Please see the attached document for information regarding our return to school on Monday, August 24.
We are on track to start face-to-face instruction on Monday, August 24. We look forward to seeing you again!
The Southwest Parke Board meeting is tonight at 7 PM in the RPHS Cafeteria. It is open to the public. Masks are required. Social distancing will be in effect. See the agenda here. Meeting will also be live streamed.
Statement of Southwest Parke Community School Corporation Regarding COVID and the Move to E-Learning until August 24, 2020
On Thursday, August 6, 2020, all staff members reported to work at Southwest Parke. Masks were required and social distancing was encouraged.
On Sunday, August 9, 2020, two staff members at Riverton Parke presented with symptoms (fever, chills, aches, etc.) and sought testing for COVID. The same day, they notified the corporation and were placed on quarantine.
On Sunday, August 9, 2020, a student at Riverton Parke presented with symptoms. The same day, the parent notified the school corporation and indicated testing would occur on Monday, August 10, 2020. The student and the student’s family were placed on quarantine.
As of this morning, the school was notified of positive test results on those under quarantine. The school corporation contacted the local health department. The local health department identified other individuals within the school who should be quarantined due to potential close contact. Those individuals were immediately notified and themselves quarantined.
In each of these cases, symptoms presented on Sunday, August 9, 2020, and those involved contacted the school immediately.
The move to e-learning until Monday, August 24, 2020 allows additional time for contact tracing and notification. It also allows time for deep cleaning of all facilities and buses to help reduce the risk of COVID transmission.
We appreciate the staff of the Parke County Health Department and their assistance in this matter.
**Urgent Information** - Tuesday, August 11, 2020
All students will be dismissed from school today at 1 PM. There will be no after school care provided.
All Southwest Parke schools will operate on an e-learning schedule for the rest of this week and all of next week. Students will return to face-to-face instruction on Monday, August 24th.
We are moving to this e-learning schedule due to COVID cases and suspected COVID cases that are presenting at this time within our students and staff. We are working with our local health department and neighboring health departments to ensure that contract tracing can be accomplished. During this schedule change, I encourage you to keep practicing social distancing, keep washing your hands, and keep wearing masks in order to reduce possible spread of the virus.
Please know our number one priority is the health and safety of our students. We will continue to monitor this situation and provide you with updates on a regular basis.
Welcome back to school! There have been many questions about masks in schools. Here's a link to the Governor's Executive Order: https://www.in.gov/gov/files/Executive%20Order%2020-37%20Face%20Covering%20Requirement.pdf
Here's a visual guid to help us navigate illness and return to school for 2020-2021. I hope you find this useful.
The Southwest Parke Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday, August 12 at 7 PM in the High School Cafeteria. This meeting is open to the public. Masks are required. Social distancing is required.
The Governor has announced all students in grades 3 through 12 will be required to wear masks in schools effective July 27, 2020. Masks are highly recommended for students in grades K through 2. All faculty and staff will be required to wear a mask in schools. More info to come.
Information regarding the SWP Virtual Academy has been updated. Here it is: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/811452/SWP_Virtual_Academy__updated_7.22.20_.pdf
Another FAQ: Will the school notify parents if there is a positive case in a classroom? Per my dialogue with the Parke County Health Department this morning, they will receive information regarding positive cases from physicians. The health department is then responsible for all pertinent notifications and contact tracing for COVID cases.
We have received several questions regarding our reopening plan and the start of school. In an effort to help respond to question, we have created a FAQ document. It will be updated as needed. Here it is!
UPDATED (July 16) GRADUATION 2020 UPDATE
Due to the recent announcement made by the Governor extending stage 4.5 for an additional two weeks, we will continue to limit the number of attendees to the 2020 graduation to follow current state guidelines. Each graduate received four tickets via mail to share with family/friends. Tickets will be required to attend the ceremony. If for some reason a graduate will not be attending graduation, please notify Mr. Kersey (kerseyk@swparke.k12.in.us) or Mrs. Cleghorn (cleghorna@swparke.k12.in.us).
When: July 18, 2020 at 10:00am
Where: Frank Ciolli Field/Riverton Parke Jr./Sr.High School Football Field (weather permitting - rain out location will be in the gymnasium)
Attendees are welcome to use the home side bleachers or bring chairs to spread out on the sides of the bleachers and track.
Remember that social distancing guidelines will be followed and we ask attendees to do the same. Masks are welcome, but not required.
Please continue to be understanding and patient during this unprecedented time.
Graduates: Please report to the school at 8:30am.
Guests: Gates open at 9:00am.
It is not our intention to have students wear masks all the time. We would like masks to be worn in situations where social distancing is difficult. Here's some mask guidance from the Indiana Department of Education.
Parents/guardians: We need your input regarding the reopening of schools. After you have read and thoughtfully considered our plan for reopening schools, please complete the survey found here: https://forms.gle/Pn4qWrjbo2ckFh5w8
The Southwest Parke Online Academy may be a good option for some of our students who have concerns about COVID-19. Information may be found here: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/793087/SWP_Online_Academy.pdf
The Southwest Parke Plan for Reopening Schools can be found here: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/793086/Southwest_Parke_Plan_for_Reopening_Schools_in_August_2020.pdf
SWP Board meets tonight at 7 PM in the RPHS Cafeteria. Public is invited to attend. Masks are recommended. Social distancing will be observed. Meeting will be streamed on our Facebook page. The agenda is her for your review.
There have been questions about work permits. Per the Dept of Labor, student work permits are still suspended at this time. No permit is needed to go to work. If your employer has questions, have them contact the Dept of Labor.
The July 8, 2020 Board of Trustees meeting will be held in the High School Cafeteria at 7 PM. This is an open meeting and members of the public may attend.
