HRSD HIGHLIGHTS
October 22, 2021
DISTRICT TIDBITS TO KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP
Upcoming dates to keep in mind for the two next weeks:
- October 25: HRHS School committee meeting 6 pm (Zoom)
- October 26: 5 District Agreement Working Group 5:30-7:30 (Zoom)
- November 1: HRHS School committee meting 6 pm
- November 2: ATD Negotiations 5pm (Zoom)
- November 3: Chesterfield-Goshen School committee 5:30pm; Half Day for HS: Half Day for WES for parent conferences
- November 3-5: ATD, Norris and NHRES half days for parent conferences
ATD's school committee this week approved the staff vaccination/ testing policy, as well as extended student Covid safety checks to include test and stay.
ATD and WES unvaccinated staff will need to provide proof of a negative PCR test result starting November 1.
Pooled testing will begin soon at WES, Norris and ATD, and test and stay for HS, ATD, NHRES, WES and Norris! We have asked the National Guard to help in collecting student swabs until CIC Health could offer us more support. This is not a political statement, rather an expedited manner for pooled testing to begin. A letter will be coming home very shortly explaining the details and how to give permission for your students to participate.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Due to national shortages of food and packaging materials, labor shortages, and vendor delivery delays and cancellations, our school lunch menus are subject to change based on availability. Please know that our cafeteria staff members work hard to provide meals every day, adjust on the fly, and provide updates about menu changes as soon as possible. Quick menu substitutions may be necessary based on the supplies on hand so please be patient and supportive.
STUDENT RECOGNITION:
The Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) Award is a very prestigious award given to an outstanding student who excels in academics. Congratulations to senior Nora Mulvehill!
COVID NUMBERS IN REVIEW:
Numbers continue to remain stable or decrease in our school community. Southampton's case count has dropped to 10 over the past 14 days, while Chesterfield, Westhampton, Wlliamsburg and Worthington each have below 5. Goshen reported 0 cases! Amherst numbers have drastically improved (currently 26 cases over the past two weeks), while Westfied's case count has increased by 19. Overall, our Hampshire County rates continue to DECREASE!
For additional town data pertaining to Covid-19, please use the link below:
COVID-19 CASES BY AGE GROUP IN MA:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY SCHOOL:
Chesterfield-Goshen:
We currently do not have any confirmed positive cases within the New Hingham Regional School community.
Williamsburg:
We did not have any new confirmed positive cases in the Anne T. Dunphy School community this week. The two positive individuals we communicated about last week remain in isolation at this time.
Southampton:
We did not have any new confirmed positive cases in the Norris School community this week. The individual that we communicated about last week completed their isolation, and has been released by the BOH contact tracer.
Westhampton:
We had two new confirmed positive cases in the Westhampton Elementary School community this week. One of these individuals was a close contact (exposed outside of school) so was already quarantined at the time they became infectious. Therefore, no close contacts have been identified in the school community. The second individual was in school while potentially infectious, and 1 close contact has been identified. They are quarantined appropriately.
Hampshire Regional:
We had one new confirmed positive case in the HRHS School community this week. No close contacts were identified in the school community. This individual has already completed their isolation, and has been released by the BOH contact tracer.
HRHS Student Vaccination Update (# of students fully vaccinated by grade):
Grade 7: 83 students
Grade 8: 86 students
Grade 9: 68 students
Grade 10: 73 students
Grade 11: 76 students
Grade 12+: 98 students
TOTAL= 484 students
You will notice a significant increase in the number of vaccinated students this week. SNAP (our electronic health record system) communicates with MIIS (the state’s immunization registry), and due to an issue with SNAP, data had not been syncing appropriately. SNAP reassures us that this problem has been resolved, and we should have current immunization data at this time.