Wachusett News
December 18, 2021
Dear Wachusett Families and Staff,
COVID-19 Update
We are currently experiencing a significant increase in cases of COVID-19 in our five towns (Click here for local case rates). It is important that all members of our school communities remain vigilant about monitoring their symptoms and the symptoms of their children. It is very important that you please keep your children home if they are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, or if they are experiencing symptoms listed in the Self-Screening tool.
COVID-19 testing continues to be offered in our district schools. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) testing protocols have limitations that include the Test & Stay program being available only for people who are unvaccinated and who are designated as a close contact due to an in-school exposure. As a district, we have inquired with DESE about expanding the testing program to include out-of-school close contacts, and at this time, DESE is not allowing for this to occur.
As we see vaccination rates climb in our district towns, people have inquired about when a person is considered fully-vaccinated. Full vaccination status is achieved two weeks after the last dose of a vaccine. People who are fully-vaccinated and asymptomatic are exempt from testing & quarantine response protocols according to DESE and DPH protocols (see WRSD COVID-19 Quarantine Protocols).
Our district School Nurses continue to provide support for members of our school communities related to the intricacies of contact tracing, quarantine & isolation periods, and other responses to cases of COVID-19 in our schools. While the protocols are established by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and our local Boards of Health, our School Nurses are frequently the messengers who notify students and staff about close contacts and the required testing or quarantine requirements. We appreciate the skillful work being done by our district School Nurses throughout the pandemic in tending to their regular responsibilities, as well as in providing support to students, their families, and staff with issues related to COVID-19.
As we come to the close of 2021, I am grateful for all of the support shown to our students this year by our staff and families. It has been another tumultuous year for schools, but the perseverance and hard work that takes place in our classrooms everyday helped to lend a level of normalcy to our routines. I wish all of you a safe and relaxing break during this holiday season and look forward to the start of the new year!
Sincerely,
Darryll McCall, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
WRSD Budget Roundtable
As I reminded the audience at the meeting, all of the information shared concerning FY23 was shared as a projection as it is still very early in the budget process and there are many areas that still need to be finalized.
WRHS Students Receive Award for STEAM
Winter Fuel Assistance
The Winter months bring with them an increase in home heating costs. The Worcester Community Action Council has a program for heating fuel assistance. Please click here for the referral form.
Substitutes Needed
WRSD Human Resources - 508-829-1670 x228
The Wachusett Regional School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, English Language Learner (ELL) status, housing status, or other protected status. Please read our full Non-Discrimination Policy for more details.
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Wachusett Regional School District
Email: feedback@wrsd.net
Website: www.wrsd.net
Location: 1745 Main Street, Jefferson, MA, USA
Phone: 508-829-1670
Twitter: @WachusettReg