May 11, 2021

Hello, T.S.A.S. Families!,

     We have received many questions about the protocol for students returning to school who a) have been close contacts of known positives or b)are beginning to show symptoms. As of this moment, here is the protocol that our school district has told us that our students need to follow. We will keep you updated if anything changes:

     For students who have come into contact with a known positive or who have begun to show symptoms, they MUST quarantine for 7 days from the day of their last exposure. They can then have a PCR test (please be sure to tell your doctor that a PCR test is needed if taking your child in for testing) on day 7, and if they are negative and SYMPTOM FREE, they may return to school on day 8. (Example: Sally comes into contact with Johnny, a known positive, on Monday. She finds out on Tuesday that he is positive. If she elects to test, she must quarantine until the following Monday and receive a negative PCR test result on Monday to be able to return to school on Tuesday.)

     If you elect to NOT have your student tested, they must quarantine for 10 days from the date of their last exposure to the known positive and then may return to school on the 11th day. (Example: Sally develops a fever and a cough on Monday. She elects to not test. She must stay home and quarantine through the following Thursday, and may return to school SO LONG AS SHE IS SYMPTOM FREE on Friday.)

     PCR Tests are offered at the Berth 3 dock, Power of Wellness, and Northway Family Healthcare, to name a few. If you test at Berth 3, the results generally come back between 3-5 days. If you test at Power of Wellness or Northway Family Healthcare, the results typically come back within a few hours.

     We understand that this is a stressful and confusing time, and we are here to help you navigate through this during these final days of school. We ask that you please be patient with us and understand that we want your child in school just as much as you want them to be in school, we promise! However, we have to be sure that our students and staff are protected. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at our T.S.A.S. Main number 907-225-5720 or our T.S.A.S. Fairview number 907-204-0953. You can also call our district nurse Kimm Schwartz at 907-228-8966. She is an incredible resource and is happy to answer your questions.

Haw'aa, Thunderbird Families!

Kendra Rocke
Community Liaison
Tongass School of Arts and Sciences
Main Campus: 907-225-5720, Fairview Campus: 907-204-0953
Gunalcheesh to the first people of this land. We pay respect to those, past and present, who have stewarded Tlingit Aanii since time immemorial. I respectfully acknowledge the traditional first people of this land, the Saanya Kwaan and Taanta Kwaan.