Update to Masking in Schools

Star Families,

This morning Wayne County Health Department issued an Emergency Order for Control of Pandemic rescinding the mask mandate for educational settings, effective immediately. As a Wayne County school, Our Lady Star of the Sea School will continue to follow WCHD health guidelines and protocols therefore, starting on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 the wearing of masks will be optional for students, teachers, staff and those visiting or volunteering in our school. With the changes to mask wearing, we are awaiting further direction or changes to the current WCHD COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantining protocols. Once we receive these we will send further communication outlining full COVID-19 protocols reflecting the optional mask wearing.

Federal, State and Local health departments still believe in the layered approach to fighting the COVID-19 virus. Along with washing hands frequently and monitoring for any COVID-19 related health symptoms, mask wearing is still encouraged. With the change to optional masking in schools, we will support every family’s individual decision on whether they would like their student(s) where masks in school.

As schools make changes to their masking policies, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is impressing on schools and families the need to follow the CDC and State of Michigan Travel Protocols both Domestically and Internationally. To continue to keep our school environment healthy, we ask that parents follow these travel protocols. It is so important that we all continue to work together as a Star family to keep our students healthy and in-school learning. Below are the Travel Protocols as per MDHHS as February 17, 2022:

Travel - International or Domestic Out of State
• Vaccinated students and staff do not need to quarantine upon return but should monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
• Unvaccinated students and staff are to quarantine for five days post-travel. They may return to campus on day six. Students and staff should continue monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a well-fitting mask once they return to campus on days 6-10. If the trip was school sponsored and all students and staff on the trip are from the same school, they can return without quarantine.

We hope all our families have a safe and enjoyable Mid-Winter Break. We look forward to seeing you all next week.

God bless all our Star families – we have an amazing school community.

Mrs. Meghan Carter-Waid - Principal