Selkirk COVID Update 1/24/22: Over the weekend and today, we recorded about 30 new cases of COVID in students, staff, and parents. That is a record for our community in one weekend. Of those positive tests, three were parents, two staff members, and the remainder students in grades K-12. Parents are doing an excellent job of keeping their children home when they are sick and requesting testing. We are happy to offer testing to parents of students as well. Only three of the students who tested positive actually attended classes today. Two were slightly symptomatic and one was a close contact with no symptoms at this time. However, out of 13 children attending a social gathering over the weekend, 5 have now tested positive for COVID so we encourage parents to evaluate risks of social activities over the next two weeks when this surge is expected to peak. While we have not had any transfer in the classroom setting to students identified as close contacts, we have seen transfer through athletics. For that reason, we paused wrestling last week and now high school basketball this week. Thank you for everything you are doing to help us get through the next few weeks including masking up when you are on school campuses! While we are confident we can manage the storm clouds, we are definitely looking forward to sunnier days both in outlook and weather!
Tune in to Selkirk's YouTube channel at 10:00 this morning to watch our talented music students honor Martin Luther King. The assembly will be streamed live at this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8fAH_sgiLQjbeIXM-hd_5w
As we are in the midst of an increase in positive COVID cases in our three communities, we thought we’d share another link to access free home tests: COVIDtests.gov is in a beta phase right now which means you can register for free tests today ahead of the official launch tomorrow.
Monday, January 17, 2022 COVID Update: A number of families have reported COVID positive test results over the weekend. No school transfer has been noted at this time. All students testing positive will be out for five days and then will need to produce a negative test to return on Day 6. All close contacts (except those in the immediate household) can participate in the Test-to-Stay program which allows them to stay in school with two negative tests required in a 5-7 day period. Those not participating in testing, will be out for 10 days. School officials have contacted close contacts over the weekend so if you have not received a call, your student was not considered a close contact. We are headed into what is predicted to be the peak of Omicron so please help us keep schools open by reminding your students to wash their hands and wear their masks at school and on the buses. Thank you!
While over the past 34 years we have NEVER implemented a Late Start day at Selkirk Schools, we do have procedure outlined for that option and with preparation in mind, we are sharing that information here. In addition to a phone call, email, or text, the delay would be advertised on television news channels. However, we DO NOT anticipate using this anytime soon....Selkirk staff and north county plow crew are committed to getting students to school each day! This is an informational message only.
Community Vaccine Clinic. Just a reminder that Northeast TriCounty Health District will host a free COVID vaccination clinic in our community this Friday, December 10 from 10:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. As there is no school that day, the clinic will be held at Selkirk Elementary School. Please enter through the main doors and expect to exit through the side of the building. All those entering the building will be required to wear masks. All three vaccines will be available as boosters, initial, or second doses for people ages 12 and older. Call 509-684-2262 to schedule an appointment.
Selkirk School District is accepting applications for a paraeducator. Please contact the district office for more information (509) 446-2951.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Thanks to Northeast TriCounty Health District there will be a free COVID vaccination clinic in our community on Friday, December 10 from 10:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. As there is no school that day, the clinic will be held at Selkirk Elementary School. Please enter through the main doors and expect to exit through the side of the building. All those entering the building will be required to wear masks. All three vaccines will be available as boosters, initial, or second doses for people ages 12 and older. Call 509-684-2262 to schedule an appointment.
Selkirk Elementary phones are working again!
Tonight kicks off the Selkirk High school 2021-2022 basketball season and we are very excited to be able to open up the bleachers to everyone in the community! Please note that all spectators must wear face masks.
This year players are not required to be masked while competing because they are either vaccinated or undergo testing two times per week. We are excited to be able to play in front of our fans, but in order to continue doing so we will need you, just like the athletes, to meet certain requirements.
While in the building the primary requirements are that spectators are masked and maintain a 3 foot physical distance from those who are not in your ‘normal’ group of contacts. That’s it, pretty simple. The players, referees, coaches, and managers have been asked to do the heavy lifting. They must be vaccinated or undergo testing multiple times per week.
You will find the spectator mask requirement at all gyms in our league. The league has discussed possible scenarios and DOH consequences if these requirements are not met. None of which anyone wants to visit.
One last thing, while actively eating your mask can be down. With that in mind the concession stands will be open. This year only, large bags of popcorn are available for $20....just kidding!
Go Rangers!
Selkirk Holiday Concert - Grades K-5: Wednesday, December 15 @ 7:00 p.m. at the Selkirk High School gymnasium. Masks required for all audience members.
Selkirk Holiday Concert - Grades 6-12: Wednesday, December 8 @ 7:00 p.m. at the Cutter Theatre. Masks required for all audience members.
Currently Selkirk Elementary phones are out. You may contact us via email for messages.
Happy Thanksgiving from the Selkirk School District! We are thankful for our students and families as well as our community in general. It takes a village to create a quality educational program. Thank you for being part of that village!
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Northeast TriCounty Health District is looking for a make-up date in early December to offer vaccines the community to take the place of the canceled Department of Health Care-A-Van clinic last week. We will post the date as soon as it is confirmed. The community COVID vaccine clinic will be held at Selkirk Elementary School. We would like to thank NETCHD for working hard to serve the Selkirk community!
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Northeast TriCounty Health District is part of the "Say Yes to COVID Test" program that provides eight free at-home test kits to households in the Selkirk zip code range. Follow the link for more information:
https://sayyescovidhometest.org/index.html
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: NETCHD is hosting a pediatric vaccine clinic in Colville on Friday, November 19 from 3:30 to 5:30 at Northeast TriCounty Health District, 240 E. Dominion Avenue, Colville. Please contact NETCHD for questions.
Please join us at the Cutter Theatre on Thursday the 18th and Friday the 19th at 7pm for the performance of two one-act shows. First, an all-middle school cast will entertain you with an uproarious performance of "13 Signs You Should Stop Being a Pirate", a laugh out loud adventure on the high seas. Next, you will enjoy the sweet tale of small town life told by a mixed cast of middle and high school students in "One Stop Light Town", a show that encourages us all to slow down and enjoy the moments that make life special.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Northeast TriCounty Health District is partnering with Washington Department of Health's Care-A-Van team to offer another free COVID vaccination opportunity in our community on Thursday, November 18 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The clinic has changed locations and will be held this time at Selkirk Elementary School. Please enter through the main doors and expect to exit through the side of the building. All those entering the building will be required to wear masks. All three vaccines will be available for people ages 12 and older.
Veterans Day Concert: While our annual Veterans Day Concert is not open to the public this year because of COVID restrictions, we will livestream this event at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 10 on our Youtube channel. The concert will also be available for viewing later at this same link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8fAH_sgiLQjbeIXM-hd_5w. Thank you to music teacher, Randi Lithgow, and her students for putting together this event and special thanks to our guest speaker, Jennifer Hampson.