HRSD HIGHLIGHTS
November 12, 2021
DISTRICT TIDBITS TO KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP
Happy Birthday, Hampshire Regional! HRHS turns 50 this week! I was lucky enough to watch the high school's play this weekend, as well as attend the gymnastics team Western MA Finals competition. We have some seriously talented actors and student athletes! Great reviews about all of our sports teams!
Happy School Psychologist Week!
Upcoming dates to keep in mind for the next two weeks:
- November 15: ATD Negotiations 5 pm (via Zoom)
- November 16: 5 Districts' Agreement Working Group: Supt. evaluations 5 pm (via Zoom)
- November 17: ATD School Committee 5 pm
- November 24: Half-day
- November 25-26: Happy Thanksgiving! No school
WES School committee will be live streaming their meetings on Youtube in an effort to increase parent communication. These meetings will not be archived; public comment will still be held in person. This is a pilot program while we examine the effectiveness of this method. Thank you to Kim Florek, our Technology Director, for spearheading this effort.
COVID Testing:
We will begin weekly COVID safety checks at Anne T Dunphy and Westhampton Elementary on Monday, November 15th. For families who have registered, please talk with your children over the weekend so that they are prepared for Monday. Below is a short video from Boston Children's Hospital that you can show your child to teach them about how the nose swab will work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNOKh_JkXTE
Consent can be completed for staff and students at https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma?district=Hampshire. Please make sure to choose the appropriate school from the drop-down menu.
A reminder that symptomatic testing at HRHS and NHRES is for symptoms that develop while at school, and you should keep your student home if they have symptoms that develop at home. A negative or positive test result will also still warrant a PCR test, except in the case of a mild, isolated symptom.
COVID-19 VAX CLINICS COMING TO TOWN:
Please see the information below regarding 4 upcoming COVID vaccination clinics in our community! These clinics are open to the public, so click on the links below to secure your spot soon! Please note that you MUST register at the links below for an appt. Walk-ins will not be allowed.
November 16th from 3-7pm at Anne T Dunphy (Williamsburg)
https://williamsburg-1116.youcanbook.me/
November 18th from 3-7pm at William E Norris (Southampton)
https://southampton-1118.youcanbook.me/
*These two clinics will have Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J available. Staff and other community members can receive 1st, 2nd, and booster doses here as well.
November 17th from 4-6pm at HRHS (Westhampton)
https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/northampton
November 20th from 9am-12pm at R.H. Conwell (Worthington)
https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/northampton
*These two clinics are ONLY FOR 5-11 YEAR OLDS!
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: 85 students, 68.55%
Grade 8: 89 students, 67.94 %
Grade 9: 68 students, 66.02%
Grade 10: 74 students, 76.29%
Grade 11: 77 students, 77.78%
Grade 12+: 98 students, 76.56%
TOTAL= 491 students, 71.99%
We will begin to report numbers of elementary students in the coming weeks. With COVID vaccination just approved for children 5-11 years old, we do not have any students in that age group that are fully vaccinated.
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:
Please continue to be vigilant and follow all safety protocols. If you are not feeling well, please stay home.
Another week, another 1,000 less cases throughout the state. Hampshire County rates remain stable with Amherst, Easthampton and Northampton slightly increasing in case counts while Westfield's finally decreased. Williamsburg, Chesterfield, Goshen and Worthington have five or fewer cases over the past 14 days. Westampton had 6 cases and Southampton 16.
For additional town data pertaining to Covid-19, please use the link below:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY SCHOOL:
Chesterfield-Goshen:
We did not have any new confirmed positive cases in the New Hingham Regional School community this week. There were a total of 6 confirmed positive cases between the two PK classrooms. We have one positive individual still isolated, and one close contact remains quarantined appropriately.
Williamsburg:
We did not have any new confirmed positive cases in the Anne T. Dunphy School community this week.
Southampton:
We had three new confirmed positive cases in the Norris School community this week who all remain in isolation at this time. Two of these individuals were not in school while potentially infectious. One individual had been in school while potentially infectious, and three non-exempt close contacts were identified. They have all completed their quarantine appropriately. One of the cases we communicated about last week still had two close contacts quarantined, and they have since been released by the BOH contact tracer.
Westhampton:
We did not have any new confirmed positive cases in the Westhampton Elementary School community this week.
Hampshire Regional:
We had one new confirmed positive case in the HRHS community this week, and they remain in isolation at this time. The individual had been in school while potentially infectious, and one non-exempt close contact was identified. This individual participated in the test & stay program, and remained negative throughout the duration of the testing program. One of the positive cases we communicated about last week also remains in isolation at this time.