Mansfield Public Schools
Review of COVID-19 Protocols - 11/22/21
Holiday Message from Superintendent Murphy
Dear Families,
As we begin this week that will culminate with the Thanksgiving holiday, I am sending information along with my holiday greeting.
The first three months of the school year have flown by and students, faculty, and staff have worked so hard to acclimate to the more typical school routines while we continue to wade our way through the pandemic. I recognize that the requirements for school (masking, and social distancing, etc.) don’t make it easy, but I see everyone trying their best to make school an enjoyable and enriching learning environment.
As the superintendent, this is a special Thanksgiving for me because it is the first time during my five-year tenure that the traditional Mansfield vs. Foxborough football game will be held on Alumni Field. (2020 no game due to pandemic; 2019 @ Foxborough; 2018 @ Fenway Park; 2017@ Foxborough). Not only will the game be played on our home field, but it’s the 90th Anniversary of the Mansfield/Foxborough rivalry. This will be Head Coach Michael Redding’s 33rd team to compete on the gridiron while it will be Mr. Tim Tichacek’s first official event as the new principal of MHS. Please come out on Thanksgiving morning and cheer for our students -- football players, cheerleaders, band, color guard and the fans in the Nest.
The main purpose of this newsletter is to provide you with easy to access comprehensive information about Covid. There is not a lot of information here that may be new to you; however, there seems to be so much conflicting info out in the world, that our health services staff wanted to streamline and clarify for you.
Educators are here to serve the students of our community and as one who is privileged to to serve, I count my blessing that I work for the students of the Mansfield Public Schools.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Teresa Murphy
Review of Protocols
Testing Program at Mansfield Public Schools
When can my student be tested for symptoms?
Symptomatic Testing is for individuals who come to school and begin to experience cold and flu symptoms as the day progresses. Students who have symptoms before they leave for school should review the Daily Symptom Checklist and either stay home and contact their physician or monitor symptoms as necessary. Do not send your student to school if they are not feeling well.
When can my student be part of the Test & Stay program?
The Test & Stay Program is for individuals who have been deemed close contacts to a positive case within the school setting ONLY.
- A close contact within the school setting is any individual who was less than three feet to a positive individual with or without a mask on for greater than fifteen minutes in the 48 hours before test or symptoms or anytime in the next 10 days.
- Unvaccinated, asymptomatic close contacts who are in the Test & Stay Program can participate in school-sponsored events and sports ONLY on days that testing is available.
- Testing is currently not available on non-school days (weekends and holidays).
- Other activities such as youth sports or youth clubs are not included in the Test & Stay program per protocols approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). These activities cannot be attended during Test & Stay days, including weekdays.
- If unvaccinated close contacts do not have consent for testing, quarantine will be done at home with dates provided by the school nurse and the student's teacher will be notified of at-home learning.
What happens if my student is a contact from outside of the school setting?
The Test & Stay Program is NOT AVAILABLE for individuals who have been deemed close contacts to a positive case outside of the school setting at this time per the protocols approved by the DESE.
A close contact outside of a school setting includes any individual who was less than six feet to a positive individual with or without a mask on for greater than fifteen minutes in the 48 hours before test or symptoms or anytime in the next 10 days.
Unvaccinated individuals who are deemed close contacts outside of the school setting (family, friend, teammate, club member, coach, tutor) need to quarantine at home.The school nurse should be notified immediately. It is parents/guardians responsibility to contact their school nurse. Dates of an at home quarantine can be determined by the school nurse. The school nurse will notify teachers.
Vaccinated individuals who are deemed close contacts outside of the school setting (family, friend, teammate, club member, coach, tutor) can continue to come to school and participate in all activities outside of school. It is recommended that they get a COVID-19 test on day 3-5 from the last exposure. Testing for exposures outside of school cannot be done through the school. Fully vaccinated individuals should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 as recommended by MA DPH regardless of testing strategy.
Quarantine and Testing Scenarios
My unvaccinated student plays on a youth hockey team and was identified as a close contact while at practice. Are they eligible for Test & Stay?
No. Your student must quarantine at home and is not eligible for Test & Stay. Contact your school’s health office to report contact and discuss quarantine dates.
My fully vaccinated student has been identified as a close contact while playing on a Mansfield youth basketball team. Are they eligible for Test & Stay?
Test & Stay is not necessary in this scenario and they can continue to attend school.
They do not have to quarantine, but it is recommended that they get a COVID-19 test on day 3-5 from the last exposure. Testing for exposures outside of school cannot be done through the school. Fully vaccinated individuals should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 as recommended by MA DPH regardless of testing strategy. Please contact your health office to discuss your student’s vaccination status and appropriate protocols.
