February 16, 2022
Dear STGRSD Families
Please read below for important information about changes to STGRSD masking requirements, a whole community at-home testing opportunity, and opt-in for our ongoing weekly testing program.
Updated Face Coverings Policy
Last night the school committee voted to adopt a revised face coverings policy: EBFCA Face Coverings. The policy will go into effect on Monday, February 28, 2022.
Under the new policy, face coverings (masks) will be strongly recommended, but not required, for students, staff or visitors in school buildings regardless of vaccination status. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask is encouraged to do so.
Under the policy, masks are required in the following circumstances:
- Masks will be required in all school health offices.
- Students and staff returning from 5 day quarantine following a positive COVID test must follow strict mask use through day 10 of exposure.
- By federal public health order, all students and staff are required to wear a mask on school buses.
Schools will continue other COVID-19 prevention protocols that are currently in effect in each building. For example, in classrooms desks will remain at least three feet apart when feasible, lunch and recess cohorts will be maintained at the elementary level and hallway traffic flow will remain one directional at Southwick Regional School. Hand sanitizer will also remain available for students and staff in all buildings. Staff and students are still required to monitor themselves for symptoms daily and anyone who is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home from school.
A copy of the new policy is available here.
Whole STGRSD Community Testing Opportunity
As part of the changes to the masking requirements, at-home rapid test kits will be available for all students and staff to administer on Sunday, February 27, 2022 as everyone returns from February break. Test kits will be distributed this week and we ask everyone to please participate in this voluntary whole community testing. No opt in is required for this one-time event:
- Every staff and student in the district will receive an at-home COVID-19 rapid test kit on Thursday, February 17, 2022.
- On Sunday, February 27, 2022 tests will be self-administered at home and individuals with positive test results will stay home from school and results will be reported to the school nurse on Monday. The School nurse will provide information about isolation and return to school.
Opt In to the Weekly Community COVID-19 Testing Program
Coinciding with the updated face coverings policy, we would like to remind everyone of our ongoing weekly community COVID-19 testing program that begins on February 28, 2022. Under our new weekly community COVID-19 testing program, staff and students who opt in will receive free COVID-19 at-home test kits to self-administer on Sunday evenings. Positive results must be reported to the school nurse.
Opt In to this voluntary program today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckQweHUUUyVouqQ2brzV4Rgjy8wbBIN_edd32LWczsoYvjBQ/viewform
Consent to Symptomatic Testing at School
With the weekly community COVID-19 testing program we are also able to offer in-school testing for symptomatic individuals. If an individual develops COVID-19 symptoms at school, the school nurse can administer a rapid COVID-19 test. If the test is negative, the student or staff member can remain at school. Anyone who consented to our previous Test&Stay program has a consent on file but if not, a consent form can be completed online to participate in this voluntary program: https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma?district=null
Reminder that with the move to the weekly community COVID-19 testing program and symptomatic testing, contract tracing will be discontinued.