Happy Summer Bluejacket Families and Staff, 

After a year like none other, we know that many families have questions about the upcoming school year as you plan for the fall. For that reason, below (and on our website) we provide a “Top 12” list of questions we are receiving in hopes of helping families prepare. 

In recent weeks, national news reports have shared new CDC guidelines for schools, and recently the Minnesota Department of Education provided some updates to school districts. Because Minnesota has reached a 70% first-dose vaccination rate, we do not expect statewide restrictions that we experienced last year. Health and safety remains a top priority, so we will be continuing with some of our mitigating strategies from last year including hand-hygiene, cleaning protocols, and social distancing wherever possible. Face coverings will not be required in schools, but those who wish to wear them are encouraged to do so. You can read our Safe Return to Learning Plan on our website for more details.

If you have friends or neighbors who withdrew last year, please encourage them to contact the district about re-enrollment before August. We want to ensure we are fully staffed to welcome all our Bluejackets back to school.

We recognize that there is a lot of information included in this mid-summer update as we prepare for the school year. The information provided below is generally organized by questions about COVID-19 procedural plans, school schedules, and general information. We hope that you enjoy our beautiful Minnesota summer outdoors over the next month and look forward to seeing you in the fall! 

GO BIG BLUE! 

Nate Rudolph
Superintendent

 

Top 12 Back to School Questions

• Will there be a regular schedule? Yes! Students will attend school five days a week, as published in our 2021-2022 calendar.
• Will we have to wear face masks? Face masks will not be required in school buildings, but those who wish to wear them are welcome to. 
  School buses fall under “public transportation,” so face coverings will be required on buses until the federal government changes public transportation requirements. (These are the same requirements that apply to flying in airplanes or riding a train.)
• Is the COVID Vaccine required for students? COVID vaccines are not required to attend school; they are strongly recommended by the CDC for everyone age 12 and older. MDH has additional resources and guidance for those interested.
• What health and safety protocols will the schools continue from last year? We will continue to follow all state/federal health and safety mandates; we are not preparing any additional local restrictions. 
  Frequent hand washing is a healthy habit. We will continue to have regular hand washing breaks in school and maintain many of our cleaning and sanitizing practices. We will also continue to contact trace any COVID-19 (and variant) exposures and communicate accordingly. We will urge families and staff to monitor for illness and stay home when sick, and we will maintain 3 feet of social distance whenever possible.
• Are there new school start and end times for next year and what are they? Yes. As a reminder, we will have new school start/end times in the coming school year because of the need to change transportation models. Younger students will ride separately from older students on buses, and we will have shorter overall ride times for students.
  Elementary schools will start earlier and secondary schools will be on the second tier. The times have changed slightly since originally published in April. So, please double-check the start and end times for your school.

Early Childhood:
ECSE Sessions: 7:50 - 10:35 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.
Preschool: 7:50 - 10:35 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.

Elementary Student Day (Instructional Day):
CPS: Start/End 7:30 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.
CIS: Start/End  7:30 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.
IPS/SFAS: Start/End  7:30 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.
IIS/SFAS: Start/End 7:35 a.m. - 2:18 p.m.

Secondary Student Days (Instructional Day):
CIHS: Start/End 8:25 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
CMS: Start/End 8:45 a.m. - 3:31 p.m.
IMS:  Start/End 8:40 a.m. - 3:26 p.m.

Woodland Campus (Instructional Day):
Brookside Academy Primary: Start/End  7:25 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.
Brookside Academy Secondary: Start/End  8:40 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Moving Forward: Start/End  8:40 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Riverside Academy: Start/End  8:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

• When will new bus schedules be available? Preliminary bus route pick-up and drop-off times will be sent out by August 10. This is approximately one month prior to school starting. In a typical year, this process takes place two weeks prior to school. We know that families are eager to plan schedules with the changes in start and end times; therefore, the preliminary (subject to change) times will be expedited.
  We encourage all families to use our transportation this year! We will be back to 100% capacity. We have been able to reduce the length of bus rides for students, provide more age-appropriate services, and look forward to shorter drop-off and pick-up lines at schools. 
• What before/after school supervision or child care options are available

PreK to Grade 5: Adventure Center is a fee-based program that serves children in PreK to Grade 5. Adventure Center offers a safe, fun, and enriching space for elementary and preschool students to play, learn, and grow during out of school time. Activities include: after school snack, homework time, free play, crafts, and more. Our hours of operation are 6:00 am-6:00 pm. For more information contact Pat Bourke at pbourke@c-ischools.org or 763-689-6180.

