Dear Needham Public Schools Families:

I hope you and your family had a restful February break!  Besides working a few days, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC to visit with three of my ten siblings whom I have not seen for over two years.  It was a small but great reunion capped off by a visit with two of my daughters who live in the DC area.  

Allow me to share these health and safety updates as we prepare for a new week and the ending of the mask mandate on Monday, March 7th.

• At Home Testing For those families who have received the iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test, please make sure your student is tested on Sunday before returning to school on Monday morning, February 28th.  If your student tests positive, please follow the appropriate health protocol: COVID Protocol Updates

• Health Attestation  A reminder that the health attestation needs to be completed for each student each day before attending school.  This tool is a key way that students and staff can assess personal health each day in order to help ensure healthy classrooms and schools.  The parents of those students for whom the attestation has not been completed will be contacted and/or the school nurse may assess a child who presents with symptoms. In the coming weeks, I anticipate we will re-evaluate the need for a daily attestation; in the meantime I appreciate your cooperation in completing this health requirement each school day.

• Preparing for Mask Friendly Schools Please check out my latest Superintendent's Blog to learn about our efforts to create the conditions for a mask friendly learning environment beginning on March 7th.

• Ten Minutes with Karen Bourn and Andy Garlick  My latest brief ten minute video features Eliot Principal Karen Bourn and Broadmeadow Principal Andy Garlick who share how we are planning to create the conditions for mask optional or mask friendly learning environments in the Needham Public Schools.

As we begin a new week of learning, let's also keep in mind the people of Ukraine, especially those who have died, and hope and pray that there is a quick resolution to the invasion of their country.

Respectfully,