Return to School Update
May 14, 2021
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VACCINE UPDATE AND MASK WEARING
This week, the FDA and the CDC granted emergency use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 12-15 years of age. Now these children and young people 16 years of age and older who live, work, or go to school in Massachusetts are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Read below for more information on where to get the vaccine for your young person.
Also this week, the CDC relaxed guidelines on mask wearing for fully vaccinated individuals. Massachusetts is taking the new guidelines under advisement before adopting them. For the remainder of this school year, we will continue to require students and staff to wear masks at all times as described in our District Face Coverings Policy. Thank you for continuing to follow this policy!
CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS
Below are important informational links that highlight the current COVID-related public health conditions in Framingham. Please note the Current Status and City of Framingham Weekly Data Analysis included below is pulled each Monday. We recognize that the data can change between Monday and Friday when this communication is prepared.
Click to see the FPS COVID Dashboard
Click to review the City of Framingham Weekly Data Analysis (PDF)
Click to access the City of Framingham COVID Resource Page
RETURN-TO-SCHOOL DASHBOARD
(Text from the table above)
Return-to-School Target
City Positivity: 4% (or less)
New Cases (Daily): 10 (or less)
Current Status (Latest Report: May 12, 2021)
City Positivity: 2.09%
New Cases (Daily): 9.96
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
2-Week Historical Trend
May 5, 2021
City Positivity: 2.61%
New Cases (Daily): 10.16
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
April 28, 2021
City Positivity: 3.09%
New Cases (Daily): 15.24
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
POOLED TESTING AND COVID CASE REPORTING
Please review the Pooled Testing Data Dashboard for the most up-to-date pooled testing data.
Please review the FPS COVID Data Dashboard for the most up-to-date cumulative data on positive cases.
We believe that all of our risk mitigation efforts (including facility safety upgrades, mask wearing, physical/social distancing, weekly COVID testing, the COVID-19 vaccine, daily attestation, and others) have supported our success in bringing our students and staff safely back to school. You can reference the expanded Risk Mitigation Effort details shared in recent Return to School Smores which are now linked at the bottom of this newsletter.
Masks/Face Coverings
Masks/Face Coverings are among the most important single measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Masks must be worn by everyone at all times with rare exceptions.The District Face Coverings Policy provides more detailed information.
COVID-19 Individual PCR Testing for ALL FPS Staff
ALL FPS staff are encouraged to participate in weekly COVID-19 individual PCR testing that is provided at each of our schools.
COVID-19 Pooled Testing for Students
We encourage all of our students to participate in pooled testing! Pooled testing is free, easy, and helps to identify asymptomatic students with COVID-19 early and prevent the spread of the virus through the school community. Provide Consent for your child to participate in COVID-19 Pooled Testing today: Pool Testing Consent Form
As of April 26, 2021 all students participating in an athletic program/team at Framingham High school are required to participate in weekly pooled testing.
BinaxNow follow-up testing is now in place to address a positive pooled test result. This means students in a positive pool will be tested individually with a BinaxNow antigen rapid test to identify who is positive for COVID-19. BinaxNow testing utilizes a shallow nasal swab and results are received within 15 minutes. Testing will be administered at your child’s school by trained staff. Students in a positive pool who test negative with a follow-up BinaxNow test can remain in school. Students with a positive BinaxNow test must isolate and be picked up from school as soon as possible. If the BinaxNow testing does not identify a COVID-19 positive individual, each person in the pool will need a follow up individual PCR test. Students must isolate and be picked up from school as soon as possible and will remain out of school until they receive a negative individual PCR test result. You can find a location to have your child PCR tested here.
COVID-19 Vaccines
All educators are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Staff can use the state’s pre-registration system to schedule appointments: mass.gov:COVID Vaccine Pre-registration. Once an educator has received their full vaccine dose, they should upload it to TalentEd to enhance the efficiencies of the COVID Team in contact tracing and MedBot determinations.You can find frequently asked questions about COVID vaccine side effects on the Mass.gov website.
Please remember it is possible to get COVID-19 even after you are vaccinated. If you have any other symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, or loss of sense of smell or taste, stay home from work, avoid close contact with others, get PCR tested, and contact your healthcare provider. It takes several weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. Please continue to wear a mask, maintain 6ft physical distance, practice frequent hand washing, and stay home when sick.
UPDATED! COVID-19 Vaccines for Young People Under Age 18
This week, the FDA and the CDC granted emergency use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 12-15 years of age. Now these children and young people 16 years of age and older who live, work, or go to school in Massachusetts are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, people under age 18 can only be given the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine which is a safe and effective vaccine given in two doses at least 21 days apart.
Appointments to get the Pfizer vaccine are available for anyone 12 years of age and older at the MetroWest-Westborough Regional Vaccination Site at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough, on the following dates:
- Monday, May 17th from 3:30 - 5:30pm
- Wednesday, May 19th from 2:30 - 5:30pm
- Thursday, May 20th from 2:30 - 5:30pm
- Friday, May 21st from 2:30 - 5:30pm
In order to get your child the Pfizer vaccine at the Vaccination Site, a parent/guardian must complete the online consent form and register to schedule an appointment at the Regional Site. The consent form is currently available in English, but Mass.gov says additional languages will be added soon. We will send a follow-up when the additional forms become available. You can also visit the Mass.gov website for this information.
You can register for an appointment here: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/northborough. You can use VaxFinder.mass.gov to search for appointments at pharmacies, health care providers, and other locations in our community.
If you have concerns about COVID-19 vaccines, speak with your doctor, refer to trusted sources of medical information, or contact your Health Department for more information.
Keep in mind that a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus that causes it. For this reason, it is extremely important for vaccinated children and young people to continue to wear a mask, physically distance, practice frequent hand hygiene, stay home when sick, and participate in pooled or PCR testing.
More information on COVID-19 vaccines for young people under the age of 18, including how to schedule and prepare for an appointment can be found on the Mass.gov website: COVID-19 Vaccinations for People Under Age 18.
MyMedBot (Attestation App)
MyMedBot is used to screen all FPS staff and students daily for potential COVID symptoms by answering a series of COVID-19 related questions. The app should be completed truthfully every day. Staff and students should never come into a school building when sick or if you’ve been exposed to COVID, especially if someone in your home has tested positive or is exhibiting symptoms. Your cooperation and collaboration is key to keeping schools open and safe for everyone.
COVID Call Center
Families can reach the trilingual COVID Call Center by email COVID@framingham.k12.ma.us or by calling (508) 782-6633. Call Center staff are available between 5:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday.
COVID INFORMATION WEBSITE
Members of the COVID Team have been working hard behind the scenes to update a dedicated website with COVID Information and Resources. This site will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.
Please visit https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/covid for more information.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Please continue to make sure that your school has update-to-date contact information, including cell phone numbers, for all Primary and Emergency contacts associated with your child(ren). At least 4 contacts should be listed. It is extremely important that we are able to reach you for important communications, contact tracing if needed, and to ensure MyMedBot is associated with the correct email address(es).
RECENT RETURN TO SCHOOL SMORES
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Framingham Public Schools
Website: www.framingham.k12.ma.us
Location: 31 Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
Phone: 508-626-9117
Facebook: facebook.com/framinghamps
Twitter: @framinghamps