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Fall Reopening Update 24

Good Morning, Reading Public School Staff and Community,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying the weekend.  Here is the latest Fall Reopening Update:

  • COVID-19 Information– I wanted to let you know that we have received information that two additional students and one staff member have tested positive.  One student is at Parker Middle School and one student at RMHS.  The staff member is at Birch Meadow.  As a result 11 students and no staff members at Parker have been quarantined from the cohort for two weeks.  The RMHS student was remote this week and through contact tracing no students or staff were in close contact with the student and, as a result, do not have to be quarantined.  As a result of the Birch Meadow Staff member testing positive, 22 students will need to quarantine.  Because we do our major disinfecting on Friday, no additional cleaning or disinfecting is necessary. To the best of our knowledge, none of the cases are in school transmissions.
  • Grade 4 and 5 Cohort B Start In Person This Week-We welcome our Grade 4 and 5 Cohort B students who will begin in person this week.  This is our final group to come in person during the phase in.  We want to thank our parents of Grade 4 and 5 students for their patience and flexibility during our phase in.

  • Updated DPH Quarantine Guidance- Yesterday, DPH issued updated quarantine guidance for those who have been exposed to COVID-19. Specifically, an individual must remain quarantined for:
  • At least 14 days from the date of last exposure; or
  • At least 10 days, provided all of the following are satisfied:
    • You have not had, and do not have, any symptoms;
    • You are tested on day 8 of your quarantine period or later using a molecular diagnostic test (e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) to detect the presence of the virus;
    • You receive a negative test result; and
    • You monitor yourself for symptoms for the full 14 days. If you develop symptoms you should contact your health care provider and be re-tested.

  The full guidance can be found here:  https://www.mass.gov/guidance/information-and-guidance-for-persons-in-quarantine-due-to-covid-19 .

  • Guidelines for Accessing Remote Learning-Below are some additional guidelines for families for when they are switching from remote to hybrid or hybrid to remote and when their child is out sick or quarantined.  For further information or clarification, please contact your building principal.

Switching from Hybrid to Remote or Remote to Hybrid

Families may request to switch from hybrid to remote at the end of a marking period.  If there are extenuating circumstances during a marking period where a family is requesting to shift to remote, they may do so if there are openings in the remote classrooms.  Once a family shifts to remote, they need to remain in remote until the end of the marking period.

Families may request to shift from remote to hybrid at the end of a marking period.  Requests will be honored if there is enough space in a classroom.

Please note that if a student is high needs and is receiving in person instruction daily, we do not recommend that student shift to remote instruction.

Remote Guidelines for In Person Students Who Are Absent From School

Below are the remote criteria that will be used when students who are in person during a particular week are absent from school.

Students will have live remote access under the following conditions:

  • He/she is quarantined due to testing positive for COVID-19.
  • He/she is quarantined due to being in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.
  • He/she is being quarantined for being out of state and is waiting for a negative COVID test per DPH guidelines.
  • He/she is showing symptoms of COVID-19 and is awaiting test results.
  • He/she has another medical condition which prevents them from coming to school.

Because of capacity of our remote classrooms, students will not have live remote access under the following situations:

  • He/she is absent for any reason other than described above.
  • He/she is quarantining for 10-14 days because of out of state travel as defined by the MDPH Travel Order and is not getting a COVID-test.
  • He/she is going on a family vacation or other non-school activity during school days.

Please note that there may be extenuating circumstances in a school that would require a different action than above.  These decisions are at the discretion of the building principal.

  • Winter Sports-The MIAA has released guidance on Winter Sports, which can be found here.  Winter sports will begin on December 14th.  The Middlesex League will be meeting this week to determine which sports will be included in the winter season and which sports will be moved to either Fall 2 or Spring.
  • SEPAC Meeting on Tuesday- The SEPAC’s (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) Reading/Literacy Subcommittee is having its first meeting Tuesday, November 24th at 6:30PM to discuss goals and action items. Please join us via Zoom: https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/84617190360;

All are welcome and ENCOURAGED to attend!

Connect with SEPAC by clicking these links:

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  • Reusable Masks-This is just a reminder to regularly wash your child’s reusable masks in hot soapy water and then dry.  It is important that if students are wearing reusable masks that they remain clean and disinfected.  We have seen some masks recently that are getting a little worn and dirty!
  • Thanksgiving-The Reading Public Schools is closed from November 26th through November 29th.  We will be unplugging and will not be answering any emails or sending out any correspondence so that are staff and families can enjoy the four day break.  We hope that you and your families have a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday!

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