Wachusett News
Update from Superintendent Darryll McCall April 3
WRSD to Reopen K-8 Schools Five Days a Week on April 5
As we enter the final weekend before our K-8 schools begin in-person learning five days a week, I wish to thank all of our staff who have worked so diligently to make this happen. Many have worked on nights and weekends to prepare the schools for our students to return to full in-person learning on Monday. Classrooms and cafeterias have been reorganized, dividers have been installed in restrooms, and airflow rates have been monitored throughout all of our schools. We have held meetings with our Reopening Committee, the Boards of Health, school administrators, and educators to make sure that we are all prepared to support one another during this process. Please understand that increasing student populations in schools and on busses will most likely result in more close contacts if and when positive cases are identified in schools.
The schedule for full in-person learning will be full school days on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with Wednesday being a half-day for all K-8 students. The start and end times for the schools will follow similar times as a normal school year for full days, and Wednesdays will follow a half-day schedule. All schedules have been updated and can be found by following this link. Each school has shared specific start and end times for planning purposes. Please note that although we will continue to offer remote learning to students, we ask for understanding if we cannot provide immediate remote learning for students who may be out of school unexpectedly.
As noted in prior newsletters, we have also begun our planning for bringing our high school students back by the end of April. Approximately 1,400 high school students are expected to return to in-person learning. We are currently addressing any space issues associated with social distancing requirements.
Finally, we have been notified that DESE will be covering the costs associated with Pooled Testing for the remainder of the school year. We are currently working with DESE on implementing this testing and will share details with families and staff within the next few weeks.
COVID-19 Screening
This is a gentle reminder to families and staff that they should not come to school if they have any symptoms related to our self-screening document below. This is a critical aspect of our ability to remain open for in-person learning. We appreciate your continued attention to
this important item.
Middle School Clubs
DISTRICT CLUBS
Are you interested in joining a club for middle schoolers in the district? Consider joining one of these clubs to get connected with your peers from across the district!
Community Service Club
Do you want to help out the community and have fun while doing it? If so, the Community Service Club is right for you! We will have monthly meetings to discuss our thoughts and ideas, as well as make plans and set goals for how we will help the community. Our first meeting will be after school on April 13th. If you are interested, please email Hannah Palmi at HannahPalmi25@wrsdk12.net.
Link to website: https://sites.google.com/wrsdk12.net/community-service-club/comments
Art Club
Do you love art? Join the Middle School Art Club to spend time trying new forms of art and gain friendships with other middle schoolers who are passionate about art too! The first meeting will be held through google meet on Tuesday April 6th from 3-3:45 after school. The Google Classroom code is ogvmb6u
Diversity Club
Want to work with peers in the Wachusett district to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in our schools? Please join the new diversity club! They will meet every other week at 3:15 on Mondays, starting April 5th, and will be district wide. Please contact Emmaday25@wrsdk12.net hannahpalmi25@wrsdk12.net cassielbrennan26@wrsdk12.net
For more information. Let’s bring equality to our schools!
Sports Club
Do you love sports and participating in athletics? Join the sports club to be connected with other middle schoolers while joining together in fun sports and athletic activities. Meetings will begin in early April! Contact Mr Clark atbradley_clark@wrsd.net for more information!
WRSD COVID Update
BinaxNow Testing Available in Schools
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has introduced Abbott BinaxNOW tests for use on symptomatic students and staff. BinaxNOW is a rapid antigen test that is administered with a nasal swab. Wachusett Regional School District has been approved to do this testing for symptomatic individuals (both students and faculty/staff) in our schools.
It is important to note that this testing will be optional for students, faculty, and staff. Also, it is crucial that students and faculty/staff stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 (see COVID-19 Self-Screening document here).
This testing program is an intervention that will help us to increase the health and safety for all members of our school community in conjunction with the other safety measures that we have in place.
The BinaxNOW testing is voluntary, and there will be links sent from each school for parents/guardians to register their child(ren) if you choose to do so.
Links:
Frequently Asked Questions document about BinaxNOW testingMassachusetts Travel Advisory Modified
On March 22nd, Massachusetts replaced the Travel Order with a Travel Advisory. The Travel Form and lower-risk states map are no longer in effect.
WRSD will be adhering to the state’s new Travel Advisory, which includes the following:
As of Monday, March 22, all visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, are advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival.
Travelers are exempt from this advisory if they have a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts. If not obtained before entry to Massachusetts, a test may be obtained after arrival, as long as travelers quarantine until a negative test result has been received.
Anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after an absence of fewer than 24 hours is exempt from this advisory.
Workers who enter Massachusetts to perform critical infrastructure functions (as specified by the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) are exempt from this advisory while they are commuting to or from or while at work.
Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago) and who do not have symptoms are exempt from this advisory.
Testing for children, 10 years and younger, who are traveling with an adult from their household is not necessary. Children 10 years and younger should follow the quarantine advisory and testing options completed by the household adult they accompanied for travel. If the accompanying adult chooses to quarantine, the child should also quarantine. If the accompanying adult chooses to obtain a test, the child and adult should quarantine until the adult’s negative test result is received.
Travelers are encouraged to consult and follow the CDC’s guidelines and requirements for travel.
Please see the links below for more information, including a one-page flyer designed by our WRSD School Nurses.
Link:
Substitute Support for our Schools
WRSD Human Resources - 508-829-1670 x228
The Wachusett Regional School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, English Language Learner (ELL) status, housing status, or other protected status. Please read our full Non-Discrimination Policy for more details.
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WRSD Website
Wachusett Regional School District
Email: feedback@wrsd.net
Website: www.wrsd.net
Location: 1754 Main Street, Jefferson, MA, USA
Phone: (508)829-1670