Winter break officially kicked off after Friday’s instruction at Ripon Unified.

And to make sure Ripon Unified students can return to in-person learning next month when the holidays are over, district officials are imploring students and their families to follow recommended COVID-19 protocols including social distancing, wearing face masks and minimal interactions with people outside of their households.

This comes after a few tough weeks of district officials dealing with increased cases of students and staff testing positive for COVID-19 after the Thanksgiving holidays.

“Throughout our school district, we have quarantined a number of school sites,” said Superintendent Ziggy Robeson in her recent letter to families and RUSD staff.

This was in the aftermath of the school board voting for all school sites to go to distance learning when classes resume on Jan. 5 through Jan. 8 – only (special education) Tier 3, Career Technical Education and Ripon After-school Program will return to their school sites during that first week back.

The return to in-person instruction on Monday, Jan. 11, will “allow for a period of self-isolating after the holiday,” according to Robeson.

Students in seventh through 12th grades who opted for distance learning will still have the option to remain on distance learning following the new year.

“Our district goal continues to be the safety of our students while preparing them for their future,” said Robeson, who strongly emphasized the safety protocols set forth by the California Department of Public Health guidelines.

This includes:

• Remembering to wear a face mask, maintain social distancing, wash hands frequently and stay home when feeling sick.
• Knowing the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 vs. the flu. Both are contagious respiratory illnesses, with testing possibly needed to confirm a diagnosis. A person can test negatively for the coronavirus and later develop symptoms – it may take 14 days to test positive for COVID-19 once exposed.
• Thinking you may have been exposed or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 requires self-quarantine and monitoring for symptoms.
• Exhibiting any such symptoms, even if mild, for any students should be reasons to keep him or her at home. Contacting a healthcare provider and getting tested is strongly encouraged, in this case.

Robeson once again noted that since March it has been “our desire to have all of our students return to all school campuses as soon as it is safely possible.”