HRSD HIGHLIGHTS
December 3, 2021
DISTRICT TIDBITS TO KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP
Next Friday, December 10th is district-wide Flannel Friday! All staff and students are encouraged to show their school and district spirit by wearing their favorite flannel shirt to school.
Karen Schweitzer, long time teacher at ATD retired this week. We wish her a wonderful, relaxing retirement!
An Eagle Scout in Westhampton is cool beans. A 13-year-old Eagle Scout in Westhampton is even cooler. A female 13-year old Eagle Scout in Westhampton makes the front page of the Gazette! Congratulations to Ella Cleary on this superstar status!
HRSD Logo Contest is still ongoing until 12/23. We are looking for students to submit their best ideas for a logo that can be used for the whole district. Logos should be representative of all of our district schools: HRHS, Anne T. Dunphy (Williamsburg), New Hingham (Chesterfield/Goshen), Norris (Southampton), and Westhampton Elementary. Multiple submissions per person are allowed.
Upcoming dates to keep in mind for the next two weeks:
- December 6: HRHS School Committee 6pm (zoom)
- December 8: Norris School Committee 6pm
- December 10: Flannel Friday
- December 13: Five District Agreement Working Group 5-7pm (zoom)
- December 14: WES School Committee 6pm
- December 15: ATD School Committee 5pm
- December 16: NHRES Capital Improvement Plan 5pm (zoom)
NHRES revision to masking policy: students are no longer required to wear masks outdoors at recess. When we saw an uptick in cases, this protocol was implemented but is not required now. Masks are optional outdoors.
Since inclement weather will be arriving before we know it, I'd like to remind families that if one community has too much snow, ice, or dangerous conditions, we act as one district and either call a delay or a cancelation for everyone. Delays are two hours with no morning Pre-K. Since we have shared staff and all communities attend the high school, it becomes tricky to look at each school individually. Information regarding delays and cancellations will be shared via email & robocalls. Delays and cancellations will also be posted on local news stations and websites, such as WWLP and WGGB, and will be announced on various local radio stations.
UPCOMING COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICS:
Please see the information below regarding 3 upcoming COVID vaccination clinics in our community! Please register in advance at the links below.
The clinics at Anne T Dunphy and Norris are accepting 1st, 2nd, and booster dose appts. They will have Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J available.
December 7th from 3-7pm at Anne T Dunphy (Williamsburg)
https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/yankeeline
December 9th from 3-7pm at William E Norris (Southampton)
https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/yankeeline
The clinic at HRHS is ONLY for 5-11 year old 2nd doses!
December 8th from 3-5 pm at HRHS (Westhampton)
https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/northampton
We encourage you to speak to your child's doctor and raise any questions or concerns you have about the vaccine and your child.
HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE VACCINATED IN EACH GRADE IN EACH SCHOOL?
HRHS
Grade 7: 86 students, 69.35%
Grade 8: 89 students, 67.94 %
Grade 9: 69 students, 66.99%
Grade 10: 74 students, 76.29%
Grade 11: 80 students, 80.81%
Grade 12+: 99 students, 77.34%
TOTAL= 497 students, 72.87%
Below you will find the number of elementary school students in each grade with 1 or 2 doses of COVID vaccine. This is how we will report this data through the month of December. Students are not considered “fully vaccinated” until 2 weeks after their 2nd dose. In January 2022, we will begin to report the number of students fully vaccinated by grade with the corresponding percentage.
COVID-19 AND FLU VACCINATION RESOURCES:
- Webpage about vaccinations for children ages 5-11: Parents are encouraged to contact their health care provider for an appointment or visit VaxFinder.mass.gov.
- Booster Eligibility Graphic and COVID-19 booster frequently asked questions for information about boosters.
- Reorganized “Trust the Facts, Get the Vax” website and resources
- Flu shot facts
DISTRICT & COMMUNITY COVID NUMBERS IN REVIEW:
While Hampshire County has the highest vaccination rate for 5-11-year-olds in the state (almost double), with Thanksgiving behind us, we have seen an increase in cases across our district, county and state. Hampshire County case counts have increased significantly over the past two weeks (343 cases to 532), and the state's case counts increased even more dramatically- by 11,000.
While case counts have risen in our district, there are fewer than five cases in Chesterfield, Goshen, Westhampton and Worthington. Williamsburg increased slightly to 6 cases and Southampton saw the greatest increase (which is still low) by 9 cases. Amherst and Northampton saw slight decreases but Easthampton is on the rise and Westfield increased by 100.
For additional town data pertaining to Covid-19, please use the link below:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY SCHOOL:
Please note this week’s report will include the positive cases from the past two weeks as we did not send this newsletter during the week of Thanksgiving.
Chesterfield-Goshen:
We had four confirmed positive cases in the New Hingham Regional School community, and two of these individuals remain isolated at this time. Three of these cases were from the same classroom, and generated eleven close contacts combined. Ten participated in the test & stay program, and remained negative throughout. One close contact remains quarantined appropriately.
Williamsburg:
We did not have any new confirmed positive cases in the Anne T. Dunphy School community.
Southampton:
We had twenty new confirmed positive cases in the Norris School community, and eighteen of these individuals remain isolated at this time. Seven of these cases were from the same classroom. Thirteen close contacts were identified between all cases: four have completed the test & stay program remaining negative throughout; three continue to participate in test and stay; two completed quarantine and have been cleared by the BOH contact tracer; and two remain quarantined appropriately. Two of these close contacts have since tested positive (already included in the total of 20 cases).
Westhampton:
We had four confirmed positive cases in the Westhampton Elementary School community. Two of these individuals remain isolated at this time. One of these cases has one close contact that remains quarantined appropriately. It is important to note this close contact was not exposed at school, but is also a member of the school community.
Hampshire Regional:
We had six confirmed positive cases in the HRHS community. Five of these individuals remain isolated at this time. One case had one close contact that was able to participate in the test & stay program, and remained negative throughout. Another case had one close contact that continues in the test & stay program.
From Meekins Library in Williamsburg
Williamsburg students and families, we want to hear from YOU!
Meekins Library staff and trustees are working on their next 5-Year Strategic Plan, and whether you visit every week or have never entered the library, we want your feedback!
Please fill out our anonymous survey and let us know what services and programs you currently value (or don't) and what you think would improve library services in the future. You may be surprised at how much we offer today. The results will help inform library plans and priorities going forward.
This survey will be available through December 13, takes about 10 minutes to complete, and can be done digitally or on paper.
You can:
- fill out the survey online,
- print and drop off a PDF,
- or pick up a paper copy at the library or Town Offices.
Paper surveys can be returned to Meekins Library or the Town Offices.
Thank you for your participation. EVERY voice counts!