Midland Public Schools COVID Safety Protocols Update for Students Ages 5-11

COVID Vaccine for Ages 5-11 Approval:

It was exciting to hear the final approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday (11/2/2021) evening.

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding children and COVID-19 vaccines: https://publichealthcollaborative.org/faq/#ChildrenVaccinations

COVID Vaccine Clinics at Midland Public Schools:

Midland PS is happy to announce that the Midland County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) will hold COVID vaccine clinics for children ages 5-11 as follows:

• November 10 -- 1st dose vaccine clinics on Wednesday, November 10, at Siebert & Central Park Elementary Schools

• December 1 -- Follow-up vaccine clinic on Wednesday, December 1, at Siebert & Central Park Elementary Schools

Important details about the clinics at MPS:

• Both clinics will be held from 3-6 pm at Siebert & Central Park Elementary Schools

  • • We ask that Grades K-2 come between 3-4:30 and Grades 3-6 between 4:30-6:00 to help alleviate overcrowding

    • Of course, families with multiple children may be vaccinated together

• The MCDPH will have multiple vaccine stations ready to administer the vaccines, however, wait time may be experienced from time to time

• After receiving the immunization, the 15-minute on-site observation period to watch for rare allergic reactions will be followed

• Parent/legal guardian must accompany their child in order to give consent. (Note: These vaccine clinics are not mandatory. Vaccine will be given to child only with signed parental consent.)

• Siebert & Central Park COVID vaccine clinics are open to any child ages 5-11 (does not need to be a Midland PS student)

• The only vaccines administered at Siebert & Central Park will be COVID vaccines for 5 to 11 year old children

K-6 Masking Protocol Revisited:

• December 13 -- Return to recommended masking for students in Grades K-6 (ages 5-11). Midland PS intent to wait until December 13 to return to recommended masking will allow for those students who have received both doses to have close to two weeks following the 2nd dose for the student's body to build up immunity against the virus that causes COVID-19

Masking on MPS School Buses:

Per Federal Law, masking remains required for all students/adults on public transportation, which includes school bus riders.

Midland County Emergency Order:

The Midland County Emergency Order in regard to COVID isolation and quarantine remains in place. Here is the link to the current order: https://www.midlandps.org/docs/district/Covid-19/Oct2021IsolationandQuarantineEmergencyOrder.pdf

Midland County Schools' Student/Staff COVID Guide:

This handy chart is current and may answer questions if someone in your family has cold/flu-like symptoms:

https://www.midlandps.org/docs/district/Covid-19/MidlandSchools21-22COVID-19FlowSheet_Oct2021.pdf

Midland PS COVID Future:

We must continue to be flexible and prepared to respond to constant changes due to COVID-19. Please note that district COVID protocols will change if we receive public health orders from the CDC, MDHHS, the MCDPH, or the COVID metrics cause us to pause and reflect on the need to update the District's safety precautions. Future outbreaks in a classroom or school building will result in a review of safety protocols and possible masking requirements by classroom or school building.

We have heard your voices and respect each of the COVID protocol opinions we have received. The uniting message that has come through loud and clear in each and every communication the district has received is the priority of the safety, health and wellbeing of OUR CHILDREN! Midland Public Schools is honored and grateful to be your family's school district and will continue to do everything we can to support the health and safety of our students and staff.

Michael E. Sharrow

Superintendent of Schools