Dear Flower Valley Elementary School Community,

This letter is to inform you that we were notified that a second grade student / staff member who was last present at FVES on 12/17/21 tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) on 12/18/21. We were notified on 12/20/21 of the positive test. Following Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines, we notify individuals known to have close contact with this person and advise them to quarantine and monitor for symptoms, per the guidelines of the CDC.

According to current DHHS guidance and our contact tracing process, unless notified directly, your child does not need to self-quarantine as they were not in close contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html#contact for additional information on how CDC, MCPS, and DHHS define and identify contacts close.

We recommend that you closely monitor your child for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, headache, and shortness of breath. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, do not send him to school. You should contact your healthcare provider and have your child tested for COVID-19. Contact the school if your child has symptoms similar to COVID-19. Students who develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to return to the building until medically cleared.

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

Get vaccinated when eligible

Wear a mask, or appropriate face covering, at all times when you are in school and other public spaces.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before and after eating.

Cover coughs and / or sneezes and wash your hands immediately for 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer.

Stay home if you are sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19.

Visit https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus and https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/ for additional information on COVID-19 resources, including free COVID-19 tests and vaccination sites of COVID-19.

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