Weekly Newsletter
Page Elementary
Don't Forget!
Virtual PTO Meeting: January 10th
School Council Meeting: January 12th *3:15
Early Release (students only): January 14th
MLK Day *No School: January 17th
Mascot Selection
The Mascot Selection Steering Committee is looking for your input with the process to select a new school mascot (for PRSD). Please use the form (linked below) to submit your potential mascot ideas and suggestions.
Lunch Selection
Tuesday: French toast with sausage
Wednesday: cheeseburger & fries
Thursday: chicken nuggets with mashed potatoes
Friday: early release day - bagged lunches
COVID-19 FAQs for Families
We’ve created this FAQ sheet since guidance at the National and State levels have changed regarding COVID-19 in schools. Pentucket is still following the guidance provided by DESE and DPH. If you have any additional questions not addressed here, please contact Courtney Boudrow, Emily Puteri or call the West Newbury Board of Health at 978-363-1100 ext 118.
When would my child be tested in school?
Symptomatic Testing: for when individuals present symptoms while at school; (individuals should not go to school if experiencing symptoms while at home)
Test and Stay: for unvaccinated asymptomatic in-school close contacts of individuals with confirmed COVID-19
Parent permission is required for all testing at school. Fill out the Jotform to provide consent if you have not already done so. https://hipaa.jotform.com/212435309710044
What Is “Test and Stay”?
The Test and Stay duration has been amended from 7 days from the date of exposure to 5 days from the date of exposure. Close contacts can remain in school and do not have to quarantine, as long as they:
Are asymptomatic
Wear masks in school at all times, other than when eating or drinking. When these individuals cannot be masked (i.e., when eating or drinking) they should maintain 3 feet of distance from other individuals to the extent feasible.
Take a rapid antigen test (e.g., BinaxNOW) on each school day and receive a negative result. When the 5 days from date of exposure includes weekends or holidays, individuals should quarantine on weekends, and if they remain
asymptomatic, upon return to school to school be tested immediately. If the
individual remains negative, they can stay in school.
How would I find out if my child is a close contact?
Once we become aware of a positive COVID case in school, contact tracing begins. It can take some time to contact trace given the multiple locations students go throughout the building. If your child is deemed a close contact (within 3 feet of a positive case with masks on for more than 15 minutes), a parent/guardian will receive an email or phone call with further details. Names of students will never be used to protect privacy.
What if my child is symptomatic in school?
A parent/guardian will be notified if a student exhibits any of the following from the list, which has remained unchanged. If a student is symptomatic, they will be swabbed for a rapid antigen test. If negative, they may need to be dismissed, but in this case, can return as long as symptoms have significantly improved without additional testing unless symptoms worsen. If positive, they will be dismissed and should stay home for at least 5 days.
COVID-19 Symptoms:
• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle aches or body aches
• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
• Headache when in combination with other symptoms
• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
Do you accept at-home antigen tests?
Yes, we are now able to accept results of an at-home antigen test. Take a picture of the test and send it to your school nurse.
Per the Board of Health, an unvaccinated individual who tests positive for COVID should confirm the result with a PCR test. A positive PCR test exempts students from quarantining and testing if they become close contacts of another positive case within 90 days of contracting COVID. Without the PCR confirmation, they would still have to quarantine and test.
How long does my child have to stay out if they test positive?
A positive student has to stay out at least 5 days since the start of their symptoms OR date of positive test if asymptomatic. They may return to school on day 6 or later as long as they have significant symptom improvement, fever free for 24 hours without medication, and can wear their mask at all times (other than to eat/drink). Students must wear a mask during recess until day 10.
What if a child or other person in my house tests positive but a sibling is negative?
Isolate the positive case as best you can in your house. The quarantine monitoring date starts from the last day of exposure to the positive case. If the sibling is asymptomatic and vaccinated, they may return to school as normal. Be carefully monitoring them at home. If any symptoms develop, keep them home and test with either a PCR or antigen test. If the positive case is unable to isolate at home, the quarantine monitoring period starts once the positive case has improved and at least 5 days have passed since the start of symptoms or positive test if asymptomatic.
What if my child is symptomatic but tests negative? When can they come back to school?
Use your best judgment on this. If a child is symptomatic, and they are not feeling well enough for school, keep them home. They can return once significantly improved and fever free for 24 hours without medication if they ever had a fever. It is important to remember that we had these guidelines well before COVID. If your child is sick, keep them home until they are well enough to be in school and learn.
If your child’s pediatrician diagnoses them with something else (Strep, flu, etc), forward a provider’s note to your school nurse. Again, keep them home until they are feeling better.
What if my child was exposed outside of school?
Students who are deemed close contacts outside of school should remain home and quarantine for 5 days from their exposure date if they are unvaccinated. It is recommended to test with a PCR or antigen test on 5 day regardless of vaccination status. If the student is asymptomatic after 5 days, they may return to school on day 6 and must wear a mask with minimal teacher reminder.
What if my child is vaccinated?
As long as they are asymptomatic and fully vaccinated (14 days after receiving the second dose of the vaccine), they are exempt from quarantine and testing. At this time, a booster is not required. Monitor their symptoms at home for 14 days and if they become symptomatic during the close contact window, keep them home and obtain a PCR or antigen test. Don’t send them to school just to be tested. This potentially puts others at risk.