S'update
August 26, 2022
Dear Mohawk Trail & Hawlemont Families,
It's been a very busy summer here getting ready for our students! We are so excited to welcome students back Monday, August 29th. Please be sure to check out the website for more detailed information for each school!
All Staff Professional Development
Thanks Custodians and Facilities
Thanks to Robin Pease and her facilities and custodial crew for cleaning our schools top to bottom. It was one of the hottest summers I can remember, and they made sure the schools are ready for Monday. It was easy to get lost at MTRS during the last few days as the hallways received their last layer of shine. We can't wait for you to get here!
First
Then
Lost?
COVID19 Update
Please be aware of the following Covid-19 guidelines from August 15, 2022 that the district will be following as we return to school.
Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for children or staff in schools, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those exposed should mask (if able) for 10 full days, and it is recommended that they test on Day 6 of exposure. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals, below.
Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 full days. The first day of symptoms or the day of the positive test for asymptomatic symptoms is considered day zero. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
- If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
- If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.
Symptomatic individuals can remain in their school or program if they have mild symptoms, are tested immediately onsite, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms are fully resolved. For symptomatic individuals, DPH recommends a second test within 48 hours if the initial test is negative.
- If the symptomatic individual cannot be tested immediately, they should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return.
Covid-19 Symptoms
- Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Muscle aches or body aches
- Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
- Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, when in combination with other symptomseadache, when in combination with other symptoms
- Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms
MTRS/HRS Districts will not be conducting Covid-19 surveillance testing this year. We will be providing students with parental consent and staff, a home test (as long as supplies last) that they can perform if they become symptomatic at school. The student MUST be able to perform the test independently per the State and DESE. The student can keep the second test in the kit for a follow-up test at home.
There is no statewide requirement for masking in schools, apart from in school health offices, and the Commonwealth is not recommending universal mask requirements. As always, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID- 19, will be supported in that choice.
ALL STAFF AND STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK IN THE HEALTH OFFICE PER THE CDC, DPH AND DESE.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to Donna Weber if you have any questions.
Thank you for all you do to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for our students.
Sheryl Stanton Donna Weber
Superintendent District Nurse Leader
Thank you for ALL you do to make Mohawk Trail & Hawlemont GREAT places to learn and grow!
Sheryl Stanton
Email: sstanton@mtrsd.org
Website: www.mtrsd.org
Location: 24 Ashfield Road, Shelburne Falls, MA, USA
Phone: (413) 625-0192
Twitter: @mtrsdsuper