Concordia Charter School – Providing educational excellence and equity to the most vulnerable children in Arizona.

COVID-19 News

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Safe to Return to In-Person Instruction FY2024

Safe Return to In-Person Instruction Plan Template 10.22.2022

 Updates

Previous Updates

  • January 3, 2022- New Policy Quarantine Policy Changes – 1-3-2022
    Dear Parents/Guardians,We hope you had a restful holiday and were able to spend time with your loved ones. As we welcome students back into our classrooms from a well-deserved winter break, our highest priority continues to be the health and safety of our students, families, and staff. As we start the New Year, we are putting additional health and safety measures in place to ensure students and staff are safe and that our schools can continue to be open.
  • Masks- We highly recommend that masks be worn indoors for students, staff and any visitors on campus.  Students wanting to wear masks need to have a mask from home as the school doesn’t have masks to provide to students who forget them.
      • If your child has COVID-like symptoms or feels ill before the fifth day, please have your child isolate and take the second home test immediately.
      • If your child tests positive on either home test, your child must isolate for 5 days following the first positive result. Please contact your child’s school immediately to inform them and for further guidance.
      • If your child tests negative on the first test have them take the second test on day 5.  If that test is also negative your child can return to school on day 6 and it is not mandatory to wear a mask, but highly encouraged.
    • Any student who tests positive on a take-home test should immediately report it to the school and begin isolating. Students who test positive must isolate for 5 days and can return to school on Day 6. No negative test is required to return to school, but a mask must be worn at all time indoors and outdoors for the next 5 days following their return.
      • Whether the individual is vaccinated or unvaccinated, isolation at home for 5 day after your test was conducted is required.
      • After isolating at home for 5 days:
        • If the individual has no symptoms or symptoms are resolving and there is no fever for 24 hours without medicine, they may return to school or work, but are required to wear a mask indoors and outdoors for 5 days.
      • If symptoms last more than 5 days, the individual can return when symptoms are resolving and there is no fever for 24 hours without medicine, followed by 5 days of required masking indoors and outdoors.
      • All positive tests must be reported. Student cases should be reported to the school. Employee cases should be reported to their supervisor.New Quarantine PolicyOur goal is to ensure that students safely remain in school as much as possible, and we have updated our policies to ensure we meet this goal.

        Students – Close contact or COVID-19 in the household

        • If the student is vaccinated, no quarantine is required. The student will be required to wear a mask indoors and outdoors at school for 10 days after the exposure.
        • Students within 3-6 feet of an infect student don’t have to quarantine if both students are engaged in consistent and correct use of well-fitted masks at all times. The student will be required to wear a mask indoors and outdoors at school for 10 days after the exposure.
        • If the student is not vaccinated, the student will be required to quarantine for 5 days, followed by 5 days of required masking at school indoors and outdoors.
        • Students will be considered unvaccinated unless proof of vaccine is voluntarily provided to the school.
        • Any student exhibiting symptoms must stay home for at least 24 hours and be tested or quarantined for 5 days if symptoms last more than 24 hours.
        • It is recommended that anyone who has been exposed get tested 5 days after exposure.

        COVID-19-positive students and staff

      • Home Test Kits 

      • Beginning January 3, schools will distribute free, take-home COVID-19 rapid test kits to any student or staff who have been in a classroom where a positive case has been identified.
        • If your child was exposed to COVID-19 at school, please help your child take the first test on the day they receive the home test and help your child take the second test five days after exposure or at the first indication of symptoms.
        • Your child may not continue to attend school even if your child receives a negative test results and does not experience any symptoms of COVID-19.
  • We know that nothing is more important to you than keeping your children in school, learning in healthy and safe environments. The changes we are announcing today aim to keep students in our classrooms with the least amount of disruption as possible, while putting their safety front and center.

    We will continue to update you as the situation changes.  We thank you in advance for partnering with us to keep our children and staff safe in school.

    Brooke Jerde, Concordia Charter School Principal

Archived Updates

  • January 19, 2021

    Dear Families,

    I first want to thank each of you for your patience and understanding during these very trying times.  The negative impact the pandemic has had on our students’ academic and social/emotional state is overwhelming.  The decisions we have made since last March have all been after much consideration to the safety of our students and our staff.

    The Concordia Charter School board met on January 14th to discuss plans for reopening the school for full class instruction.   Decisions to reopened have hinged on maintaining a healthy staff and the availability of the vaccine.  Now that all staff members have the ability to get vaccinated, it is time to move forward to reopening.  Because the vaccine requires two doses and a two-three week effectiveness timeline we decided to wait a few more weeks before bringing all students back on campus.

    To provide as little disruption to students’ instructional time it was decided to move Spring Break up to the beginning of February and resume full class instruction on February 16th.  The changing of schedules from distance learning to hybrid to in school has been a hardship to all.  Once we resume full class instruction on campus we intend to maintain that mode of instruction through the end of the school year on May 21st.