Before & After School: Please register at your earliest convenience to assure a spot.
Register for school-age child care. 
Register for preschool-age care.

Grades 6-8: There will be an organized before school program at each middle school for students arriving prior to 8:15 AM. The program will run, tentatively, from 7:30 to 8:30 AM. Students arriving at school during this time will need to register and are expected to participate in the program. You can expect additional information from your middle school in August. 

• How can I be sure to get all the information I need from schools? Review your Skyward Family Access periodically to make sure we have current information on file for your child. Under the Student Info tab, you may request changes to student information, health information, family contact information, and emergency contact information. 
  We strongly encourage all families to provide the District with at least one mobile phone number for text messaging. If you were not receiving text messages from the Superintendent last year (each time an email was sent), please add or edit your cell/text number in Skyward to the THIRD phone field. Text messages will only be sent to the THIRD phone number. If your primary number and mobile number are the same, please put the number in both the #1 and #3 phone contact fields.
  School E-Newsletters will be your primary source of information, in addition to periodic emails and text messages from the District. You may also want to bookmark the Cambridge-Isanti Schools website. We will use your contact information (email, phone or text) from Skyward to communicate. 
• Does everyone have to verify their Skyward Family Access information? Yes. In support of our efforts to increase broadband access in our community, we will be collecting information on digital technology access at home, so we need every family to complete the verification. 
  To complete the verification, log into your Skyward Family Access account and click the Student Information Verification button in the menu bar. After each step, click the button on the bottom of the screen to move to the next step. Once each step is checked off, review your information and click Submit.
• Will you allow volunteers and parent visits to school this year? Yes. We are excited to welcome parents and volunteers back into our schools. We are partners in your child’s education and we believe the more adults we have supporting our children, the better for all. Learn more about volunteering in our schools on our volunteer webpage.
• Do I need to deposit lunch money for my child this year? The Federal School Lunch program will continue to provide school breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost to families this year. We will also be bringing back more of our à la carte options available for purchase through student lunch accounts. It is a good idea to deposit money in your child’s account through Skyward Family Access if your child will be purchasing à la carte options. Regardless, we encourage all families to complete an Application for Educational Benefits to receive potential discounts on sports and activities, community education classes, drivers education classes, SAT/ACT testing, transportation, home broadband connectivity, and to qualify for pandemic-EBT benefits.
• When will school supply lists be available? Supply lists are already available on our website 24/7 from any device—even on your smartphone while you’re out at the store. Simply click on the school and the grade level. Lists are also conveniently linked to popular online stores for easy online ordering and check-out.

C-I Schools Spotlight Video

Earlier this year, Superintendent Rudolph had the opportunity to visit with ‘87 Bluejacket alumnus Major General Shawn Manke, Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard. General Manke talked about being a high school student and the qualities of confidence, competence and commitment that he thinks are important for high school graduates today.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/_S1AuRn9hI8 

Good Afternoon Bluejacket Families, 

Congratulations on completing your last day of school [during a pandemic]! We recognize that we have filled your inbox with school communications this year. You will be happy to know that this is the last Return to Learn email you will receive. Next year, our communication will return to an as-needed schedule. If you haven’t done so, please be sure to share your feedback from the year on our Annual Family Survey. We value your advice.

As we look back on the last 15 months, we have learned a lot and our students have learned a lot. Some of those lessons and practices are helpful and will continue — handwashing, for example, is a healthy behavior we will all want to continue. Others, we are eager to let go. Below, we’ve compiled a list of what students can expect for next year. The headline is our pandemic protocols will sunset. We will continue to follow all state mandates, but we don’t foresee any additional local restrictions at this time. So we will look forward to seeing smiles (without masks) next year!

A few highlights for your attention:

1. We urge all families to use our school buses next year! We will be back to 100% capacity and look forward to shorter drop-off and pick-up vehicle lines at schools. 
2. We are expanding Adventure Center (K-8) for before and after school care and supervision. Adventure Center is rebuilding its program after being required to offer emergency child care services during the pandemic. We have received many requests to accommodate more families and will be doing so. Registration is open now for preschool (3 & 4 year olds) and K-5. Click here to register. Please watch for additional information and an invitation to register for NEW middle school programming in early July. We appreciate your early planning.
3. Building hours will be published by each school in the coming weeks, and we will continue to post Back-to-School information to our website throughout the summer. You can download our approved 2021-2022 school calendar here. If you are looking for school supply lists, they will be updated and available by June 18. You can find a link to them from your school’s web page or this district link.

