----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on January 14, 2022 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD
January 14, 2022
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, twenty-two people in our Woodland School community, sixteen people in our Powder Mill School community and thirty-seven people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on January 10, 2022 notifying families about Commissioner Riley's extension of mask mandate through February 28, 2022.
January 10, 2022
Dear STGRSD Community,
Today, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley notified school districts in the Commonwealth that he will again extend the mask requirement in all K-12 public schools through February 28, 2022. The official press release can be found here: https://mailchi.mp/doe.mass.edu/press-release-dese-commissioner-extends-mask-requirement-in-schools
Click here for his full notification memo.
This extension by Commissioner Riley means that all STGRSD students, staff and visitors must continue to wear a mask in school buildings, regardless of vaccination status, through February 28, 2022.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on January 7, 2022 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
January 7, 2022
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
Since our last report on 12/23/2021, twenty-two people in our Woodland School community, thirty-one people in our Powder Mill School community and forty-eight people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
It is important to note that this report represents two weeks’ worth of data and, as you can see, our community is following the national trend with a significant increase in cases. We are working very hard to practice safety protocols in schools and we thank all of the students, staff and families for their continued efforts in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
Wishing you a safe and enjoyable weekend.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on December 23, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
December 23, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, four people in our Woodland School community, two people in our Powder Mill School community and nineteen people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on December 17, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
December 17, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, three people in our Woodland School community, seven people in our Powder Mill School community and ten people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on December 10, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
December 10, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, four people in our Woodland School community, six people in our Powder Mill School community and four people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on December 3, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
December 3, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
Since our last report on 11/24/2021, eight people in our Woodland School community, five people in our Powder Mill School community and eight people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on December 2, 2021 notifying families about COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic.
Dear STGRSD Community,
I am happy to inform you that STGRSD, in conjunction with the Southwick Board of Health, will hold another COVID-19 vaccination clinic for all STGRSD families, including students who are at least 5-years-old. The decision to hold the clinic is based on the results of the vaccine survey that families completed in November.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Information
When: Dose 1: Tuesday, December 14, 2021 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Dose 2: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: Powder Mill School Auditorium
94 Powder Mill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Parking in the Feeding Hills Road parking lot and enter through Auditorium
Who: All STGRSD community members and their family members
Must be 5 years of age or older at the time of the first shot. Children under 18 must have parental consent.
Participation in the clinic is voluntary.
Sign up today: Click the link below to register for the vaccination clinic.
https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/cataldo?calendar=7a3ddc63-b0f3-4de1-ab96-eaca27cb196b
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on November 24, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
November 24, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, four people in our Woodland School community, one person in our Powder Mill School community and one person in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on November 19, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
November 19, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, two people in our Woodland School community, four people in our Powder Mill School community and four people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on November 12, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
November 12, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, two people in our Powder Mill School community and five people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on November 5, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
November 5, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, two people in our Woodland School community, two people in our Powder Mill School community, and two people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified. There is no evidence of in school transmission.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on October 29, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD for the prior week.
October 29, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, one person in our Woodland School community and two people in our Powder Mill School community tested positive for COVID-19.
All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified. There is no evidence of in school transmission.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on October 27, 2021 notifying families the State extended the mask mandate through at least January 15, 2021.
October 27, 2021
Dear Families,
Yesterday, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced an extension of the current mask requirement for all public schools through at least January 15, 2022. This means that all students and staff at STGRSD must continue to wear a mask in all school buildings through at least January 15, 2022. All visitors are also expected to wear a mask in school buildings.
DESE has created an “off ramp” to the masking requirement based on vaccination rates of the school building population. Currently, if a school building demonstrates a vaccination rate of 80 percent or more of all students and staff in the school, an attestation form can be submitted to DESE. If the attestation form is accepted by DESE, then vaccinated individuals in that school would no longer be subject to the state mask requirement. Based on the current, combined vaccination rates of students and staff at Southwick Regional School (7-12), the 80 percent vaccination “off ramp” is not an option for STGRSD. Southwick Regional School (7-12) is the only building in our district where all students meet the 12+ age requirement for vaccination. To date, 53% of the combined staff and students at Southwick Regional School (7-12) are fully vaccinated.
The memo is also available on the DESE website: https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/2021-1026mask-requirement-extension.pdf
I want to take this time to thank all families, students and staff for their cooperation and adherence to all of our current COVID-19 prevention protocols, including mask wearing. As result of everyone working together, our school community has kept COVID-19 numbers low and students learning, in-person!
Sincerely,
Jennifer C. Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on October 23, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD for the prior week.
October 22, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
Below is the information for the week of October
18-22. We apologize for the delay in sending.
