Medford Public Schools: Friday Message From The Superintendent Of Schools

Medford MA

10 April, 2021

1:01 PM

Description

Press release from the Medford Public Schools: April 9, 2021 Para traducción al español HAGA CLIC AQUÍ  Para tradução em português CLIQUE AQUI  Pou Tradiksyon Kreyòl Ayisyen KLIKE ISIT  للترجمة العربية اضغط هنا     Medford Public Schools  489 Winthrop Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155          April 9, 2021 Dear Mustang Community: This week's Superintendent's Communication includes: COVID-19 Update Reminder that middle and high school students will increase to four-days per week of in-person instruction next week Reminder of opportunities to participate in the Columbus School Renaming Middle School Lottery Drawing Upcoming Meetings COVID-19 cases are up in the City of Medford again this week and we have had four positive tests out of 3863 COVID-19 tests administered.  We remain confident that these cases are not due to in-school transmission and we remain committed to keeping our buildings safe for the increasing number of students who are experiencing in-person learning.  We are also encouraged by increasing vaccination rates in our state as well as with the fact that all persons 16 and older become eligible for the vaccine on April 19.  However, with case numbers locally and nationally creeping back up, I implore you to please remember that the pandemic is definitely not over.  We must continue to maintain our vigilance and practice all public health protocols, especially:  ✸ Test weekly ✸ Always wear a mask and wash your hands ✸ Stay home if you're sick ✸ Maintain physical distancing  Our school nurses remind our school community that we cannot cut back our Covid prevention efforts! Medford continues to average 20 new Covid cases daily and nearly half of the new Covid cases in Massachusetts are identified as the UK variant, which is more contagious. The number of positive cases is increasing in younger populations, especially the 15-40 year old groups who have not been vaccinated. As we approach April vacation, school nurses advise parents and staff to follow the Massachusetts State Travel Advisory: All visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, are advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival. Following the State guidance will continue to keep our community safe. Exemptions to this advisory include: Travelers who have received a negative COVID-19 result on a test administered not more than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts. Travelers who received a negative test after arrival in Massachusetts, as long as they quarantined until receiving a negative test result. Travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago) and who do not have symptoms.  Again, in agreement with our medical guidance,  please review and adhere to the Massachusetts Travel Advisory available here.   Grades 6 – 12 Returning to In-Person Instruction Five Days Per Week  Next week will mark an increase to four days per week of in-person instruction for our students in grades 6 – 12 at the Andrews, McGlynn, and Medford High School.  Many students have already begun attending school four days per week, and of course students in Cohort D, remote only, will continue to attend school remotely (although we are eager to welcome all of you back in the next school year).  Following the April vacation week, on Monday, April 26th,  we will return to five-days per week of in-person instruction for grades 6 – 12 as we continue to increase the amount of in-person instruction students are receiving in our march back toward normality.  Renaming of the Columbus School Friday, April 16 is the deadline to submit applications to participate in the Advisory Committee to Rename the Columbus Elementary School as well as suggestions for new names.  You can access the forms below. Advisory Committee Application Name Suggestion Form Contact [email protected] for translated versions of the forms. Middle School Lottery Drawing, Thursday, April 15 at 3:00 Parents and guardians are invited to attend the Middle School Lottery drawing scheduled for Thursday, April 15, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. via Zoom.  All results will be posted on the district website (www.mps02155.org) and blog (www.mpsadvantage.education), and will be available to view within hours of the drawing.  Letters confirming each student's middle school assignment will be sent to all grade 5 students by April 22, 2021.   If you have not received or misplaced your child's unique identification number, please reach out to Dr. Bernadette Ricciardelli and she will be able to assist you. ([email protected])   Upcoming School Committee Meetings April 12th – 6:00:  Regular School Committee Meeting  https://mps02155-org.zoom.us/j/99619303508 April 14th – 4:00 – 5:30:  Curriculum Subcommittee Meeting; Topic: Science and Fine Arts Curriculum  https://mps02155-org.zoom.us/j/93357440482 April 15th – 5:00 – 6:30:  Behavioral Health and Special Education Subcommittee Meeting  https://mps02155-org.zoom.us/j/96436204810   Thank you for your continued support.  Yours in Partnership for Children,  Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent, Superintendent     This press release was produced by the Medford Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.