THE NAVIGATOR
November 13, 2020
Newsletter
Reminders about Holiday Travel and the Current Travel Order Issued by the Department of Public Health (DPH)
"All visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, who do not meet an exemption, are required to:
- Complete the Massachusetts Travel Form prior to arrival, unless you are visiting from a lower-risk state designated by the Department of Public Health.
- Quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts.
If your COVID-19 test result has not been received prior to arrival, visitors, and residents must quarantine until they receive a negative test result."
Thank you for avoiding travel if at all possible to help us continue to keep our schools open and safe.
Sincerely,
Patrick Sullivan, Ed.D.
Superintendent
A Vaccine Requirement Reminder from our School Nurses
Updates to Guidance on Interpreting Department of Public Health (DPH) Health Metrics, November 6, 2020
Please see the following message from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This message underscores the importance of prioritizing in-person learning and sets the standard schools will use for determining when to adjust a learning model regarding the full in-person to full-remote continuum.
"With the recent update by the Department of Public Health (DPH) to the weekly color-coded designation for communities in the Commonwealth, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is issuing updated guidance on interpreting these metrics for school settings. This replaces the guidance on Interpreting DPH COVID-19 Health Metrics issued on August 11, 2020.
With the change to the color-coded metrics, a community's designation of gray, green, yellow or red now takes into account the size of the community, positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and the percent of tests conducted in a community that are positive.
DESE is making updates to its initial guidance on interpreting these metrics in school settings based on a growing body of evidence that students should remain in school. With numerous examples of schools reopening from around the world, across the country, and recent first-hand experience here in Massachusetts, it is increasingly clear that schools are not sources of significant COVID transmission, so long as proper health and safety protocols are followed.i ii iii iv This has held true in Massachusetts even as we have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases statewide, further indicating that with strong health and safety protocols, schools are able to operate safely for in-person learning. Moreover, we continue to observe the significant harms that come with keeping students out of school in terms of their academic progress and social emotional and physical health.
As such, after consultation with our medical advisors and public health experts, we are updating our guidance as follows. As always, districts and schools must strictly adhere to all health and safety protocols outlined in DESE Fall Reopening Guidance. All individuals who are symptomatic, receive a positive COVID-19 diagnosis or are a close contact of a COVID-19 positive individual must continue follow the protocols outlined in DESE's Guidance on Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios.
Districts are expected to prioritize in-person learning across all color-coded categories, unless there is suspected in-school transmission, in accordance with DESE's Guidance on Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios. Transmission in schools is defined as spread of the virus between people during interactions in the school setting. While there have been positive COVID-19 cases of staff and students in schools, most of these infections have occurred outside of the school setting. If there is suspected in-school transmission, then the affected classrooms or schools should temporarily shift to remote learning, in accordance with DESE's Guidance on Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios. Classrooms and schools should reopen after appropriate mitigation strategies have been implemented, as determined in consultation with the local board of health, DPH, and DESE.
Districts and schools in communities designated gray, green, or yellow are expected to have students learning fully in-person, if feasible. A hybrid model should be used only if there is no other way to meet health and safety requirements. Parents and caregivers will continue to have the option to choose a district's remote learning program for their children.
Schools in red communities should implement hybrid models, while maximizing in-person learning time for high-needs students.
In those communities with the highest COVID-19 caseloads and test positivity rates (e.g. currently, Chelsea, Lawrence, and Revere), DESE and DPH will work with local school officials to develop and implement customized strategies to reduce in-school health risks, to enable as many children as possible to attend school in person and/or make a determination on the need for fully remote learning.
Fully remote instructional models should be implemented only as a last resort in classrooms, schools, or districts when there is suspected in-school transmission or a significant municipal outbreak, in accordance with DESE's Guidance on Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios. Classrooms and schools should reopen after appropriate mitigation strategies have been implemented, as determined in consultation with the local board of health, DPH, and DESE.
As a reminder, structured learning time requirements for students and related regulatory and statutory standards remain in effect for school districts, regardless of learning model" (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, November 6, 2020).
i Ismail, S., Saliba, V., Bernal, J. L., Ramsay, M., & Ladhani, S. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in educational settings: cross-sectional analysis of clusters and outbreaks in England . Public Health England. (2020).
ii Yoon, Y., Kim, K.R., Park, H., Kim, S., & Kim, Y.J. (2020). Stepwise School Opening Online and Off-line and an Impact on the Epidemiology of COVID-19 in the Pediatric Population. medRxiv (2020).
iii Otte im Kampe Eveline, Lehfeld Ann-Sophie , Buda Silke , Buchholz Udo , Haas Walter . Surveillance of COVID-19 school outbreaks, Germany, March to August 2020. Euro Surveill. 2020;25(38):pii=2001645.
iv COVID-19 in children and the role of school settings in COVID-19 transmission, 6 August 2020. Stockholm: ECDC; 2020.
