Baker School District Pausing After School Activities due to Illness Concerns

By on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

BAKER COUNTY – (Release from the Baker School District) Baker 5J families –

We are seeing an increased spread of illness across Baker County and a resulting spike in absenteeism at our schools. We are working closely with the Baker County Health Department and are committed to keeping schools open as long as we have the staffing to do so. However, a decision has been made to pause auxiliary/after school programming temporarily at this time (list below) – we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. (Athletics are not currently affected!)

Top Baker County Health Department recommendations are to:

  • Focus on hand washing, sanitizing, and cleaning
  • Continue to offer masks and sanitizer at entrances 
  • Follow symptoms-based exclusion guidelines and monitor absenteeism
  • Encourage vaccination

These are all protocols the school district has continued from the pandemic.

Please help us keep each other well and schools open by staying home if you have symptoms of illness. Additionally, if symptoms of illness appear at school, students and staff will be sent home to rest and recover. 

The Health Department can provide vaccinations by appointment to staff and students in Baker County through the School-Based Health Center at BHS. Anyone in the community can also receive a vaccination by appointment at the main Health Department location at 2200 4th Street by calling 541-523-8211, or by visiting a pharmacy in town (Albertsons or Rite Aid).

We wish you health as we move into the holidays! Thank you for taking care of each other.

Please review the list below to see all programs that are being affected starting today:

  • After School Program at BELC (will pick up January 3)
  • Brooklyn Bulldog Club (new session sign-ups will be coming out in the future) 
  • Crossroads ArtSpeak with Brooklyn and South Baker students (new session sign-ups will be coming for mid-January)
  • Chess for Success (will pick up January 3)
  • STEM Club at South Baker on Tuesdays
  • STEM Club at OSU Extension on Friday (next session will be January 13, a make-up session in April may happen)
  • All Friday Programs that were scheduled for Friday, December 16 (Holiday Truffles with BTI Culinary and Milk Exploration Class)

We look forward to more classes coming in January and hope that everyone is able to stay healthy or recover quickly from illnesses.

Elkhorn Media Group