HRSD HIGHLIGHTS
January 21, 2022
DISTRICT TIDBITS TO KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP
Some of you may have read in the newspapers or heard on the news that MA contact tracing is coming to an end. DESE is advising schools to stop contact tracing and Test and Stay programs, which all of our district schools currently have, in favor of distributing weekly free at-home rapid antigen tests to interested students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. Throughout the state, the Test and Stay program, which monitors asymptomatic close contacts, has yielded very few positive cases and has been quite taxing on our nursing staff as it is very labor intensive. The state is encouraging school nurses to refocus their efforts to monitoring symptomatic students.
Currently over 200 staff have signed up for this initiative, which will begin next week for staff. DESE is optimistic that the kits will be available to participating students the week of January 31. At this moment, ATD and HRHS students can sign up HERE. Southampton, WES and Chesterfield-Goshen School Committees will discuss this at next week's meetings. More information to follow.
Upcoming Dates to Keep in Mind for the Next Two Weeks:
- January 24: Southampton School Committee special meeting (5pm Zoom); WES School Committee special meeting (6pm Zoom)
- January 25: Five District Agreement Working Group (5-7pm Zoom)
- January 26: WES Negotiations (5-7pm Zoom)
- January 28: Half Day for students at HRHS, ATD, WES and NHRES
- February 1: ATD para negotiations (5pm Zoom)
- February 2: NHRES School Committee 5:30pm
FREE COVID TESTS
Each household is entitled to 4 at-home rapid-antigen tests- for free! Sign- ups take less than a minute and can be ordered through the U.S. Post Office: COVID Home Tests | USPS.
DESE/DPH recently issued updated guidance for responding to Covid. Please see a copy of our updated DISTRICT Covid protocols here.
DISTRICT & COMMUNITY COVID NUMBERS IN REVIEW:
While the first week after vacation saw a spike in case counts, things have calmed down this week. While Hampshire County rates increased by 1,000 cases and MA by 11,000, these rates are increasing at a much slower pace. Previously, they were doubling every two weeks. The state positivity rate continues to be high at 20.61% but our community numbers have improved: Goshen has the fewest cases (5) while Williamsburg, Southampton, Westhampton and Worthington remain stable or have slightly decreased.
Our surrounding communities' case counts continue to rise, with the most significant increase in Amherst (50%).
COVID-19 VACCINES
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 5 years and older, and boosters for those eligible. See chart on booster information below.
Northampton Health Dept has multiple upcoming vaccination clinics. You can register for these at the link below.
https://www.northamptonma.gov/2219/Vaccine-Clinics
We are working on offering another vaccination clinic in the district, and will be in touch as details are confirmed.
HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE VACCINATED IN EACH GRADE IN EACH SCHOOL?
ATD
PK: 0 students, 0%
K: 9 students, 69.23%
Grade 1: 6 students, 54.55%
Grade 2: 10 students, 58.82%
Grade 3: 16 students, 69.57%
Grade 4: 16 students, 88.89%
Grade 5: 14 students, 73.68%
Grade 6: 25 students, 89.29%
TOTAL= 96 students, 74.42%
NHRES
PK: 1 student, 3.57%
K: 7 students, 29.17%
Grade 1: 5 students, 41.67%
Grade 2: 7 students, 36.84%
Grade 3: 5 students, 29.41%
Grade 4: 5 students, 31.25%
Grade 5: 7 students, 38.89%
Grade 6: 8 students, 57.14%
TOTAL= 45 students, 30.41%
NORRIS
PK: 1 student, 2.86%
K: 34 students, 53.13%
Grade 1: 28 students, 46.67%
Grade 2: 29 students, 50.00%
Grade 3: 27 students, 40.30%
Grade 4: 29 students, 56.86%
Grade 5: 36 students, 46.15%
Grade 6: 33 students, 54.10 %
TOTAL= 217 students, 45.78%
WES
PK: 2 students, 18.18 %
K: 5 students, 35.71%
Grade 1: 3 students, 33.33%
Grade 2: 6 students, 46.15%
Grade 3: 6 students, 50.00%
Grade 4: 3 students, 25.0 %
Grade 5: 14 students, 73.68%
Grade 6: 9 students, 52.94%
TOTAL= 46 students, 47.92%
HRHS
Grade 7: 93 students, 75.00%
Grade 8: 94 students, 71.76 %
Grade 9: 70 students, 67.96%
Grade 10: 76 students, 78.35%
Grade 11: 83 students, 83.84%
Grade 12+: 101 students, 78.91%
TOTAL= 517 students, 75.81%
For additional town data pertaining to Covid-19, please use the link below:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY SCHOOL:
In the chart below, you will see COVID data from each school this week.