Infectious Diseases Information
Updated March 13 at 1:45 p.m.: All schools CLOSED through April 24 in response to Governor Inslee’s order
Updated March 11 at 4 p.m.: Read the Superintendent’s message
Coronavirus
The health of our children is important to all of us. As the coronavirus spreads in Washington state, Battle Ground Public Schools wants to assure families that it is closely monitoring the situation and working directly with Clark County Public Health and the Washington State Department of Health as it does for all matters concerning public health.
How it spreads
Clark County Public Health says that without close contact with an infected person, people are at extremely low risk of contracting COVID-19. It is spread through close contact (within 6 feet) and via respiratory droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza spreads.
Schools closed through April 24
To help our state and nation slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Battle Ground Public Schools will close all schools after today through Friday, April 24. This directive is from Governor Jay Inslee and applies to all schools in the state of Washington.
The team actively reviewing coronavirus developments includes the superintendent; staff from our communications, emergency management, health, facilities, technology, student services, and special needs departments; and school principals. We work with county and state health agencies to determine when and if measures need to be taken.
What families can do
The state of Washington is encouraging everyone to stay home (if you can) and practice social distancing.
Clark County Public Health advises that everyday practices to prevent colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses can also protect people against coronaviruses, including COVID-19. The agency recommends people take the following actions to keep themselves healthy:
- Stay home when you are sick. If you are showing signs of a respiratory illness (fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath), stay home until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms are better.
Read Battle Ground Public Schools’ Health & Attendance brochure. (Spanish) (Russian).
When you report your student’s absence, please provide details about your child’s specific symptoms. - Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
- Get the flu shot.
Talk with your family
Parents, please talk with your children about proper hand washing and hygiene techniques.
Talking With Children during infectious disease outbreaks from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is a good resource for talking with your children about a disease outbreak.
Thank you
Thank you for your support as we work together to keep our students healthy.
FAQ
Battle Ground Public Schools cannot provide an educational program during a school closure because of concerns about equity and the inability to ensure that all students would benefit from online learning. We are working to provide a list of resources that families can use to learn at home.
About 15% of our students need special services, nearly 7% require language services, and many students do not have the resources at home to learn online. Almost 34% of our students receive free or reduced meal benefits.
In addition, online learning for grades K-2 requires parent support that some households cannot provide.
During the closure we will continue to provide information via several methods:
Battle Ground website for updates
Email
Automated phone call
Social media
BGPS Information line: (360) 885-5343
No. Parent-teacher conferences have been canceled.
Governor Jay Inslee has directed all public and private K-12 schools in Washington to close through April 24.
Unfortunately at this time, we cannot provide definitive answers about which events will be rescheduled or when. Once school has resumed, the district will provide more information about activities and events.
High school graduation ceremony dates will not change. The last attendance day for seniors will be extended beyond the graduation ceremony. As of March 13, OSPI has canceled all required state testing for the remainder of the school year. We will have more information on graduation requirements in the future.
Makeup testing dates will be available later this school year, and The College Board will work with the district to determine next steps. The College Board is aware that students in Washington, Oregon and California are out of school during this public health crisis. Watch for more information.
Yes, all school events are canceled and school buildings are closed to the public.
Governor Jay Inslee has directed all public and private K-12 schools in Washington to close through April 24.
Unfortunately at this time, we cannot provide definitive answers about which events will be rescheduled or when. Once school has resumed, the district will provide more information about activities and events.
All Community Education events and Facilities Rentals are canceled.
If you have children or family members with other medical conditions that put them at higher risk for the flu, talk to your healthcare provider about planning specific to your family.
March 12, 2020
Coronavirus UPDATE: Field Trip Cancellations
Dear families of Battle Ground Public Schools,
The last two days have seen many state announcements that greatly impact schools in the Puget Sound area of Washington, and we want to share what this means for our families and staff in Battle Ground Public Schools.
Field trip cancellations
Yesterday, the governors of Washington and Oregon prohibited events involving more than 250 people in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties in Washington and in all of Oregon state at least through the end of March to limit the spread of coronavirus.
As a result of these announcements, most trips to these regions have been canceled by event organizers. The district is also evaluating other school activities and will inform parents if there are any changes to planned school events.
