Good Afternoon, Reading Public School Staff and Families,

I hope that you have had an amazing vacation!  We are now entering the final stretch of the school year and we will be transitioning to full in person for all levels.  Here is the Spring In Person Update #6.

• Full In Person Learning Begins for Middle School and High School Tomorrow-Beginning tomorrow, students (except those families who have chosen fully remote) will begin full in person learning at our middle and high schools.  We are very excited to be welcoming back Grades 6-12!  For the first time since March 13, 2020, all of our students will now be in person full time.

• Travel Advisory from the State-For those of you who travelled during April Vacation, we request that families and staff follow the state travel advisory. Anyone who has traveled and is not fully vaccinated should get a test within 72 hours of return, or quarantine until receiving a negative test. A PCR or Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen test is acceptable. Children under 10 are exempt from testing but should quarantine if the adults in the family are in quarantine, or until adults have received a negative test.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.    https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-advisory

• Health Data for this Week-Below is the positive cases for this week.
  • 1 Killam student, no close contacts
  • 1 Birch student, no close contacts
  • 1 RMHS student who tested positive after there was an inconclusive pool test for football.  Contact tracing was complete.
  • 1 RMHS student, no close contacts
  • 1 Barrows student, no close contacts
  • 1 Wood End student, no close contacts
  • 1 Wood End staff member, no close contacts

• DESE changes definition of close contact for classrooms and busses-The following update to the quarantine guidance for close contacts was approved by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services after consultation with the Governor’s Medical Advisory Board on COVID-19 and other medical advisors. This updated guidance is effective immediately!
  
  Close contacts who were exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual in the classroom or on the bus while both individuals were masked do not have to quarantine unless they were within 3 feet of distance of the COVID-19 positive individual for a total of 15 minutes during a 24-hour period. This does not apply if someone was identified as a close contact outside of the classroom or bus (e.g., in sports, extra-curriculars, lunch, etc.) or if masks are not worn by both persons at the time of the exposure. All other close contacts must follow the standard protocol for when a close contact may return to school.

Because it is difficult for elementary students to stay within the 3 foot distancing, we will continue to maintain the practice of quarantining an entire elementary class if there is a positive case identified in the classroom.

The full guidance is posted on the COVID-19 guidance page and available for download.

As a reminder, DPH defines close contact as:

• Being within 6 feet of a COVID-19 case (someone who has tested positive) for a total of 15 minutes during a 24-hour period. Multiple brief or transitory interactions (less than a minute) throughout the day are unlikely to result in 15 minutes of cumulative contact and do not meet the definition of close contact. Being in the same room as an individual if you are consistently separated by 6 feet of distance does not meet the definition of a close contact.
• Close contact can occur while being with, caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a healthcare waiting area or room with a COVID-19 case, OR
• Having direct physical contact with the person (e.g. hugging or kissing), OR
• Sharing eating or drinking utensils, OR

Having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on) while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment.

• Pool Testing continues for the rest of the school year-We are pleased to announce that we will continue making pool testing available for all staff and students for the remainder of the school year.  This is an additional mitigation step that is critical to maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment.  If you have not signed up your child (ren) for pool testing and you would like to, here is the link to give consent  https://bit.ly/3oXiiSa.  If families who are currently in pool testing want to remove their consent, please contact Julian Carr at Julian.Carr@reading.k12.ma.us.  Please note that any changes in consent made over the weekend may not be able to be addressed until the following week. 

• Early Release Days moved to Fridays Next Year-For planning purposes, all early release days at all levels will be moved from Wednesdays to Fridays next year.  The survey that was sent out last month to staff and families was overwhelmingly in favor of this change.  Elementary dismissal for next year on Fridays will be at 12:45 p.m.   When there is a scheduled early release day at the middle school it will be at 1:00 p.m. and when there is a scheduled early release day at the high school, the dismissal will be at 1:30 p.m.

• RMHS Spring Sports begins tomorrow-This is a reminder that all RMHS spring sports begins tomorrow.  This includes,  baseball, softball, boys track, girls track, boys swim, girls lacrosse, boys lacrosse, wrestling, boys tennis, and girls tennis.  For the health and safety of our students and staff, pool testing will continue to be required for all students who participate in athletics and extra-curricular activities.

