Dear Families,

Governor Baker announced this afternoon that public schools will be closed until Monday, May 4th. Candidly, state and federal level communication around these safety measures has been happening spontaneously and with urgency. I am sure this new closure extension raises many questions for you and your family, and our answers may take some time to develop. This Friday, I am meeting with the Commissioner of Education, Jeffrey Riley, to learn more about this decision and expectations for districts moving forward. Until then, there is no change in course; teachers and students will work together as they have done over the last two weeks. 

The following link will bring you to expanded resource lists for individuals and families in our communities. Click on the link and look for the COVID-19 Updates to Resources section (you may need to refresh the page if you don't see the COVID-19 update button):  https://www.look4help.org/ 

NAP has issued the following recommendation on play dates during this time. They are strongly recommending that children not visit other children outside the immediate family. Under current conditions, the best way for us to slow down the spread of this virus is to stay at home.

The Importance of Social Distancing:

MDPH Commissioner Bharel emphasized the importance of social distancing as a strategy to blunt the spread and severity of COVID-19 in the community. 

Social Distancing is a critical action we all need to take to prevent spread of Covid-19 and to protect our friends, families, neighbors and community from illness.

For a listing of food and meal resources in Franklin county please click here. This list is continually being updated by Community Action Pioneer Valley & Franklin County Hunger Task Force.

Dear Families,

I am writing to update you on the status of our response to the coronavirus. We continue to work closely with the Department of Public Health and local health officials to mitigate any potential risks to our students and the larger community. 

While COVID-19 is a public health concern, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Public Health continue to report that the immediate risk to the general public remains low as of this date. To be prepared, the school is planning for the likelihood of a disruption in our usual routines this spring.

Regards,

Darius Modestow

Registration for 2020 Summer STEM Camp is on-going through May 17th. Please join us for this fun filled week long camp being held August 3-7 from 8:30-1:30pm. For more information and the registration form please click here! Space is limited.

The Superintendent of Schools recently sent home a letter to families and staff regarding COVID-19. The letter included basic precautions and other resources for families.

Students and Families:

Here are additional links that your family may find helpful. 
Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus 
COVID19 Stop the Spread of Germs
BrainPop - Coronavirus
Talking to Children about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - A Parent Resource
Handwashing Tips - English
Handwashing Tips - Spanish