Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools follows guidance provided for schools from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) in the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit. We can all safely help our communities in response to COVID-19.

Research shows that students learn better when community organizations and volunteers, as well as their families, are engaged with schools. With new NCDHHS guidance and efforts across the district to maintain a high-quality learning environment, WS/FCS partners and volunteers may resume their normal activities and will be required to follow school district protocols to maintain the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and school communities. Continuing safe in-person learning is a priority.

Please review the information below to inform yourself of safety precautions and procedures as you support WS/FCS as a volunteer or community partner who supports or sponsors programs and initiatives.

March 3, 2022 Volunteer Update

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FAQs

What is the current mandate for face coverings?

Effective Monday, February 28, 2022, the WS/FCS Board of Education voted to make masks optional inside all WS/FCS facilities.

It is important to note that students, staff, and volunteers can still wear masks as they feel personally necessary. These changes are a result of the newly updated North Carolina COVID-19 guidelines within the StrongSchoolsNC toolkit that took effect on February 21, 2022.

Per state guidelines, The Board of Education must revisit the mandate monthly.
Are symptom screenings and temperature checks being performed?
No, symptom screening and temperature checks will not be performed. Students, parents, staff, and volunteers are all asked to self-monitor for symptoms prior to arriving at a school/district building. If symptoms are present and you have been in a school, please exclude and report to the COVID Coordinator/teacher/school administration.

Symptoms include:
- Fever (temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)
- Sore throat
- Cough (for people with chronic cough due to allergies or asthma, a change in their chough baseline)
- Difficulty breathing (for people with asthma, a change in their baseline breathing)
- New loss of taste or smell
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
Please do not volunteer if you have experienced symptoms related to COVID-19 or generally do not feel well.
Do I have to be vaccinated to volunteer?
What if I get sick or come in contact with someone at a school who has COVID-19?

It is no longer recommended that asymptomatic individuals that are
considered close contacts should be excluded regardless of vaccination
status or mask use. Potentially exposed individuals will be notified but will not be required to exclude unless they develop symptoms.

If symptoms develop after being exposed, individuals must have a
negative PCR COVID test, complete a 5-day exclusion, or have an
alternate diagnosis from a doctor to return to volunteering. Symptoms must be improving and fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing
medication.

Close contacts should wear a mask for 10 days from the last day of
exposure, unless an exemption to mask use applies.
Do I need to register to be a volunteer?

Yes. All interested volunteers must visit www.wsfcsvolunteers.com to complete an application. After setting up an account and completing the application, you’ll receive an automated email confirmation. You will need to verify your application using the link provided in the email.

Once a background check has been successfully completed, you will receive another automated email confirming your service.
Who do I contact if I have questions about my volunteer application?

Important to Know

As a reminder, WS/FCS Policy 5131.2 states that because our schools are closed campuses, all volunteers and visitors are required to report their presence to the school’s office immediately upon entering a school facility and check-in using the Ident-a-Kid kiosks or with the school office staff.

Additionally, principals and their designees have the authority to limit and control access to classrooms and other school facilities based on the need to respect and preserve the quality of the student instructional day, limit interruptions by visitors, and maintain a safe and orderly educational environment.

Community Engagement

March 3, 2022 Volunteer Update

FAQs

What is the current mandate for face coverings?

Are symptom screenings and temperature checks being performed?

Do I have to be vaccinated to volunteer?

What if I get sick or come in contact with someone at a school who has COVID-19?

Do I need to register to be a volunteer?

Who do I contact if I have questions about my volunteer application?