Marfa Independent School District -

October 9, 2020 Dear Parent/Guardian, In keeping with Marfa ISD’s practices to respond to COVID-19, we are notifying all students’ families that two students who were lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 were present on the Marfa Junior High/High School campus October 6, 2020. One staff member that works at both Marfa Elementary and Marfa Junior High/High School was present on both campuses on October 6, 2020 is also lab-confirmed positive. Due to privacy requirements, we will not be releasing the name of the individuals or details that may identify them. All facilities will be thoroughly disinfected according to our safety response protocol. In addition, the local health department will conduct contact tracing investigations and notify those who have potentially been exposed. Marfa ISD school buildings will be closed until October 16, 2020. Remote instruction will continue for all students from Oct. 12 through Oct. 16, 2020. Students need to continue to check email and Google Classroom and complete daily assignments. Students and staff will return to campus on October 19, 2020. While we do not have reason to believe that those who were not in close contact with the infected individual have reason to be concerned, we ask that you, as always, watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Any of the following symptoms indicate a possible COVID-19 infection: o Temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher when taken by mouth; o Sore throat; o New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (or, for students with a chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline); o Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain; or o New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever. If you or any member of the Marfa ISD community do begin experiencing any of these symptoms in a way that is not typical, we encourage you to contact your local health provider. We encourage anyone in the Marfa ISD community who is lab-confirmed positive for COVID-19 to please notify the school by calling 432-729-5500. The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff are our highest priority. We will keep you updated with any new information through the school website, social media, and phone messages. If you have any questions or concerns, please call 432-729-5500 or visit our website at www.marfisd.com Sincerely, Oscar N. Aguero Superintendent

When people are not counted in the 2020 Census, we all lose in Presidio County! Make a difference in our lives for the next 10 years and get counted. You can respond online my2020census.gov, by phone 844-330-2020 (Spanish is 844-468-2020) or by using the paper form you received at your home. Get counted in the Census before the October 31st. deadline! Cuando las personas no son contadas en el censo 2020, todos perdemos en el condado de Presidio. Hace una diferencia en nuestras vidas durante los próximos 10 años y se contado. Puedes responder por internet my2020census.gov, por teléfono 844-330-2020 (el español al 844-468-2020) o utilizando el formulario que recibiste en casa. ¡Sea contado en el Censo antes de la fecha límite del 31 de Octubre!

The final online Drug Testing Information meeting will be held at 6 p.m., today, Oct. 7. All parents/guardians whose child will be participating in any extracurricular activities and/or parking on campus this school year must attend one of the information meetings. Parents/guardians can attend the online Zoom meeting. Copy the link in web browser for Oct. 7 meeting. Scheduled Zoom meeting: Topic: Drug Testing Information meeting (online only) Time: Oct 7, 2020 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94150350775?pwd=Qkl6SG9OaFkwb0Fnejl4UUdpaldCUT09 Meeting ID: 941 5035 0775 Passcode: 0KNAhE

Marfa ISD has been notified that a parent and family member of a Jr./Sr. High School student have tested positive for CoVID19. The student has not developed symptoms at this time. The student and family members are in quarantine. The district is following its safety response protocol and will continue to monitor the situation. If you or your child develop symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider. For more information about symptoms, click here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

If your child is changing his/her learning choice (remote to face-to-face or returning to remote) please call the school as soon as possible at 432-729-5500.

The Drug Testing Information meeting will be held at 6 p.m., today, Oct. 5. All parents/guardians whose child will be participating in any extracurricular activities and/or parking on campus this school year must attend this meeting. Parents/guardians can attend in person at the high school auditorium or an online Zoom meeting. Copy the link in web browser for Oct. 5 meeting Scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Drug Testing Information Meeting Time: Oct 5, 2020 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/95379491435?pwd=WFIydXdGbTNTb0RiWStubDBRR0NXZz09 Meeting ID: 953 7949 1435 Passcode: 6fg4s9

MISD 2020 Homecoming King Zach Gomez, Queen Andrea Torres, Prince John Aguero, and Princess Gaby Soto. Congratulations!

MISD wants to inform the community that we are sold out of tickets for tomorrow night's homecoming football game. We have reached our maximum capacity to ensure we follow proper social distancing guidelines.

Marfa ISD Homecoming Parade & Pep Rally Everyone is invited to this year’s Homecoming Parade Thursday, Oct. 1. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by the pep rally at Martin Field. Marfa ISD and the Marfa Police Department ask parade attendees to park along the parade route, remain in their vehicles, and practice social distancing guidelines at all times. Homecoming Court and athletic teams will be driven in decorated vehicles and proceed from the high school headed east down Lincoln Street. The parade will turn south on Highland Avenue at the courthouse, then continue south down Highland Avenue, turning west on Oak Street where the parade will end. Homecoming Court vehicles will continue to the football field for the pep rally. Music, announcements, and senior highlights will be broadcast live on KRTS at 93.5 FM and stream at marfapublicradio.org. The school will also stream the event live on the Marfa Shorthorns Facebook page.

