Results In: NP3 Students Negative for COVID-19

BY BRANDY TUZON BOYD
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

A NP3 Elementary School student has tested negative for the novel coronavirus, school officials announced this morning.

All three of Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep’s campuses closed Friday, March 13, after school officials became aware that a student at their elementary school exhibited some symptoms and was being test for COVID-19.

“We are very happy to report that the NP3 elementary student tested negative for COVID-19,” NP3 executive director Tom Rutten said. “This happiness extends to our NP3 families and the rest of the Natomas community.”

To date, there have been no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus within the Natomas Unified School District.

“Very good news,” said Natomas Unified superintendent Chris Evans. “We are very happy for our students’ health.”

In a message to Natomas Unified staff over the weekend, Evans reported that a student who had come to Natomas High School exhibiting potential symptoms also tested negative for COVID-19.

In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, 13 local school districts, including Natomas Unified, are closed for a period of up to three weeks. At this time, it is anticipated that most schools will reopen on April 6.

Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep’s K-12 program was already heading into its spring break when the school closure decision was made which could mean those students may only miss one week of classes if campuses reopen as planned on April 6.

Here’s a roundup of the impact of closure on both districts and Natomas-area charter schools, which is subject to change:

• Natomas Charter School – The BASE program after school day care at Star Academy will be closed. By Tuesday, teachers will be posting learning activities for students to complete at home on their teacher web pages (Star Academy) or the Schoology learning management system (Leading Edge Academy and Performing and Fine Arts Academy). These learning activities are optional. Teachers will be periodically checking in with families and students via email during the closure. Families will be updated about any changes to the spring break schedule closer to April 5. At press time, spring break was expected to occur as scheduled.
• Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep – All NP3 schools and MAP, the after school day-care program, will be closed at least through April 5. This includes all extra-curricular programs and activities. High school students will be expected to take their remaining midterms when they return to school.
• Natomas Unified – The closure applies to all events including academics, athletics, other extracurricular and co-curricular activities, field trips, open houses, professional development, work-related travel, and more. All before and after school programs that operate in district-owned facilities will also close. Students with alternative placements, including non-public schools, Sacramento County Office of Education placements, and students who have been placed by the district in other public school settings will also be off from school. Community groups will not be allowed to use school facilities during the closure. The district plans to continue to provide free breakfast and lunch to children 18 and young at 15 campuses during this time. At press time, the district was uncertain what the impact of the closure would be on its spring break.
• Twin Rivers Unified – The district will use the time to conduct a deep cleaning and sanitizing of all sites and departments. Starting Tuesday, March 17, meals will be served between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, in the parking lot or bus lane at 10 participating schools. In Natomas, meals will be available at Smythe Academy of the Arts K-6, 2781 Northgate Boulevard. Children must be present to pick up meals and the meals cannot be consumed on site.
• Westlake Charter School – The school and BASE, the after school day-care program, will be closed and all scheduled school events, including field lessons, will be canceled or postponed. Staff plans to develop distance learning activities to provide academic and social-emotional support to students with daily lessons, opportunities to stay connected using the internet and, where possible, access to counseling services.
• SAVA Charter Natomas Campus – Campuses will be closed from Monday, March 16 through Friday April 10. Spring break will still be held from Monday, April 6 through Monday, April 13. Schools will resume session on Tuesday, April 14.
  The decision to close all 13 districts under the Sacramento County Office of Education was made with the support of Sacramento County Public Health.

During the closure, the district will provide free meals to all children 18 and under at all campuses.