Dear Springfield families, 

As COVID-19 begins to circulate throughout our community at increased rates, Springfield Public Schools is working with our partners at the Eugene 4J and Bethel school districts to plan for how we can mitigate impacts of the virus on our schools. 

Currently, we are continuing with our extracurricular activities and are reviewing protocols and safety measures. It is a collective top priority in all three districts to maintain in-person learning while also working to limit the spread of COVID-19. All of the districts share a desire to continue to provide extra-curricular activities to the greatest extent safely possible. 

In an effort to continue to offer winter athletics and be in alignment with current safety measures recommended by OSAA and OHA, the athletic directors from the Bethel, Eugene 4J and Springfield school districts have collaboratively agreed to the following protocols for games at Eugene and Springfield schools. These temporary changes will be effective starting Monday, January 10: 

• Attendees must follow and enforce OHA-mandated indoor masking rules at all times. 

This means that everyone over the age of 5 must wear a mask at all times. Masks may be removed only by student athletes while actively participating in a competition, band members while actively playing a wind instrument, and athletic officials while officiating a competition that requires a high level of physical exertion by the official. These participants must wear masks at all times when not actively participating in the competition or performance.

• Spectators will be limited and tickets will be required to attend events to allow for increased distancing. Each student participant will be allocated a set number of “tickets” depending on whether they’re playing a home or away game. Each student participant will be given four “tickets” for home games and two “tickets” for away games. Athletic directors in each district will work directly with families to provide information about how to obtain tickets. 
• Concession stands will be paused; no outside food or drinks will be permitted inside. 

• Hand sanitization will be required upon entry of events. 

Even with these protocols in place, families need to be aware that participating in extracurricular events increases the risk that a possible exposure could result in students needing to quartinine. Please also be aware that away games in other districts may follow different protocols and have different risks. 

Please know that the decision to temporarily limit spectators was not made lightly. Keeping our students in school and participating in extracurricular events is dependent upon everyone doing their part to limit the transmission of COVID-19 in our community. These decisions were made in adherence with local and state public health guidelines. With these new protocols, it is our goal to prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff while attempting to preserve their winter sports season. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we implement these COVID-related changes for extracurricular activities. We will continue to monitor pandemic conditions and revisit protocols with the expectation that the above restrictions will be lifted as case rates decline. 

Sincerely, 

Springfield Public Schools

Bethel School District

Eugene School District 4J

​

Chris Reiersgaard

Interim Principal

Thurston High School

chris.reiersgaard@springfield.k12.or.us

541-744-5030

  12/14/21 - Two Hour Delay  schedule

2^nd period        10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

4^th period        11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Lunch              12:10pm. – 12:55p.m.

6^th Period        12:55 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.

8^th period        2:05 p.m.  – 3:05 p.m.