Athletic Contact Days Follow Up

Parents,

I just wanted to follow up Dr. Edwards’s email regarding the cancellation of “Contact Days.”  This week would have been the last week of our Contact Days, but due to the rising number of positive Covid cases in our area, we were advised by Skokie Health to not risk it since Contact Days are simply voluntary practices.  Boys Cross Country is still finishing their season this week and the rest of our Fall Sports were able to fully finish their seasons.

Whether you participated in Summer Camps, Fall Sports, or Fall Contact Days, the Athletic Department wanted to send out a thank you to our student-athletes and families.  First, we appreciate your trust in us to lead our sports safely and within the guidelines of the IDPH and IHSA.  Second, we wanted to express our gratitude for the tremendous communication each family has shown throughout this time.  Conducting sports safely during a pandemic cannot be accomplished without constant communication from each family.  Because of your communication regarding symptoms and potential exposures of your student-athletes, we were able to keep everyone else as safe as possible and limit potential issues.  Additionally, we appreciate our student-athletes’ adherence to wearing masks and following our social distancing guidelines.  

Please know that since we first began Summer Camps, we treat every symptom, exposure, and positive case with the utmost importance and relay all information to our Skokie Health Department.  The Skokie Health Department has been unbelievable in helping us plan and their medical expertise is always the final call when determining when and if student-athletes can return after symptoms, an exposure, or a positive test.   In situations where a Covid positive student-athlete may have exposed his/her teammates, we immediately communicate with parents based on the health guidance from the Skokie Health Department.  

Because of our parent/student-athlete communication, assistance from the Skokie Health Department, and the diligence of our coaches to follow the guidelines, we have been successful at minimizing the risks associated with sports.  Compared to several schools in our area, we have had very little disruption to our practices due to Covid exposures or positive student-athlete cases.  This also gives us confidence that our student-athletes are taking the virus seriously outside of athletics by making wise choices that do not jeopardize their teammates.  While many things in a pandemic may be out of our control, it is great to see our athletes and coaches taking care of the items within their control.

There will be an abundance of information forthcoming regarding Winter Sports as it becomes available.  Please look for communication on our website, emails from Dr. Edwards, and communication from our coaches.  Also, we ask that if you do develop any symptoms, become exposed to someone who is Covid positive, and/or test positive for Covid, please reach out to your specific coach, the Athletic Directors, or our wonderful school nurses.  You can also send any isolation/quarantine clearance notes to our nurses via email at healthofficenorth@d219.org or fax it to 847-626-3375.  

Thank you again for supporting Niles North Athletics.  We look forward to updating you soon.

Sincerely,

Brett Bildstein                        Danae Russell

Athletic Director                    Assistant Athletic Director

11/16/2020 8:24 PM