DAVIS HILL COMMUNITY UPDATE
October 11, 2021
Hoping that everyone is enjoying their long weekend. Please see below for this week's update.
Kindly,
Jay Norton, Principal
Quote of the Week:
"Life deals you a lot lessons, some people learn from it, some people don't."
-Brett Favre
No School On Monday
COVID SAFETY CHECK INFORMATION (FORMALLY REFERRED TO AS POOLED TESTING)
Next week the District will begin offering routine COVID safety checks (formerly referred to as pooled testing) for students and staff.
Routine COVID safety checks will assist the District by helping catch the potential spread of the virus before it starts. This program is optional for students and staff.
Routine COVID safety checks at Davis Hill are scheduled to begin on Wednesday next week.
At this time, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) are recommending that only non-vaccinated members of our school communities participate in routine COVID safety checks.
If you would like to sign up yourself (for faculty/staff) or your child(ren) (for parents of students) to participate in weekly COVID safety checks and have not yet completed the consent form, please complete the consent form linked here: WRSD COVID 19 Testing Consent Link
If you want more information about routine COVID safety checks, please click here.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT COVID SAFTEY TESTING
A few extra notes on the "COVID SAFETY' (Formally Pooled) Testing to consider:
The consent form above linked above includes consent for ALL THREE testing programs. This is outside of District control as the the consent is a state/ DESE form.
Provided that the consent is for all three assessments, any student who has a signed consent on file will receive a saliva testing kit on Wednesday to bring home for the Covid Safety Check Testing. Subsequently, it is up to the family to return the saliva testing kit if they choose to participate.
Please see the video linked below for information on how to properly administer the Covid Safety Test at home.
Please see below for a more detailed description of each testing program:
- Symptomatic testing is used when a student is showing symptoms of COVID-19 during school; students should not come to school if they are feeling sick while at home. Some symptoms of the virus look identical to other illnesses like the cold or flu, and this test tells us whether a symptomatic student has COVID-19 or not. This is currently available in all of our schools.
- Test and stay allows students who have had close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 while at school to stay in school if the student is not showing symptoms. Instead of needing to quarantine and miss school, these students will take a daily rapid test while they remain in school as long as they are not symptomatic. Students participate in test and stay for at least five school days after they may have been exposed. This program is currently available for the whole district at a site in Holden, and we plan to expand to more sites once DESE-provided staffing is secured. We hope that these sites will increase convenience and accessibility for our parents and staff who are driving to the site.
- Routine COVID safety checks (pooled testing) - Minimize disruption to learning by helping us catch potential spread of the virus before it starts. Samples are collected from each student/staff who participate in the safety check once weekly. Samples are taken at home and returned to school.
PTA NEWS AND NOTES
UPDATES:
Please see the links below for info on two upcoming PTA Events: 1. Papa Ginos Dining Night and 2. Trunk or Treat!
Please see the button below for the PTA Membership/ Contact Form if you are interested in becoming a member!
Also included below is a button to go directly to the PTA Website. Check it out!
WRSD UPDATE FROM DR. MCCALL
QUICK NOTES
-School Hours 9:00-3:30 (Doors Open at 8:50 and Dismissal starts at 3:25)
-School phone number (508.829.1754)
Please Note: Please be familiar with the following ADDENDUM to both our WRSD OPENING PLAN and Davis Hill Handbook.
OFFICE DISMISSALS
We respectfully request that all afternoon office dismissals (when they are required) occur prior to 3:10. The reason for this request is that it is difficult to balance end-of-the-day needs and the upcoming school-wide dismissal in the office. The office is considered 'closed' from 3:15-3:45 during the dismissal period.
POLICY REVIEW/ LOST ARTICLES*
The school will not assume responsibility for any items (brought to school by students), which are lost or stolen. A Lost and Found area is maintained in the cafeteria. On a monthly basis, unclaimed clothing will be donated. Pupils are encouraged to turn in any article found to the Lost and Found Area. Items coming to school, including lunch boxes, book bags, coats, hats, boots, and mittens should be clearly labeled with the student's first and last name.
*We respectfully request that students do not bring toys/ cards (Pokemon/ etc.)/ stuffed animals or personal possessions from home. These items can easily become lost, damaged or be ‘traded’ with friends.
CHANGES IN ROUTINE DISMISSAL:
If you have a change in dismissal routine, please make sure to write a note to your child's teacher.
If there is a change in dismissal necessary that occurs during the school day- the school office must receive a phone call. Thank you!
DON'T FORGET THE HEALTH-ASSESSMENT EVERYDAY
IMPORTANT DATES/ INFORMATION
Monday, October 11th:
-No School/ State Holiday-Indigenous Peoples' Day
Thursday, October 21st:
-SIMCO/ 4:00PM
Friday, October 29th:
-Trunk Or Treat (6:00-7:30PM)
Tuesday, November 2nd:
-NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS/ Full Day Professional Development Day
Wednesday, November 3rd:
-Half-Day Professional Development Day (12:30 Dismissal)
Thursday, November 4th:
-PTA Papa Gino's Dining Night (4-8:00)
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Please Note: Dates may be subject to change pending circumstances outside of our control.
2021-2022 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Davis Hill Elementary School
Email: jay_norton@wrsd.net
Website: http://www.wrsd.net/davishill/
Location: 80 Jamieson Road, Holden, MA 01520, United States
Phone: 508-829-1754
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisHillDragons/
Twitter: @DHPrincipal