Return to School Update
May 28, 2021
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MASK GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND PARENTS THOUGH JUNE 22, 2021
There have been questions about whether students, staff, and parents/caregivers need to be masked for drop-off and dismissal of students to and from school. Through the remainder of the school year, students should be masked when leaving the school building to get into a car or board their bus and they MUST continue to wear masks at all times on the bus. Staff should continue to wear masks at arrival and dismissal. This is in alignment with our district risk mitigation strategies and is an opportunity to model mask wearing for our students who must wear masks throughout their bus rides to and from school. Parents should continue to wear masks at drop off and dismissal times, unless they remain in their vehicles.
We are almost at the end of the school year! Thank you for your cooperation with these mask wearing requirements in these last several weeks of school! Looking forward to a safe and healthy summer break!
CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH CONDITIONS
Below are important informational links that highlight the current COVID-related public health conditions in Framingham. Please note the Current Status and City of Framingham Weekly Data Analysis included below is pulled each Monday. We recognize that the data can change between Monday and Friday when this communication is prepared.
Click to see the FPS COVID Dashboard
Click to review the City of Framingham Weekly Data Analysis (PDF)
Click to access the City of Framingham COVID Resource Page
RETURN-TO-SCHOOL DASHBOARD
(Text from the table above)
Return-to-School Target
City Positivity: 4% (or less)
New Cases (Daily): 10 (or less)
Current Status (Latest Report: May 26, 2021)
City Positivity: 1.29%
↗ Higher than the previous week
New Cases (Daily): 6.94
↘ Lower than the previous week
2-Week Historical Trend
May 19, 2021
City Positivity: 1.57%
New Cases (Daily): 6.84
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
May 12, 2021
City Positivity: 2.09%
New Cases (Daily): 9.96
↘︎ Lower than the previous week
POOLED TESTING AND COVID CASE REPORTING
Please review the Pooled Testing Data Dashboard for the most up-to-date pooled testing data.
Please review the FPS COVID Data Dashboard for the most up-to-date cumulative data on positive cases.
RISK MITIGATION EFFORTS
We believe that all of our risk mitigation efforts (including facility safety upgrades, mask wearing, physical/social distancing, weekly COVID testing, the COVID-19 vaccine, daily attestation, and others) have supported our success in bringing our students and staff safely back to school. You can reference the expanded Risk Mitigation Effort details shared in recent Return to School Smores which are now linked at the bottom of this newsletter.
Masks/Face Coverings
Masks/Face Coverings are among the most important single measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Guidance will continue to change over the coming days and weeks as announced by Governor Baker, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and Dr. Tremblay.
COVID-19 Individual PCR Testing for ALL FPS Staff
ALL FPS staff are encouraged to participate in weekly COVID-19 individual PCR testing that is provided at each of our schools.
COVID-19 Pooled Testing for Students
We encourage all of our students to participate in pooled testing! Pooled testing is free, easy, and helps to identify asymptomatic students with COVID-19 early and prevent the spread of the virus through the school community. Provide Consent for your child to participate in COVID-19 Pooled Testing today: Pool Testing Consent Form
As of April 26, 2021 all students participating in an athletic program/team at Framingham High school are required to participate in weekly pooled testing.
BinaxNow follow-up testing is now in place to address a positive pooled test result. This means students in a positive pool will be tested individually with a BinaxNow antigen rapid test to identify who is positive for COVID-19. BinaxNow testing utilizes a shallow nasal swab and results are received within 15 minutes. Testing will be administered at your child’s school by trained staff. Students in a positive pool who test negative with a follow-up BinaxNow test can remain in school. Students with a positive BinaxNow test must isolate and be picked up from school as soon as possible. If the BinaxNow testing does not identify a COVID-19 positive individual, each person in the pool will need a follow up individual PCR test. Students must isolate and be picked up from school as soon as possible and will remain out of school until they receive a negative individual PCR test result. Find a location to have your child PCR tested.
COVID-19 Vaccines
People ages 12 and older who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can get vaccinated against COVID-19. Children ages 12-17 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine and should take certain steps before getting the vaccine. People age 18 and older can get any vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective. An ID or insurance is not needed to get it.
Pre-registration for COVID vaccines has closed. Use VaxFinder.mass.gov to search for a vaccine appointment at locations including mass vaccination, regional collaborative, health care, pharmacies, grocery stores, or local Boards of Health. Individuals without access to the internet or who are unable to schedule their appointment online can call toll free 2-1-1 or (877) 211-6277 for assistance.
Please remember it is possible to get COVID-19 even after you are vaccinated. If you have any other symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough, or loss of sense of smell or taste, stay home from work, avoid close contact with others, get PCR tested, and contact your healthcare provider. It takes several weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. Please continue to wear a mask, maintain 6ft physical distance, practice frequent hand washing, and stay home when sick.
MyMedBot (Attestation App)
MyMedBot is used to screen all FPS staff and students daily for potential COVID symptoms by answering a series of COVID-19 related questions. The app should be completed truthfully every day. Staff and students should never come into a school building when sick or if you’ve been exposed to COVID, especially if someone in your home has tested positive or is exhibiting symptoms. Your cooperation and collaboration is key to keeping schools open and safe for everyone.
COVID Call Center - Updated Hours
Families can reach the trilingual COVID Call Center by email COVID@framingham.k12.ma.us or by calling (508) 782-6633. Call Center staff are available between 6:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Please continue to make sure that your school has up-to-date contact information, including cell phone numbers, for all Primary and Emergency contacts associated with your child(ren). At least 4 contacts should be listed. It is extremely important that we are able to reach you for important communications, contact tracing if needed, and to ensure MyMedBot is associated with the correct email address(es).
COVID INFORMATION WEBSITE
Members of the COVID Team have been working hard behind the scenes to update a dedicated website with COVID Information and Resources. This site will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.
Please visit https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/covid for more information.
RECENT RETURN TO SCHOOL SMORES
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Framingham Public Schools
Website: www.framingham.k12.ma.us
Location: 31 Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
Phone: 508-626-9117
Facebook: facebook.com/framinghamps
Twitter: @framinghamps