometers

Greetings Chadron Public Schools Parents, Patrons, and Students:

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Chadron Public Schools. Set apart for excellence, our students enjoy dynamic relationships and rigorous curriculum equipping them for the future and challenging them to be lifelong leaders. We believe that every student can learn and will grow when expectations are high and clear.

As you are aware and have felt yourself we face many new challenges this year. It is our aim to partner with you to make sure that our students are receiving a high quality education. We are lucky to be part of one of the best school districts anywhere. The Covid Pandemic has changed our normal operating procedures. Thank you for honoring our plans and procedures. In order to manage these challenges we will continue to evaluate our procedures to make sure our students are safe. We know it will not be perfect, but our goal is to keep in-person instruction happening.

Chadron Public Schools was fortunate to be on the receiving end of a grant that used Keno money to provide our students with thermometers for free. We are appreciative of this gift given to our school. Please use the thermometers to self-screen each morning.

Regards,

Ginger L. Meyer, Superintendent

Do You Know the Standard Response Protocols?

Chadron Public Schools has been proud to work with the iloveuguys Foundation to provide clear, plain, standard responses to emergency events. The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) has undergone a couple of changes in the past year. One is the change from the term "Lockout" to "Secure". 'Lockout' was too similar in sound as 'Lockdown' so the term was switched to maintain a clear understanding of the difference. The other change is the addition of "Hold", which simply asks students and staff to remain in their rooms during class.

Here are brief examples when each would be used in a school or activity setting:

"HOLD" - Keep students in classroom. Ex. A student has a seizure and medical staff need to enter the building without interruptions or distractions in the halls.

"SECURE" - No one enters or leaves the building because of a threat outside the building. Ex. Police are looking for a suspected criminal in the area near the school.

"LOCKDOWN" - Avoid, Deny, Defend. Ex. A threat is inside the building.

"EVACUATE" - Exit the building quickly and safely. Ex. A fire drill or actual fire in the building.

"SHELTER" - Take shelter in a safe area. Ex. Tornado drill or actual tornado warning in announced.

Cardinal Volleyball Health Guidelines

 

Cardinal Football Health Guidelines

2020 Chadron HS/MS Football Health Guidelines 

Admission: HS Adults $ 5.00 Students/Seniors $ 4.00

MS Adults $ 4.00 Students/Seniors $ 3.00



1. Any individual feeling ill or experiencing Covid 19 symptoms should not attend any contest.


2. We ask that Visiting teams use their protocols for transporting to the contest.


3. Hand sanitizer stations will be provided on all entrances to contests


4. Recommended 6 feet distancing between groups.


5. Mask or face coverings are strongly encouraged by spectators.


6. Appropriate social distancing is encouraged on benches, sidelines and at the concessions area.


7. Concessions will be provided. Workers will wear masks.


8. Spectators are encouraged to pay with exact change.


9. Spectators and contestants are encouraged to exit the contest facility immediately following the completion of the event.

10. Chadron High School will follow all NSAA Covid 19 rules and modifications.

11. All guidance from Chadron Public Schools, Directive Health Measures, Panhandle Public Health Guidelines and are subject to change at any time.

12. The safety of all persons in attendance and sportsmanship at our contests are a top priority. Thank you for doing your part in keeping our community and school safe.

Face Mask Guidance for Washing/Wearing/Removing

(Update) Notice from CPS Superintendent

From CPS Superintendent, Ginger Meyer: Today was an eventful day to say the least. Our staff and students have been affected by CoVid and quarantine. For full transparency we now have three high school and one middle school staff member who have tested positive. We have been commended over and over again that our school is doing great with our plan and procedures. They have not quarantined anyone for spread in our buildings.

However, we do have other teachers that have to quarantine because they live in the same home or went to a social event with a positive case. The Admin. Team will meet tomorrow to iron out our personnel plan going forward.

Our CoVid dashboard will be ready next week. It will take the place of these announcements.

Notice from CPS Superintendent

From Chadron Public Schools Superintendent, Ginger Meyer: We were made aware late yesterday afternoon that we have two more positive cases that have ties to our school community. CPS continues to work with PPHD for contact investigations.

As we know CoVid is in our community. We will be developing a communication for families called the Communications Dashboard. It will be located in CoVid button on the school website It will identify cases active and recovered that have implications for CPS. This Dashboard will serve as our press release going forward.