This week, two people in our Woodland School community, one person in our Powder Mill School community, and one person in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified. There is no evidence of in school transmission.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on October 15, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
October 15, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, one person in our Woodland School community and one person in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified. There is no evidence of in school transmission.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
---------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on October 12, 2021 regarding nationwide food shortages that are affecting STGRSD.
October 13, 2021
Dear STGRSD Families,
As you may be aware, nationwide food shortages are affecting school districts across the country. STGRSD is also now starting to feel the effects of the national food shortage. Our school nutrition department is experiencing out of stock items, last-minute replacements on food orders, and delayed deliveries. As a result, the cafeterias are making last-minute menu changes, but we are doing our best to notify students as soon as we are able.
We appreciate every student’s participation because it helps our school nutrition program and we ask for your patience and understanding while we navigate this new challenge.
We look forward to serving FREE breakfast and lunch to all of our students throughout this school year!
Sincerely,
Jennifer C. Willard
Superintendent of Schools
-
---------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on October 12, 2021 reminding families about Test&Stay and the need to complete the online consent form.
October 12, 2021
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Guardians,
On October 4, 2021, the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District began offering Test&Stay for students, teachers and staff who have been identified as a close contact through school-based contact tracing. Test&Stay is a FREE rapid COVID-19 antigen test administered at school under the supervision of a school nurse or trained health care provider. With Test&Stay, asymptomatic students identified as close contacts can stay in school with daily testing.
In order to participate in Test&Stay, the following criteria MUST be met:
- Test&Stay testing in school is only for students, teachers and staff who have been identified as a close contact through school-based contact tracing (exposed at school).
- Individuals must have NO symptoms of COVID-19 (asymptomatic).
- A parental consent must be on file prior to testing. No verbal consent can be taken.
Originally, we indicated the online consent forms could be completed at any time but we now know that the online consent forms take 24 hours to process before our nurses have access to them. That is why it is important to sign your child up for Test&Stay now.
If a student is identified as a close contact and not eligible to participate in Test&Stay, the school nurse will provide guidance on next steps. At-home COVID-19 test results will not be accepted for return to school.
If you have additional questions regarding the program, please contact our Lead Nurse, Marcia Lamoureaux at (413) 569-6171.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on October 8, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
October 8, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, two people in our Powder Mill School community and one person in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community tested positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified. There is no evidence of in school transmission.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on October 1, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
October 1, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, four people in our Powder Mill School community and four people in our Southwick Regional School (7-12) community test positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on September 24, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
September 24, 2021
Positive COVID-19 Cases
Dear STGRSD Community,
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, we had three people in our Powder Mill School community and three people in our Southwick Regional School community test positive for COVID-19. All school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on September 17, 2021 notifying families about the weekly COVID-19 positive cases in STGRSD.
September 17, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately.
This week, we had two people in our Woodland School Community test positive for COVID-19. The cases were unrelated and school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on September 16, 2021 notifying families about the Learning Acceleration Survey and requesting feedback. Survey closes on October 1, 2021
September 16, 2021
Dear STGRSD Families,
This year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provided an Acceleration Roadmap for Districts to use and it is designed to provide a focused and phased approach to supporting students as they begin the 2021-2022 school year, a year that will lay the foundation for accelerated learning over the next several years. The roadmap is organized around three overarching priorities, which are grounded in research and were developed through extensive stakeholder feedback. These priorities are to:
1. Foster a sense of belonging and partnership among students and families.
2. Continuously monitor students’ understanding,
3. Ensure strong grade-appropriate instruction with just-in-time scaffolds when they are needed.
The great news for STGRSD is that we have already begun using the “accelerated approach to learning” which we have referred as "just in time teaching". In August of 2020, district teachers began receiving professional development around "just in time teaching" and have been implementing it since the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Acceleration or "just in time teaching" refers to giving our students just the right amount of help or support to move forward with grade level content by weaving in the prerequisite skills to make them successful with that grade level content. We know not everyone will need the same supports to access the content; therefore, it is our responsibility to identify what students need and to ensure they get the supports required to succeed.
As part of the Acceleration Roadmap, we are asking parents to please complete the Learning Acceleration Survey. The purpose of the Learning Acceleration Survey is to collect your feedback so that our school and district leaders can understand and respond to what is happening in classrooms, schools, and across our district this fall and identify next steps under each priority.
Your responses are completely anonymous and will be combined with other responses to help us understand what is happening in our community right now.
Please use the link below to complete one survey per student by October 1, 2021.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5RM59FL
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on September 14, 2021 notifying families about Test&Stay beginning on October 4, 2021.
