In order to more clearly report out our confirmed COVID-19 cases and quarantines, we have created this page as our status updates center. We understand that these unprecedented times can cause concern, and information can often calm concerns and ease fears. In light of that, this page provides you with details on how many cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in students and staff within Cottonwood, and the resulting quarantines, if any.
We have both COVID Safety Practices and a COVID-19 Team (“COVID Response Team”) in place and our team works directly with the New Mexico Department of Health, New Mexico Environment Department, and the New Mexico Public Education Department should any cases of COVID-19 be confirmed.
2022-23 CCPS COVID Toolkit
Upon its ratification by Governing Council vote on August 23rd, 2022, the CCPS administration, at the direction of its Executive Director and Nurse, has authority to make reasonable changes to this document, provided that the changes comply at all times with all PED and DOH requirements, and all applicable laws. Any changes made to this Toolkit will be reported to the CCPS Governing Council at its regular monthly meeting.
This Toolkit supersedes the previously adopted CCPS Enhanced COVID-safe Practices plan. CCPS will internally review this toolkit on a monthly basis, at a minimum, with the intent to make substantive changes no more frequently than once per semester UNLESS required by direction from the New Mexico Department of Health, Public Education Department, or the CCPS Governing Council.
Enhanced COVID Safe Practices
Schools, school districts, and charter schools should put in place a core set of infectious disease prevention strategies as part of normal operations. The addition and layering of COVID-19- specific prevention strategies should be tied to the COVID-19 Community Levels and community or setting-specific context, such as availability of resources, health status of students, and age of population served. Enhanced prevention strategies also may be necessary in response to an outbreak in schools, school districts, and charter school settings.
CCPS will maintain a webpage that provides information on our two-week confirmed positivity rate of students and staff members who were infectious while on campus. This will be updated every Monday by 3:00pm.
The CCPS Covid response team is inclusive of the Nurse (lead), Executive Director, Assistant Director, Athletics/Safety Director, and Communications Officer. This team will be responsible for the decision making and communication around mitigations selected when spread is high.
Current COVID Numbers in Each Grade Level – Last update: 3/13/2023
| Grade Level | Number of Positives |
| 6th Grade | |
| 7th Grade | 1 |
| 8th Grade | 1 |
| 9th Grade | |
| 10th Grade | 2 |
| 11th Grade | |
| 12th Grade | |
| Staff | |
| 14 Day Rolling Count | 4 |
Beginning at 3% of our students and staff members being confirmed positive with COVID-19 while on campus over a two-week period, CCPS will send an email and text alert notifying the community, deep clean and sanitize the building, and will consider the several mitigation measures. Whatever measures are selected by the Covid Response Team will be included in the communication.
Beginning at 8% of our students and staff members being confirmed positive with Covid-19 while on campus over a two-week period, OR in the event we have insufficient staffing to provide a safe adult to student ratio, OR in the event that we have determined excessive spread in a narrow subset of our population, CCPS will send an email and text alert notifying the community, deep clean and sanitize the building, and will consider more enhanced mitigation measures. This may include, at the most extreme, temporary remote learning for one or more identified groups or grade levels. Whatever measures are selected by the Covid Response Team will be included in the communication.
COVID-19 Testing
CCPS will provide diagnostic testing/at home rapid antigen testing for students and staff with symptoms of COVID-19 or who were exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the school setting while tests are still available and circumstances allow. In order to be tested on campus, students must have a completed parent consent form on file. Without the consent form, the student will be sent home with relative immediacy, with an at-home test. Please remember that symptomatic students may be sent home by Health Office staff regardless of the test result.
Notification of Close Contacts
The CCPS Health Office staff will consult with individual students and staff members who were confirmed to be infectious while on campus regarding close contacts. In most cases, it will be the obligation of the positive student or staff member to notify close contacts.
*Special note for CCPS household members of a confirmed positive case: There is no particular testing requirement; however, CCPS will require that you wear a well-fitting mask indoors for 10 days after the initial known exposure. Additionally, while not required, it is highly recommended that you test every other day during this 10-day period. If your student becomes symptomatic but tests negative please keep them home until directed by the school nurse.
Isolation
COVID positive individuals are still required to isolate for 5 calendar days after onset of symptoms. An asymptomatic individual who tests positive for COVID-19 will be asked to isolate for 5 calendar days after the initial positive test. An individual does not have to test negative to return. Individuals may return after 5 days if symptoms have improved and they have been fever free without using fever-reducing medication for 24 hours. Vigilant mask wearing for 5 days after the isolation periods is also required (days 6–10).
Please report ALL positive cases to the CCPS Health Office as soon as possible, including household members that do not attend CCPS.
Absences Due to COVID-19 Positivity
In the event a student is confirmed to be positive with COVID-19, a parent or guardian must report the absences to the CCPS Attendance Secretary by calling 505.998.1021 or by emailing attendance@cottonwoodclassical.org. The Attendance Secretary will consult with the Health Office as necessary.
Unless the school or the associated grade level has hit a threshold in which school administration and the Health Office have made the determination to temporarily move to remote instruction, there is no remote option. Daily absences due to testing positive for COVID-19 will be marked as excused absences. If the student is feeling well enough, they can get some work done asynchronously via Schoology, but it is not a requirement. All work can be made up upon their return to school.
CCPS staff members who are confirmed to be positive with COVID-19 must report it to the Health Office as quickly as possible. The Health Office will work with school administration on leave paperwork. In addition, CCPS teachers are responsible for requesting a substitute for the days that they are absent due to the positive case.
Mask Usage
The statewide requirement for mask wearing in schools was lifted last school year and will not be changed for the new school year. Mask requirements remain a determination of a local school district or charter school.
CCPS will require that if you are returning to school after testing positive you MUST wear a well-fitting mask indoors for an additional 5 days upon your approved date for return to school. Additionally, as stated previously in this Toolkit, household members of a confirmed positive case will be required to wear a well-fitting mask indoors at CCPS for 10 days after the suspected infection.
Universal indoor mask-wearing will only be considered at or above an 8% positivity rate over a two-week period, with the intent of preventing a move to remote learning, and is not a foregone conclusion.
Cleaning & Disinfection
Every day, CCPS strives to maintain a safe, clean learning environment. CCPS will continue to spray high-touch surfaces with approved disinfectant regularly, and CCPS custodial staff members will additionally engage in disinfectant fogging of the entire building, including all common touch points, when the school is at or above 3% spread. Any student or staff member who has a concern about building cleanliness should alert the front desk or Health Office.
