In this edition ...

• Students and visitors: Changes to COVID protocols
• Changes for Volunteers
• Spring break is April 10-14
• High Fives: Musicals, ProGRAHAMers and Graham Performing Arts

Even though protocols are changing it’s still critically important that we keep our community safe. If your child is sick, keep them home! Regardless of the infection, anyone with a fever of 100 F degrees or higher, especially coupled with symptoms that are not improving or worsening, should not be at school. Please administer the free COVID test to your child on Sunday, April 16 before returning to school.

Visitors:
When we return from spring break, no COVID vaccine is required for visitors (effective April 17).

Students:
COVID-19 positive students may end isolation after five days if they feel well, have improving symptoms, and are fever-free for 24 hours. If fever is present, isolation should continue until 24 hours after the fever resolves. If symptoms are not improving, continue to isolate until symptoms are improving or until after Day 10.

Infected persons should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, especially in indoor settings.

No negative test is required for students to return to school on Day 6 if the fever is gone and symptoms are improving.

COVID close contact notifications to parents will continue.

Changes for Volunteers

When we return from spring break, no COVID vaccine is required for volunteers (effective April 17).

Badge process for regular volunteers (mvwsd.org/volunteers explains the designations of “regular” and “infrequent”)

   * The regular volunteer badge process for the next school year starts on May 12.
   * All regular volunteers planning to continue will have to complete the badge process for next year, whether they are new or renewing. This year’s badges won’t work next year, and schools will be collecting old badges at the end of the school year. Note: Renewing volunteers likely will not need new fingerprint checks or TB testing.
   * No badges will be issued for 2023-24 until August at the first in-person required annual mandated reporter and abuse training (in compliance with AB 506).

How to Apply to be a Regular Volunteer Next Year. Start collecting documents now to avoid delays at the beginning of the school year. For all of the details and documentation required, please see mvwsd.org/volunteers. Please do not apply for next year's badges before May 12.

If you have never had a badge before, please read the finger printing fact sheet and then ask your principal for the fingerprint request form after May 12. After you complete the form, your school will give you the link to the Raptor volunteer application.

If you want to renew your volunteer badge, after May 12 ask your school for the link to the Raptor volunteer application. TB tests are good for 3 years, although you will still need to upload proof in the online application. Fingerprint checks are good for a few years. In the online application, you will provide the last school year you completed a check or the ATI number.

Training: All regular volunteers will be required to complete the annual mandated reporter and abuse training in compliance with AB 506 before receiving a badge. After applying, applicants will receive a confirmation email with the link to sign up for the next training session. At the training session, those with completed applications will receive their badges.

Thank you for adhering to this process which is vitally important to protect our students' safety and to ensure MVWSD complies with state law.

School and District offices will be closed. Have a safe and restful time away!

Please remember to administer the free at-home COVID test kit to your child on April 16, before returning to school on April 17. If your child has symptoms or a positive result, he/she must stay home. For all of the details, please see mvwsd.org/returntolearn.

After a COVID hiatus, students across the district recently performed in amazing musical theater productions. Just in the last month, student actors brought the house down in Matilda (Crittenden), Moana (Graham), Lion King (Imai Elementary) and Road Trip (Stevenson Elementary). We are grateful for the students and all the supporting teachers, staff and parents who made these productions come alive.

Our Graham Middle School Performing Arts groups headed to Southern California last week for the Forum Music Festival and were given top awards. The Dance, Choir, and Band groups received Silver, and Orchestra and Guitar received Gold. Our silver groups represent the top 20% of similar school groups and gold the top 10%. Congratulations!

The Graham Varsity Robotics team participated in the FIRST LEGO League Spring Tournament last month, which was held in Fremont. The team competed in a field of 18 teams, and was awarded the Champions Award and the Robot Performance Award. Fantastic work, ProGRAHAMers!