We want to thank you for your continued involvement and support. This has been an exceptional school year in so many ways. Although our students will be on summer break, many of our staff will be continuing work over the summer with targeted instructional supports, budget planning, facilities maintenance, meeting with our Community Task Force on Long-Term Planning, and reconnecting with our community. 

In March of 2020, we asked for your patience and grace, and you gave it to us. When we asked for help with transportation, hundreds of families volunteered to drive. As we shifted among learning models, you adjusted family schedules. We’ve always believed that it takes a village to raise and educate children. This year, #InThisTogether was more than a motto; we saw actions of support throughout our community. Thank you! And please give your children a big hug from all of us in Cambridge-Isanti Schools. We will miss them this summer.

Sincerely,

Nate Rudolph
Superintendent

What can I expect for next year?

• Attendance: Students will attend school five days a week, as published in our 2021-2022 calendar.

• Face Masks: Will not be required in schools, per the Department of Education guidance for next year. Of course, if individuals wish to wear a mask for health reasons, they may.
• Vaccines: COVID vaccines will not be required to attend school; they are recommended by the CDC for everyone age 12 and older.
• Bus Schedules: New bus route pick-up and drop-off times will be emailed to you in the coming weeks. We know that families are eager to plan schedules. We encourage all families to use our school buses next year! We will be back to 100% capacity and look forward to shorter drop-off and pick-up lines at schools.
• Communication: School E-Newsletters will be your primary source of information, in addition to periodic emails and text messages from the District, and the Cambridge-Isanti Schools website.
  
  We encourage all families to provide the District with at least one mobile phone number for text messaging. If you were not receiving text messages from the Superintendent this year (each time an email was sent), please log into Skyward, and add or edit your cell/text number in the THIRD phone field. Click here for instructions. Text messages will only be sent to the THIRD phone number. If your primary number and mobile number are the same, please put the number in both the #1 and #3 phone contact fields.
• Hand Washing & Sanitizing: Frequent hand washing is a healthy habit. We will continue to have regular hand washing breaks in school and maintain many of our sanitizing practices.
• Health and Safety Mandates: We will continue to follow all health and safety mandates. We are not preparing any additional local restrictions.
• School Lunches: The Federal School Lunch program will continue to provide school breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost to families next year. We will also be bringing back more of our ala-carte options available for purchase through student lunch accounts. More information about menus and point of purchase options will be mailed in August.

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Good Afternoon Bluejacket Families, 

The school year is rapidly coming to a close, and we want to thank you for your patience, grace and continued support during this most unusual year. In the coming days, we will be celebrating important learning milestones: the last day of preschool, kindergarten, intermediate school or middle school. The last day with this teacher, this class or this grade. We love the energy that is ever-present at this time of year.

Before you shift into summer mode, we would appreciate your feedback on one last survey for this year. This is our annual parent-family survey, which will be used to direct our continuous improvement plans for the coming year. You will be invited to complete the survey for each school that your children attend. Please start with your youngest child’s experience; the survey will take about 5 minutes per school your family attends.

As promised, we are also providing you new school start times for the coming year (scroll down). We have also compiled a Questions and Answers section, for your convenience, in response to questions we have already received. 

We want to thank parents for answering the call this year to drive children to school so our bus system could implement social distancing and run at 50%. We are excited that we can return to full capacity next year. We encourage all families to use our provided transportation next school year if able. This will reduce traffic concerns around our schools before and after school. All families will be provided new bus route(s) and pick-up times/stops in August; we will send information through email and Skyward Family Access. 

Finally, we want to extend our heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to the Class of 2021 Bluejackets. When the world pressed pause, our 336 Cambridge-Isanti seniors and 25 Riverside Academy students pushed ahead and persevered. They have goals and dreams. They learned to adapt, adjust to new schedules, and get their work done. Many will be graduating with not only their high school diplomas, but also skilled trade certifications, jobs, and an estimated 2,083 college credits through our College in the Schools program. Last week, Cambridge-Isanti Dollar for Scholars announced they awarded 223 scholarships totaling $206,075 for students to pursue their post-secondary goals. This is $20,000 more than any other year!

We hope that each of our graduates has developed a strong work ethic and sense of personal responsibility, but we also know that none of us achieves success on our own. Success takes a team. It is the support of families, teachers, school staff, employers, mentors and the entire community that inspired and allowed the success we will celebrate on June 11. Ours is a community that values a well-rounded education and inspires responsibility, respect, honesty, compassion and self-discipline. Our graduates will take those character traits with them for life. Congratulations #CIHSSeniors2021! #BluejacketStrong! 

