Dear RCPS Community,
As we return to school from what I hope was a relaxing spring break, I want to update you on our COVID-related health and safety strategies. As a result of the decreasing COVID numbers as well as legislative and regulatory changes at the state and federal level, most restrictions have now been lifted. Students and staff are no longer required to wear masks on buses and in school. Restrictions on chaperones for field trips or classroom visitors have also been lifted, and a number of field trips have been approved by the school board.
Families who have COVID-related health concerns for their student or their family are encouraged to have their student wear an appropriate mask consistently and correctly. It is important to remember that this safety measure is not an option when students are eating. As a result, we are using additional spacing for students with those concerns. This means that for the time being, space in the lunch areas is still limited and eating with your student is not yet possible, particularly in schools where lunch space is already limited. Your school will communicate with you once this last restriction can be lifted.
Lastly, RCPS has the option to have students and staff at the middle and high schools participate in weekly PCR COVID tests. This is completely voluntary and simply an option offered by the Virginia Department of Health. If there is sufficient interest, we will send official consent forms home on which families can indicate that they want their student enrolled in this option. Please only complete this survey if you have at least one middle or high school student in your household and would like for that student to participate in the weekly COVID testing program or you are a staff member at a middle or high school who wants to participate. The results of this survey will determine whether or not we implement this program.
https://forms.gle/v9fSxQySNoVKHNH78
Sincerely,
Oskar Scheikl
RCPS Superintendent