Good Afternoon Springfield School District Families, Students, and Staff
As we head toward the short week before Thanksgiving, I want to give you a few short updates.
- Has the school calendar changed for December?
Yes. With an eye on helping staff and families have a calmer entry into holiday break and lengthen the vacation period, we are making two adjustments to the calendar. First, December 23rd will now be a no-school day. We will move this day to the end of the school year. Second, December 22nd will now become a half day for students. Please note the updated PDF calendar will be available online on Monday.
- What do current case rates look like in Vermont?
As you are aware there have been high transmission rates in Vermont over the past few weeks. Windsor county has had 390 cases over the past two weeks. On Saturday, the following statistics were reported:
- 32 cases in Windsor county
- 433 cases in Vermont
- 61 Hospitalized
- 16 in Intensive Care Units (ICU)
- 4.2% positivity rate
- How are we doing in terms of vaccination in the schools?
Here are our vaccination rates in grades 7-12 as of a week ago.
*Both doses
- What new information has the Vermont Department of Health put out for November 2021?
“Due to the currently large number of COVID-19 cases, we are asking Vermonters who test positive for COVID-19 to isolate at home away from other people and begin reaching out to close contacts immediately. The Health Department will prioritize contact tracing to people at higher risk. You may not receive a phone call from a contact tracer, but you still need to stay home and away from others, and follow these steps to stop further spread.”
What to do if you test positive: https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/symptoms-sickness/what-do-if-you-test-positive-covid-19
Tips for celebrating safely for Thanksgiving :
https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/protect-yourself-others
- What is the latest on the district’s move to “Test to Stay”?
Each school will be participating in the Test to Stay (TTS) program for students that are unvaccinated and identified as a close contact in school after Thanksgiving break.
Please note: TTS is not for close contacts outside of school. The unvaccinated student would need to be quarantined if they are identified as a close contact outside of school.
A student can only participate in Test to Stay if their parent/guardian has given consent. If you would like your child to participate in the response testing, including the antigen Test to Stay program, please complete the Consent webform as soon as possible.
Vermont will be using SimpleReport to report the results of antigen tests. This reporting system allows for parents/guardians to receive their student’s results instantly. Please register your student, including your contact information, using this lhttps://www.simplereport.gov/register/JYHZM.
- How can I get medical information concerning child vaccination?:
If you are looking for more information on student vaccinations, the Vermont Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is inviting Vermont families to join them for dialogues about COVID-19 vaccines for children. Each session runs from 7 PM to 8 PM and features a different local pediatrician from a Vermont community. Each session gives an overview of important information about the child vaccination process. It also gives time for parents to ask questions. Check the AAP website for dates.
Vermont Department of Health vaccine information can accessed here: Getting the COVID vaccine
- Where and when are some upcoming vaccine clinics?
Springfield Medical Center will host COVID-19 clinics for children ages 5 to 11 on November 23rd and November 30th. Call 802-886-8990 for additional information.
- When can my child return to school after having symptoms?
Please remember--If your child has any of the following symptoms: fever (100.4 or higher), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle aches or headache, please keep them home from school and call the school to report their absence.
- If any of the above symptoms last for more than 24 hours, the student will need a negative Covid-19 PCR test prior to returning to school. Please consider having your child tested earlier than 24 hours if they have a fever, cough, runny nose or headache.
- If your child has symptoms of illness for less than 24 hours, they are able to return to school once symptoms have resolved. However, with the high transmission rates you should check with your child's physician or school nurse to determine if a Covid-19 test is recommended .
- If your child has symptoms of illness and had a Covid-19 test they will need to quarantine until they have received test results. They may return to school once negative test results are confirmed, and other symptoms have improved.
- If your child has symptoms of illness lasting more than 24 hours and did not have a Covid test but an alternative diagnosis was made by a healthcare provider, they may return to school when they have been fever free without the use of fever reducing medications and other symptoms have improved.
As always, I will finish with my request that we continue to be kind to each other. When we are tired and under stress, we all have a tendency to behave in ways that we later wish we had not. For the most part you are all doing great, but we still have moments of unfortunate adult behavior. As we head toward the holidays, I thank you for working hard to maintain a level of civility and fundamental kindness to all the members of our school community.
Have a great Sunday,
Zach