Sincerely,

Nate Rudolph
Superintendent

Transportation and New School Start Times

As previewed in recent weeks, we will have new school start times in the coming school year. With a change to our transportation model, elementary schools will be starting earlier and secondary schools will be on the second tier. The change is needed to shorten ride times for students (currently 4 hours a day for some students), respond to a national driver shortage, allow for more age-appropriate rides, and ensure equal instructional time among our schools. 

With elementary students dismissing earlier than middle and high school students, our Adventure Center School-age childcare program has adjusted its hours. Childcare is available from 6 a.m. until the start of school and from school dismissal until 6:00 p.m.  If you need school child care, please register early so we can accommodate your requests. 

Answers to questions we have received to date are available on our Transportation Questions and Answers section. If you have additional questions, please contact us at dist-communications@c-ischools.org or contact your building Principal. 

School Starting and Ending Times Next Year (from Tardy Bell to Dismissal)

Early Childhood

ECSE Sessions: 7:50 - 10:35 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.
Preschool: 7:50 - 10:35 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. - 2:35 p.m.

Elementary Student Day (Instructional Day):

CPS: Tardy Bell/Dismissal 7:30 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.
CIS: Tardy Bell/Dismissal  7:30 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.
IPS/SFAS: Tardy Bell/Dismissal  7:30 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.
IIS/SFAS: Tardy Bell/Dismissal 7:35 a.m. - 2:18 p.m.

Secondary Student Days (Instructional Day):

CIHS: Tardy Bell/Dismissal 8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
CMS: Tardy Bell/Dismissal 8:40 a.m. - 3:26 p.m.
IMS:  Tardy Bell/Dismissal 8:30 a.m. - 3:16 p.m.

 End of Year Survey

Cambridge-Isanti Schools are committed to meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of Every Student, Every Day. During this school year, we have worked to communicate clearly and support students, families and staff during an unprecedented time. We are also committed to continuous growth. We welcome your feedback regarding your child’s experience with our schools this year. Please take a few minutes to complete our parent survey to provide us feedback about your child(ren)’s education. The more specific you can be, the better we will be able to adapt, strengthen, and/or improve. Start the Family Survey

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Good Afternoon Bluejacket Families, 

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, our students are reflecting on the historical significance of this holiday. For example, on Friday, all of our Cambridge Primary and Intermediate students will be visited by local veterans and active duty service members. After learning about their service to our country, students will also learn about those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and to protect our liberties. At the end of the school day, honoring those who lost their lives for our country, students will participate in a silent dismissal. If you are a family with elementary-aged children, you might be thinking — asking elementary students to be silent as they exit school and run to their buses on a beautiful spring day — I’d like to see that. The lessons learned on Friday about the history of our country and the respect due are powerfully important. And while the three-day weekend might be about family and cabins and the unofficial start of summer, we are confident our students will also understand the true meaning of Memorial Day. 

With thanks and appreciation to the service members and veterans who are assisting in our lessons, and with a lifetime of gratitude for those who paid the ultimate price — please enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.

Sincerely,

Nate Rudolph
Superintendent

Transportation Planning

As reported earlier, we are working on plans to change our bus system to a two-tier system for next fall, which will change some start times at our schools. Primary and intermediate schools will be on the first tier and middle and high school students will be on the second tier. We are still working to finalize master schedules for each school, and we will release the new start and end times in next week’s family update. We have seen a number of questions about after school activities; we want to assure our high school students and families that this change will not impact after school schedules. Thank you for your patience as we work through the final details on start times.

Masking Update

We have received a few emails and questions about masking and vaccine requirements in anticipation of the next school year. We are required to continue to follow the state’s Safe Learning Plan, including wearing face coverings during the instructional day for the remainder of this school year. Masks are no longer required at after-school events or graduation.

For next year:

• The Governor, Department of Health, and Commissioner have indicated that face coverings will not be required in schools for the 2021-2022 school year. Cambridge-Isanti Schools has no plans to implement a local mask mandate. Said differently, we are currently planning for students to be able to return to school in person next year without masks unless families choose otherwise. 
• Cambridge-Isanti Schools will not require COVID vaccinations in order for students to attend school for the 2021-2022 school year.

New Community Education Leaders and Programming

If your family has ever used Adventure Center for childcare, enrolled in early childhood classes, have used the pool for lap or open swim, rented our facilities for scouts, worship, or recreational sports, enrolled in drivers education, karate, or a computer class—you have likely been a patron of our Community Education program. 

