Dear Silver Spring International Middle School Community,

This letter is to inform you that we were notified of one additional positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 and four positive cases on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Following Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines, we notified individuals who were known to have close contact with these individuals and have informed them to quarantine and monitor for symptoms, per CDC guidelines.

Notified December 21, 2021:

• An individual in 8th grade who was last present on Friday, December 17, 2021, tested positive on Tuesday, December 21, 2021. We were notified on Tuesday, December 21, 2021.

Notified December 22, 2021:

• An individual in 7th grade who was last present on Monday, December 20, 2021, tested positive on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. We were notified on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
• An individual in 6th grade who was last present on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, tested positive on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. We were notified on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
• An individual in 8th grade who was last present on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, tested positive on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. We were notified on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
• An individual in 6th grade who was last present on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, tested positive on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. We were notified on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.

Per current DHHS guidance and our contact tracing process, unless you are notified directly, your child does not need to quarantine as they were not in close contact with the individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. For additional information on how the CDC, MCPS and DHHS, defines and identifies close contacts, please visit the following webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html#contact

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 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.

For additional information on COVID-19 resources, including free COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccination sites, please visit the following websites: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus and https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/

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