Hello Laurel Families,  

 This message will convey three important updates regarding our first week back to school:  

1.  Busing Challenges and the Need to Slightly Modify LMHS’ Start and End Times 
2.  COVID-Positive Notifications  
3.  Student Attendance when Symptomatic 

 Busing Challenges and Modification of LMHS’ Start and End Times 

Beginning Tuesday, September 7, Laurel Middle School's and Laurel High School's start and end times will be slightly modified.  LMHS will continue to open its doors to students at 7:40 am.  However, all students must be in their first period class by 7:50 am.  Additionally, LMHS will also be dismissing all students at 2:30 PM.  These small adjustments will allow our LMHS students to continue to receive a full day’s education while allowing our buses the necessary time to complete their routes safely and deliver all elementary students to their home at a reasonable time. Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure the safe and timely transportation for all students.   

  COVID-Positive Notifications 

Although Governor Carney’s State of Emergency requirements for publicly reporting COVID-19 positive cases within schools has expired, The Laurel School District will continue this practice.  We will share this information—at a minimum weekly—via our district website.  Visitors can find the updated information, per school, by clicking on the “COVID Updates” tab at the top of the District’s homepage.    For students who are considered close contacts of these cases, the Division of Public Health (DPH) will be in direct and expeditious contact with respective parents and guardians.   

 Student Attendance when Symptomatic 

 This first week of school has seen a small number of Laurel students quarantined—a total of 5 across the district. Obviously, those students will be medically excused from attendance while out of school.  However, if your student is having symptoms associated with COVID-19 (fever, cough, loss of taste or smell, etc.,), please keep your child home until his or her test results return.  Those students will also be medically excused from attendance if good-faith communication has been maintained between the parent(s) and the respective school nurse.