Dear DanceWorks Families,

As we prepare for the new dance year, we want to share with you the guidelines we will be using to help mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. To start the year the guidelines will be similar to what we had at the end of the 2021-22 season.

We will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Clark County Health Department, which have created guidelines for schools with the assumption that we will have to live with COVID-19 in our communities, but that also recognize the importance of in-person learning for the long-term wellbeing of children.

The DOH has issued a “decision tree” that guides students and staff who develop symptoms of COVID-19. Among the key steps:

  • Anyone who develops one or more symptoms is required to isolate at home and should be tested for COVID-19. All of our schools have tests available.

  • If you test positive for COVID-19, you are required to isolate at home for at least five days. You may return to school after five days if you have no fever for 24 hours (without medication) and your symptoms have significantly improved.

  • Day 0 is the first day of symptoms. For people without symptoms, day 0 is the day of a positive test.

  • When you return, it is recommended that you wear a well-fitting mask when around others for days six to 10.

Regardless of vaccination status, if you think that your student has been exposed to COVID-19, the following guidelines are recommended:

  • Monitor for symptoms for 10 days after exposure

  • Get tested as soon as possible

  • Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days.

The requirement to wear a mask at dance ended in March, 2022. Students, children and staff may choose to wear a mask at school with the expectation that others’ choices will be respected. Some will need to wear a mask because they or a member of their household are at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease.

Updates and other information are available on this webpage. Let’s have a great, and safe, dance year!

Sincerely,

Karen Cannon, Director