Harrington Happenings
January 9, 2022
Happy New Year Harrington Families
We wish all of our families a safe, healthy, and happy New Year. May we we all celebrate a year of joy and happiness. We are excited to start 2022 with a dedicated staff that is here to serve all students and each other. Our hope is to remain focused on success for all and enjoy each and every day for a full and spirited life.
Starting this week, we begin our mid-year assessments. The students will be working very hard on their iReady, DIBEL/RAN and F & P assessments for the next few weeks. I am excited to see the student growth data that will be provided from the mid-year assessments, because I've seen how hard each and every one of our students have been doing since the beginning of the year.
I again ask that you stay vigilant in monitoring any and all symptoms of any sickness. We ask that you adhere to best practices for COVID precautions to be a responsible HES school community member. Please make sure that you follow all protocols upon your return and evaluate any illness or symptoms that your child might display and keep them home. We want to continue to provide a safe and full day, in-school learning experience to all students. In order for us to successfully manage the learning environment, we need to make sure that all of our staff and students in attendance are healthy and free from exposure to illnesses. Please remember to share your child's vaccine status with myself or Karen and we will get that information to the nurse's office. This information is critical to determine close contacts and available scenarios to allow your child to remain in school if identified as a close contact of a COVID positive individual in the school setting.
Once again, remember to…"Push through your day, Smile, Be Happy, Stay Positive!"
Be safe! Stay well!
Rob & Karen
Let's Stay Connected!
COVID Update for Harrington Families
While we have seen an increase in cases in our school population, the vast majority of the positive cases have been traced back to exposures in the home or at an event outside of school. Understandably, we are seeing many signs of “COVID FATIGUE”- however, it is imperative to continue the practices that we know will stop the spread of COVID-19. We ask for your help promote the following mitigation strategies:
- STAY HOME IF NOT FEELING WELL
- If experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, test immediately and isolate until results are back
- If identified as a close contact, please follow the testing and quarantine protocols
- If diagnosed with COVID-19, please follow the updated 5-day isolation protocol
- Wear a mask while indoors (masks should fit snugly around the nose and mouth)
- Frequently wash hands with soap and water and/or use hand sanitizer.
- When feasible, maintain physical distance from others
Lastly, we strongly encourage those eligible to be vaccinated and to receive the booster! The COVID-19 vaccine and booster will increase the level of protection against the virus. The vaccines have undergone, and will continue to undergo, intensive safety monitoring. Covid 19- vaccines are effective and can reduce the risk of getting and spreading the virus that cause Covid-19. There is strength in numbers! Getting the vaccine can protect families, communities, and our schools.
The collective health of our school community, and our community at large, relies on a collaborative partnership with our families. This partnership requires our families to follow the best practices and guidelines that we know will decrease the spread of the virus.
As always, thank you all for your cooperation and continued efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19!
SCHOOL REMINDERS -
HPTO Meetings: On that first Wednesday of each month we hold our HPTO meetings at 6:30, in person and virtually. Our PTO gives parents and teachers the opportunity to work together to supplement and enrich the educational experience for all. Harrington Elementary is incredibly fortunate to have such a strong, dedicated, motivated, well-functioning PTO. Our HPTO is the teacher's and community's most important ally when it comes to achieving curricular and fundraising goals throughout the year. I know that everyone leads busy lives, as does this amazing PTO board, so, I would ask all of you to try to take some time at the beginning of each month to support our HPTO by attending their meetings either in person or virtually. If you have a Facebook account, join the HPTO page for important news and information of upcoming events and links to the meetings.
Approaching Cold Weather: As we approach our cold weather season, please make sure students are coming to school with the appropriate clothing. Unless we reach a specific threshold in regards to temperature, the plan will always be to go outside as much as possible for mask breaks and recess.
HPTO
Happy Holidays from your HPTO! Thank you for all of your support this year! We’re looking forward to continuing to serve the Harrington community in 2022!
Our next meeting will be Wednesday February 2 at 6:30pm in the Harrington Library and online. Follow our Facebook page for the link to join!
Please note that there will not be a meeting in January due to the Table Talk Math book group.
C. D. Harrington Elementary School
Email: asselinr@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://harrington.chelmsfordschools.org/
Location: 120 Richardson Road, North Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5166
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harringtonelementarychelmsford/