Dear NBPS families, caregivers, and faculty,

Happy 2023 to all our NBPS students, families, and staff members! We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a relaxing vacation. As we welcome back students and staff members on Tuesday, January 3rd, we wanted to remind families that we are in the thick of cold and flu season. Some of these are unavoidable but there are several things you can do at home to help prevent illness and keep everyone feeling healthy. Here are some tips to remember:

• Wash your hands

• Get plenty of rest

• Proper hydration and eat a balanced diet

• Dress appropriately for the cold weather

Please keep in mind the guidelines below when deciding if your child should come to school. Any child with the following symptoms should stay home:

A fever 100 degrees or higher. A child should not come back to school until the temperature is normal for 24 hours without medication.

• vomiting or diarrhea

• a frequent cough

• any rash accompanied by a fever

• ear pain and/or eye drainage

• sore throat with a fever and/or rash

Additionally, upon our return to classes, we will most likely see increased COVID cases among our students and an increased number of students contracting Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) CDC information here We will continue to send updates and information as we transition into the winter months. Please see the following Mass.gov links regarding the flu:

Flu Symptoms checklist

Flu Facts and Flu vaccine information

If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to reach out.

Respectfully,

Tim McCormick

Interim Superintendent