Remote Learning Assistance Update

 Hello parents, guardians, and families,

Beginning on Monday, November 2nd there will be availability for elementary students from each of our schools to participate in a remote learning assistance program through the YMCA. At this time, in order to create three distinct programs for each school, the locations will vary depending upon your child's school and the cost will be $50 per day for this program.

To begin we will have availability for one program for each cohort at each elementary school (13 students per cohort) so please indicate your interest in participating as soon as possible by contacting MaryAnn Hanafin via email at mhanafin@ymcaboston.org . MaryAnn will also be able to answer any questions about the program and also provide sign-up forms and information.

​If there is additional interest at other levels and/or beyond these opportunities we will continue to explore the possibilities of expansion.

Thank you to the YMCA for their continued partnership with our district to make such opportunities available for our students and families.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Daly

Influenza Clinics and Prescription Drug and Vape Take Back

 

Influenza Clinics at North Reading Public Schools Locations

There is still space available for parents, families, and students who are learning from home on the following dates this week! Please use the following links by clicking on a date below and register soon as the slots will fill up quickly:

October 21^st:

October 22^nd:  

October 23^rd:

 

 

North Reading Police are Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs and Vapes on October 24th

On Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the North Reading Police Department, North Youth

Substance Use Prevention Coalition, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will provide the

public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous

expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the O’Leary Senior

Center at 157 Park Street. Sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches.

Unwanted vape devices (with removed ion batteries) and vape cartages will also be accepted. The

service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

October 15, 2020 Update

 

Dear parents, families, and the North Reading Public Schools community,

I'm writing today with just a few important reminders about school health and safety. The town of North Reading continues to remain in the “yellow” category and it is as important than ever that we follow all rules for physical distancing, social gatherings, mask wearing, and hand washing both in school and when at home.

Daily Health Screener

All staff and students should continue to complete our Daily Health Screener. This should be done in the morning before coming on the bus or campus (not the night before or after arrival).

Travel

With the holiday season approaching it is important to consider all the restrictions in place concerning travel.

As described on our Daily Health Screener, if you plan travel anywhere that is not considered a low risk state you need to contact your Principal or the Superintendent before returning to campus.

For anyone considering travel you must follow all of the COVID-19 Travel Order. In addition, the North Reading Public Schools requires that all students and staff who travel anywhere that is not a low risk state must produce a negative test or must quarantine in accordance with the travel order. This is an additional safety requirement for our schools beyond what the Governor’s order requires that we have deemed necessary to ensure the safety of all staff and students.

The specifics of what is required can be discussed with the principal or school nurse prior to travel as there are many extenuating circumstances that may be taken into consideration.

Using School Facilities During School Hours

As a reminder, community members are not allowed to use school facilities (track, tennis courts, etc.) during the school day. We will be sending a reminder message to the community but we also want to be sure that all of our parents and families are aware as well.

This is an ongoing safety consideration and it is especially important now, during this pandemic, that our students are physically distanced from anyone using the track or facilities during the school day or during school athletics or activities in the afternoon.

There are many signs posted on the fields but we will look to add additional reminders for everyone in the community in order to provide the safest environment for our students and staff.

As always, thank you for your support of our schools.

Be well,

Dr. Daly

Available Positions

 Hello everyone,

In order to continue to provide the very best learning opportunities for our students we need additional support. Please consider applying for these available paid positions at our schools:

Building Based Substitutes

The North Reading Public Schools continue to seek qualified applicants to serve as building based substitutes. 

• There are positions at all three elementary schools five days per week.
• Candidates can “job share” and work only on the days when their children are in school.
• The position pays $95 per day and $60 on ½ days.
• Candidates will only be assigned to work at one school building for the entire school year

Batchelder Elementary School	7:30 a.m. - 2:10 p.m.
Little Elementary School	7:50 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
North Reading High School	8:15 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.