Notice from CPS and COVID-19 Unified Command

 

CMS Standard Operating Procedures

 Below is a link to the CMS Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the 2020-21 school year as well as a video where Mr. Dressel goes through the document. Please contact Mr. Dressel at 432-0708 if you have any questions.

CMS 2020-21 SOP

Back-To-School Slide Show

Chadron Public Schools 2020-21 Activity Prices and Fees

Chadron Public Schools

2020-2021

Activity Prices:

Varsity Admission: Adult $5.00

Junior Varsity Student $4.00

Freshman Senior Citizen $4.00

Middle School Admission:

Adult $4.00

Student $3.00

Senior Citizen $3.00

(excludes tournaments)


Activity Passes:

High School $30.00

Middle School $30.00

Elementary $15.00

Adult $50.00

Senior Citizen $25.00

Participation Fees:

High School $60.00

Middle School $50.00

Family (students) $120.00

Public Health Recommendations for Screening, Exclusion and Re-Admittance

CPS At-Home Learning Program - FAQs

With the new CPS At-Home Learning Program, we want to provide an opportunity to address some frequently asked questions (FAQs).

1) How do I register my student for the CPS At-Home Learning Program?

Go to www.chadronschools.org and click on the CPS At-Home Learning tab.

Scroll to the bottom of the first page and click on the link to complete the information to register

2) What if our family is new to the district?

The family is first required to enroll their students in the district through the district registrar located at the Chadron High School Office (432-0707). Then, if interested in participating in the CPS At-Home Learning Program, the simple registration process listed above would need to be completed as well.

3) Can my student still participate in after school activities, athletics or any other activity?

No. Students enrolled in the CPS At-Home Learning Program will not be eligible to participate in any activity, club or after-school programs.

4) What if my student has an IEP?

Students who qualify for special education services can enroll in the CPS At-Home Learning Program. Individual Education Plans may need to be adjusted to accommodate for the online learning at home. All IEP meetings will be conducted virtually as normally scheduled.

5) What if the school goes to 'Red', and teaches with remote learning like last spring. Will the school use the Acellus online software just like the CPS At-Home Learning Program?

No. Students enrolled to attend in the school would be taught by their same teachers and curriculum only in a remote setting if we go to a 'Yellow' or 'Red' status. Zoom and Google Classroom will predominantly be used to provide instruction.

6) What classes would my student take?

CMS students who enroll on Acellus will take grade level equivalent courses in math, reading/ELA, science and social studies. Visit https://www.acellus.com/for-your-school/#acellus-courses to view a complete list of class offerings.

7) Could we wait until later in the semester to decide? Or try it then switch back to attending in the school building if we don't like it?

Unfortunately, no. The deadline to register for the At-Home Learning Program is August 21st. If a student begins school in the building on Aug. 17th, they have until Aug. 21 to decide whether to transfer to the At-Home Learning Program. Additionally, any student that is enrolled in the At-Home Learning Program will not be able to switch enrollment until the end of a semester. This allows for the continuity of instruction for both the students attending in person as well as at home.

8) Is tutoring available?

Parents who enroll their student in the At-Home Learning Program are assuming the responsibility for student learning. The Acellus learning software is designed to provide guided instruction with virtual teachers therefore, the school district will not provide additional tutoring.

9) What if we don't have internet or a device?

The CPS At-Home Learning Program is not a viable educational option unless the family can ensure internet access with a personal device (computer, chromebook, smartphone, etc.). The school district will not be able to provide a device or internet access for this option to learn at home.

 

10) Can my student receive school breakfasts or lunches?

Yes, we think... We're currently working on plans for a meal pickup during the week. This WILL NOT be the free program provided last spring, students will be charged accordingly either: full pay, reduced pay or free according to the Free/Reduced application guidelines.

 

11) Can my student attend CPS events as a spectator?

Yes. The student can still attend school events as a spectator, just not as a participant.

12) Is there any additional cost for my student to use the Acellus software for the At-Home Learning Program?

No. The school district has purchased the software licensing for our students to use Acellus for the At-Home Program. There will be no cost to the families.

13) Is there anything parents need to do after completing the registration?

No. As long as we have your enrollment information on Infinite Campus, we'll contact the parents/guardians to verify the request. We have some district staff set to be trained on Acellus on August 14th and we anticipate that it could take us another week to get your student enrolled in Acellus classes. We'll email the login directions once we completed each student's schedule.

We appreciate your patience as we proceed in this new endeavor. We anticipate the At-Home Learning Program to be fully available to requested students on/near August 24th. Feel free to call the middle school office if you have any other questions.

