Natick Public Schools Publishes Weekly District Update For February 25

Press release from Natick Public Schools:

February 25, 2022

Translation Support: Visit our page for assistance. Non-Discrimination Statement: Natick Public Schools does not discriminate in employment nor in its educational programs, services, and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Federal and State Legislation Addressing Discrimination in Educational Institutions You will find links to the contacts for each of the following statutes below.

Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5

February 25, 2022

District Calendar

February

• Feb. 1-28: Black History Month

Please also refer to your school calendar for school-based activities & information.

Dear Community,

A brief Engage below to remind you about our commitment to testing prior to return to school on Monday and keeping each other safe by reporting cases to our nurses.

Also, in case, like us at the office, you have struggled or wondered how to talk about the events unfolding in the Ukraine with your children, here are two articles that help parents and educators discuss the events without scaring children.

We are thinking of our Ukrainian families and those with more direct ties to the conflicts abroad.

This must be a terribly uncertain and difficult time.

How to Cultivate Hope When Worrisome News is Stressing them Out
What to Say to Kids When the News is Scary

When school resumes, our staff, in subject and age appropriate ways will also discuss these matters. Our guiding frameworks continue to always be our Profile of a Natick Graduate and our Civic Dispositions both shared below.

Anna

Reminder: Please administer COVID-19 test on Sunday before returning to school on Monday, February 28

Families who have opted in for at-home antigen testing received their next set of tests before schools let out for February break. This will ensure all students are healthy and safe to return to school. We are asking the same of our staff. The second test should be used on Wednesday, March 2.

Please administer the first of these tests on Sunday, February 27, prior to returning to school from February break.

Attendance at school the week after vacation is one of the metrics used to decide about masking. This data and our infection rates will be shared with the Natick Board of Health on Friday, March 4 with the hope we can unmask by March 7.

All COVID infections during break and those detected on the 27th should be share with your school nurse. Their emails are here: https://www.natickps.org/departments/health_services.

The next set of tests will be sent home on Tuesday, March 8 to be used on Wednesday, March 9.

NHS PRINCIPAL SEARCH

Virtual Meeting with Families/Caregivers on March 1

Natick Public Schools seeks a dynamic and innovative leader to guide teaching and learning at Natick High School, beginning July 2022. The Superintendent and HR Director will meet with NHS families/caregivers from 6:45 - 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1 to get their feedback on what they are looking for in the next principal. You can join the virtual meeting with the information below.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83227002005?pwd=YmJXb2tacHVDcmpnamJJL1M5V09ZUT09

Meeting ID: 832 2700 2005
Passcode: 987179
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Meeting ID: 832 2700 2005

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdbrsMOail

For more information on the NHS principal search, including our timeline of interviews and meetings with staff and the community, visit our website.

COVID UPDATES

DAILY COVID Symptom Screening (Checklist)

Students and staff who are SICK should STAY HOME.

Please monitor for symptoms each morning before school by reviewing the COVID Symptom Checklist (link).

Updated COVID-19 Testing Procedure

As you may be aware, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has provided new guidance for testing for all K-12 schools. We wanted to provide you with an update on how these changes affect your child and how Natick Public Schools plans to conduct COVID-19 testing moving forward.

WHAT’S CHANGING?

Natick Public Schools is no longer pool testing. We have implemented at-home weekly rapid antigen tests. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is providing antigen (rapid) COVID-19 tests for students to use at home with the expectation students test at home once a week.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INFORMATION ON THE NEW TESTING PROCEDURE

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE OPT-IN FORM FOR THE NEW TESTING PROCEDURE

How to Administer the At-Home COVID Test

The test being sent home is the iHealth Labs COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits. The tests can be completed in 15 minutes without the need to send a sample to a laboratory. Mobile phones or computers are not needed for any part of the test.

VIEW SELF-TEST AT-HOME INSTRUCTIONS HERE (MULTIPLE TRANSLATIONS)

WATCH THE HOW-TO VIDEO HERE

Translating our Newsletter & Website

Translation Support:

Visit our Translation Help page for assistance.

Non-Discrimination Statement:

Natick Public Schools does not discriminate in employment nor in its educational programs, services, and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Federal and State Legislation Addressing Discrimination in Educational Institutions

You will find links to the contacts for each of the following statutes below.

• Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5

NATICK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
natickps.org

This press release was produced by Natick Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.