As you know, this afternoon Governor Baker announced school buildings will be closed for the remainder of the school year in Massachusetts, and remote learning will continue for the remainder of the academic calendar. In his press conference today, the Governor stated that we are still very much in the grips of a pandemic in Massachusetts, and cannot ensure the safety of students and staff if schools were to reopen.
Given this new information and updated status, the district will continue our remote learning plan as we continue to learn the strengths and growth areas in our current program.
Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley is also expected to give additional guidance to districts this week during this unprecedented time in Massachusetts.
The extension of the school closure will come with many questions, and we will continue to work collaboratively with our educators and School Committee to provide you with those answers and communicate them to you in my newsletter.
I know that this has been an uncertain and challenging time for students, families, teachers, and staff. The end of the school year usually comes with traditions and celebrations at every level of our school community. The moving from one grade to the next, one school level to the next, end of year concerts and field days are all part of the fabric of our annual educational journey. The most devastating of these missed milestones will be felt by our seniors. As the father of a high school senior, I know first hand how hard it is to end your public school years in this manner, and I am truly sorry. Principal Taylor has been proactively working with parents, guardians, students and staff on some creative ways of maintaining some of these celebrations.
BPS FOOD SERVICES
Please see the Food Services website for Wednesday meal-kit food content, food delivery, drive-through hours, and other information.
A MESSAGE FROM BELMONT PUBLIC SCHOOL NURSES
There is a lot of information to digest during this pandemic. The BPS nurses wanted to share their recommendations and useful links below with our Belmont families:
We Are All In This Together
It is extremely important that we ALL work together in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The virus spreads from respiratory droplets of infected individuals to others. This is why physical (social) distancing and respiratory hygiene is important—cover your cough and sneeze! It appears it can take anywhere from 2-14 days to develop symptoms after being exposed to the virus.
Most Common Symptoms include: Fever, Dry Cough and Shortness of Breath
Please note that some individuals have tested positive and have had little or NO symptoms. It is important to treat every individual as potentially infectious.
The virus is of greater risk to older adults (over 60 years old) and those individuals with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and people who are immunosuppressed. Please help protect everyone.
General Healthy Habits:
- Eat well balanced meals
- Get enough sleep
- Exercise
- Stay hydrated
- Manage your stress- take a break from the media
- Wash your hands frequently
- Maintain a routine
What can you do?
- The CDC now recommends wearing a cloth face cover when you have to go out in public, for example a trip to the grocery store or to the pharmacy.
- The cloth face cover is NOT a replacement for social (physical) distancing. You must still maintain a distance of 6 feet between yourself and others.
- Cloth face coverings should not be used in children under the age of two years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, or cannot remove the covering without assistance.
- Do NOT use a facemask that is meant for a healthcare worker of first responder. Please the CDC information on cloth face masks
Stay Home:
It is very important for you to stay home right now. We are not in school to help prevent/slow the spread of the virus. Please do not gather in groups or for playdates. PLEASE do your part and STAY HOME!
It is CRITICAL to maintain the 6 feet distance between yourself and others. Please do not congregate on the playing fields. Please maintain social (physical) distancing- which is keeping 6 feet distance between yourself and others.
- No group gatherings- only virtual playdates. Families, DO NOT send your children to the town fields to play, it is not safe at this time to congregate. This is a pandemic.
- You can walk in the parks and trails, but you must keep your “social/physical” distance of 6 feet.
- It is now thought that people may spread COVID-19 virus up to 48 hours before they have symptoms. That is why social distancing is so important.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Handwashing should be done often, but always:
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After being in a public place
- Before eating and/or preparing food
- After using the toilet
- Before and after treating a cut or wound
- After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
- After touching garbage
Practice good sneeze/cough hygiene: Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue and throw the tissue away immediately in a trash can, and then wash your hands. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm on your sleeve.
Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth: Where it is easy to spread the virus to yourself.
Clean frequently touched surfaces daily: Including door knobs, counters, tables, tablets, keyboards, phones, bathroom fixtures.
Do not eat from family/community snack bags/bowls: Pour the food into a single container, as opposed to reaching into the bag/box, to prevent contamination by many hands reaching into the same bag/box.
Do not leave family toothbrushes touching each other: Remember to replace your toothbrush after being ill.
Avoid contact with sick people: If someone in your household is sick, isolate them from the rest of the family.
Knowledge is important, but where you get your knowledge is just as important: There is a list of credible resources listed at the end of this document.
If you get sick:
Stay home except to get medical care. If you are seeking medical care, please notify the doctor’s office or the facility what your symptoms are before arrival. If you have a medical emergency, and have symptoms of COVID-19, you need to tell the dispatcher so the first responders can take appropriate precautions. Separate yourself from the other members of your family and pets. Use a separate bathroom if possible.
Practice good respiratory hygiene:
- Cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue
- Dispose of the tissue immediately in a lined trash can
- Wash your hands
- If a tissue is unavailable, cough/sneeze into the crook of your elbow
- Avoid sharing personal household items, such as dishes, utensils, cups, water bottles, towels, bedding
Wash your hands frequently
Clean “high touch” surfaces everyday (e.g. counters, tabletops, doorknobs, phones, keyboards, tablets, bathroom fixture)
Get medical attention immediately and/or call 911 if you have:
- Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
- Persistent pain/pressure in chest
- Mental status changes- confusion, lethargy, unable to arouse
- Bluish color to lips or face
Inform dispatcher of your symptoms so first responders can take appropriate precautions
Additional Resources - Your school nurses are always a resource!
We will address your questions Friday in our newsletter section, Your Questions Answered, due to the length of this edition and the updated news on our school closure by Governor Baker.