Kent County COVID-19 Update

October 19, 2020

Dear Grand Rapids Christian Schools Families:

This message comes to you as an update on a Public Health Bulletin we received from the Kent County Health Department on Friday.  It is sent as both an update and request for families to be diligent about student gatherings outside of school hours in light of the increasing percentage of individuals testing positive throughout our region. 

Incidences of COVID-19 are increasing in all age groups throughout our area and most areas of the country.  In Kent County, the positive test rate is now up to 4.5%, which is a significant increase from previous weeks.  The health department has notified us that local hospitals are at capacity with COVID and non-COVID patients.  

The Kent County Health Department has collected extensive data since students returned to school and reports:

• In the last two weeks, the percentage of middle and high school students testing positive is significantly higher than elementary age students.  In fact, the rate of positive cases in elementary-age children is about half the rate of students between the ages of 12-17 both nationally and within Kent County.
• The positive news is that there remains a very limited number of transmissions of the virus in the classroom setting regardless of students' ages. The data clearly indicates the most recent increase in positive cases among students in Kent County can be traced to social activities and gatherings that occur away from school. 
• Gatherings during evenings and on weekends, where groups of individuals are not practicing recommended health protocols, are the primary reasons for the rising number of new cases among teens and young adults.

Grand Rapids Christian Schools' health data, which is available for parents' review at www.grcs.org/reopening/covid-dashboard indicates:

• We have had very few known student cases since the start of school on August 19. To date, only three students (one preschool student and two high school students) have tested positive.
• Of the three known cases, the preschool student and one of the two high school students have recovered and have returned to school. The third most recent case (one high school student) is currently considered as active and in isolation.

Grand Rapids Christian Schools believes in-person instruction scheduled daily, rather than attending in an alternate day type of schedule as many of our neighboring schools have implemented, is best for students and maximizes teaching and learning. We believe students flourish when given the opportunity to regularly participate in athletics and our many co-curricular programs such as band, orchestra, drama, choir, and art.  None of us wishes to return to school closures like we experienced last spring.  

In order to achieve this, schools and families must work together and do our respective parts in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  Given the recent rise in cases, we fear that we could, once again, have in-person instruction taken away from our students if we do not work together to do everything we can both in and outside of school.

Please join our faculty and staff in our efforts to keep our schools open and protect the essential learning and school experiences that nurtures our students' faith and builds engagement, character, lifelong memories, and friendships. 

Thank you for your prayers and partnership as we move forward in confidence together.

Sincerely,

Tom DeJonge
Superintendent, Grand Rapids Christian Schools