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

82 Oakland Road

Reading, Massachusetts 01867

781-944-5800

John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

Good Afternoon,

There will be a meeting of the Reading School Committee this evening at 7:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.  The link is below.  Please note that if you would like to make a public comment that it needs to be made on the live chat on Teams.  Any emails sent to the School Committee will be included in the next packet.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODAzNDY0ZDAtMDdlZC00ZDY5LWEwODUtYTA3MzJiYTA5MmQ0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226b81bca4-cd59-4341-a904-ea2ff758fe2a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22c0e8c5d3-a82a-4511-9dc1-a9f6080ccbc3%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&btype=a&role=a

Good Morning, Reading Public School Community,

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weekend.  Below is Spring In Person Update #5.

• Please sign up for pooled testing-As we transition to full in person learning, we are asking all staff and students to participate in the pool testing program.  This is an additional mitigation step that is critical to maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment.  Here is the link to give consent  https://bit.ly/3oXiiSa.  If families who are currently in pool testing want to remove their consent, please contact Julian Carr at Julian.Carr@reading.k12.ma.us.  Please note that any changes in consent made over the weekend may not be able to be addressed until the following week.

• This week’s health data-Here is this week’s health data:
  1. Birch Meadow remote student tested positive.  There were no in school contacts, but 7 outside student contacts.
  2. Wood End student tested positive with no in school contacts.
  3. 2  Coolidge students tested positive, 1 in person, 11 students quarantined, 1 remote with no in school contacts.
  4. 1 Joshua Eaton student in person tested positive, 18 students quarantined.
  5. 2 Parker students tested positive, 1 remote with no in person contacts and 1  in person resulting in 12 students quarantined.
  6. 1 Killam student tested positive,  in person resulting in 17 students 1 teacher quarantined.

• Pool Testing Results
  1. 1 positive RMHS pool, positive individual identified no contact tracing required because the person had previously tested positive within 90 days.
  2. 1 Inconclusive Killam pool, positive individual identified with antigen testing, class (17 students 1 teacher) quarantined.
  3. Totals this week
     1. 212 pools, 1 positive (previously + individual, no contact tracing)
     2. 1 inconclusive, identified +, 17 students 1 staff quarantined.
  4. Total overall testing: 1012 pools, 11 positive pools, 3 inconclusive pools with positive reflex results

• Updates on RMHS Principal Search-This week we will be finalizing our RMHS Principal Search by attending site visits of all three finalists and then having one final interview with each candidate.  A decision on the next Principal of RMHS will be made by this Friday.

• Updates on Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Teaching Search-The Screening Committee has been chose for the Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Teaching and they have had their first meeting.  There will be a follow up meeting to design the questions prior to the interviews.  The deadline for applications for this search is April 23, 2021.

• Updates on Birch Meadow Principal Search-We are in the process for choosing the Screening Committee for the Birch Meadow Principal Search.  Those who applied for the screening committee will be notified early this week.  Interviews will begin after April Vacation.

• Updates on METCO Director Search-We are in the process for choosing the Screening Committee for the METCO Director Search.  Interviews will begin after April vacation.

• SEPAC Meeting on Tuesday- Please join the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) at our next business meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 7:00 PM! New business to be discussed includes a presentation by Team Chair, Kelly DiCato, on the DESE Resource Guide to the MA Curriculum Frameworks for Students with Disabilities, followed by caregiver comments/questions; also a parent prepared presentation on local/regional community resources providing family education/advocacy, recreational opportunities, and summer camps, followed by a parent discussion regarding the same; and other items.  Please join us for these presentations and discussions and feel free to share any additional resources that you think other parents may find helpful.  All are welcome!
  This meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom at the following Meeting link: Join Zoom Meeting

Have a great rest of the weekend!

FREE MEALS FOR STUDENTS BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL!

Through the extension of the Seamless Summer Meal program, started in response to COVID-19, we are able to offer all Reading Public School Children FREE meals until the end of June.

What this means for your family–

–  Your school-age children will receive a healthy breakfast (at Coolidge, Parker and RMHS only,) and lunch every school day, at no cost, in a safe and welcoming environment. This applies to students who are attending classes in school. 

–  Our other option for FREE meals for children, ages 0-21, in your home is meal distribution.  This may include remote learners, participating in a hybrid learning mode, or any other children in your home.  These meals will provide breakfast and lunch for each day, including weekends, at the bridge of Reading Memorial High School on Wednesdays from 2:30 – 3:30 pm or Friday from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon.