Community Education serves learners from birth to well into their 70s or 80s. Because it is fee-based, the program was hit hard during the pandemic when many of its offerings were cancelled. We are now looking forward to rebuilding the program. We are excited to welcome three new leaders to undertake the effort. 

Community Education Director Aviva Hillenbrand started her position in November in an interim role and will continue in the permanent position. Aviva has deep expertise in community education programming, understanding child development and community education budget and finance. She has the entrepreneurial spirit, energy and innovative thinking to rebuild and rethink how we best serve our community.

Nate Chapman from St. Francis Community Education will fill the position of Program Development Supervisor starting July 1. Nate will oversee the Adult Basic Education program, Aquatics, and Drivers Education. Nate is a systems thinker with extensive budget responsibility and experience as a community education coordinator. 

We also welcome Steph Bloxham as the Adult & Youth Enrichment Coordinator. Steph is coming to us from White Bear Lake Community Education and will start at C-I Schools on June 7.

The summer Community Education brochure has arrived in homes. So, take a look at the opportunities it provides to get outside, connect with community members, and keep active and learning.

Good Afternoon Bluejacket Families, 

This week, we received notice from the Minnesota Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) State Leadership Team that Cambridge-Isanti Schools will be recognized as a 2021 Sustaining Exemplar PBIS District. In other words, our schools are a model for others in Minnesota in teaching students to adopt positive behaviors and live by the values outlined in our five character traits of the Bluejacket Way: Respect • Responsibility • Honesty • Self-Discipline • Compassion

This week, I sat down with Sadie, a second grader from Cambridge Primary School, to talk about how students understand Bluejacket Pride. She talked about how students help each other, take responsibility for your belongings and own your own mistakes. I hope you enjoy this May C-I Schools Spotlight video.

We also recognize our retiring staff members this week. We have 21 staff members who are or have retired this year. If any of these staff have positively impacted your family, please send them a short note or email before the last day of school and join us in thanking them for their service.

Talking with our students, I continue to be amazed at their resilience and compassion for others. This has been a tough year, but our students are resilient and provide us hope for the future. You have amazing children, and we thank you for the privilege of entrusting us to learn with them and watch them grow: Every student, every day! 

Sincerely,

Nate Rudolph
Superintendent

Transportation Model Change for Fall
In recent months we have been reviewing our transportation schedule for next year. On a survey of families in the district with more than 750 responses, we found that only 16.6% of families have a favorable opinion of a single-tier transfer system and 55.0% have an unfavorable opinion. The majority of families, 73.8%, would prefer a two-tier system. The top priorities cited were shorter bus rides and separating older and younger students. Some of our students ride the bus 2 hours and 5 minutes under our current model (4 hours and 10 minutes per day spent on the bus). Even in past years with a single tier, our longest routes ran just under 2 hours. The longest bus ride under a two-tier model is expected to be 1 hour and 5 minutes — a decrease of almost 2 hours per day on a bus. There is also a shortage of bus drivers in Minnesota, so we have had to contract out and pay premium prices for some recent transportation services. 

Last night, the School Board approved a plan to change our transportation to a two-tier system beginning next fall. In a two-tier system, our primary and intermediate school students will be picked up first in the morning and our middle and high school students would be picked up later in the morning and dropped off later in the afternoon. The primary concern we heard from families with splitting the routes was the need for childcare. We hope that by notifying families now, there is ample time to make arrangements for after school care if you previously relied on older students to care for your children after school. If you are in need of after school child care, please consider Adventure Center, which is a convenient option at our elementary schools.

As we look forward to the start of next school year, we are excited that the new transportation model provides the following positive outcomes:

• Shorter bus rides for students
• Students riding buses with students closer in age
• Fewer routes helps with the driver shortage 
• Less idle time for students on buses (positive behavioral outcomes) 
• Later start times for high school students and sleep studies point to improved students attentiveness and achievement
• Equalized length of school days between buildings
• Little change to after school activities for secondary students
• Cost neutral change

COVID Vaccination Information from the Department of Education
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people age 12-15. This means all Minnesotans who are age 12 years or older are eligible to get vaccinated. The CDC also recommended that everyone age 12 and older get vaccinated. At this time, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine that has been studied and authorized for use by people age 12-17. 

