Taos Academy Charter School

Health, Wellness and Immunization Requirements

Welcome to the 2022/2023 School Year! The Taos Municipal Schools continues to promote safe COVID 19 practices. The available COVID 19 vaccines and continued safe COVID 19 practices has continued to keep Taos Municipal Schools a safe place for students and staff. Many of the same guidelines are still in effect from last school year.

The following are some of the safety/health measures that will take place for students and staff: • Students and staff regularly wash hands and time is provided during the school day to do such. • The school is thoroughly cleaned more than once a day in accordance with

CDC recommendations. • Hand sanitizer is provided in each classroom and in main locations throughout all schools and frequently used. • Students and staff are able to make the choice to wear masks or not wear masks. • Hand washing/sanitizing will be required throughout the day. • Parents/guardians will be asked to check for COVID-19 symptoms at home prior to departing for school each day. • Students and staff will be asked to remain home if sick. • At this time, some buildings

may require parents/guardians to set up an appointment to go into the building. • School building access will be limited to people providing essential functions only.

CDC: Families & COVID 19

The CDC recommends everyone receiving their COVID 19 vaccines and boosters as soon as it is available. This is the first line of defense against becoming infected with COVID 19 or a significant illness.

https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/groups/ families-covid-19.html

The CDC reminds everyone, as more people are getting vaccinated and resuming activities they did before the pandemic, parents and caregivers are making hard decisions on how to protect their families. Not everyone is able to get vaccinated, so you may be confused about how to keep your family safe, especially if your family has vaccinated and unvaccinated members.

Plan and Prepare

Practice and reinforce good prevention habits with your family. • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. • Keep your child at home if sick with any illness. • If your child is sick, keep them at home and contact your healthcare provider.

Talk with teachers about classroom assignments and activities they can do from home to keep up with their schoolwork.

New Mexico Public Education Department Toolkit

Updated Toolkits are released by New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) and updated regularly as things change. You can use this link to see what the newest recommendations are.

https://webnew.ped.state. nm.us/wp-content/ uploads/2022/03/NMPED_ COVID19ResponseToolkit_ PublicSch_031022.pdf

Things to remember

• Keep your child home if they have symptoms. • If your child is exposed to

COVID-19 and unvaccinated, the district will have a Test to Stay. • Test to Stay means we will test 3 times at the school, no cost to parent, within the 5 days after exposure. • If your child tests positive for

COVID-19, you child will need to quarantine for 5 days after the positive test (counting the date of the test as day zero). On the 6th day they can return to school as long as their symptoms have improved and fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. • If your child is immune compromised and has tested positive, please reach out to you school nurse as their isolation period may be extended to 20 days. • Please keep your school nurse up to date on your child’s COVID-19 vaccination status. It is NOT mandated by NM PED or Taos Municipal Schools that your child be vaccinated for COVID-19.

The random testing of unvaccinated students is no longer required.

Updates from the New Mexico Department of Health Immunization Requirements

Required immunization

requirements from the State of New Mexico department of health for school age children are below. Also, a link to the complete list and recommended ages for each vaccine.

Required Immunizations

Taos Municipal Schools’ nurses ensure students are in compliance with the immunization laws by reviewing each immunization record. Upon review, parents will receive guidance to ensure their child becomes and/or remains in compliance with New Mexico Department of Health requirements. A summary of the New Mexico 2020-2021 School Entry Immunization Requirements includes: • Diphtheria/Tetanus/

Pertussis (DTaP/DT/Td) • Tetanus/Diphtheria/

Pertussis (Tdap) • Polio (IPV) • Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) • Haemophilus Influenzea type B (Hib)