Good Morning, Reading Public School Staff and Families,

I hope that you are doing well and you are enjoying your weekend.  Here is your weekly Winter Hybrid Learning Update #2.

1. COVID-19 Information-We have received word that since my last communication on December 10^th, that we have the following positive cases in the Reading Public Schools.  All of these cases are from outside contacts and not through in school transmission.  We will follow these carefully and will communicate updates, if necessary.
   1. RMHS-We have had five students test positive and one staff member test positive.  Four of the students who tested positive were remote last week so there were no in school contacts.  However, through contact tracing, 28 students were in close contact with these four students and had to be quarantined.  One student was in school who tested positive.  Through our contact tracing, one staff member and two students were in close contact and are being quarantined.  The staff member that tested positive was remote last week and had no in school close contacts. 
   2. Parker-We had two students test positive at Parker.  Both students were remote last week, so there was no in school exposure.
   3. Birch Meadow-One staff member in the Extended Day program at Birch Meadow tested positive.  As a result, 22 students and 3 staff members are quarantining due to close contacts.

2. Quarantine Information-Part 1-For your information, I have attached the latest updates from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regarding length of quarantine information.  The chart from the memo is below.  If you have any questions, please contact your local Board of Health or Director of Nurses Mary Giuliana at Mary.Giuliana@reading.k12.ma.us.

OPTIONS	CRITERIA	ACTIVE MONITORING	RESIDUAL RISK
7 days of strict quarantine	Release on Day 8 IF: A test (either PCR or antigen) taken on Day 5 or later is negative; AND The individual has not experienced any symptoms up to that point; AND The individual conducts active monitoring through Day 14	Individual must actively monitor symptoms and take temperature once daily. IF even mild symptoms develop or the individual has a temperature of 100.0 F, they must immediately self-isolate, contact the public health authority overseeing their quarantine and get tested.	Approximately 5% residual risk of disease development
10 days of strict quarantine	Release on Day 11 IF: The individual has not experienced any symptoms up to that point; AND The individual conducts active monitoring through Day 14. No test is necessary under this option	Approximately 1% residual risk of disease development
14 days of strict quarantine	Release on Day 15 IF: The individual has experienced ANY symptoms during the quarantine period EVEN if they have a negative COVID-19 test; OR The individual indicates they are unwilling or unable to conduct active monitoring.	No additional active monitoring required	Maximal risk reduction

3. Quarantine Information Part 2-If you need to quarantine, I have attached specific information and posted below from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on what you should do if you are quarantining.

4. Middlesex League Letter-Attached is a letter from the Middlesex League Superintendents regarding the start of the winter season.  In Reading, winter sports practice will begin on Monday, December 14^th.  The only exception is boys hockey which may begin practicing on Sunday, December 20^th.  At the end of December, the Middlesex League Superintendents and Athletic Directors will reconvene and determine when games will start in January.  Initially, spectators will not be allowed at events and we will review this in late December as well.

5. Family Hybrid Learning Survey-Thank you to those families that have completed the Family Hybrid Learning survey.  If you have not responded to the survey yet, you can access the link here.

Thanks and have a great rest of the weekend and week ahead.

John Doherty

Superintendent of Schools

Reading Public Schools