    With intent, our school is extremely different than others.  We are purposefully designed to have small class sizes – no more than 18 per classroom.  We are averaging 15 per class right now.  This allows for much more individualized attention to meet each student’s academic and social goals while still maintaining proper social distancing.  We will continue with the mitigation strategies implemented at the beginning of the pandemic.  The staggered A/B starting schedule will be continued.  All staff and students will be required to wear a mask at all times with the exception of recess and meals.  Classes will remain in their own segregated pods throughout the course of the day.  Curbside drop off and pick up will continue as well as student temperature and health checks performed daily.

    I hope that you will decide to hang in there with us.  Your cooperation has been exceptional and I look forward to continuing to serve you and your family with the highest quality of education you have come to expect.

    Again, I truly appreciate all of your efforts.

    Sincerely,

    M Roush-Meier

    Margaret Roush-Meier, M.Ed., Director

    Concordia Charter School, Inc.

  • Update as of 1/14/2021: At this time, we have 0 active case at Concordia Charter School. The AZ School Benchmark show that the we have 0 benchmarks in green, 0 benchmarks in yellow, and 3 benchmarks in red.   Due to the rising numbers, we will be continuing Distance Learning Instruction till further notice. Please make sure your child is logging into the computer programs from home.  Your child’s teacher will be emailing you to let you know what time the class needs to be on Zoom each day for live instruction.  We will update you again next Friday once the new benchmark numbers are released.  Please be sure to check your emails and watch for letters each Friday.
  • Update as of 1/8/2021: At this time, we have 0 active case at Concordia Charter School. The AZ School Benchmark show that the we have 0 benchmarks in green, 0 benchmarks in yellow, and 3 benchmarks in red.   Due to the rising numbers, we will be continuing Distance Learning Instruction till further notice. Please make sure your child is logging into the computer programs from home.  Your child’s teacher will be emailing you to let you know what time the class needs to be on Zoom each day for live instruction.  We will update you again next Friday once the new benchmark numbers are released.  Please be sure to check your emails and watch for letters each Friday.  Parent Letter – Friday Updates – 1-8-2021
  • Update as of 1/2/2021: Happy New Year! At this time, we have 0 active case at Concordia Charter School. The AZ School Benchmark show that the we have 0 benchmarks in green, 0 benchmarks in yellow, and 3 benchmarks in red.   Due to the rising numbers, we will be continuing Distance Learning Instruction till further notice. Please make sure your child is logging into the computer programs from home.  Your child’s teacher will be emailing you to let you know what time the class needs to be on Zoom each day for live instruction.  We will update you again next Friday once the new benchmark numbers are released.  Please be sure to check your emails and watch for letters each Friday.  Parent Letter – Friday Updates -1-2-2021
  • Update as of 12/11: Due to the rising numbers of cases per 100,000 and percent positivity we will be continuing Distance Learning Instruction till further notice.  Please make sure your child is logging into the computer programs from home.  Your child’s teacher will be emailing you to let you know what time the class needs to be on Zoom each day for live instruction.  We will update you again next Friday once the new benchmark numbers are released.  Please be sure to check your emails and watch for letters each Friday.  Read more- Parent Letter – Friday Updates – 12-11-2020 (1)
  • Update as of 12/4: Due to the rising numbers of cases per 100,000 and percent positivity, we will be continuing Distance Learning Instruction till further notice.  Please make sure your child is logging into the computer programs from home.  Your child’s teacher will be emailing you to let you know what time the class needs to be on Zoom each day for live instruction.  We will update you again next Friday once the new benchmark numbers are released.  Please be sure to check your emails and watch for letters each Friday.  Read more- Parent Letter – Friday Updates – 12-4-2020 (1)
  • Update as of 11/24: We have decided that, with the rising COVID-19 numbers around the state, we are going to REMAIN in Distance Learning until further notice. Student device pick-up will take place between 9-11 A.M on Monday, November 30th in the drop-off line. All students will need their own device to use for online instruction. Free student meals will be distributed on Monday at the same time as device distribution. Grab and Go meals will continue to be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays and MUST be pre-ordered. 
  • Click HERE to Pre-order Student Meals
  • ALL CONCORDIA STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE SCHOOL MEALS AT NO COST.
  • Update as of 11/19-2020: Due to the number of staff that were in close contact of a positive case we will be continuing Distance Learning Instruction through Friday, November 28th in hopes to return to Hybrid Instruction on Monday, November 30th. Please make sure your child is logging into the computer programs from home if possible and completing the paper packets that were sent home by the teacher. We will update you again next Friday once the new benchmark numbers are released. Please be sure to check your emails and watch for letters each Friday.,  Click here for the most recent Parent Letter – Friday Updates – 11-19-2020
  • Update as of 11/15/2020: Due to a positive case on campus, we have made the difficult decision to move to distance learning on Monday, November 16. Student learning packets will be available for pick-up on Tuesday, November 17, between 7:45-8:45 AM. Parents need to check email regularly for more information.
  • Update as of 11/13/2020: Using our school and public health guidelines to make our decisions we will be changing to Hybrid Instruction starting Monday, November 16th.
    • Students in group A will be in person on Monday and Thursday.
    • Students in group B will be in person on Tuesday and Friday.
    • Please make sure your child is logging into the computer programs from home on their Distance Learning days and completing any paper packets that are sent home by the teacher.
    • We will update you again next Friday once the new benchmark numbers are released.  Please be sure to check your emails and watch for letters each Friday.
    • Click here to read the full Nov. 16 Parent Letter – COVID update
  • Update as of 11/6/2020: At this time, we have 0 active case at Concordia Charter School. The AZ School Benchmark shows that we have 1 benchmark in green, 1 benchmark in yellow, and 1 benchmark in red.  Using the updated guidelines to make our decisions we will remain in Full In-Person Instruction next week and will update you again next Friday once the new benchmark numbers are released. Please be sure to check your emails and watch for letters each Friday. Click HERE to read the full letter- November 6, 2020 Parent Update
  • Update as of 11/3/2020: We want to give everyone an update with some information on how we are navigating the current situation with COVID-19. Everyone has been doing a great job of monitoring your child/ren for symptoms and keeping them home when they are sick. The trend in Covid-19 School Benchmarks has triggered the need to begin preparing for the potential return to hybrid or virtual learning where substantial community spread is occurring. We will certainly avoid closing the campus if possible.  Click HERE to read the full Parent letter – 11-3-2020
    Update as of 9/14/2020:  We have resumed full-time, on-campus learning for all students. Distance learning will no longer be offered at this time.