Addition of Alternating In-Person Wednesdays for Each Cohort Starting December 9, 2020 Pending Further Bargaining Obligations with Cohasset Teachers Association (CTA)
Start of School Data Review
At the October 28 Special School Committee Meeting to review the first six weeks of school, we presented data gathered from students (focus groups), staff, and families. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Cohasset School Committee voted, pending further negotiations with the Cohasset Teachers Association (CTA), to implement alternating in-person Wednesdays for each cohort at every school in the district, beginning on December 9, 2020. This decision is right in line with the prioritization of in-person learning for students that is being prioritized at this time by the DESE. Here is the link to a video recording of the meeting. Thank you to everyone who helped provide input regarding our start of school.
Some Data Regarding the Importance of Prioritizing In-Person Learning
A Balanced View of Risk
Kuhfeld and Tarasawa. (2020). The COVID-19 slide: What summer learning loss can tell us about the potential impact of school closure on student academic achievement. Collaborative for Student Growth.
Calderon. (2020). “U.S. Parents Say COVID-19 Harming Child's Mental Health” Gallup.
Robson. (2020). “From their academic success to their social skills and mental health, the pandemic is a crisis for today’s children – and the fallout may follow them for the rest of their lives.” BBC.
Kamenetz. (2020). “With School Buildings Closed, Children’s Mental Health Is Suffering.” NPR.
Feeding America. (2020). “The Impact of the Coronavirus on Child Food Insecurity.” Feeding America.
Dingel, Patterson, and Vavra. (2020).Childcare Obligations Will Constrain Many Workers When Reopening the US Economy. Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at The University of Chicago.
Mitchell. (2020). “As Schools Close to Coronavirus, Special Educators Turn to Tele-Therapy.” Education Week.
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. (2020). “Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Wilson. (2020). Coronavirus: What does evidence say about schools reopening?; Boast, Munro, and Goldstein. (2020). An Evidence Summary of Paediatric COVID-19 Literature. Don’t Forget the Bubbles.; Boulad, F., Kamboj, M., Bouvier, N., Mauguen, A., & Kung, A. L. (2020). COVID-19 in Children With Cancer in New York City. JAMA Oncology.; Li, W., Zhang, B., Lu, J., Liu, S., Chang, Z., Cao, P., ... & Chen, J. (2020). The characteristics of household transmission of COVID-19. Clinical Infectious Diseases.; Lee, B., & Raszka, W. V. (2020). COVID-19 Transmission and Children: The Child is Not to Blame. Pediatrics.; Munro, A. P., & Faust, S. N. (2020). Children are not COVID-19 super spreaders: time to go back to school. Archives of Disease in Childhood.; Ludvigsson, J. F. (2020). Children are unlikely to be the main drivers of the COVID‐19 pandemic–a systematic review. Acta Paediatrica.; Ludvigsson, J. F. (2020). Systematic review of COVID‐19 in children shows milder cases and a better prognosis than adults. Acta Paediatrica, 109(6), 1088-1095.
Park, Y. J., Choe, Y. J., Park, O., Park, S. Y., Kim, Y. M., Kim, J., ... & Lee, J. (2020). Contact Tracing during Coronavirus Disease Outbreak, South Korea, 2020. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 26(10).
Cohasset Community Health Update
New Health Metrics Announced
Cohasset Community Health Update
As of November 12, 2020, the Department of Public Health (DPH) reports that the town of Cohasset’s positive COVID-19 test rate over the past 14 days is 1.60%, with 11 positive case out of 688 tests reported. None of the cases have originated from Cohasset Public Schools and there are no new cases within Cohasset Public Schools at this time. Under the new DPH metrics, the town of Cohasset is now in the "Green" category for communities who have a population of under 10,000 who have less than or equal to 15 positive cases over the last 14 days.
Please keep following the protocols of handwashing / hand sanitizing and wearing face-covering masks when appropriate to do so. Here is the complete report that was issued last evening (11/12/2020).
Cohasset Public Schools adding Portable Air Cleaners (PACs) to learning spaces
The Cohasset Public Schools has secured funding for the acquisition of approximately 170 Portable Air Cleaners (PACs) for use in various learning spaces throughout the district. We have ordered these PACs in anticipation of the winter months and in an effort to mitigate any potential air quality concerns within the buildings.
In support of this purchase, the district cites the following considerations:
· PACs can simulate a higher Air Change per Hour (ACH)
· PACs can improve air quality
· PACs can be used to reduce airborne contaminants
Thank you to the Cohasset Teachers Association (CTA) and the Town of Cohasset for their collaboration regarding this important safety initiative.
