October 1, 2021

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members:

As of this morning, I tested positive for Covid-19. I believe it is best to communicate transparently with you so you can make well-informed decisions for your family.  We are a small school and share small spaces therefore you should consider every person with a positive test in our school a contact with your student(s).

Stay safe and remember that Covid tests are available at the schools for students exhibiting symptoms. All you need to do is request one and it will be given to you to test your student at home. If you receive a test from the school, do not open the inner package until you are instructed to do so. 

Sincerely,

Trisha Simonson 

Riggins Elementary Principal

Covid Program

September 28, 2021

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members:

We have recently been notified that a student at the elementary school has tested positive for COVID-19. While we must protect the privacy of the student involved, we believe it is best to communicate transparently with you so you can make well-informed decisions for your family.  We are a small school and share small spaces therefore you should consider every person with a positive test in our school a contact with your student(s).

With increasing positive cases in our school district and community, Salmon River JSD 243 will be developing a Covid-19 testing program. The State Department of Health and Welfare has provided the district with 200 PCR Vault tests. These tests are available to staff and students free of charge. 

The PRC Vault tests are free for Salmon River and can be given to any student, teacher, or staff member with symptoms of COVID-19 or a recent exposure at request. 

One (1) test kit covers 1 person and they are all encompassing. This is a saliva-based test that is proctored via smart phone with a VAULT representative to ensure the collection is good before mailing off via UPS overnight to the VAULT lab. Please remember that if someone who is well and hasn’t been exposed to COVID-19 can drop the pre-paid envelope off at a physical UPS location, that will help ensure overnight delivery and a more rapid turnaround time to results.

Teachers and parents can request a test. The test will be documented as delivered to the person who will be tested (and parent). Teachers and parents will be responsible for following directions and taking the test with fidelity with the guidance of the Vault representative. All test results will need to be reported to the school. 

Please contact me or Kyle Ewing (high school principal), for more information.

Sincerely,

Trisha Simonson Riggins Elementary Principal

simonsont@jsd243.org  (208)630-6055

VAULT Test

• Saliva based 
• PCR
• 24-48 hr.  result sent to your personal email

Free to us from Idaho State Supply

Specimen collection is proctored via Zoom Individual tests can be requested by dialing 2-1-1. Results will be sent to the submitter’s email and the DHW Division of Public Health.

Covid Letter 9_22_2021

September 22, 2021

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members:

We have recently been notified that a staff member at the elementary has tested positive for COVID-19. While we must protect the privacy of the staff member involved, we believe it is best to communicate transparently with you so you can make well-informed decisions for your family.  We are a small school and share small spaces therefore you should consider every person with a positive test in our school a contact with your student(s).

There is nothing more important to the district than the safety and health of our students, our staff, and their families. We are working with county health officials to address this situation. The health department stated that staff and students are allowed back to school 10 days after initial symptoms begin as long as they feel well enough to attend and do not have a fever. We will continue to closely monitor the health of our students and staff and take appropriate actions as needed. You can help us by keeping your child home if they are ill and report positive tests. We will continue to follow COVID-related safety procedures.

COVID-19 is transmitted through person-to-person contact and through the exchange of respiratory droplets. As more cases are being confirmed across the state, including in our community, we must be vigilant. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you or any member of your family exhibit these symptoms, please contact your medical provider or health department for advice immediately. Symptoms usually appear 2-14 days after exposure.

The CDC recommends the following best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.
• Stay at home when you are sick.
• Practice social distancing, leaving at least three feet between
  you and other people.
• Wear a cloth mask in public when you cannot social distance.

Our greatest priority is the safety of our students, staff, and community members. It is important to remember that children are greatly influenced by the reactions of adults when facing difficult circumstances. I encourage everyone to remain calm and to be empathic and respectful to those affected. Riggins Elementary will remain open unless circumstances keep us from doing so safely or we cannot cover classrooms.

