AHSTW & WIC Conference Attendance Guidelines

Hello AHSTW Families,

Governor Reynolds' Public Health Proclamation on December 16, 2020 provided new opportunities for attendance at junior high and high school activities, effective Thursday, Dec. 17 at 12:01 a.m. through at 11:59 p.m. on January 8, 2021.

At this time AHSTW Community School District will implement the following procedures to promote attendance of immediate family members at high school events.

1. Each athlete has been provided with two WIC Conference COVID passes.  
1. COVID-19 passes will continue to be required at the gate for family admission.
2. Prior to this point and time, these passes allowed only TWO spectators per participant per game to attend.
3. Beginning on Saturday, December 19, 2020, the WIC passes will allow all family members living in the home with the participant to attend all AHSTW Home Events
4. Prior to Christmas Break, WIC Conference Schools may differ in attendance procedures. 
1. Missouri Valley will maintain the 2 spectator per participant per game rule for Friday, December 18, 2020.
2. If you are a two-household family and are in need of additional COVID-19 passes, please contact the school and we will help you obtain the additional passes.
3. Additional family members must arrive with the pass or ticket holders to be admitted.
4. ALL WIC passes are non-transferable between athletes and must be used only by family members who reside in the same household as the participant.
5. Our attendance procedures regarding arrival and leave times remain unchanged.
6. In order to help in ensure accurate numbers, we will be asking all players to report the number of household members.  This information will be kept at the entrance to each event and admission will continue as it has in the recent past. 

More recently the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa High School Girl’s Athletic Union has helped to clarify the possibilities and restrictions for all school sponsored events.  Please take time to review the following questions and answers to assist in your understanding.  

Q.  What is meant by household?
A.  A household includes those people who live/reside under the same roof as the player/participant/performer/coach, etc.

Q.  Would a student who is living in two households due to a divorce or similar situation be allowed to have both households attend?
A.  Yes, the student who is living in two homes would be allowed to have tickets for members of both households.

Q.  Can a district issue additional tickets to provide for grandparents or others who previously were approved as one of the two tickets for a student?
A.  Districts are only allowed to provide tickets to the members of the household that the athlete, performer, etc. reside under the same roof with OR two tickets.  Not both for one athlete.

Q.  Do schools have to account for the individuals in the household and track names for the tickets?
A. How each district manages the ticketing process is local control and host schools for athletic events are charged with following the guidance.  The intent of allowing members of the household is to increase the number of spectators tied to one individual without substantially increasing the risk of spreading the virus.  Two tickets did not cover entire families, nor provide options for divorce situations.

Q.  Do the tickets for coaches also include members of his/her household?
A.  The two tickets that were previously allowed in all categories-athletes, performers, band members, cheerleaders, dance teams members, coaches, have now been expanded to include all members of the household for that individual. 

Q.  Do members of the households have to wear masks and social distance?
A.  Members of the same household may sit together, but must social distance from other households.  Masks are still required.  Nothing in the proclamation changed those requirements.

 Q.  Are schools/conferences required to extend the number of spectators to include members of the household?
A.  If schools/conferences wish to continue with the two-spectator limit, they may do so as a school/conference.

Q.  Do spectators still need to leave after their child has competed, performed, etc.?
A.  Yes. The latest proclamation does not change that requirement.

Q.  If a family member is away at college and returns for break, is he/she allowed to attend as part of the household?
A.  Yes, as long as the college student has his/her primary residence (permanent address) as the family household.

Please know that the guidance regarding attendance at school events is fluid and may be altered at the end of the Governor’s new proclamation.  Please contact us with any questions you may have.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District

AHSTW Learning Models & Attendance

 AHSTW Learning Model Mid-Year Updates

School districts across the state of Iowa have been very fortunate this year to be able share their classrooms in a virtual manner.  This certainly has helped students stay up-to-date while ill or quarantined due to the COVID-19 virus, overall health concerns, or due to parental choice.  We are excited that both students have been able to participate and stay up-to-date on their learning.
At this time our current distance learning options will remain an option through at least the completion of the 2020-2021 school year.  With that in mind, we want to promote the continued health and well-being of all children and would like to review scenarios associated with COVID-19 or other illness that may become a concern through the winter months.

Health Scenarios and Associated Options:

Scenario #1:  Students wake up ill and are unable to attend school. [Illness during a normal year]

• Attending remotely is not an option during normal sick days, as distance learning requires pre-approval and time for preparation.

• We also want to allow time for your student to recover and is then healthy enough to return as soon as possible.

• Participation in after-school activities during a regular sick day are not allowed.  Attending virtually would not provide an opportunity to do so, as the students regular attendance model is in-person learning.

Scenario #2:  Illness due to COVID-19 or Quarantine

• Again, we want students to rest and recover when ill.  Please know there is no expectation for participation when a student is showing signs and symptoms of COVID-19.  However, we certainly want and expect students to participate in our virtual classes, if a student is only required to quarantine or has recovered from symptoms and remain in isolation for the duration of the 14 or 10-day period of time.

• Regular homework policies will be in place if the absence is due to illness.

• Completion dates will follow classroom expectations if absences are due to quarantine.

• We ask you to please contact the AHSTW Schools if your exposure has come from outside of school.  Planning for on-line attendance will begin upon the initial contact.

• AHSTW Schools will be in contact with you on how to begin participation in our on-line learning model if exposure and tracing started through school.

• Students are expected to participate in classes as soon as possible.  Please know that this could take up to 2 days for preparation and ensuring all the appropriate supports are in place for the on-line setting to begin.

Scenario #3: Virtual Learning

• Families may also request to transition to our virtual model for learning.  This change in programming is a long-term attendance request due to health concerns and or concerns with contracting the virus while thinking of the safety of other family members.

• Participation in our full virtual learning model requires approval from District Administration and Mr. Darin Jones.  

• All expectations regarding attendance and work completion are the same as if your student would be participating in-person.

We hope this helps you in your planning for second semester and overall understanding of the varied options and processes due to general illness or COVID-19.  Please feel free to contact AHSTW Administration, if you would like to discuss any of the above options.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones
Superintendent
AHSTW Community School District.