CPS At Home Learning Program

Chadron Public Schools will provide students and families an in-home learning option through the CPS At-Home Learning Program. Families who choose to enroll their child(ren) into the CPS At-Home Learning Program will be required to remain in the program for at least one semester to ensure continuity of learning. Students who participate in the At-Home Learning Program will not be eligible to participate in extracurricular or after school activities. If you are planning on enrolling your child in the At-Home Learning Program, please complete the registration form by August 21st, 2020 at 4:00pm. More information and the registration form can be found on the district website or here: CPS At-home Learning Program.

First day of School Moved to Monday, August 17th

We'll give two extra days summer! :-)

With the many changes to the procedures of school due to COVID-19 concerns, Chadron Public schools will spend two extra days with teachers for training and preparations before students arrive. Pending School Board approval at the next regular meeting, the first day of school for students will be moved to August 17th. No announcement has been made whether it'll be a full-day or 1:30 dismissal.

Teacher are already scheduled for three full-days of inservice trainings on a variety of topics, the two extra days will provide time for additional training and practice of online learning platforms, discussions on instruction and grades during possible prolonged student absences as well as time to finalize classroom management and room arrangements for preventative COBID-19 measures.

Notice of COVID-19 Diagnosis

(From The Panhandle Public Health District www.pphd.org)

5th Grade and New Student Tours & Other Back-To-School Information

During the week of August 3rd-7th, 5th grade students and new students can schedule time to tour the middle school building. To set up a tour, please contact the CMS office at 432-0708. Parents are welcomed to join the tour, but no more than 3 family members (including the student) can be in a group. Also, masks will be required during tours without exception.

Aug. 10-12 will be unavailable during the day due to staff trainings throughout the district.

Please find additional and important back-to-school information below. More information regarding virtual parent meetings will come out later this week.

• Sign up for remind to receive text messages from the school. To sign up, text the message @chadronms to the number 81010 to sign up. It is also recommend that you download the remind app on your phone or device.

• Student schedules can be viewed on the Infinite Campus Parent and Student Portals. Schedules will be mailed early next week. It is important that students DO NOT lose these schedules because we will not have our usual back-to-school assembly on the first day of school. More information about the first day of school will be covered during the virtual parent meetings.

• School supply lists were posted to Facebook and Twitter on Tuesday, July 28th. The list is also below. Please note that students will not be issued school lockers. Instead, students will be allowed to carry their backpacks from class to class. This strategy will enable the school to stagger passing periods and limit congestion in the hallways. If your student needs a backpack, please contact the CMS office and we will provide one.

Retirement Card Shower in Honor of Dr. Winchester

ONLINE Fine Arts Summer Classes Opportunity

Summer ONLINE offerings for school-age students and adult learners from Calibraska Arts Initiative! Over fifty classes in the arts including: Animation, Film, Comedy, Acting, Music, Dance, Creative Writing and more! These unique classes run from June 15 – July 31 and are taught by teaching artists (professionals in their field) across the United States. Scholarships with 25%, 50%, and 100% discounts are available as well as material kits. These financial assistance programs will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

To register and to get more information please visit calibraska.org

CPS Food Service - Summer Schedule

Starting May 27th, Grab-n-Go lunches will be offered only twice a week and from the front of the high school as the only pick up location.

May 18, 2020 - Cardinal Cast (Middle School Edition

In the last installment of Cardinal Cast (Middle School Edition) for the 2019-20 school year, Mr. Dressel talks about wrapping up the school year. Topics include: Percent of student who have completed all remote learning requirements, encouragement for students who still have some work to finish, returning school materials, report cards and where information about next year will be posted (we don't have any information right now).

Welcome to 5th Grade Video

Click on the link below to view the welcome to CMS video that the 5th grade teachers made for our incoming 5th grade students. In addition, Mr. Dressel has scheduled Zoom meetings with Mrs. Grant's, Mrs. Motz's, Mrs. Garcia's and Mrs. Carrick's classes later this week.

Welcome to 5th Grade! We can't wait to meet you all!