The district’s postponed or canceled trips include:
- March 13-14, Clackamas Community College Jazz Festival, Oregon City, OR (Prairie High School, Battle Ground High School, Chief Umtuch Middle School, Pleasant Valley Middle School, Tukes Valley Middle School)
- March 13, JROTC Fitness Competition, Tacoma, WA (Prairie High School)
- March 17, AFROTC Shadow Day, University of Portland (Battle Ground and Prairie High Schools)
- March 17, Teens Care Youth Summit, WSU Vancouver (Chief Umtuch Middle School)
- March 17, LCRMEA Regional Band Festival, Vancouver, WA (Chief Umtuch Middle School, Laurin Middle School)
- March 18, LCRMEA Regional Band Festival, Vancouver, WA (Prairie High School)
- March 19, Youth Employment Summit, Clark County Events Center (Prairie High School, Summit View High School)
- March 19, The Winningstad Theatre, Portland, OR (River Homelink)
- March 20, Portland Roadster Show, Portland, OR (Prairie High School)
- March 21, Commencement Bay Jazz Festival, Tacoma, WA (Battle Ground High School)
- March 23 & 26, Rice Museum, Hillsboro, OR (Pleasant Valley Primary)
- March 24, Youth Leadership & College Opportunities, WSU Vancouver (Battle Ground and Prairie High School)
- March 25, Microsoft Store, Portland, OR (River Homelink)
- March 26, Portland Center Stage, Portland, OR (Prairie High School)
- March 28, Chicago, IL – (Prairie High School Band)
If you have questions about athletic competitions or activities not listed here, please contact your child’s coach, school principal or athletic director.
School closures
In a press conference today, Governor Inslee declared that all schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties will be closed for at least six weeks. He identified several factors that led to this decision, including the number of coronavirus cases in these counties, unparalleled student absences in Puget Sound school districts, a lack of staffing due to absences, and that health agencies can no longer map contacts of infected individuals with reliability. Read the School Closure FAQ.
Clark County currently does not meet these criteria for school closures. At this point, there are no known cases of COVID-19 among students or staff in Battle Ground Public Schools. Should the situation change, the district is making plans for providing support to families as outlined by the governor.
Monitoring and prevention
The district continues to monitor the situation, communicate with public health agencies, and plan for contingencies. We will continue to provide immediate updates as information becomes available.
In the meantime, parents can help keep students and staff safe by following the family preventative steps listed on the coronavirus information webpage. Perhaps most important, please stay home when you are sick. If you are showing signs of a respiratory illness (fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath), stay home until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms are better.
Thank you,
Battle Ground Public Schools
March 13, 2020
All Schools CLOSED through April 24
Dear families of Battle Ground Public Schools,
To help our state and nation slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Battle Ground Public Schools will close all schools after today through Friday, April 24. This directive is from Governor Jay Inslee and applies to all schools in the state of Washington.
We recognize that closures can pose difficulties for families and disrupt students’ education. However, this is an important step to preventing the spread of the coronavirus and protecting the lives of those who are at greater risk for contracting the virus.
Please review the following important information:
Athletics/Activities: Effective immediately and throughout the closure, ALL athletics and afternoon/evening school activities will be canceled.
Lunches: Similar to our summer meal program, children ages 0–18 can pick up a free and nutritious sack lunch and breakfast items for the following morning each week day between 11 a.m. and noon at all of our primary schools, Amboy Middle School, and Battle Ground and Prairie high schools. We will provide these meals on weekdays March 16–March 27 and April 6–24 (meals will NOT be served spring break week, March 29-April 3).
Makeup Days: Some of the missed school days will be made up at the end of the school year, and the last day of school will be June 19. The make-up days will be: May 1 (snow makeup day), June 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. The district will apply for a state waiver for the additional days that students miss.
Running Start Students: Follow the Clark and Lower Columbia College schedules for your classes at these colleges.
High School Seniors: Graduation dates will not change. We are still getting information about making up AP tests and credits and will provide updates as we learn more.
Medications: The parents of students who have medications on file with the school nurse need to pick up those medications. Contact your school office staff to arrange a time to do that.
Community Education and Facility Rentals: All community education events and facility rentals are canceled throughout the duration of the closure.
During the closure we will continue to provide information via several methods:
- Battle Ground website for updates
- Automated phone call
- Social media
- BGPS Information line: (360) 885-5343
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we address this unprecedented situation. We are committed to the safety and well-being of our students, their families, our staff members, volunteers and community.
Please continue to take care of yourselves and one another. We are a resilient community, and I know that we will get through this challenging time together.
Sincerely,
Mark Ross, Superintendent
Battle Ground Public Schools
March 16, 2020
Resources Update
Dear families of Battle Ground Public Schools,
As we enter the first of several weeks that our schools will be closed, we want to update you on the resources that are currently available to families, and answer some frequently asked questions.
Distance learning: Battle Ground Public Schools cannot provide an educational program during a school closure because of concerns about equity and the inability to ensure that all students would benefit from online learning. About 15% of our students need special services, nearly 7% require language services, and many students do not have the resources at home to learn online. Almost 34% of our students receive free or reduced meal benefits. In addition, online learning for grades K-2 requires parent support that some households cannot provide.
We are working to provide supplemental online educational resources. These are not meant to be a substitute for classroom instruction, and will not be required nor graded, but will help students practice their skills and learn independently during the closure.
Medications: The parents of students who have medications on file with the school nurse need to pick up those medications by the time school offices close on Tuesday, March 17.
School and district hours: Schools are closed to the public. If you need assistance from someone in the district office, please make an appointment by calling 360-885-5300.
Graduation ceremonies & requirements: High school graduation ceremony dates will not change. The last attendance day for seniors will be extended beyond the graduation ceremony. As of March 13, OSPI has canceled all required state testing for the remainder of the school year. We will have more information on graduation requirements in the future.
