Good Afternoon,
Using the National Weather Service forecast of snow and wind chill for Wednesday combined with the very high confidence level of the event occurring, Buhler Schools USD #313 will NOT be in session on Wednesday, February 2nd. Additionally, there will be no activities including practices.
It is unusual for us to make this determination this early; however, all weather models are showing significant weather and travel impact. We hope this allows time for families to make arrangements for children tomorrow.
Cindy Couchman, Superintendent
Buhler USD #313
This video lays out the options families have when presented with common Covid-19 scenarios. https://youtu.be/HsEfe0KmtSE
More details can be seen on our website under Covid-19 Navigating Next and the longer post below dated January 19th.
Buhler Families and Staff,
As our number of positive cases rise, our continued goal is to keep students in school safely. Effective today, January 19, 2022, we will be following KDHE’s guidelines to suspend COVID contact tracing for 30 days. Per the KDHE guidance, with cases at such a high level, anyone that has been in public spaces should consider themselves a close contact. We are shifting our focus to monitoring positive cases, household contacts, and symptomatic individuals. Families will take responsibility for monitoring symptoms at home and taking appropriate action.
The school district will do the following:
*Notify parents of positive cases in the building each day.
*Parents of elementary students will still be notified of classroom exposure.
*Track absences and positive cases.
*Monitor and daily test household contacts and symptomatic staff and students.
*Update the website with daily numbers and absences.
Expectations of parents and staff:
*Monitor daily for symptoms.
*If symptomatic, stay home or test (see below for testing times).
*Do not come to school if sick.
*If positive, stay home for at least 5 days. If fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are markedly improved, return to school/work wearing a mask for an additional 5 days.
*Household contacts now have the option of attending school with masking and testing options available to them.
TESTING
Buhler Schools will continue to provide free rapid and PCR tests to symptomatic or asymptomatic staff and students at any of our attendance centers from 7:45-8:15 AM or by calling the district office for an appointment. Locations of testing in each building will remain the same. Liz Schmidt, school nurse, and I have created a video with situational questions that may arise. To access it, click here: https://bit.ly/3rxdyGb
Students and staff who present with symptoms will be asked to test or will be sent home until symptom free for 24 hours.
For more detailed information on options, please see our Stay to Learn, Play, and Work Plan at: https://sites.google.com/usd313.org/buhlernavigatingnext/covid-surveillance-reports
Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this challenging time for our schools and communities. Our goal is to keep students in school daily. To achieve this, we need our parents’ help in monitoring symptoms to mitigate the spread of the virus in our buildings.
Cindy Couchman, Superintendent
Buhler USD #313
Buhler Family~
Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and school community. We wanted to take a moment to provide an update regarding some ongoing challenges and their impacts due to COVID-19 and its variants.
Buhler is currently experiencing a high rate of positive COVID-19 cases in our schools. Our goal is to keep schools open safely. When our staff gets sick and is unable to continue working, the strain on the system can quickly reach a breaking point. Our current numbers can be found on our COVID Dashboard. We have included a new chart showing the daily numbers and absences by building this week. https://sites.google.com/usd313.org/buhlernavigatingnext/covid-surveillance-reports
Our substitute teachers/staff do an incredible job of working with our students to ensure that learning continues and that our classrooms are positive, productive, and safe. Likewise, our entire staff works together to ensure that we provide classroom coverage when our demand for substitute teachers exceeds the available supply. Today alone we had 14 uncovered classrooms in our district. Please afford us grace as we work to problem-solve this challenge and know that student safety and student learning are at the forefront of our decision-making in these instances. Often, this results in cancelled bus routes, after school activities, and field trips.
We continue to emphasize and practice transmission mitigation strategies throughout the day, which include, but are not limited to, continuous and frequent hand washing, making hand sanitizer available for students and staff, and social distancing as much as possible. Please encourage your student to wear a facemask to help slow the spread of the virus. We anticipate a peak of positive cases coming in the next couple of weeks and are hopeful that it will then begin to decline. There will be additional guidance coming soon for managing the pandemic in public schools. If the new guidance changes our Stay to Learn, Work and Play policy, I will share that information next Friday.
We continue to need your help, partnership, and support as we work together during this challenging time:
*If your child is not feeling well, is ill, or has symptoms of an illness, please keep him or her at home and let us know of his or her absence.
*The symptoms of COVID-19 and its variants are similar to a cold and influenza and can include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, among others.
*Some have reported additional symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of taste and smell.
*Individuals who need medical care or who have questions about symptoms should call their medical provider.
Cindy Couchman, Buhler Superintendent
Good Morning,
Due to dangerous traveling conditions, Buhler Schools USD #313 will NOT be in session on Thursday, January 6th. With the amount of snow we received combined with low wind chills, please be cautious if you do get out.
Cindy Couchman, Superintendent
There will be a vaccine clinic on January 21st at PHMS. See image for details
See the image for a message regarding the decision making process for severe weather cancellations or delays.
One of the most wonderful things about our Buhler school community is the support and partnership we have with our families.
