<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><div class="gmail_default"><p style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Dear Needham Public Schools Families:</span><br></p><p style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">With gratitude to our partners at </span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:rgb(34,34,34)">Waltham-based pharmacy </span><a href="https://pelmeds.com/" target="_blank" style="font-family:georgia,serif">PelMeds</a>,<span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> I am pleased to announce a <a href="https://calendly.com/pelmeds1/needham-high-school?month=2021-05&date=2021-05-22">COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine clinic </a></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:rgb(34,34,34)"><a href="https://calendly.com/pelmeds1/needham-high-school?month=2021-05&date=2021-05-22">for all Needham youth and Needham METCO students</a> ages 12 and up will be held</span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> on Saturday, May 22nd in the Needham High School cafeteria from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.</span></p><p style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">A follow up clinic for the second shot will be scheduled at the same location.</span></p><p style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Please sign up here:  <a href="https://calendly.com/pelmeds1/needham-high-school?month=2021-05&date=2021-05-22">COVID-19 Pfizer clinic at Needham High School, May 22nd</a>. </span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Consent forms and other information are available when you register.  </span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:rgb(34,34,34)">Should you have any additional questions, please email PelMeds directly: </span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><a href="mailto:info@pelmeds.com" target="_blank">info@pelmeds.com</a></span></p><p style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Lastly, let me take this opportunity to reassure families that, despite the incomplete reports you might read/hear in the media, the NPS will follow all guidance regarding required vaccinations for school entry.  <i>I strongly encourage families to get their children ages 12 and older signed up for the COVID vaccine, believing it to be a necessary step to keep our students and staff safe and our schools open. </i> Of course, parents should always consult with their child's pediatrician with any questions or concerns.</span></p><p style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">If the Massachusetts Department of Public Health does require the COVID vaccine for school entry in the fall, the NPS will absolutely expect that students will have been vaccinated before they begin classes - except for those who, according to the current law, have a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief that would preclude a child from receiving a vaccine.  I'll provide updates when they become available.</span></p><p style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Stay safe and thanks for your partnership as we continue to support the best students around!</span></p><p style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></p><p style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin:0px 0px 10px;padding:0px;border:0px;outline:0px;vertical-align:baseline;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Sincerely,</span></p></div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><br></div></div></div></div><div><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">Dan Gutekanst</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">Superintendent of Schools</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">Needham Public Schools</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">781-455-0400 x11203</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif"><a href="mailto:dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us" target="_blank">dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us</a></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font size="1">ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance.</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font size="1">Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子 的学校联系。</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font size="1">Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia.</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><font size="1">Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.</font></span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div>