Superintendent’s May 25, 2022 Update: Rising COVID Cases & Year-End Dates

En Español

Dear APS Families,

Earlier today, I issued a statement condemning violence in our schools, in solidarity with school divisions that have suffered a tragic loss of innocent life.  Here are a few additional updates and reminders for this week:

Rising COVID Cases – Take Precautions: As of May 23, 2022, the Northern Virginia region – including Arlington – remains in the CDC’s Medium COVID-19 Community Level, with increases in COVID-19 cases overall, and increases in new COVID-19 hospital admissions.  The Arlington test positivity rate is at 14% – its highest level since January. We continue to experience outbreaks in schools as a result.  I encourage everyone to take the following recommended layered prevention steps to keep our students and community healthy during the final stretch of the school year:

• Wear a mask indoors at school and on buses—given current case volume and the ongoing outbreaks, masks are strongly recommended to reduce transmission.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including getting a booster dose as soon as you’re eligible. All students aged 5-11 are now eligible for the COVID-19 booster. And it’s never too late to get your child vaccinated for the first time if they are eligible! Learn where to get vaccines – including boosters – online. 
• Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or if you have been exposed. Get tested before and after traveling or when gathering with people at high risk for severe disease, even if you think your symptoms may be due to allergies.*
• Please continue to monitor symptoms and keep your student(s) home if they are ill.

 *Please also keep in mind that if your student has a medical condition that would cause them to exhibit COVID-like symptoms (e.g., allergies), you may provide medical documentation noting an alternate diagnosis and/or authorization from a provider so your child may return to school in person. 

Graduation and Year-End Dates: We look forward to celebrating the graduating Class of 2022 and all students who are transitioning to their next chapter in APS – whether they are moving on to middle school or high school. You can view the High School Graduation and Middle School Promotion schedule online – it now includes links to the livestream that we are providing for the high school events. For those attending in person, masks are recommended for health and safety.  Here are some other calendar dates to keep in mind as we enter June:

• May 30 – No school for students (Memorial Day holiday)
• June 8 – Elementary Early Release for Students
• June 15 – Last Day of High School / Early Release + Elementary Early Release
• June 16 – Last Day of Middle School / Early Release
• June 17 – Last Day of Elementary School / Early Release / Last Day for 10-Month Staff
• June 20 – Staff Holiday (Juneteenth)

 SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Universal Screener Results: This Friday, families of students in grades 3-12 will have access to individual student results of the Panorama Education student SEL Universal Screener, conducted this Spring for the first time to assess school climate and culture and strengthen support for individual students. Families can access their student’s report in ParentVUE beginning on Friday. A full report of division-wide results and findings will be presented July 14 in a Monitoring Report to the School Board.  

Extended Day Registration Now Open: Extended Day registration for the 2022-23 school year is now open for returning families through June 7.  Additional details are available online. Summer School Extended Day registration concludes today, Wed, May 25. We are still showing low enrollment for extended day for summer school and will need to consolidate sites for afternoon Extended Day as a result. Further information will be shared with our summer school families as we assess final registration numbers.

I hope you enjoy the long weekend.

Sincerely,

Dr. Francisco Durán
Superintendent
Arlington Public Schools