Buhler Schools has become aware of a troubling post that has been shared widely this week on the social media platform TikTok. The post refers to a threat to school safety “for every school in the USA, even elementary,” on Friday, December 17. Currently, we are unaware of any threats about USD #313 schools or students.
The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our school district. We have heard reports from other districts that the same post is circulating in their schools. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously.
Additionally, the district has been in contact with our local law enforcement agencies regarding the post. We may have an increased police presence in our buildings on Friday as an added precaution.
This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about proper behavior online.
If you become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify your building administrator, law enforcement, or make a Suspicious Activity Report with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at http://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar. You may also anonymously report threats of school violence to the Kansas School Safety Hotline. The number is 877-626-8203.
As always, thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure a safe, secure, and exceptional learning environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Cindy Couchman
Superintendent, Buhler Schools
Due to the extreme high wind conditions, we will not be running the late activity route this evening.
Due to the extreme wind conditions, our buses will be reducing speed this afternoon. If your student is a bus rider in the afternoon, they may arrive home a little later than normal.
Tomorrow is Stuff the Sleigh! Bring in your non-perishable food items to help support the Buhler and Reno County food banks!
Tomorrow is Dime Day! Bring in your dimes and wear your favorite Holiday gear!!
Kindergarteners are busy at work practicing their number skills!
We are having a district wide spirit month in December. Feel free to print the calendar and join us out there in the community. Encourage your place of employment to join us for Operation JOY! We are so excited to see our staff, students, and community member's festive outfits!
#BuhlerJOY
Another vaccine clinic is coming on December 17th at Plum Creek. See below for details!
Our staff works so hard, no matter their role, to create an exceptional experience. Check out the "turkey legs" that food service staff have created for students at Buhler Grade School. Made from pretzels, marshmallows, melted chocolate, and rice krispie treats.
#Bexceptional
Don't forget to bring your dimes and wear your wacky hair for Dime Day tomorrow!
Buhler is proud to introduce the following framework that was collaboratively developed with our stakeholders.
The DNA of a Buhler Graduate is our way of emphasizing timeless character traits and skills with our students that will help them to navigate any obstacle in the future whether it be school, work, life, or relationships.
Below you will see a launch video with interviews from our teachers and administrators, as well as a link to the full DNA of a Buhler Graduate document. This document communicates all 10 of our DNA skills and traits and includes just a few ways these are addressed at each age as students grow through our schools.
View the launch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol7z0dnsnF0
View the full DNA of a Buhler Graduate document here: https://5il.co/11kpd
Buhler Grade Families,
As of today, Buhler Grade School currently has 22 positive COVID cases with 6 more cases pending. The Board of Education held a special meeting and, under administrative recommendation, voted to have Buhler Grade School go to remote learning. On Friday, November 5, BGS staff will have a professional learning day to organize materials and devices for student pickup. Starting Monday, November 8, Buhler Grade students will be learning remotely through Friday, November 12. All students will return to school on Monday, November 15, for in person instruction.
Fortunately, we have planned for this scenario and are ready to quickly make this transition. You will be receiving more information via email regarding remote learning, device distribution, and school lunches.
Please follow the USD 313 Buhler Facebook page or the Buhler Grade School Facebook page to monitor updates and further information as it becomes available.
To clarify, students will NOT be reporting to Buhler Grade School starting tomorrow, Friday, November 5th. Information for your child’s Remote Learning school day and technology pick-up will be shared via email.
As we transition, please know that the health and safety of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority.
Cindy Couchman, Superintendent of Buhler Schools
This Wednesday, November 3rd, we will be hosting a Flu and COVID clinic in partnership with the Reno County Health Department. This clinic will be at Buhler High School from 1:00-5:00 and is open to all staff, students, and families. No appointment is necessary. See attached graphic for more information. Below are some FAQs you may have:
1. Is it safe to get the flu shot and the COVID shot/booster at the same time?
Yes.
2. What COVID booster is being offered?
Reno County Health Department will have all three available and you can choose which one you want.
3. Does it matter which COVID Booster you choose?
No. You are able to mix and match brands if you prefer or stay with the same one you originally received.
4. What ages can get the shot?
Flu Shots are available to all ages. COVID shots are available to ages 12 and up.
5. When will ages 5-11 have a clinic for the COVID shot?
We are working on scheduling one with the Reno County Health Department. There will be more information coming later.
6. What do I need to bring?
If you are getting the COVID booster, bring your vaccination card (shows dates of previous COVID shot). If you have insurance, bring a copy of your insurance card.
7. I can't make it Wednesday, what are my other options?
You can go to any pharmacy and ask for a flu shot or COVID booster. Buhler Schools will be scheduling more clinics later but no specific dates have been set yet.
8. If I have had COVID recently, do I need to wait 90 days to get the Booster?
There is no waiting period if they have had Covid, however, sometimes they may react to the vaccination with not feeling well stronger than someone who has not had Covid.
9. I had the monoclonal antibodies (this is an IV for patients diagnosed with COVID), do I need to wait 90 days to get the Booster?
Yes. You will need to wait 90 days if treated with monoclonal antibodies from having Covid.
Cindy Couchman, Superintendent of Schools
