Dear North Reading Public Schools Community,

As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday I want to take a moment to thank all parents, staff, and students for their tremendous efforts this year. I hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving break.

When we resume school on November 30th we will continue with the same hybrid schedule we have been following since September. Beginning that week there will be three full weeks of school following that schedule (elementary schools will still have the 1/2 day Wednesday schedule). The week of December 21-23 has been modified as per my previous announcement and reminders will be sent leading into that week as well.

Also, 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 any 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.
  • Students who must quarantine may attend school remotely
  • Staff may be able to work remotely until the test results are available and should speak with their building principal or director.
• You can also call 2-1-1 for additional information about the Travel Order.
  

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 and here are some CDC recommendations for Thanksgiving.

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 gatherings around 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. 

The school days when we return from the holidays will be critically important for us to contain the risks of transmission in school. It is essential that all students and staff:

• Complete the Daily Health Screener
  
• Stay home when sick (or have been with someone showing symptoms)
  
• Follow all quarantines and testing requirements related to travel
  
• Follow all guidance around masks, handwashing, and physical distancing 
  

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,

Be well,

Dr. Daly