Flu Clinics
A Note from SEPAC
Special Education Rights Presentation
Cohasset PSO Update
"Flock a family courtesy of the Cohasset PSO! For a $25 donation, you can have a flock of pink yard flamingos delivered to a friend’s lawn as a fun surprise! Visit
www.cohassetpso.org to fill out the electronic form to designate a friend that you wish to have flocked. A crew will flock their yard and the flamingos will nest there for 2 days. Flocks can be purchased starting Friday, November 6th on a first come, first serve basis for the month of November. Proceeds support Curriculum Enrichment Programs, Teacher & Staff Grants, and other initiatives that support student learning and promote success."
- Cohasset PSO
Tremendous Recognition of our Veterans by the Cohasset Public Schools Music Department
- Director of Music and Fine Arts 6-12, Stephanie Moriarty
Thank you to our entire music department and the wonderful students for their efforts with this tribute.,
This Week we recognize our amazing School Psychologists on National School Psychologist Week. We are so fortunate to have such caring and professional school psychologists working at CPS!
Some Images from the Week
Congratulations to Girls Soccer Coach Deb Beal on her 200th win as Cohasset defeated Mashpee 5-1 in the opening round of the South Shore League Championship. This is an impressive milestone for a wonderful coach and educator.
Some Sports Highlights from the Week
Boys Cross-country wins SSL Championship!
Amazing Student-athletes Committing to Schools...Congratulations!
Infographic from Abington Athletics
Visit Cohasset Athletics to Get Updates on All of Our Teams
Congratulations to our College Book Award Recipients
A visit to Osgood was O So Good!
Lunch and Learn at Deer Hill
Deer Hill Grade 5 Veteran’s Day Essay winners
Mrs. Duggan’s Station Rotation set up for grade 7 English
The Gardens at CMS/CHS are alive with a little help from some friends! Doc West, students, Holly Hill Farm and Deer Hill garlic got the gardens ready for the winter and spring.
The Important Role Families Play In Stopping the Spread of COVID-19
Families will play an important role in helping to create a culture that prioritizes health and safety. Families should check their children daily for signs of COVID-19 and should keep them home from school if they are not feeling well or if they have been in close contact with a person who has been recently diagnosed with COVID-19. It is also important that families support students wearing masks in school and on the bus. We are strongest when we work together to stop the spread (Initial Fall School Re-entry Guidance, 2020).
CPS Pledge: Healthy and Responsible Behaviors Regarding COVID-19
By coming into Cohasset Public Schools, I pledge I am following:
State expectations for social and physical distancing
Regulations regarding the wearing of facial coverings over your nose and mouth when in public settings (for students from grades PK– 12 and for all staff)
Quarantine directives put forth by the Massachusetts Department of Health and the Cohasset Department of Health
Guidance that has students and staff stay home from school / work if they are experiencing symptoms of fever, fatigue, difficulty breathing, or dry cough or if they have exhibited any symptoms relating to COVID-19
PROTOCOLS REGARDING COVID-19
The following information was compiled by our district nurses and provides supplementary information to the protocols stated in the Cohasset Public Schools Fall School Re-Entry Road Map. A big thank you to Kelly Gildea (lead nurse) and our district nurses for compiling this information and for their leadership and guidance during this difficult time.
Cohasset Public Schools Medical Frequently Asked Questions
Cohasset Public Schools Decision Tree Regarding Health Situations Related to COVID-19
COVID-19 Symptom Checklist for Parents and Guardians to utilize with their children
Here are some useful videos regarding Mask Wearing, When to Stay Home, and Hand Washing / Hand Sanitizing prepared by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN).
BE THE CHANGE
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment: Assistant Superintendent Leslie Scollins, Ed.D.
CPS Strategic Planning Process
SAFE HARBORS UPDATES
Updates
- Cohasset Virtual Youth Center This is now live on the home page of the Town’s website, found toward the bottom right-side of the page. This serves as a central location for all youth-geared programming/events that are occurring via Rec, Library, Elder Affairs, and Safe Harbor.
2. WANTED: Social Media Boosters Looking to volunteer time to the Safe Harbor initiative but don’t have much time to give? Please consider volunteering to be a designated social media booster.
What does this entail?
Receiving communication from Marketing Director that information has been posted for you to like, comment, share, share to Cohasset143 and/or post yourself
How much of a time commitment?
5 minutes a week
Take Care of Yourself and Take Care of Each Other
Deer Hill Students Celebrate the Indian Festival Diwali, Festival of Lights, which Takes Place on November 14. Thank you to the Stevenson Family for Teaching the Students about this Celebration.
Please click on the following link to access even more information on the Cohasset Public Schools Web Site.
Please follow me on Twitter for daily updates from the Cohasset Public Schools
Email: psullivan@cohassetk12.org
Website: https://www.cohassetk12.org/
Phone: 781 383 6111
Twitter: @SuperCohasset