July 31, 2021

Dear FRCS Families,

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) released their long-awaited COVID guidance for schools yesterday afternoon. They made many recommendations and continue to require a few things, especially in regard to reporting.

First, I want to clarify who has the authority to make these laws/orders that affect our school and explain why counties often look different from each other.

• The CDC (Center for Disease Control) is a federal organization and makes recommendations. They do not issue mandates or make laws. These recommendations are sent to each state’s health department for consideration.
• The CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) or governor can issue state-wide mandates or laws based on those CDC guidelines. Laws and mandates must be followed throughout the State.
• Local health departments of each county may then add or amend any requirements to State mandates based on data from their county. FRCS falls under Jefferson County Public Health. Regardless of where each of us live, JCPH requirements and recommendations are what impact FRCS.
• Once all of the guidance filters down these channels, it is then given to schools to set their individual policies around the recommendations that are passed down.

Requirements we must follow. Recommendations, however, are items which we as a school may evaluate and choose to implement or not. Many of the JCPH recommendations FRCS will continue to observe, such as providing hand sanitizer on campus, encouraging hand washing, and the use of outdoor learning spaces. Some of the campus improvements made last year will continue to provide some safety from the spread of disease for years to come, such as the replacement of drinking fountains with bottle fillers and automatic flush toilets.

That said, all language in the guidance for schools in Jefferson County referring to masks are presented as recommendations, not requirements. At this point, FRCS is not requiring masks for anyone on campus as the school year begins. Parents, students and staff who feel more comfortable wearing a mask are encouraged to do so, but for now it is not required. Please bear in mind, however, that this could change. We will, as we have done throughout this journey, do what is required of us by law as long as it does not prevent us from fulfilling our mission for Christ. Requirements from the State of Colorado or local authorities are backed by laws punishable by fines, license suspension, or closure. If the State or County require masks again, they will be required on campus, because we feel that breaking the law is not honoring to the Lord.

Separate from masks and other mitigation measures are the reporting guidelines. These are steps we must follow as they are required by law. Much like we would have to report any cases and outbreaks of diseases such as whooping cough or chicken pox, we must do the same for COVID-19. Here is a summary of those requirements:

1. We are required under the law to report all COVID positive cases within 24 hours of a positive result.
2. We are required to report an outbreak (5 linked cases in a 14 day period) within 4 hours.
3. We are required to contact trace and quarantine students and staff who are unvaccinated and have not had a previous positive COVID test that has been recorded in the state system. The requirement for contact tracing has changed from 6ft to 3ft in classrooms. We offer the option for a testing “early return to school” policy as we had last year (test quarantined students on day 5, return on day 8) as long as our tests are available from the state.
4. We are required to send home any students who exhibit cold symptoms; these students can only return under certain parameters (similar to last year).

As you might imagine, it has been challenging to plan for the new year. Our prayer is that we can do school as “normal” as possible, and we are making every effort to bring back many of the events we missed last year. We must remain prudent as COVID cases are still being followed and quarantines may still be necessary. Here is where you can help.

The new Delta variant is very contagious and spreads quickly through a community.  As we approach the start of school, please:

• do not come to Registration Day or Orientation if you are sick or if anyone in your family has COVID symptoms
• do not send your student to school with even the most mild of symptoms — it is better for you to take a day to determine if it is a false alarm than to expose the school/class
• keep students home and notify us if your student has an exposure outside of school (youth group, sleep over, sports, or another family member)
• continue to report COVID positive cases

Remember the severity of the symptoms isn’t what matters in terms of quarantine protocols. It is simply the existence of a case. If anyone in your household tests positive for COVID, your student is required to quarantine unless he/she is vaccinated or has a previous positive test result. None of these parameters have changed from last year; these requirements are determined by the State, not by FRCS. We are simply following the law.

Here are some suggestions of practical considerations that may help:

• Plan after school class events and birthday parties outdoors.
• If your student has been vaccinated or tested positive for COVID and you can verify this, please update the school, and we will add them to the “no quarantine” list.
• Lastly, be kind. The requirements are out of our control, and we believe that God is doing a work at FRCS regardless of mandates. Our focus continues to be on loving your children well and furthering the gospel in them.

Please continue to pray for our school. We are all weary of COVID, but we do not tire of doing the good work the Lord has given us to pursue at FRCS. Pray that our faculty and staff would be encouraged, strengthened, and inspired and that our school would continue to be protected by the incredible power of our amazing God!

In His Service,

David Cooper

Head of School