Important Update from Dr. Campbell
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Dear Plymouth Community,
It has been a challenging year but I have never been more grateful for the way our school community continues to work together for the benefit of our students. With the support of so many families, staff, and students, we have been able to continue to provide an in-person educational experience during this pandemic. It is our hope that this experience will not only continue, but we will reach our goal of offering a full-time model of in-person learning in the coming weeks.
By exercising safety protocols at school, and with your continued support at home, we have been able to continue our in-person hybrid learning model since September. While our schools are working hard to help prevent the spread of the virus through various safety protocols and prevention strategies, a potential rise in cases in our community is always a concern.
February Travel Reminders
As we approach February break, we encourage everyone to exercise caution with social gatherings and travel. We ask that everyone be vigilant in protecting yourself and others by wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, keeping your children home when they are sick, and limiting group gatherings. None of us like the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, but we do ask that you follow the guidelines for travel and plan to quarantine upon return, if necessary, as specified by the Massachusetts Department of Health Travel Advisory.
Student Test Kits Information
In addition to the above mentioned safety precautions that should be taken, the district has purchased a number of COVID test kits in response to our recent survey. The goal of this test kit is to provide our students a convenient, no-cost testing opportunity in order to provide our school community a measure of safety and reassurance. Testing is completely optional and is at the discretion of the student's primary caregiver. However, if you are going to use this test during February vacation, you must take the test and put it in a FED-EX drop box by Thursday, February 18th so that we have the results prior to returning to school on February 22nd. The individual and the Superintendent’s office will receive the results via email. If you receive a positive result, we ask that you contact your student’s building administration.
Test kits are for PPS Students only and should not be shared with other family members. The kit is a saliva test and is user friendly. Directions and test registrations are included in the test kit. Test kits are expensive, and while voluntary, if you take a test kit you are expected to use it within the guidelines provided in this memo.
Test kits are available for pick up during the following day/times. You may pick up for multiple children at one location as long as they are active Plymouth Public School students, but please note that you will be required to complete a consent form for each child.
- Thursday, February 11 - contact any of our Plymouth Public Schools to make arrangement for pick up during school hours
- Friday, February 12 - contact any of our Plymouth Public Schools to make arrangement for pick up during school hours
During the week of vacation test kits will only be available at the following locations and at the noted times:
- Tuesday, February 16th - PSMS or PSHS 8:30am-10:30am
- Wednesday, February 17th - PNHS 8:30am-10:30am
- Thursday, February 18th - PCIS 8:30am-10:30am
As a reminder, tests should be dropped off at a FED-EX drop box. Check here for a list of FED-EX drop box locations.
Our students and staff have done a remarkable job in practicing our primary prevention strategies in school. It is critically important that we also continue to practice these important prevention strategies outside of school.
We wish you a happy winter break, and want to express our profound gratitude for the personal sacrifices you’ve made for our schools to remain open and for our community to remain healthy and safe. If you have any questions at any time, please feel free to contact your school administration, our Director of Health Service or my office.
Sincerely,
Christopher S. Campbell, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Christopher S. Campbell
Superintendent of Schools
11 Lincoln Street | Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: 508-830-4300 | Fax: 508-746-1873
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