My fully vaccinated student was identified as a close contact at girl scouts. Can I send them to school? Can they be tested in school?
Test & Stay is not necessary in this scenario and they can continue to attend school. They do not have to quarantine but it is recommended that they get a COVID-19 test on day 3-5 from the last exposure. Testing for exposures outside of school cannot be done through the school. Fully vaccinated individuals should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 as recommended by MA DPH regardless of testing strategy. Please contact your health office to discuss your student’s vaccination status and appropriate protocols.
My student has had one dose of COVID-19 vaccination and has been identified as a close contact from a family event. Can they continue to come to school and participate in school activities?
No. Your student must remain home and is not eligible for Test & Stay. They must follow traditional quarantine protocol. Contact your school’s health office to report contact and discuss quarantine dates.
My student has had one dose of COVID-19 vaccination and has been identified as a close contact at school? What should I do?
Your student would be eligible for the Test & Stay program. Your student can come to school but would be required to quarantine from outside-of-school events and activities. An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose of Moderna or Pfizer or two weeks after one dose of Johnson & Johnson.
My student has been identified as a close contact after participating in a youth cheerleading competition. Will the Health Department notify the school?
No, it is the family’s responsibility to notify the student’s health office.
Travel
- Checking travel restrictions where you are traveling
- Get your COVID-19 booster
- Get your flu shot
- Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer
- Do not travel if you or your travel companions are sick
- Wear a mask in crowded situations
- Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet apart from anyone not in your group
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Wipe down surfaces in your seating area or hotel
Water Bottles
Illness Prevention
Frequent and careful hand washing
Keeping hands away from your face
Regular sanitizing of surfaces
Vaccination is an important tool to stop the spread of COVID-19 and influenza
The FDA has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine emergency authorization to use in children ages 5-15 years old and full approval to use in people ages 16 years and older.
Massachusetts has announced that all residents aged 18 and over are eligible to get a COVID-19 booster six months after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two months since receiving a Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine.
Please send any documentation of vaccination to your school nurse.
Monitoring Illness
Please check in with your students when they are not feeling well and review the Daily Symptom Checklist
Specific symptoms such as fever (temperature over 100.0 F), difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell, muscle aches or body aches, or cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough), should be assessed by a physician regardless of vaccination status.
Combination of multiple symptoms should also be assessed
If a physician orders COVID testing, students must stay home until test results are back and submit them to their school nurse before returning to school
Please contact your school nurse for guidance or questions
Health Services Contact Information
Our Health Services Staff is available to families to answer questions you may have about symptoms, testing and vaccination resources. If your child is symptomatic, has been designated as a close contact, or you have general questions, please call your school nurse.
Director of Health Services
Christine Dooling, MSN, RN
Phone: (508) 261-7559 / Fax: (508) 261-7559
Christine.Dooling@mansfieldschools.com
Mansfield High School
Christine Harrison, BSN, RN, NCSN
Betsy Savoie, MSN, RN
Phone: (508) 261-7540 x 33111 / 33121
Fax: (508) 261-7416
Christine.Harrison@mansfieldschools.com
Betsy.Savoie@mansfieldschools.com
Qualters Middle School
Elayne Brown, MSW, BSN, RN, NCSN
Heidi Waite, BSN, RN
Phone: (508) 261-7530 Ext. 1
Fax: (508) 261-7374
heidi.waite@mansfieldschools.com
Elayne.Brown@mansfieldschools.com
Jordan/Jackson Elementary School
Stephanie Holland, BSN, RN
Elizabeth Johnston, BSN, RN, NCSN
Phone: (508) 261-7520 / 7525
Fax: (508) 261-7522
Betsy.Johnston@mansfieldschools.com
stephanie.holland@mansfieldschools.com
Robinson Elementary School
Sue McGinley, BSN, RN, NCSN
Tammy Rozzelle, MSN, RN
Phone: (508) 261-7387
Fax: (508) 261-7389
Sue.McGinley@mansfieldschools.com
Tammy.Rozelle@mansfieldschools.com
Roland Green School
Debora Wirth, BSN, RN, NCSN
Phone: (508) 261-1561
Fax: (508) 261-7415
Contact Information
Email: school.notifications@mansfieldschools.com
Website: www.mansfieldschools.com
Location: 2 Park Row, Mansfield, MA, USA
Phone: 508-261-7500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mansfield-Public-Schools-508839202499633/
Twitter: @MansfieldSchool