Dear Village School Families,

This letter is to inform you that several members of our school community have recently been present in school with symptoms of respiratory illnesses. We have recently seen an uptick in the number of cases of COVID-19, the Flu, and RSV during this cold and flu season.

Respiratory illnesses are spread from person to person through the air. They can be spread before a person shows symptoms. Symptoms of these illnesses can include: fever, headache, chills, body/muscle aches, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, and sore throat. A person may also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In many instances, your child may continue to go to school when presenting some (but not all) of these symptoms. Please monitor your child for symptoms of respiratory illnesses. If your child starts to feel sick, it is recommended you reach out to your healthcare provider. Your child’s illness may just be the common cold; however, it may be caused by RSV, Flu, or COVID-19, all of which can lead to more serious illness. Resources and information for COVID-19 testing can be found on the Vermont Department of Health webpage.

If your student has symptoms of respiratory illness, it is important for you to check with the School Nurse, by calling the main office at (802)442-5955, for information on when your child can return to school after being sick. Generally, they may return to school if their symptoms have improved and they have been fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. We also recommend wearing a mask until all symptoms have resolved.

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please reach out to our Covid Specialist, Kim Krall, by emailing
her at Covid@vsnb.org. She will notify you of the state guidelines and recommend that you follow the
Vermont Department of Health guidance to keep your student home for 5 days. Your student may return to school if their symptoms have improved after the 5th day. At that time, we also suggest that your student wear a mask for an additional 5 days following illness. Please note that no student will be allowed to return to school unless they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. You should talk to your healthcare provider about your child’s COVID-19 illness and to see if any treatment for COVID-19 is recommended for your child.

Here are some ways to keep your family and others healthy during this time:

● Stay up to date on vaccinations, including COVID-19 and Flu.
● Get a test for COVID-19 when symptoms occur; testing resources and other information can be found here. If your child is sick, keep them home from school.
● Encourage your child to cover any cough and to wash their hands.
● Consider masking in indoor spaces, especially if someone you live/spend time with is
immunocompromised or is more likely to get very sick with COVID-19.

Other Helpful links:

● Getting the COVID-19 vaccine or booster
● Vermont Department of Health guidance for Flu
● Testing resources and other information
● CDC information on RSV
● Vermont Department of Health information on Pertussis (Whooping cough)

We hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the main office at (802)442-5955 or email info@vsnb.org. Please direct any questions regarding COVID-19 to our Covid Specialist via email to Covid@vsnb.org.

Sincerely,

Rachel Maher, Assistant Head of School
Kaitlyn Hewson, School Nurse
Kim Krall, Covid Specialist