Interested applicants may apply by completing the application via school spring at the following link: https://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=3344979&print&preview

Remote Learning Assistants 

Job Description  https://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=3377936

The remote learning support positions will support students' learning and development in grades 1-2 remotely. The staff member will work closely with the classroom teachers and support faculty to identify students in need of support, develop plans to support those students, and implement those support plans. The staff member will work from the school building. The staff member may also be asked to assist with outside supervision during arrival and dismissal.
These positions start October 19, 2020 through the end of the 2020-21 school year. Work schedule to be coordinated with Building Administration (M, T, TH, F; 3 hours per day, 12 hours per week). The hourly rate is $19.31 to 22.55 depending on experience.

• Position Type: Part-time
• Positions Available: 3

October 1, 2020 Update

 Dear Parents and Families,

To begin with I would like to thank everyone for their continued support of our schools. The students are complying with all of the rules and regulations both when in remote and in person and wearing masks, physically distancing, and washing their hands as needed. Students and staff are staying home when sick, or for related reasons, out of an abundance of caution. And everyone continues to complete our daily health screener which is providing us with additional information to keep our buildings safe.

Earlier this summer Massachusetts released the COVID-19 Community-Level Data Map which reflects the average daily cases of COVID-19 per 100,000: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/community-level-covid-19-data-reporting

As you may be aware, the town of North Reading has recently moved into the “yellow” on this map based upon some recent cases. As you can imagine, with a population the size of North Reading it does not take many cases to move into the yellow or the red and for the relative change in case count to be designated as “higher.” At this time the two week case count for North Reading  is ten (10) and the average daily incident rate is 4.32%.

The District believes that this is an important time to remind everyone how important it is to maintain the best practices and habits we have been practicing in order to remain safe. Although we continue to “open up” as a state, COVID-19 is still a reality and it is as important now as ever to be vigilant in taking safety precautions in order for our schools and other buildings to remain open.

It is also important to recognize that North Reading moving into the “red” would not necessarily mean that all schools will be closed. The average daily case data is very important to inform the frequent conversations that I am having with the Health Director, Public Health Nurse, the Town Administrator, and our Police and Fire Chief to make the best decisions for our town and schools. For example, the recent outbreak at Merrimack College did not present an "increased risk of transmission to staff and students" for students in the K-12 North Andover schools and so the decision was made for those schools to remain open.

Similarly, in North Reading, we along with Health Department and public safety officials will continue to review the data and contact trace in order to determine whether there is "increased risk of transmission to staff and students.” When the students are in school they are masked, six feet apart, and washing their hands frequently. In some ways being in school may be the safest place for our students as they are monitored by the educators and administration and following all of our school rules and procedures related to COVID-19. Our Board of Health and Town Officials agree that if the schools are safe and there is not an increased risk of transmission then it is best for our schools to remain open.

Our school nurses will continue to work with North Reading’s Public Health Nurse to determine these risks and to help inform our decisions. If North Reading’s average daily rate were to lead us into the “red” I would communicate with the school community about what this means for our schools at that particular point in time based on the specific information that we have available. We may need to have a “remote day” while we determine a longer term decision. We may need to switch to full remote for some or all of our students. We may also be able to remain open, as we have determined that there is not an increased risk at that time.

Of course, if there is an outbreak of positive cases at a school or within the district there may be a need to close one or more schools even if the town as a whole is not in the “red.” In the event of a positive case of a student or a staff member all parents, families, and staff will be notified through email communication while those in close contact will be notified of the additional steps that need to be taken to quarantine. 

Our nurses are doing a fantastic job of reviewing the daily health screeners and also making the determinations to ask students who are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms to be dismissed and/or to remain home until they meet the benchmarks established by the Department of Public Health and The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Please continue to support our nurses and understand that having students stay home when potentially ill and exhibiting symptoms is a necessary step to help all of our schools remain open.

As always, thank you for your continued support and patience in these challenging times.

Be well,

Dr. Daly