Center Community Chat
September 26, 2021
Dear Center Families,
It is wonderful to spend time in classrooms and see students engaged in routines and learning. Everyone is settling in nicely.
This week we had an opportunity to get into the cafeteria with all grades to share expectations. Students were reminded that they should "Show their PRIDE by being Ready and Safe in the following ways: Use a voice level of 1. Give and adult 5 when an adult is trying to get their attention. Use kind words. Clean up after themselves and remember their belongings. Stay in their seat. Do not share food. Legs are walking. And, wear a mask when they are not eating.
Students should continue to bring a water bottle from home to refill at school as we do not have cups available. Please ask your student(s) how they can show their pride by being ready and safe at lunch. How many do they remember?
COVID-19 Pool Testing will begin next week in our schools, Center students will be tested on Wednesday, September 29th. All students and staff who provided consent prior to the close of school on Friday, September 24, 2021, are eligible to participate in our first week of testing. If you have not yet registered to participate in the free weekly COVID-19 Pool Testing initiative, you may still do so at any time by providing consent. Your child will be scheduled to begin the following week.
Center Chirps:
- During parent drop-off, please do not allow students to exit the cars until staff members are present. We will begin unloading cars at 8:45 AM.
We hope to see you at the meet and greet and PTO meeting on Wednesday, September 29th, beginning at 6:30.
Warm Regards,
Dianna and Donna
Puzzle Fun in K
Sharing Heart Maps in 3rd Grade Art
Journal Writing in 1D
This lucky class had Ms. O as a math teacher
Recess inside, still lots of fun in KMu
Scooting and teamwork in PE
Notes from the Nurse - COVID testing information
Request: If your child signed up for Covid -19 Pool Testing at Center and was diagnosed with Covid this summer (from June 27th until Sept 6th, 2021) please contact the School Nurse Kathy Rossman RN 978-251-5155-x2 as soon as possible.
Persons who tested positive for Covid in the past 90 Days can cause a pool to test positive when there is no contagious Covid Case present. Pool testing may resume 90 days after diagnosis took place. We don't want anyone to be unnecessarily concerned.
We continue to ask for your assistance in providing your child’s COVID vaccination status and consent to participate in our weekly COVID pool testing program. Further, for your child to be allowed to remain in school if identified as a close contact of a COVID positive individual this year, consent is required for your child to participate in our Test and Stay protocol. Please take a few minutes to review the information about these important COVID mitigation strategies on our website and follow the links to provide consent for your child to participate, as we look to keep our students and staff as safe as possible this school year.
2021-22 COVID Pool Testing Information
CPS Will Continue with its free COVID Pool Testing in schools. Please see more about COVID pool testing on our website.
Additional Information:
The Test and Stay protocol includes only students and staff who have were exposed in the school setting to a positive case. Consent for Test and Stay must be received by the school a minimum of three days prior to an exposure in order to be eligible for participation in the Test and Stay program.
The Test and Stay program is intended only for those individuals who:
are NOT vaccinated
have been identified as a close contact to positive case of COVID-19 in the school setting
remain symptom free.
Vaccinated close contacts are exempt from testing and quarantine protocols and can remain in school as long as they:
are symptom fee
and will monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
Vaccinated close contacts are not eligible to participate in Test and Stay
If a student or staff member has an outside exposure to a positive case, and they are unvaccinated, they will need to complete the traditional quarantine protocol, which is to quarantine at home for 7 days, test on Day 5 if asymptomatic, if the covid test is negative, they can return on Day 8 and continue to monitor for symptoms for 14 days. If the individual is vaccinated, they can come to school or work, as long as they are symptom free and monitor for symptoms for 14 days. If any close contact (whether vaccinated or not), develops symptoms, they must get a PCR COVID test.
For an exposure that is outside of school (eg in the home or at a friend’s house)- that is considered a riskier exposure than an exposure in the school setting. That is because the school setting is a more managed environment, with mitigation strategies in place (such as: masks, frequent hand hygiene, deep cleaning and disinfecting, HVAV, Hepa filters......etc).
PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL AND ESPECIALLY IF EXPERIENCING ANY SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19. Symptoms can include but are not limited to:
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, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
• Headache 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
Masking is a critical measure to contain the spread of COVID-19! Masks must completely cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of the face without gaps. Please be sure to keep your masks on at all times when you are in the building, unless you are alone in a classroom/office, or you are eating. And don't forget to wash hands frequently (or use hand sanitizer)!! We strongly encourage those who are eligible to be vaccinated! Thank you for working together to ensure a healthy school environment for all!
CSPTO Pulse
Upcoming Events
September:
- Wednesday, September 29: CSPTO meeting at Center Library, 6:30 meet and greet, 7-8 PM meeting
October:
Monday, October 4: Be Kind - Wear Kind
Wednesday, October 6: Ice Cream, Social, 4-7PM, rain date October 7th
Monday, October 11: No School - Columbus Day
Thursday, October 14: School picture day
Friday, October 15: Chelmsford Spirit wear day
Tuesday, October 19: Half Day - Professional day
Friday, October 29: Paperbag parade 9:30-10:00
Saturday, October 30: Trunk or Treat
Parent and Community Education and Involvement Advisory Council Applications:
The Parent and Community Education and Involvement Advisory Council (PCEIAC) advises the Commissioner, Department (DESE), and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (Board) on matters pertaining to the development of parent and community engagement in education. Its function is to help inform and advise the Department on policy issues that relate to the enhancement of the educational achievement of Massachusetts students. Specifically, the Council will:
- assess statewide trends and needs;
- seek public and professional input;
- analyze information regarding parent and community education and engagement;
- advise and make recommendations regarding legislation, regulations, and program guidelines; and
- provide other programmatic recommendations as it deems necessary to fulfill the goals for parent and community engagement established by the Board of Education.
The Parent and Community Education and Involvement Advisory Council of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is accepting applications for appointment to the council. Interested candidates should visit the council’s website for application instructions and submit their applications to KathleenT.Rodriguez@mass.gov by Friday, October 1.
The Department particularly encourages applications from parents, community organizers working with families and schools, and speakers of languages other than English who represent diverse communities and historically underserved students. The Department anticipates providing interpretation and translation for at least one language and possibly up to three.
Resources and Information
Student Consent Form: Weekly COVID-19 Pool Testing and/or Test and Stay Protocol
Parents are encouraged to provide consent for their child to participate in weekly COVID-19 pooltesting and the Test and Stay protocol. Pool testing and the Test and Stay protocol are key mitigation strategies as we work to provide a healthy and safe learning environment for students and staff in the Chelmsford Public Schools. You may consent for your child to participate in either or both programs.
If a parent elects not to have their child participate in the Test and Stay Program, the child must follow the traditional COVID-19 test and quarantine protocols if identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 positive case. Pool testing is strongly encouraged and recommended for unvaccinated individuals. Participation in the Test and Stay Program can significantly limit the amount of time your student will miss school if they are identified as a close contact. Please complete a separate form for each child that attends Chelmsford Public Schools.
A signed consent is required for both the Pool Testing and Test and Stay Programs. If a parent would like their child to participate in only 1 program (Pool Testing OR Test and Stay), please select and designate only 1 option from the consent form below. Chelmsford Public Schools are not currently offering symptomatic testing. The symptomatic testing option is included in this consent link, however, is not available in our district.
Center Elementary School
Email: fulreaderd@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/9
Location: 84 Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA, United States
Phone: 978-251-5155
Twitter: @Center_CCS