The Drug Testing Information meeting will be held today at 6 p.m. All parents/guardians whose child will be participating in extracurricular activities and/or parking on campus must attend this meeting. Additional meetings will be held Oct. 5 and Oct. 7. Parents/guardians can attend in person at the high school auditorium or an online Zoom meeting. Copy the link in web browser for Sept. 28 meeting: https://zoom.us/j/93315536762?pwd=QWlyd3JIU2tRQUZuQkc0eEdnTW1RQT09 Meeting ID: 933 1553 6762 Passcode: 6fg4s9

Did you know Presidio County’s current response rate in the United States Census is just 25.9%? That’s less than half the response rate we had back in the 2010 census. Presidio County stands to lose over $10,000 for each person not counted. If our response rate were to stay at the current level, Presidio County could lose more than 51 million dollars in the next 10 years. Help us make sure every Marfan gets counted. We’ve got a ton of great prizes including $50 gift cards at Porter’s, $50 gift cards at Convenience West BBQ, free burritos at Marfa Burrito, and large DQ Blizzards! 190 winners will be selected to win one of these prizes. Getting counted is easy—just use one of these forms to enter your phone number. Census workers will call you from the (202) area code to get you counted and you’ll automatically be entered to win a prize. Marfa Counts: http://www.riocog.org/2020-census/marfa-english/ ¿Sabías que la tasa de respuesta actual del Condado de Presidio en el Censo de los Estados Unidos es de solo el 25,9%? Eso es menos de la mitad de la tasa de respuesta que obtuvimos en el censo del 2010. El Condado de Presidio está por perder más de $10,000 por cada persona no contada. Si nuestra tasa de respuesta se mantuviera en el nivel actual, el condado de Presidio podría perder más de 51 millones de dólares en los próximos 10 años. Ayúdanos a que todas las personas de Marfa sean contados. Tenemos muchos grandiosos regalos que incluyen tarjetas de regalo de $50 en Porter's, tarjetas de regalo de $50 en Convenience West BBQ y burritos gratis en Marfa Burrito. ¡Y también tenemos DQ Blizzards tamaño grande para regalar! 190 ganadores serán seleccionados para ganar estos premios. Ser contado es fácil—sólo tiene que utilizar el formulario para introducir su número de teléfono. Los trabajadores del censo le llamarán del código de área (202) para que te cuenten y automáticamente serás registrado para ganar un premio. Marfa Cuental: http://www.riocog.org/2020-census/marfa-espanol/

Homecoming activities begin next week! We will see you in your PJs on Monday. (School dress code applies.) Go Horns!

Marfa vs. Sierra Blanca, Martin Field, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 Marfa High School Football Game Protocols for Spectators The following procedures are in place to SAFELY allow spectators to attend SHORTHORN FOOTBALL games. 1. Athletes/cheerleaders are eligible for a minimum of 4 tickets per home game. (More tickets may be available depending on attendance capacity.) . Athletes/cheerleaders will purchase, and pick up, these tickets at the high school office. 2. General admission tickets can be purchased by: · Calling (432) 729-5500 to reserve your tickets · Ticket limit is 4 per person at $3.00 per ticket · Reserved tickets must be paid for, and picked up, by 2:00 pm Friday at the high school office or administration office. . For the Sept. 25 football game, only 60 General Admission tickets are available. · PLEASE BRING THE EXACT DOLLAR AMOUNT. NO CHANGE WILL BE AVAILABLE. CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 4. Available seating areas are marked 1-48. 5. Seating will be on a first come, first serve basis. Individuals must stay within their designated seating area. 6. ENTRANCE PROCEDURES: · Marfa (HOME) spectators will PARK and ENTER / EXIT through areas designated along Gonzales Street and ENTER / EXIT through the “Tennis Court Area” and will sit on the home side of the field (WEST SIDE). · VISITORS will park on Lincoln Street and ENTER / EXIT the “M Gate” and will sit on the visitor side of the field (EAST SIDE). TICKETS WILL NOT BE SOLD AT THE GATE

Marfa ISD Homecoming is Oct. 2, 2020! Spirit week begins, Monday, Sept. 28. Let's celebrate Shorthorn Pride all week!

Parents of Jr./Sr. High School students - if you have decided that your child will attend face-to-face instruction beginning Monday, Sept. 21, instead of continuing with remote instruction this grading period, please call the school office at 432-729-5500.

Marfa ISD will have their regular monthly board meeting on Monday, September 21, 2020 at 6pm via zoom and face to face. The face to face meeting will be in the High School Auditorium. Here is the link and the password is 130YHx . If you have any comments or questions please email me at oaguero@marfaisd.com https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77258232318?pwd=YldoTnh0QktoUFFpSUQ2eERqMXBzdz09

This is a reminder that Marfa ISD's face to face instruction will begin Monday, September 21, 2020. Marfa ISD staff cannot wait and is exited to see the students return. Remote instruction will continue as is. Thank you and continue to be safe.

Marfa ISD would like to inform you that on September 8, 2020, The Marfa City Council approved Gonzales Street to become a one way street heading north between Lincoln and Columbia. This will help make the dropping off and picking up of students safer and more efficient. This will also allow us to practice social distancing during student drop off and pick up, because parents will be required to stay in their vehicles and students will not be walking across traffic.

Marfa High School Homecoming game has been rescheduled to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2. Mark your calendar for this great Shorthorn tradition! The Shorthorns take on West Texas Co-Op. Information about activities and game tickets will be posted soon. Go Horns!!

Marfa ISD has been advised by our local health advisor, Dr. Schwartz, that there is a spike in cases of Covid-19 and recommends extending our remote only instruction for one more week. Due to this recommendation, Marfa ISD will be remote only for the week of September 14th through the 18th. Face to face instruction will begin, Monday, September 21, 2020 unless otherwise advised. Marfa ISD is sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you, but please understand that this decision is made with the safety of our students, staff, and community as the utmost priority.