Getting a Vaccine 
There are a number of ways that parents can get their child vaccinated. To find a vaccine: 

• Walk-in or schedule an appointment through the State’s Community Vaccination Programs at the Mall of America, Roy Wilkins, Lino Lakes, or Oakdale. You can also get connected to a vaccine through Minnesota’s Vaccine Connector. 

• Minnesotans age 12-15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  
• Information about appointments will arrive via text or email from the state’s vaccination partners running those sites: Vault Health, Primary Bio, or SpeciaLysts (Solv).  

• Contact your child’s primary health care provider, local public health, or a local pharmacy. 
• Use the Vaccine Locator Map to find vaccine locations near you.  

There is no cost for the vaccine. Minnesotans do not need to provide an ID or medical insurance to be vaccinated.

Get reliable information about COVID-19 vaccines 

• Minnesota Department of Health (MDH): About COVID-19 Vaccine
• MDH: COVID-19 Vaccine Basics (PDF)
• Translations available on Materials and Resources for COVID-19 
• MDH: What You Should Know About COVID-19 Vaccines (PDF

FCC Emergency Broadband For Families
Families who are struggling to make ends meet and who qualify for free/reduced priced lunch are also eligible for a $50/mo reduction in their cost of broadband internet services, if you are with a participating provider. NOW is the time to enroll in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program Please visit www.getemergencybroadband.org or call the toll free number 833-511-0311 specifically for information about the application. [print their flier]

C-I Online Registration 
Cambridge-Isanti Schools is an approved online school for the 2021-23 school year.  We are one of the few districts in Minnesota to have an approved program for students in grades K-8, in addition to high school offerings. If you have friends or family who live outside the district who wish to enroll in our online courses, please encourage them to enroll. Information can be found on the C-I Schools Online website. Current C-I Schools K-7 families register for the online program with this link. To help with our planning for next year, please complete the registration form by June 1. Students in grades 8-11 should contact their counselor with any questions. 

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Good Afternoon Bluejacket Families & Staff, 

As the state begins to relax pandemic restrictions and regulations, there is a sense of excitement that we can look forward to a full return to school next year. If you have friends or family who have been concerned about future restrictions, please tell them there is light at the end of the tunnel, and encourage them to contact us. We are eager to re-enroll families who homeschooled this year so that we can be fully staffed for next fall. 

We are also excited that our seniors can look forward to an in-person, outdoor Graduation Ceremony for the CIHS Class of 2021! Our Senior Class Officers are actively involved in planning the celebration and have opted for an outdoor commencement ceremony at the track and football complex, weather permitting. 

For the remainder of this school year, we are required to continue to follow all indoor COVID prevention protocols. And we are asking for your continued cooperation: it’s only four more weeks! When indoors, all persons must be masked, maintain physical distancing of at least three feet and wash hands frequently. 

We also want to remind families about our Close Contact Quarantine Protocols. Please help out our nurses, who have gone above and beyond this year, by following these clear instructions:

MDE Requirements - Close Contacts with a Positive COVID Case AT SCHOOL

A 7-day quarantine protocol is an option for students and staff who are identified as a close contact at school or through school activities. There are three very strict requirements to qualify for the 7-day quarantine.

1. Individuals in quarantine must receive a Negative PCR Test after day 5 of quarantine. Order a free saliva test to have on hand from Vault: No-Cost COVID Testing For All Minnesotans
2. The PCR test must be administered on Day 5 or later. Please see the chart below.
3. The student must have no symptoms and not be living with any positive cases.

A Full 14-Day Quarantine is REQUIRED for students who are living with someone who has tested positive; students can return if symptom-free with a negative test on day 15.

Looking to next year, based on communication from the Department of Education last week, we are hopeful to experience a whole new school year next year with pandemic restrictions behind us. At this point, all staff have had the opportunity to be vaccinated and are beyond the waiting period for immunity. We are very grateful for our partners in public health for being by our side throughout the pandemic. 

Sincerely,

Nate Rudolph
Superintendent

Did You Know…

• The middle school years are an important milestone in child development. Research shows that students who learn personal responsibility, respect and kindness, self-regulation skills and organizational skills during middle school will carry those habits throughout life. Our Positive Behavior and Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at middle school are designed to reinforce positive choices. 
• Speech Team - The CIHS Speech Team has had a successful season, ending with five students going to the Minnesota AA State Meet and four of those students being named to the Minnesota All-State Speech Team. View the full article in the Bluejacket Student News.
• Cambridge-Isanti Schools has been fully approved for a K-12 Online Program for the 2021-22 school year. The program is open to all students in Cambridge-Isanti Schools as well as for any student in Minnesota through open enrollment.

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