Forreston High School in adaptive pause due to COVID-19 rates

FORRESTON — A 60-year basketball tradition at Forreston High School has been cancelled due to an outbreak of positive COVID-19 cases among high school students.

“Due to Forreston High School entering an adaptive pause or period of remote learning from Dec. 7-17, we will regrettably be unable to host the Forreston Holiday Tournament this year,” Forrestville Athletic Director Kyle Zick said in an email Tuesday evening.

The 16-team tournament was slated to begin on Saturday, marking its 61st year of competition. The tournament, held in the high school and junior high gyms, would have ended on Dec. 17.

Forrestville Valley Superintendent Sheri Smith addressed the COVID-19 issue in a Dec. 6 letter to parents on the district’s website.

“This is an important COVID-19 update. Today at Forreston High School, 12 students tested positive through our on-site BinaxNOW testing procedures. This is 4.76% of the high school student population,” Smith said.

She said the district’s nurse is working on contact tracing and will be in contact with Ogle County Health Department to determine what next steps are necessary.

“This is the largest number we have seen at FHS since the pandemic began,” Smith said.

High school students were scheduled to begin remote learning on Dec. 8. Remote learning is scheduled to end Dec. 17 for high school students, which also marks the end of the second semester. Christmas break runs from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3.

As of Tuesday, pre-K through 8th grade students will continue to have in-school classes.

“At this time, school will continue to operate in person. If we find cases are linked, we will take the necessary actions for test-to-stay protocols. You will be contacted individually if this directly affects your student,” Smith said in the letter.

“If your student is experiencing symptoms, please call the school so we can arrange fortesting. However, do NOT send your student to school with symptoms under any circumstance. Testing is available as a drive-thru option to avoid students with symptoms and close contact situations,” she said. “I would ask for your patience as we navigate our week ahead. We will continue to communicate if further mitigation strategies become necessary.”