Parent Survey - Continuation of lunch services through June

Lunchtime Solutions is requesting information to decide if lunch services should be continued through the month of June. Please complete before May 13th.  Any questions regarding the survey may be directed to Brenda Fritzler or Dr. Winchester (at Central Office).

https://bit.ly/2X006LN

May 1st, 2020 Cardinal Cast (Middle School Edition)

Topics include: reminder that next week (May 4th-8th) is the last week of new material for remote learning classes, reminders about textbook and library book returns and information about how CPS will celebrate Mental Health Awareness month in May.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! The Chadron Public Schools District Mental Health Committee has put together a series of flyers & activities that we will be sharing throughout May to promote positive mental health & mental health awareness. #MentalHealthAwareness #CardinalsRising

April 24th Cardinal Cast (Middle School Edition)

Mr. Dressel reflects on the end of the 4th week of remote learning at CMS. Topics include: feelings of burnout, finishing the year strong, textbook and library book returns, virtual building tour for incoming 5th graders, and physicals and immunizations.

Today (4/22) is Earth Day’s 50th anniversary!

In honor of Earth Day's 50th anniversary, Chadron's chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan, volunteer organization, is encouraging everyone to gather online. They are sponsoring “Uniting from Home” on Sat. 4/25, 11 am MDT (12 CDT/1pm EDT) for the incredibly inspiring keynote speaker, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe: a climate scientist, evangelical Christian, and host of the podcast “Global Weirding”. Afternoon optional sessions include climate advocacy training, how to organize during the pandemic, and how to talk about climate in a depolarizing way.  For details and FREE & easy registration, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uniting-from-home-registration-101119077884.  Sponsored by the Chadron chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

April 17th, 2020 Cardinal Cast (Middle School Edition)

Mr. Dressel reflects on the end of the 3rd week of remote learning at CMS. Topics include: library and textbook drop off, students submitting corrected work and assessments to achieve mastery scores, the last week for new content in classes and changes to reporting student progress in Infinite Campus.

April 9, 2020 - Cardinal Cast (Middle School Edition)

Mr. Dressel briefly reflects on the 2nd week of remote learning at CMS, changes to the mastery learning grading curve, corrections that are being made to some Infinite Campus grade books, and schedules for packet pick up/drop off and food service over Easter weekend.

Girls Summer Softball Registrations

Chadron Girls Summer Softball Association is now collecting registrations in anticipation that our season will proceed as normal. Registering now will speed up the process of assigning teams, should a season occur. Registrations are due April 15, however we are NOT collecting money at this time. Please print and fill out the registration form and mail it to PO Box 574, Chadron NE 69337.

April 3, 2020 Cardinal Cast (Middle School Edition)

Food Service Over Easter Break (April 10th - April 13th)

Panhandle Schools Will Remain Close For The Remainder Of The 2019-20 School Year.

Google Classroom Resource for Parents

Parents,

Mrs. Smith created a series of slides that you can access to learn more about Google Classroom. These slides may be especially helpful if your child is having a hard time logging on and you want to help them. Please follow the link to access the slides.

Google Classroom for Parents

3/26 Cardinal Cast (CMS Edition) - Expectations and Packet Pick Up Procedures

60-days of Free Internet from Great Plains Communication (See attached Flier for Details)

Attached is a notice from Great Plains Communications regarding internet service. The short of it is families who are not current customers can get 60-free days of service! Read the attached flier for more information.

Nebraska Panhandle Schools will Remain Closed Through May 1st

Please note:
* The schedule for students to access the school to gather items from their lockers will remain unchanged.

*Food Service will begin on Monday, March 23rd from 11:00AM-12:30 PM. Food pick up sites are at CMS and CIS.

Congratulations to our CPS NHD State Qualifiers

Our buildings may be closed, but our students continue to achieve! Congratulations!

Congratulations to the following students who qualified for the State NHD contest:

Senior Group Websites:

1st Susan LaFlesche Picotte—Lauren Collins, Grace Sorenson

2nd Smallpox Vaccine---Gracie Jones, Alexis Conboy, Jameson Margetts

Junior Individual Websites

1st Rosetta Stone, Breaking the Barrier—Eliu Paopao

3rd John L. Sullivan---Uzziah Schwartz

Senior Individual Website

1st Kuklinski Breaks the Iron Curtain---Thomas Kaus

Junior Individual Exhibit

3rd Florence Nightingale---Jaelyn Brown

Junior Paper

1st Alexander Hamilton---Lucy Rischling

Senior Paper

1st Jacqueline Cochran---Maralee Rischling

Junior Documentary

3rd American Woman Pilots of WWII---Talon Jelinek, Myles Nesheim, Thomas Smith

Senior Group Documentary

1st Cassidy Nesheim, Jackson Smith

Senior Individual Documentary

1st Tyler Kaus

Special Awards

Great Plains Award-- Lauren Collins, Grace Sorenson

Military Award--Talon Jelinek, Myles Nesheim, Thomas Smith

Food Service Pick Up Begins on March 23

3/20 CMS Cardinal Cast - CMS Instructional Guide During School Closure

Food Service Survey

We are trying to find out, how many families would like a grab-n-go breakfast and lunch.  Please take this one minute survey. Pending approval, we would like to start on Monday March 23rd.  Pick up times have yet to be determined. Please take the survey by the end of the day on Thursday, March 19th. Thank you.