AP Tests: Makeup testing dates will be available later this school year, and The College Board will work with the district to determine next steps. The College Board is aware that students in Washington, Oregon and California are out of school during this public health crisis. Watch for more information.
SAT Exams: The makeup for the SAT exam on March 28 (originally scheduled for March 14) and the SAT exam scheduled for May 2 have been canceled. Students who already registered for the May 2 exam (and whose March test centers were closed, or who do not receive March scores because of any irregularities) will receive refunds. Students can go to https://www.khanacademy.org/sat to keep their readiness skills sharp while schools are closed. As of now, the SAT exam on June 6 is still scheduled.
Lunches: Grab and go lunch and breakfast is available to children ages 0–18
When: 11 a.m. to noon weekdays, March 17–27 and April 6–24
(meals will NOT be served spring break, March 29-April 3)
Where: In front of all our primary schools, Amboy Middle, and BGHS and PHS
Makeup Days: Some of the missed school days will be made up at the end of the school year, and the last day of school will be June 19. The makeup days will be: May 1 (snow makeup day), June 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. The district will apply for a state waiver for the additional days that students miss.
We know this is a stressful time for our students and families. Our students have been working hard all year and looking forward to athletics, events and activities that normally occur in the spring. It is disappointing and frustrating to have those plans put on hold or cancelled altogether.
Please know that we are here for you, and we are working hard to provide resources and information and answer questions.
This experience is new for all of us, and we expect to work through it, learn from it, and demonstrate to our students that we all can be brave, supportive, and resilient in difficult situations.
Thank you and have a good evening,
Battle Ground Public Schools
March 17, 2020
Lunch update, Free internet resources
Dear families of Battle Ground Public Schools,
Today’s update includes information about lunches and free internet resources.
School and district hours: Schools are closed to the public. If you need assistance from someone in the district office, please make an appointment by calling 360-885-5300.
Lunch UPDATE
Families are strongly encouraged to pick up meals at one of the 10 BGPS locations that are set up to distribute sack lunches/breakfasts. However, families that are absolutely unable to get to schools to pick up meals in person can request meal delivery to your child’s bus stop. For those who need it, meal delivery is set to begin on Monday, April 6. To request delivery of meals, please complete the online request form to get started. If you are unable to complete the form online, you may call the Meal Delivery Request Line at (360) 885-6614. However, please note that completing the online request form is the most efficient method of requesting meal delivery.
Grab and go lunch and breakfast is available to children ages 0–18
Students need to be present to pick up their meals.
When: 11 a.m. to noon weekdays, March 17–27 and April 6–24
(meals will NOT be served spring break, March 29-April 3)
Where:
- Amboy Middle School
- Battle Ground High School
- Captain Strong Primary
- Daybreak Primary
- Glenwood Heights Primary
- Maple Grove Primary
- Pleasant Valley Primary
- Prairie High School
- Tukes Valley Primary
- Yacolt Primary
Free and Discounted Internet
TDS Telecommunications LLC is offering free broadband Internet access to low-income individuals and/or families with K-12 children and college students for 60 days (in response to the COVID-19 pandemic). This offer is for new customers in communities where TDS provides service. To verify eligibility for this offer, residents will be asked to provide documentation from qualifying programs. For more information, please call 1-888-287-8156. New customers must mention the 60-day free offer when calling. To check to see if TDS Internet is available in your area, you can enter your address here to see what services are available.
Comcast is taking immediate steps to help connect low-income families to the Internet at home as the country continues to manage the COVID-19 emergency. New Internet Essentials customers can receive two free months of Internet service, which is available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month plus tax. Apply by April 30, 2020. Additionally, for all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program’s Internet service has increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. That increase will go into effect automatically for no additional fee and it will become the new base speed for the program going forward. More info about Comcast’s Internet Essentials service offer is available here.
Thank you and stay healthy,
Battle Ground Public Schools
Coronavirus information
Clark County Public Health
Novel coronavirus web page
Novel coronavirus fact sheet
(Spanish) (Russian)
Washington State Department of Health
2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
About Coronavirus website
School closures
Governor Inslee declared that all public and private K-12 schools in Washington will be closed through April 24.
School Closures Q&A (Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction)
COVID-19 in Schools: A Parent Guide (Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction) (Spanish)
Parent Resources
Talking With Children during infectious disease outbreaks (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
When and How to Wash Your Hands (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Masks
There is no evidence that masks will keep you healthy. The World Health Organization (WHO) offers advice to the public on
When and how to use masks
Help keep our students healthy
Please keep children at home when they are sick. If you are showing signs of a respiratory illness (fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath), stay home until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms are better.
Washington Department of Health
What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 and have not been around anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (PDF)
Battle Ground Public Schools
Health & Attendance brochure
(Spanish) (Russian)
Stop the Spread of Germs COVID-19 poster (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
(Spanish)
11104 N.E. 149th Street,
P.O. Box 200 
(360)885-5300