Sincerely,

Trisha Simonson Riggins Elementary Principal

Covid Letter 9_17_2021-2

September 17, 2021

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members:

We have recently been notified by parents that three students at the elementary have tested positive for COVID-19. While we must protect the privacy of the students and families involved, we believe it is best to communicate transparently with you so you can make well-informed decisions for your family.

There is nothing more important to the district than the safety and health of our students, our staff, and their families. We are working with county health officials to address this situation. It was determined that there is minimal risk to the students’ classmates and staff members at this time, due to the closing of the school. The health department stated that staff and students are allowed back to school 10 days after initial symptoms begin as long as they feel well enough to attend and do not have a fever. We will continue to closely monitor the health of our students and staff and take appropriate actions as needed. You can help us by keeping your child home if they are ill and report positive tests. We will continue to follow COVID-related safety procedures.

COVID-19 is transmitted through person-to-person contact and through the exchange of respiratory droplets. As more cases are being confirmed across the state, including in our community, we must be vigilant. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you or any member of your family exhibit these symptoms, please contact your medical provider or health department for advice immediately. Symptoms usually appear 2-14 days after exposure.

The CDC recommends the following best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve.

• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.

• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.

• Stay at home when you are sick.

• Practice social distancing, leaving at least three feet between
        you and other people.

• Wear a cloth mask in public when you cannot social distance.

Our greatest priority is the safety of our students, staff, and community members. It is important to remember that children are greatly influenced by the reactions of adults when facing difficult circumstances. I encourage everyone to remain calm and to be empathic and respectful to those affected.

Sincerely,

Trisha Simonson

Riggins Elementary Principal

September 14, 2021

Dear Riggins Elementary Families,

I hope this communication finds you safe and well. Unfortunately, we continue to experience illness at the elementary. No additional positive Covid tests for staff have been reported since the initial three from this past weekend. However, we just received information that one student from the elementary, who has a sibling at the high school, has tested positive. In addition, there continue to be staff members who are feeling ill due to a virus (not Covid). With the number of illnesses, we do not have enough substitutes, nor support staff to cover every classroom. In addition, because of illnesses, it would be unwise to combine classrooms. Therefore, we will close Riggins Elementary for Wednesday and Thursday of this week and resume school on Monday, September 20, 2021. The middle/high school are not yet experiencing the same issues and will be open those two days.

Each one of you will receive a text, phone call, or e-mail (or all three) message today from Mr. Doramus through our district mass communication tool.  The down side of this tool is we are limited to the message that can be sent in a form that everyone will receive the message.  Thus, the reason for this letter.  We will continue to use this tool to communicate, but please understand the limitations of what can be communicated. If you have any questions or clarifications you can email either Mr. Doramus or myself.  Middle school and high school parents please email Mr. Ewing at ewingk@jsd243.org.  Elementary school parents please email me at simonsont@jsd243.org. If you do not have the means to email you can call my cell phone at 1-208-315-3250.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during these difficult times.  We are aware of the difficulties that this poses to many families and want you to know that this is a time where we are attempting to make the best choices for our staff and students. Likewise, we know you will make the best choices you can for your family.

Sincerely,

Trisha Simonson

This morning, Riggins Elementary made contact with Idaho North Central District in regards to a bat found on our playground and submitted for testing. The bat was found to be positive for rabies. 

This is a common occurrence in Idaho. We have conducted interviews with students and none have admitted to touching the bat. At this time we feel confident that there was no exposure through contact. Rabies is rarely transmitted to people, but when it does, it is most commonly through a bite or scratch. If you have concerns or your student is believed to have touched or witnessed someone touching the bat with bare hands, please contact the health district in Lewiston at (208)799-3100.

If you see wild animals that are acting strange, leave it alone and contact the health district.

A copy of the press release has been posted on the school district Facebook page and the health districts page.

For more information, the CDC has numerous documents for you to access.

https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/index.html