https://forms.gle/CqTV3RBxinLjaywR6

Student Materials Pick Up

8th grade students can have access to the MS building today from 12:00-3:30 to pick up personal materials, materials for learning from home, and medications. The schedule for the other grades is listed below and will follow the same timeframe (12-3:30):
Friday - 7th grade
Monday - 6th grade
Tuesday - 5th grade

Students will be escorted individually (6' or more distances) to their locker and back so we can wipe down any touched surfaces.

Please contact the CMS office with questions (432-0708). Thank you for your support and patience in these unconventional times!

3/17 Cardinal Cast -The District's Vision & Plan During School Closure

Access to Online Library

Need a new book? Follow the instructions below to access the Nebraska Cloud Online Library! 

Home Technology Survey

***IF YOU ALREADY TOOK THE SURVEY ON REMIND, PLEADE DO NOT DO IT AGAIN***

Below is a link to the the home survey to assess options to provide digital resources to students. Please complete this survey before noon on Wednesday, March 18th. Thank you.

https://forms.gle/e6ncL5d5PPi9AsPZ8

Full Press Release from PPHD RE 2-week School Closure

From Dr. Winchester - School closed for next two weeks

After consultation with Panhandle Public Health District and COVID-19 Unified Command, it has been determined that Chadron Public Schools along with the other ESU 13 schools in the Nebraska Panhandle will be closed for the next two weeks.  The State of Nebraska has elevated the risk assessment this evening and schools are engaging in preemptive dismissal to try to decrease the spread of disease.

We ask that students and community members immediately begin engaging in social distancing.  There will be no practices or school activities during the 14 day period.  Unified Command and Regional West have asked that anyone who has traveled to areas with community transmission of COVID-19 to self-monitor and self-quarantine.  At this time there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Panhandle.  Additional information will be forthcoming.

3/15 Notice

Chadron Public Schools will be open tomorrow (3/16) and remain open until directed otherwise by
Panhandle Public Health District. If your child is sick or will be absent, please contact your child’s school
and keep them home.
Our goals are:
(1) Keep students & staff as healthy (physically, emotionally, and mentally) as possible so we can remain
open as long as possible.

(2) Keep our health care system healthy-thus we need to do what we can to reduce the spread.

From Dr. Winchester, Superintendent of Chadron Public Schools

Chadron Public Schools will have classes Monday as scheduled. There will be no After School Program next week due to the extended spring break for CSC. We’ve been in contact with local, district and state officials and health departments regarding this dynamic situation. A press release with more information will be released Monday at 1:30pm.

Negative results on COVID-19 Test

3/10 - PRESS RELEASE

3/9 - Coronavirus Update from CPS Superintendent, Dr. Caroline Winchester

Coronavirus Update 3.9.20

Dr. Matt Blomstedt, Commissioner of Education, held a Zoom meeting with Superintendents on Sunday.  A community case of coronavirus was confirmed in Fremont.  Fremont schools will be closed this week in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. The Fremont case is unique in that there was a specific event where a number of Fremont students were potentially exposed and the school district was three days away from spring break. It was also shared that there have been no fatalities for anyone under the age of 10, and only one between the ages of 10-20. This includes China.

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) created a website with Coronavirus resources https://www.education.ne.gov/publichealth/resources/.  The emphasis continues on Prevention and Preparation.

Dannette Smith, CEO of DHHS, shared if people are sick, they need to stay home. The DHHS website is http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx.

The emphasis continues on Prevention and Preparation.  CPS teachers and administrators are working on strategies for continuing instruction in the event of a prolonged school closure.  NDE is encouraging innovative solutions to maintain a sense of normalcy for students and families.  If prolonged school closures become necessary, NDE will work with schools concerning rule and regulatory issues.

CPS policies are continuing to be evaluated and revised if needed.  Custodial staff continue to follow recommended procedures from the CDC.

