42 New Positive Cases of Covid-19 Reported at Wootton High School

A notification was sent home today notifying the Wootton High School community of 42 positive cases from Friday evening, over the weekend, and today. In the letter, the school stated that it would be pausing the JV and Varsity Girls Basketball and Varsity Boys Basketball programs.

The MCPS Covid-19 School Dashboard for all schools can be seen here.

In a message to the community sent earlier today, MCPS committed to keeping schools open, but shared parameters that could lead to individual school closures.

Per the MCPS message:

The following parameter will require the consideration of individual school closures.
To ensure the safety of students and staff, MCPS will be following DHHS guidance around individual school outbreaks as defined by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).  Beginning in January, if 5 percent or more of unrelated students/teachers/staff (minimum of 10 unrelated students/teachers/staff) test positive in a 14-day period, then DHHS and MCPS will work together to determine if the school should be closed for 14 days and the students would transition to virtual learning.

December 20, 2021

Dear Thomas S. Wootton High School Community,

This letter is to inform you that we were notified of forty-two positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) Friday evening, over the weekend, and today.  We would like to thank you for taking COVID-19 seriously, following protocols, and reporting back to us when there is a positive test so that we can protect our school community.

 

Notified December 17, 2021

• An individual who was last present at Thomas S. Wootton High School on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, tested positive on Friday, December 17, 2021. We were notified on Friday, December 17, 2021.
• An individual who was last present on Friday, December 17, 2021, tested positive on Friday, December 17, 2021. We were notified on Friday, December 17, 2021.

 

Notified December 18, 2021

• An individual who was last present on Friday, December 17, 2021, tested positive on Friday, December 17, 2021. We were notified on Saturday, December 18, 2021.
• Three individuals who were last present on Friday, December 17, 2021, tested positive on Saturday, December 18, 2021. We were notified on Saturday, December 18, 2021.

 

Notified December 19, 2021

• An individual who was last present on Thursday, December 16, 2021, tested positive on Sunday, December 19, 2021. We were notified on Sunday, December 19, 2021.
• Two individuals who were last present on Friday, December 17, 2021, tested positive on Saturday, December 18, 2021. We were notified on Sunday, December 19, 2021.
• Seven individuals who were last present on Friday, December 17, 2021, tested positive on Sunday, December 19, 2021. We were notified on Sunday, December 19, 2021.

 

Notified December 20, 2021

• An individual who was last present on Monday, December 13, 2021, tested positive on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.
• An individual who was last present on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, tested positive on Saturday, December 18, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.
• An individual who was last present on Thursday, December 16, 2021, tested positive on Friday, December 17, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.
• An individual who was last present on Thursday, December 16, 2021, tested positive on Saturday, December 18, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.
• An individual who was last present on Thursday, December 16, 2021, tested positive on Sunday, December 19, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.
• An individual who was last present on Thursday, December 16, 2021, tested positive on Monday, December 20, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.
• Three individuals were last present on Friday, December 17, 2021, tested positive on Saturday, December 18, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.
• Five individuals who were last present on Friday, December 17, 2021, tested positive on Sunday, December 19, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.
• Five individuals who were last present on Friday, December 17, 2021, tested positive on Monday, December 20, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.
• Seven individuals who were last present on Monday, December 20, 2021, tested positive on Monday, December 20, 2021. We were notified on Monday, December 20, 2021.

 

In an abundance of caution the school is taking the following actions:

• Collaborating with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to support contact tracing. An assigned trained contact tracer started last Friday, December 17, 2021.
• Pausing JV and Varsity Girls Basketball and Varsity Boys Basketball programs.
• During Advisory tomorrow, Tuesday, December 21, we will be sharing reminders regarding the importance of adhering to best mitigation practices (mask-wearing, sanitizing, staying home when sick, and getting tested for COVID-19 as needed).

 

We encourage our students to take advantage of the “Say Yes to the Test” program available in MCPS.  COVID-19 Testing Will Help Reduce Quarantine and Keep Students and Staff Safe:  Video and More information

 

Screening Testing: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends random asymptomatic COVID-19 testing because it detects and can limit the spread of the virus, even in the absence of visible symptoms.

• Students that have parent permission can be tested every Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. here in the cafeteria for those students who have opted-in.

 

Rapid Testing: Staff from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will determine whether a COVID-19 rapid test should be administered when a student presents to a health room with potential COVID-19 symptoms.

 

Parents/guardians only need to fill out one form to provide consent for both types of tests.

Link to the consent form

 

We encourage you to closely monitor your child for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, headache, and shortness of breath. If your child develops any of these symptoms, do not send them to school. You should contact your healthcare provider and have your child tested for COVID-19. Please contact the school if your child develops COVID-19-like symptoms. Students who develop symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19, will not be able to return to the building until they are medically cleared.

As a reminder, here are the steps that we can all take to keep ourselves, families, and the school community safe:

• Get vaccinated when eligible
• Wear a mask, or appropriate face covering, at all times when in school and other public spaces.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before and after eating.
• Cover your cough and/or sneeze and immediately wash your hands for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
• Stay home if you are sick or have any COVID-19 symptoms.

Please visit the Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery County Government websites for additional information on COVID-19 resources, including free COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccination sites.

Following Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines and our contact tracing process, unless you are notified directly, your child does not need to quarantine. Please visit for additional information on how the CDC, MCPS and DHHS, defines and identifies close contacts.

We appreciate your cooperation as we work to maintain a safe and healthy school environment.

Thank you,

Principal Intern

Thomas S. Wootton High School