Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s):
I hope you are happy, healthy, and enjoying a restful December break and found time to connect with friends and family. I want to communicate a few updates in preparation for returning to school on Monday, January 3, 2022. I want to acknowledge the concern many have shared with us about our return on Monday. The District is committed to consistent implementation of mitigation measures to ensure the safety of all students as it learns more about the spread of the Omicron variant.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) have updated their quarantine and isolation protocols. As a result, The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough, in consultation with the Northborough and Southborough Boards of Health, will be adjusting protocols to align with changes. The changes will be communicated shortly.
One key mitigation layer is to ensure that all students and staff are symptom-free before returning to school on January 3, 2022. Families are encouraged to have their children tested for COVID-19 before returning to school on Monday, January 3, 2022, if possible (the District does not have access to rapid tests for students). Please report positive test results to your school nurse. Students who test positive for COVID-19 are required to isolate at home and are able to return to school symptom-free after five days test but must continue to wear a mask for an additional five days. If your child has tested positive for COVID-19 anytime since12/21/21, please complete this COVID-19 student form.
COVID-19 Testing: The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough are taking the following steps to increase access to COVID-19 testing next week:
- District-wide pooled testing on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, and Monday, January 10, 2022. (Testing was not available prior to return due to lab availability);
- The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is making home tests available to all district employees on Sunday, January 2, 2022, and;
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Families are encouraged to have their children tested for COVID-19 before returning to school on Monday, January 3, 2022, if possible (the District does not have access to rapid tests for students). Please report positive test results to your school nurse and complete this COVID-19 student form.
High-Quality Masks: We recommend that students and staff wear well-fitted, multi-layer masks or double mask for added protection. Much discussion has centered around KN95 masks. Although not required, a well-fitted KN95 mask is an effective barrier.
Lunch Protocols: Out of an abundance of caution, we will assess our lunch protocols at each school and make adjustments where possible.
- Maximizing social distancing between students at lunch*;
- Continuing to use filtration and/or turning up existing air filtration systems to their highest settings, and;
- Continuing to monitor mask-wearing during lunch, as students are required to stay masked when not actively eating. This means that students are only unmasked for approximately 10-15 minutes, and the air is fully exchanged at least every 15 minutes in all cafeterias.
*Lunch settings at the elementary level and at Trottier Middle School provide six feet of social distance. Lunch desks are in rows and students are facing the same direction. Melican Middle School lunches maximize social distancing but due to space constraints, students are not six feet apart. ARHS will open up a secondary lunch space (Blackbox Theater) and encourage students to eat outside if the weather permits.
Additional Mitigation Efforts:
- HEPPA filters in all educational spaces;
- Open windows in classrooms;
- Shift all parent meetings to remote;
- Conduct all large staff meetings remotely in January;
- Continue to limit student exposure to peers by maximizing distancing and similar seating charts across all settings;
- Suspend all indoor field trips and other large gatherings of students and staff during the month of January;
- Limit spectators at athletic events to parents and siblings;
- Continue to restrict access to buildings to only students, staff, and educationally critical volunteers, and;
- Strongly recommend that all eligible students receive the COVID-19 vaccine and/or booster.
Thank you for your continued partnership, patience, and support as we respond to ever-changing conditions. We wish you a safe and happy New Year.
Respectfully,
Gregory L. Martineau
Superintendent of Schools
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