Panhandle Public Health (PPH) continues to provide school districts with updates, information, and resources (http://pphd.org).  School closure decisions will be handled regionally and will come from PPH.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need more information.

Sincerely,


Dr. Caroline B. Winchester
Superintendent

Superintendent Letter on Contagious Illness - Prevention and Preparation

3.2.20

Dear Parents, Students, and Patrons:

We want to update you on Chadron Public Schools district plan regarding COVID-19 (commonly referred to as the coronavirus). Current Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance is emphasizing prevention and preparation.  As with any contagious illness, we are working closely with Panhandle Public Health District (http://pphd.org) and will follow all guidelines they share with us.  The district is monitoring the developing information related to the spread of COVID-19.  To date, the district is unaware of any native cases of COVID-19 being confirmed in our state. In preparation, the district is reviewing its relevant policies and procedures so we will be prepared to respond to any outbreak of communicable disease that may occur.  We added a Pandemic Plan to the District Safety plan.  Should this situation interfere with the district’s ordinary operations or schedule, you will be provided notice in the customary fashion. 

Since this is the height of cold and flu season, Parents/Guardians, please make sure your emergency contact information is up to date. 

This is a dynamic situation and information will likely change moving forward.  We encourage you to remain informed about the spread of the coronavirus, and would recommend that you visit the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov)for further information as it develops.  We would also encourage you to use this opportunity to remind your students of the importance of getting rest and washing hands, especially during cold and flu season. 

As a best practice for overall health in cold and influenza season, the CDC recommends that individuals receive the influenza vaccination and engage in everyday, preventive measures to prevent the spread of germs and avoid illness, such as:

• Wash hand frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Avoid touching eyes, mouth, and nose with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick. The CDC recommends that individuals remain home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever without medication or signs of a fever (i.e. chills, feeling warm, flushed appearance).  
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately discard the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Take any antiviral medications prescribed to you as instructed.

Thank you for your attention.  Please feel free to contact me for further information and please pass this information along to others.

Sincerely,


Dr. Caroline B. Winchester
Superintendent

Domino's Pizza Night Out a HUGE SUCCESS!

Chadron Middle School would like to send a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the Domino's Night Out event. Domino's of Chadron donated 25% of all proceeds sold on the selected day and CMS received a check for $447! Domino's also tracked which classroom brought in the most classroom pizza slips. Mrs. Merkel's Block 1A class had the most and they get to enjoy a class pizza party. Thank you again to Domino's and all of the families who made this donation possible.

Title VI Indian Education Committee Meeting on Monday, March 2nd at 3:30 at the CPS Central Office

There will be a Title VI Indian Education Parent Committee Meeting on Monday, March 2nd @ 3:30 at the CPS Central Office. All Native American families and Native American high school students welcome. At the meeting we will be reviewing committee bylaws and the Title VI application.

Girls on the Run is SO MUCH FUN!!!

5th and 6th grade girls interested in participating in Girls on the Run, online registration is now open.  Visit www.GOTRNebraska.org for a complete schedule and to register. 

Positive Descriptive Feedback at CMS

Over the past 3 years, Chadron Middle School (CMS) has been working to implement Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports (PBiS) in our school. This process has included the introduction of universal, Tier I, classroom supports, formalized processes on how to consistently handle student behavior, and methods to assess program effectiveness. While we still have room for growth in these areas, and a lot work ahead of us as we implement Tier II and III supports, I am extremely proud of how hard our staff has worked to get Tier I supports in place.

In December, CMS introduced Positive Descriptive Feedback (PDF) to our faculty and staff. The idea behind PDF is that kids improve behavior through specific performance feedback that accurately describes the positive behavior that teachers, staff and administrators observe. Heather Gill, Chadron's PBiS coach, provided an in-service training to faculty and administration that explained the power of PDF and ways that we can begin to implement it in school. PDF is simple in concept, but it takes conscience effort to move away from nondescript praise like, "Good Job, that's correct" to descriptive feedback like, "I like the way that you explained your thought process to get the answer " and remembering that students who struggle are the students who need this kind of feedback most.

As we move into a new year and through the 2nd semester, it is my hope that everyone at CMS becomes comfortable with providing and receiving Positive Descriptive Feedback and that it has the intended outcome of helping to improve school climate, culture and student behavior. 

Best Wishes,

Nick Dressel
Chadron Middle School Principal