February was such a fun-filled month here at the ECC! We hopefully had the last of our snow days and can finally look forward to spring! In March, we look forward to our upcoming Scholastic Book fair, Special Olympics, and the Friends of the ECC have sponsored a puppet show with the Pumpernickel Puppets! Please see below for important information and upcoming events.

The ECC celebrated Read Across America week and Dr. Seuss' birthday all week long! THANK YOU to all of our community readers! On Monday we matched our classrooms, Tuesday was Top Hat Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday was so much fun! Thursday we celebrated Thoughtful Thursday and build a GIANT Cat in the Hat hat in the hallway! Fuzzy friend Friday ended our week of celebration!

February 27, 2020

Dear Wachusett Families,

With the recent updates provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I want to share with you the most recent information available to us concerning the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and how it may impact our schools. The CDC continues to report that the immediate risk to the general public remains low at this time (please refer to cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov for more detailed information); however, the risk remains high for the Influenza virus, commonly referred to as seasonal flu. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has also issued a guidance letter that was sent to all districts and is available at the DPH website (www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus). All health offices in our schools have received the DPH information.

The general precautions we should all take to remain as healthy as possible when the potential for exposure exists to any virus are:

Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. You can also cough or sneeze into your sleeve but not your hands.

Avoid sharing drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, dishes, towels or other items. Wash these items thoroughly with soap and water after use.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick whenever possible.

Children should stay home from school when they are ill. Students should not return to school until they have been fever free for 24 hours.

Our custodial crew is vigilantly sanitizing our schools as we typically do during cold and flu season. During our recent February break, schools were deep cleaned and sanitized. We have ordered electrostatic spraying equipment, one for each of our schools, which the custodial staff will use to disinfect surfaces and objects throughout the buildings. This week I met with our Town Administrators to discuss the current situation and strategize about steps moving forward. As this is an evolving situation that our district, and the nation, is following closely, I will continue to provide updates to the community.

Thank you,

Darryll McCall

Superintendent of Schools

• 3/11 - Special Olympics
• 3/12 - PD Half Day. No afternoon preschool
• 3/25 - Friends of ECC meeting, 6:00PM - Wong Dynasty in Holden
• 3/31 - Raffle fundraiser ends
• 4/3 - Picture retake day
• 4/3 - Dance Party! More information to come!

For parents who have students who will be entering kindergarten in the fall:

Kindergarten registration packets can be found at the district website under the tab “ For Parents” then “Enrollment” (see link below). Once filled out you then return it to the school your child will be attending in September. If you don't have computer access forms may be picked up at the school directly. Each school office has different hours so please refer to them. Please see link below for information regarding Holden school boundaries.

Schools will be sending out orientation info in April so it would be advantageous to have the registration ASAP. As with our preschool you will need immunizations, a birth certificate, and proofs of residency.

For your convenience, a listing of the schools in the Wachusett District is provided below:

HOLDEN

Davis Hill Elementary

80 Jamieson Rd.

508-829-1754

Mayo Elementary

351 Bullard St.

508-829-3203

Dawson Elementary

155 Salisbury St.

508-829-6828

PAXTON

Paxton Center School

19 West St.

508-798-8576

RUTLAND

Naquag Elementary

285 Main St.

508-886-2901

PRINCETON

Thomas Prince School

170 Sterling St.

978-464-2110

STERLING

Houghton Elementary

32 Boutelle Rd.

978-422-2333

For our tuition-paying families - please remember tuition payments are due on the first of the month. Payments can be made by check made payable to WRSD or through the ECC website.