COVID-19 and the 2021 School Year

Forms of Learning and Teaching 

As we are all aware, Covid-19 shifted educational learning in the 2020 school year, which has now propelled into the 2021 school year. Teachers have tried their best to balance their students’ social, emotional, and educational needs while keeping students safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local school boards and government officials are the decision-makers when it comes to what school learning looks like. Generally, there are three options officials can choose from when it comes to educational learning. These options include:

• In-person schooling – Similar to the traditional school style, in-person schooling during COVID-19 includes enhanced health precautions and procedures.
• Distance learning – Teachers perform their class instructions remotely via their computers.
• Hybrid schooling – Both in-person schooling and distance learning are implemented during hybrid schooling.

Please note that these options vary among cities and states throughout the United States. Some schools may adopt all of these options while others take another approach. When it comes to COVID-19 and the 2021 school year, it is important to take steps to reduce the risk of you and your child becoming infected with the virus. To keep your child safe during the 2021 school year, consider the following tips.

Get COVID-19 Vaccinated 

Currently, the vaccine is available to children and teenagers 12 years of age and up. Initially, clinical trials have proven that the Covid-19 vaccine is remarkably safe for adults and teens 16 years of age and up. Since then, the FDA has extended this authorization to children 12 years of age and up after receiving additional safety data. Both parents and children must get vaccinated for COVID-19 to stay safe during the 2021 school year. At the office of Dr. Alfonso J. Henriquez, we have vaccines available for children 12+. To schedule your child’s vaccine appointment, call our office at 561-275-7100. Even if you are vaccinated, there are steps you can take to prevent exposure to the virus. These steps include:

• Practice Safe Distancing: According to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), following strict social distancing rules such as the ‘6 feet’ rule, may not be ideal for social, emotional, and academic standards, however, it is important to be conscious and practice the safest distancing procedures during in-person schooling as possible. Some ways to encourage this include:

– Making one-way traffic in hallways.

– Using outdoor spaces as much as possible.

– Spacing desks out so that they all face the same direction.

– Dividing students into groups that remain together during school say to reduce interactions among different groups.

Wear a Mask 

The advice from the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to wear face masks come from data proving that people with COVID-19 can infect others before knowing that they are sick themselves. If your child’s school requires the use of face masks, please know that:

– Wearing a face mask should be a priority, especially in areas that it may be hard to social distance, such as busses, car drop-off, and pick-up areas, and cafeterias.

– Your child should have multiple face masks available to them. Sometimes masks can get dirty or fall and you want to assure your child has a backup on hand.

– You should label your child’s mask (especially if it is cloth) so that they always know which one is theirs.

– Talking to your child about the importance of these safety precautions is essential to keeping everyone safe.

*Please do not put a face mask on your child if they are under the age of 2 OR if they have a medical condition that prevents them from the ability to wear a mask.

Practice Good Hygiene 

Practicing good hygiene and cleanliness is very important when staying away from COVID-19. Remember to always remind your children to:

– Wash their hands

– Use hand sanitizer

– And stay home if they have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 OR if they are sick

While we understand the desperation many have in returning to the “normal” we once knew before COVID-19, we must come together as a community to beat the curve. We hope parents consider the tips provided in this article and remember, we offer COVID-19 vaccinations for children 12+. It’s not too late, let’s get vaccinated today! Call our office at 561-275-7100.