Dear North Reading Public Schools Community,

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday there have been many questions related to travel and quarantine. 

As a district we are following the Massachusetts Travel Order for all staff and students and applying the requirements to be tested or to quarantine to everyone in the district.

More information can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order

Currently, only Massachusetts, Vermont, and Hawaii are considered low risk states according to the Massachusetts Travel Order. Any travel to other states would necessitate adherence to the travel order which includes the following:

• A negative result on a PCR test (must be a PCR test) prior to returning to campus.

• Quarantining until those results are available.

o Students who must quarantine may attend school remotely

o Staff may be able to work remotely until the test results are available and should speak with their building principal or director.

In general it is advisable to follow the best advice around travel and gatherings this year. Massachusetts has issued recommendations for holiday gatherings this year that can be found here: mass.gov/news/thanksgiving-during-covid-19

As you have read in recent correspondence we are seeing more staff and students who have tested positive for COVID-19. As you make decisions related to travel and the holidays this year please consider not only what is best for you and your family this year but what is best for everyone in our school community. 

I am reminded of the motto made famous by Alexandre Dumas, “one for all, and all for one.”  We are all in this together and the safer each person is the better our school environment will be for everyone.

Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving,

Dr. Daly