September 14, 2021
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Guardians,
Thank you for your continued support as we kick off the 2021-2022 school year. At Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District, keeping your students safe and in school is our top priority. We have learned a great deal over this past year and our current guidance and procedures reflect the most updated recommendations from the CDC and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
For the 2021-2022 school year, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has partnered with CIC Health to provide free COVID-19 testing to students, teachers and staff who have been identified as a close contact through school-based contact tracing. Called Test&Stay, we are pleased to offer this testing program at STGRSD beginning on October 4, 2021.
What is Test&Stay?
Test&Stay is a FREE rapid COVID-19 antigen test that uses a shallow nasal sample collected under the supervision of a school nurse or trained health care provider. Unlike some other COVID-19 tests, these are not uncomfortable and easy for students to do themselves.
Test&Stay allows students who have been identified as a school-based close contact to stay in school if they are not showing any symptoms. Instead of needing to quarantine and miss school, these students can take a daily rapid test while they remain in school as long as they are not symptomatic.
The duration of the Test&Stay program is seven (7) days from the date of exposure. Some of these days could be non-school days (i.e., weekends or holidays). Testing is only required on school days, unless the individual participates in school-sponsored sports or extracurricular activities that fall on a non-school day. If the seventh (7th) day falls over a non-school day, the individual must be tested on the morning of their return to school. Students must continue to monitor for symptoms through day fourteen (14) from exposure.
For school-sponsored events and sports that take place on non-school days, testing is necessary on those days for close contacts to participate. If these close contacts do not consent to testing, or if specialized home testing kits are not available, individuals may not participate. Coaches and activity advisors will require the results of the test for the student to participate.
Test&Stay is NOT pooled testing.
Who is eligible for Test&Stay?
Test&Stay is a voluntary program that is only available for students and staff that have been identified as school-based close contacts by the district and are not showing symptoms. Students must have permission from a parent or guardian to participate in Test&Stay. Students displaying symptoms of COVID-19 are not eligible to participate in Test&Stay.
What if a student tests positive through Test&Stay?
If a student tests positive for COVID-19 using the rapid antigen test, parents will be called to pick the student up and the student will be required to stay home pending the results of a PCR test. The school nurse will provide additional information at that time.
When will Test&Stay testing being at STGRSD?
Beginning on October 4, 2021, Test&Stay will be available at STGRSD for all students and staff who have a completed consent form.
How do I give my child permission to participate in Test&Stay?
For students to participate in the program, a parent or guardian must complete a one-time consent form which is available online at: https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma?district=null
Additional information, along with instructions for completing the form are available on the District website on the COVID-19 page. https://www.stgrsd.org/about_s_t_g_r_s_d/c_o_v_i_d-19/test__stay
Consent forms may be completed at any time. Parents who wish to remove their consent may do so by submitting a request in writing to the school nurse.
More information about the COVID-19 testing program is also available through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website: https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/testing/
It is our hope that these measures will work together to keep our schools safe and your student in school. If you have additional questions regarding the program, please contact our Lead Nurse, Marcia Lamoureaux at (413) 569-6171.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on September 10, 2021 informing families of COVID-19 notification protocols for 21/22 school year.
September 10, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
As our first full week of the 21/22 school year comes to a close, I would like to thank all of you for your support during the school reopening. This year’s return to school was filled with the usual excitement and energy and we could see the smiles in everyone’s eyes. Students continue to do a wonderful job following the necessary COVID-19 protocols, including mask wearing, and that makes it easier for everyone to focus on the importance of getting back to learning. Below is some important information related to COVID-19 protocols.
Positive COVID-19 Cases
This year, all confirmed COVID-19 cases will be reported to families weekly in one letter. Anyone identified as a close contact will continue to be notified immediately. This week, we had two people in our Woodland School Community test positive for COVID-19. The cases were unrelated and school-based contact tracing has been completed and anyone affected has been notified.
Test & Stay
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has partnered with CIC Health to provide free COVID-19 testing to students, teachers and staff who have been identified as a close contact through school-based contact tracing. Next week, we will have more information for families about how they can consent to this optional testing program.
Thank you again for your continued and support of our students and staff. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Willard
Superintendent of Schools
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on August 26, 2021 notifying families that masks are now mandated indoors in schools.
Dear Families,
Yesterday afternoon the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley released updated mask requirements for the reopening of schools for the 21/22 school year. The following COVID-19 protocols will be effective immediately for the Southwick-Tolland Granville Regional School District:
-
All students (age 5 and above) and staff in all grades are required to wear masks indoors in schools, except as noted below. Masks are not required when outdoors.
-
The mask requirement applies when students and staff are indoors at school, except when eating, drinking, or during mask breaks. Masks are not necessary outdoors and may be removed while eating indoors.
-
All visitors are expected to wear a mask in school buildings.
