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I wanted to take an opportunity to welcome you back to in-person learning here at Oak Bluffs School, and to review some of the procedures that will be followed here at school. I apologize if this email is redundant, but I cannot stress enough how important all of this information is. PLEASE RETURN YOUR CHILDS SYMPTOM CHECKER AGREEMENT PRIOR TO THE START OF SCHOOL. 

Masks:

It is expected that all students will be wearing masks while at school. Some children may have more experience with mask wearing than others, and that is ok. We will work with all students to make them feel more comfortable while wearing their masks. Also, mask breaks will be provided throughout the school day. Please pack an extra mask in your child's backpack in case the one they wear to school gets soiled. 

 
Handwashing:

Teachers will be encouraging hand washing at various points throughout the day. We also have alcohol-based hand sanitizer available in each classroom and inside of each school entrance. 

 
Flu vaccine: 

MA Department of Public Health has mandated that all students receive their flu vaccine this year. Students must receive the flu vaccine by December 31, 2020. Information about flu clinics will be shared with families, although clinics have not yet been scheduled. Please contact your child's health care provider about getting your child a flu shot. 

 
Emergency contact information:

You will be receiving a Blue or White Emergency Card. It is imperative that you fill out emergency contact information for your child. Make sure that the contact information we have on file for you is correct, and please add 2-3 emergency contacts that could be called if you cannot be reached. 

 
Daily checklist:

You must screen your child daily for symptoms of COVID-19.  Please do not send your child to school sick. Please notify the school nurse if someone in your household has been identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Please notify the school nurse if you or your family have recently traveled to any state that has not been designated as "low risk." 

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order#lower-risk-states-

 
*Students will be going outside if we are not experiencing severe weather. Please pack appropriately for outdoor play, including rain coats when needed, and a change of clothes to be kept at school. 


*Please send your child with a water bottle. Water filling stations are open but fountains are not. 

We are so excited to see our families! Please remember to not leave your vehicle during drop off. Many families will be dropping off outside and vehicles need exit promptly. Students may not be dropped off early and please wait for staff to be outside to greet you! 

The school nurses want to thank you for your support and flexibility during this process of getting our students back to school safely. The mitigation strategies that our community has been utilizing have helped to keep our families healthy and safe. We want to reiterate their importance and remind everyone that now is not the time to become complacent. With that in mind, please continue to wear masks in public and when you are in a home that is not your own. Please continue to wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer if hand washing is not readily available. Continue to physically distance yourself when in public, and do your best to keep group gatherings at a minimum, and hold them outside.

The state of Massachusetts, along with the rest of the country, is seeing an uptick in cases of COVID-19. We know that our community has been working very hard to keep our cases numbers low, we only ask that these efforts continue. As the holiday season approaches, many families are beginning to weigh the risks versus benefits of traveling to see family and friends.

The school nurses would like to share some information that may help to mitigate your family’s risk. ❏ Consider visiting family at an off-peak time—that is, not right around a holiday, when lots of other people might be traveling as well.
❏ Plan a smaller gathering than usual. The fewer people from different households, the better.
❏ Drive whenever possible. If you must fly please keep in mind that most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. However, social distancing is difficult on crowded flights, and sitting within 6 feet of others, sometimes for hours, may increase your risk of getting COVID-19.
❏ Keep an eye on case counts. If they’re particularly high in the place where you’re leaving or headed, think about rescheduling or canceling the trip.
❏ Get tested. Each family member should be tested before and after the trip. If the test comes back positive or if you’re feeling sick, cancel your trip.

❏ Follow mitigation strategies we are using in our daily lives. Even if you’re willing to take on some extra risk to see your loved ones for the holidays, you should continue to wear a mask in public, wash your hands frequently, stay at least six feet from others, avoid touching your face, and socialize outdoors whenever possible. Reviewed 10-21-2020
❏ Follow guidelines outlined in the Massachusetts COVID-19 Travel Order. When returning to Massachusetts from a state that is not considered to be lower risk, you must complete a travel form. You also must test for COVID-19 up to 72 hours prior to returning to Massachusetts, or immediately upon returning.
❏ COVID-19 Travel Order
❏ You must quarantine until you receive your test results.
❏ If you do not get tested and are traveling from a high risk state then you must quarantine for 14 days upon returning to Massachusetts.


We hope that you find this information helpful. Please contact us if you have any specific questions or concerns. Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.

​memamaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=eba3f0395451430b9f631cb095febf13

Click the link above to see an interactive map of testing sites in Massachusetts
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