Your family may participate in BOTH options.  Students can eat at school and receive Meal Distribution for the remote days and weekend meals that your family is entitled to.

This program allows Reading School District to provide the most nourishing and appetizing meals possible for your children. When your children eat school meals, it helps the school system by providing federal funds to the district. The more meals we serve, the more funding we receive, allowing us to focus on providing wonderful, nutritious meals for your family. If your children have never participated in school meals, consider trying the program this year!

If you have any questions please contact Danielle Collins, School Nutrition Director, at Danielle.Collins@Reading.k12.ma.us or 781-670-2822

Good Morning, Reading Public School Community,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying this weekend.  Happy Easter to those families that celebrate Easter.

Here is our Spring In Person Update #4.

• We are getting there…Please be patient and continue to remain vigilant–We are all sensing it, we are getting closer to normalcy, but we are all experiencing pandemic fatigue.  Please continue to remain vigilant in all of mitigation steps.  If you are fully vaccinated, you must continue to wear a mask in the Reading Public Schools.  Thank you in advance for your support.

• Information from our nurses– We are looking forward to having more students back in the building this month. We ask your continued support in keeping all of our students and staff healthy and safe while at school. There has recently been an uptick in cases in Reading and in Massachusetts, and we know that COVID variants have been found locally. Please remember to review the health screening and screen your children for any symptoms before coming to school. 

Remind your children to wear masks properly and supply them with extra masks if needed. 

Finally, as April vacation approaches, we ask you to follow the MA travel advisory.

• Elementary Students return full in person on Monday–Our elementary students will be returning full in person for the first time since March 13, 2020.  A special thanks goes out to our teachers, staff, Principals, Directors, and Central Office Staff for their amazing work in preparing for Monday.  Some normalcy is starting to return to our lives!

• Middle and High School Students return full in person on April 26^th–We are busily preparing for our middle and high school students to return full in person on April 26^th.  Your building principals will be sending out further reopening information as we get closer to the day.

• Cafeteria and Snack Health and Safety Guidelines–Please impress upon children the following health and safety measures in the cafeteria for lunch and the classroom room for snack:

• If at all possible, please keep students in their same classroom cohorts for lunch. 
• Even though we have plexiglass shields in the cafeteria, we need to keep students as socially distant apart as possible. 
• When students are not eating, they need to have their masks on.
• Snacks should be eaten outdoors as much as possible.  Students need to stay 6 feet apart if they are having snack indoors.  Masks should be on when they are not eating snack.

•   Positive Cases for This Week–Below are the positive cases from this past week.

• 1 Parker student who was remote, no close contacts.
• 2 RMHS students who were remote, no close contacts.
• 1 District staff member who was in person, there were no close contacts.  The positive case was detected during pooled testing.
• 2 Wood End students who were in person.  As a result, 36 students and 8 staff have been quarantined.  These cases were detected during pooled testing.

• Pooled Testing–We are pleased to announce that DESE has agreed to fund the pooled testing for the remainder of the school year through a federal grant program.  Below are the latest updates

• Total pooled tests this week: 155, 2 pools were positive, and 1 was inconclusive which resulted in a positive on a PCR retest. 
• Total pooled tests since February 22^nd: 798 pools tested 10 positive, 2 inconclusive.

As we transition to full in person learning, we are asking all staff and students to participate in the pool testing program.  This is an additional mitigation step that is critical to maintain a safe and healthy classroom environment.  Here is the link to give consent  https://bit.ly/3oXiiSa.  If families who are currently in pool testing want to remove their consent, please contact Julian Carr at Julian.Carr@reading.k12.ma.us.  Please note that any changes in consent made over the weekend may not be able to be addressed until the following week.

• Allergy Symptoms versus COVID Symptoms–As we enter allergy season, we wanted to inform parents and staff of the differences between allergy symptoms and COVID symptoms.  Below is a diagram from CDC which shows the similarities and differences.

• Updates on Travel and COVID–There have been some changes in the CDC and Commonwealth of Massachusetts COVID recommendations.  Below are two links that help you with this information.  The first link is an FAQ that was developed by our school nurses for staff and families.  The second link is travel information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.  Please note that remote learning via livestreaming may not available for those students who are quarantining due to travel. 