-
The mask requirement will be in place until at least October 1, 2021. The Commissioner will revisit the requirement in the near future to revise it as warranted by public health data.
-
After October 1, 2021, if a school demonstrates a vaccination rate of 80% or more of students and staff in the school, then vaccinated individuals in that school would no longer be subject to the DESE mask requirement. More information to come.
-
By federal public health order, masks are required on all school buses.
-
Previously implemented COVID-19 mitigation strategies will continue.
-
Staff and students/parents will be required to self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms daily and staying home when they are sick.
-
Frequent hand washing and hand sanitizer will be encouraged.
-
Student cohorting will take place when feasible.
-
Physical distancing requirements have been lifted, but STGRSD will implement physical distancing to the extent possible.
We will continue to notify families as COVID-19 protocols are updated.
I look forward to seeing all students in grades 1-12 for the first day of school next week: September 1, 2021.
Sincerely,
Jennifer C. Willard
Superintendent of Schools
Click here to read the full press release from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on August 24, 2021 notifying families that the Board of Education has given Commissioner Riley the authority to mandate masks in schools.
August 24, 2021
Dear Families,
This morning the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education granted Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley the authority to mandate masks for all public K-12 students, educators, and staff through October 1 to ensure schools fully reopen safely and to provide time for more students and educators to get vaccinated. As a result of the Board’s action, we anticipate the Commissioner will release new guidance this week for all Massachusetts public school districts for the 21/22 school year.
As soon as updated guidance is received, we will notify families of its impact on the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District.
Sincerely,
Jennifer C. Willard
Superintendent of Schools
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on August 20, 2021, notifying families that Commissioner Riley has ask the Board of Education to give him the authority to mandate masks in schools.
Dear Families,
At last night’s School Committee meeting, the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee voted to follow the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) mask guidance for the fall 21/22 school year. The current guidance from DESE “strongly recommends” masks for all students in school buildings for the upcoming school year.
Today however, DESE notified school leaders that Commissioner Riley has asked the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to meet on Tuesday, August 24, “to grant him the authority to mandate masks for all public K-12 students, educators, and staff through October 1 to ensure schools fully reopen safely and to provide time for more students and educators to get vaccinated. After October 1, the commissioner’s policy would allow middle and high schools to lift the mask mandate for vaccinated students and staff only if the school meets a certain vaccination rate – at least 80 percent of students and staff in a school building are vaccinated. Unvaccinated students and staff would still be required to wear masks.”
Because the State’s requirement for school districts is expected to change after their meeting on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, we will have updated information for families on masking requirements and COVID protocols next week.
Thank you for your continued patience as we await further guidance.
Sincerely,
Jennifer C. Willard
Superintendent of Schools
Click here to read the full press release from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on July 30, 2021 notifying families of fall 2021 guidance released by Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley.
July 30, 2021
Dear STGRSD Community,
This afternoon Governor Baker and Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley released guidance for districts and schools for fall 2021.
Under the guidance, all districts and schools are still required to be in-person, full-time, five days a week this fall and other previously-released DESE health and safety requirements, including social distancing, will be lifted.
Additionally, new recommendations on masking and COVID-19 testing have been issued:
- Masks are "strongly recommended" for students in grades K-6 when indoors
- Masks are "strongly recommended" for any unvaccinated staff and any unvaccinated students in grades 7-12
- Masks are required for students and staff on school buses
- Masks are required for students and staff in health offices/areas of schools
- Masks are not required when outdoors or when eating
- Districts and schools are highly encouraged to maintain or establish a robust plan for COVID-19 testing in schools, including both diagnostic testing and screening (pooled) testing for students and staff.
The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District is actively reviewing the new recommendations and working as quickly as possible to identify the impacts for our school community. We will in touch in the coming days and weeks as reopening plans are finalized and will continue to keep you informed as new guidance from the State is released.
I thank you for your continued patience as we continue to navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sincerely,
Jennifer C. Willard
To read the full guidance released by the Commissioner of Education, visit the website: https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter from Superintendent Willard on July 20, 2021 seeking stakeholder feedback on ESSERIII survey.
July 20, 2021
Dear STGRSD Families, Staff and Stakeholders,
The Federal Government has provided financial support for districts and schools through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund to address the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District intends to use federal ARP ESSER resources in accordance with the established parameters to address student learning needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote health and safety for all who use the district campuses. STGRSD is seeking feedback from stakeholders to understand community priorities for the use of ESSER funds as we move into the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below is a link to a survey for you to provide your feedback on the use of ARP ESSER III funds:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/59HS833
Please contact the District office at 413-569-5391 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Jennifer C. Willard
Superintendent of Schools