Service...an update! SB 1-15-21
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Translations via Google Translate
I shared that quote with everyone today at dismissal just before playing Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” as I reminded everyone why school is not in session on Monday. Challenge and controversy seems to have been more prevalent this past year than comfort and convenience, so it is certainly a powerful quote to reflect upon as we continue to serve here together in our community at Stony Brook and move forward into 2021.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to participate in two fantastic meetings after school...which is not a sentence that you see constructed all that often :-) The first was our Stony Brook Anti-racist and Social Justice Book Club. They have been meeting all year and are close to finishing their discussions on Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi’s collaboration Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. Not surprisingly, the depth of the conversation was powerful and I was thoroughly impressed by all of the student and staff contributions. Immediately following that discussion, I hopped over to a different Google Meet to join in on the monthly WPS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion meeting. Members of the Town-wide DEI committee were joining our regular district meeting so we could begin to calibrate resources and work collaboratively to best support the mission of these groups. I share this today with all of you as I found the coincidence of both of those meetings taking place the day before January 15 and entering into the long weekend where we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as an important reminder for me not to limit these conversations and acts of service to a specific time of year.
Earlier this week, we sent out a message to all of our Gr8 families about the opportunity to submit baby pictures, bitmojis and memories for our Gr8 students to appreciate later in the year. Basically, a One-Stop Memories Shop and it is just for Gr8 students. The deadline for those submissions is February 10.
As we continue to look forward, the Gr8 Math Placement process for current Gr7 students will take place in February and March. You can find information about the process on the Westford Public Schools website by accessing this link: 8th Grade Math Placement. It includes an informational video created by the 6-12 Math Curriculum Coordinator, Krissy Bold. Eligibility letters will be sent home electronically on February 12 and the testing process will take place March 1-12. Make sure your email address is up to date in iParent so that the appropriate people receive this information. Please review the website, watch the video, and contact your child's math teacher or Mrs. Bold at kbold@westfordk12.us with any questions.
This week’s notes from the clinic brought to you by the chart topping vocal group The Vaccines…
Notes from the clinic-January 15, 2021
The MDPH just shared this with all school nurses:
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education. Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19. Given the intensive Commonwealth-wide efforts regarding COVID-19 vaccination, DPH wants to alleviate the burden to obtain flu vaccination and focus on continuing our COVID -19 vaccination efforts.
DPH continues to strongly recommend that everyone age six months and older receive their seasonal flu vaccine each year
I also strongly encourage all students to be vaccinated but if you have not sent in your record, I will no longer be badgering you :)
Travel orders have been updated for anyone who has had COVID:
Persons Who Tested Positive within 90 Days of Arrival to Massachusetts and Successfully Completed Isolation: Individuals who are COVID-19-recovered, meaning individuals who tested positive more than 10 days but less than 90 days ago and who do not have symptoms, do not need to obtain a negative PCR test prior to traveling to or quarantine upon arrival to Massachusetts. COVID-19 recovered individuals arriving in Massachusetts must have documentation of the positive PCR test result available if asked. This exception does not include COVID-19-recovered individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19, who must follow all testing and quarantine guidance outlined in the travel rules.
(https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order)
I want to clarify something that was reported incorrectly in last week’s email. If you are asymptomatic and test positive for COVID, the date of the test is day zero and the ten days start after the day of the test.
A previous recommendation was that family members of a positive COVID case, wait until day 5 of quarantine before being tested. With ‘stop the spread’ testing clinics available to us, I am now encouraging family members to get tested as soon as possible. If they are positive, they would start isolation; if negative, testing could be done again on day 5. Here is a link to the Stop the Spread sites in Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread
On Friday the 8th, I received my first Moderna Vaccine and on February 5th, I will receive my second dose. The vaccine rollout is more complicated than people realize. There is a great deal of accountability-But I am very hopeful that there is an end in sight. Our over 65 population will be vaccinated next and then our teachers. Continue to make good decisions and be safe. As always, call or email any questions or concerns.
Sue Hanly, MSN, RN
978-392-6974
A reminder that next week, we are increasing our Structured Learning Time and students in Pod B will have both morning live synchronous sessions as well as afternoon remote sessions to participate in. Students in Pod A will continue to only have live afternoon sessions until the following week when they will also have their morning live synchronous sessions. Teachers have been communicating with all of their classes and will be able to remind them in the morning on Tuesday as to what the afternoon expectations for them will be.
I wish you all a wonderful long weekend!
Chris
Dr. Christopher Chew
Stony Brook School
Westford, MA