FAQs for Reading Staff and Families

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Travel Information

Good Afternoon, Reading Public School Community,

On Monday, April 5th, we will hold an open microphone for the community for the RMHS Principal Finalists on Zoom.  The link is below:

https://readingpsma.zoom.us/j/82774063242

The times for each candidate are as follows:

6:00 p.m.       Stephen Sierpina, Principal, Windham High School, Windham, N.H.

6:35 p.m.       Kevin Tracey, Principal, John Glenn Middle School, Bedford, MA.

7:10 p.m.       Sara Yuen, High School Principal, Phoenix Charter Academy, Boston, MA

The community will have an opportunity during each 30 minute forum to ask questions of the candidate.  In addition, community members may give feedback on the google form below.  This form will be opened on Monday.

https://forms.gle/Xur3bZqjNRZo1Gry8

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Superintendent of Schools John Doherty at john.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us.

Thanks and have a great day!

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

Good Afternoon, Reading Public School Community,

There will be a meeting of the Reading School Committee this evening at 7:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.  If you have a public comment, please use the live chat version on Teams.  Emails during the meeting will be put in the next School Committee packet.  The link for the meeting is below and the packet, which was posted yesterday is attached.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZmI0NmJhN2EtOTg5OS00NmUyLWFhMTctOWYxNzJlNTU0ZWU4%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226b81bca4-cd59-4341-a904-ea2ff758fe2a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%222531492d-d04e-4fd5-be5b-3d8d1db00fbb%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d

Thanks!

Good Afternoon, Reading Public School Community,

We are pleased to announce that we have three finalists for the position of Reading Memorial High School Principal.  The finalists are as follows:

1. Stephen Sierpina, Principal, Windham High School, Windham, N.H.
2. Kevin Tracey, Principal, John Glenn Middle School, Bedford, MA.
3. Sara Yuen, High School Principal, Phoenix Charter Academy, Boston, MA.

Their resumes are attached to this email. 

There will be a virtual community open microphone session on Monday, April 5^th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom.  Links will go out later this week for the community sessions.

I would like to thank the two screening committees of staff, administrators, parents, and students who participated in the process. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Reading Public Schools Administration Offices at 781-944-5800.

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

Good Morning,

There will be a meeting of the Reading School Committee this evening at 7:00 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.  The link is below.  If you would like to give public comment during the meeting, please use the live chat feature on Teams.  Emails sent during the School Committee meeting will be included in the next packet.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NmQwMjc5MmQtZTVmNS00YWQyLWFkMzYtZWMxOGY4OThiNWEx%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%226b81bca4-cd59-4341-a904-ea2ff758fe2a%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%226ba7ff3f-8843-4420-abef-cb31933a3bf1%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d&btype=a&role=a

The packet for the meeting, which was posted on Friday, is included as well.

Thanks.

John Doherty

Superintendent

Reading Public Schools

82 Oakland Road

Reading, Massachusetts 01867

781-944-5800

John.doherty@reading.k12.ma.us

Good Evening, Reading Public School Staff and Community,

I have a few updates on the items that I reported out earlier today in Spring In Person Update 3.  The updates are highlighted in yellow.

I apologize for the confusion that this may have caused.

1. COVID Cases This Week-This week we had some positive pools from our Monday pooled testing program.  All other pools this week were negative.  Here are the positive results of our pooled testing on Monday:
   1. 1 positive pool at Birch Meadow, reflex testing identified individual. One staff and fourteen students quarantined (three of the students rode a bus with the student).
   2. 1 positive pool at RISE. One was the class of the sibling of the Birch Meadow student. that student was symptomatic and presumed positive, all others in the pool antigen tested negative. 2 staff and 12 students were quarantined.
   3. 1 positive pool RMHS/RISE, positive individual (district staff)  identified. One staff quarantined.
   4. Total positive cases so far this week all close contacts have been notified.
      • 3 RMHS students, 2 remote, 1 in person.  1 staff member was quarantined as a result of the in person exposure.
      • 1 Parker student, in person.  12 students and 1 staff member were quarantined.
      • 2 Coolidge remote students.  No close contacts.
      • 2 Birch Meadow students, 1 remote 1 in person.  One staff and fourteen students quarantined.
      • 1 Barrows remote, no close contacts.
      • 1 RISE in person.  2 staff and 12 students quarantined.
      • 1 Wood End student remote.  No close contacts.
      • 1 RISE student remote.  No close contacts.