Update as of 8/11/2020:  We are super excited to be moving forward with the 2020-2021 school year and get the kids back on campus. As you know, the school year began July 20th with remote learning for all students. Remote learning will continue until August 21st. The week of August 24th we will be transitioning into our Hybrid model and will continue with this until it is safe to bring all students back to campus full time. Families who wish to continue in a remote learning model may do so.

    • Students will be divided into “A” and “B” groups.
    • “A” group will have on-campus classes on Mondays & Thursdays, with at-home distance learning on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
    • “B” group will have on-campus classes on Tuesdays & Fridays, with at-home distance learning on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
    • Someone from the school will be contacting each family to see which option is best for your family and to let you know which group your student is in.
    • Please read the Parent Letter for return week of August 24th      Parent letter return on week of August 24th (Spanish) for more information.

Update as of 8/7/2020- In response to Governor Ducey’s executive order issued June 29th, Concordia Charter School started the school year on July 20th as planned through remote learning for all students. Remote learning will continue until it is safe to provide in-person instruction. On August 6th the Arizona Department of Health Services released Safely Returning to In-Person Instruction Benchmarks. We will be monitoring these benchmarks closely. We will update you weekly on the AHDS Benchmarks and let families know as soon as possible when it is safe for students to return for in-person instruction.While we wait for in-person instruction to resume we will continue with distance learning. Someone will personally contact each family to see what your family’s needs are. We will be providing in-person services to those with IEPs and those students with ELL needs. We will also be providing a place for students without the ability to access the online platform.  At this time the school calendar will remain unchanged for the 2020-21 School Year. Parents should check emails regularly for more information. 

May-July 2020 Updates

  • We will begin the new school year with DISTANCE LEARNING on Monday, July 20th. Student meals will be available for pick-up at the Courtyard Cafeteria doors on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 7:30-11:30 AM. If these times do not work, please email itirado@concordiacharter.org to make other arrangements. Student learning packets will be available every Monday morning by 8am. Students should log onto Moby Max daily, and parents need to check emails regularly for communications from the teachers and administration.
  • Beginning on July 2nd, Curbside meals will be distributed on THURSDAYS ONLY from 9:30-11:00 AM until school resumes on Monday, July 20th (distance learning).
  • Beginning May 21st, Concordia Charter School will be offering FREE meals to ANY child, ages 0-18, regardless of enrollment, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10:00-11:30 AM. The meals will be distributed curbside in front of the school garden.

April 2020 Updates

COVID-19 News: As of 3/31/2020, AZ schools, including Concordia Charter School, are to be closed through through the end of the school year under the direction of Gov. Ducey and Superintendent Hoffman. Updates to this schedule will be posted on our website and social media. Follow us on Facebook (@concordiacharterschool)

We are providing alternative homebound lessons and digital access for learning programs that will be available to students on a weekly basis.  Watch our social media and website for more information to come. STUDENTS, PLEASE READ AND PRACTICE MATH FACTS EVERY DAY!

Follow all www.CDC.gov and local public health guidelines, such as staying home and washing hands.

We will continue to provide updates as they become available. Stay well, be kind, and hang in there. We miss seeing all of our students and look forward to gathering again when we can.

With love,
Ms. Margaret and the staff of Concordia Charter School

THANK YOU for supporting Concordia Charter School, Inc.

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