Sunday, March 15, 2020

 

Dear Needham Public Schools Families:

 

You may know by now that Governor Baker, in consultation with Commissioner Riley, decided this evening that Massachusetts schools will close for a three week period beginning tomorrow due to the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19).  This news does not change anything for us in the Needham Public Schools, at least not immediately. We will work in the coming days to understand what we must do beyond the two week closure we have already announced.  

For the health and wellbeing of our community, we are continuing with plans to keep our schools closed at least through April 7th. We know how disruptive this is to everyone’s lives, yet we recognize the need to follow the guidance set forth by the CDC, Department of Health, Needham Public Health, and our School Physician. We are encouraging “social distancing” (staying out of large groups and maintaining 6 feet of separation at smaller gatherings) to lower the risk of transmission of illness to others. We urge families to limit their childrens' play dates and  to consider ways that they can have appropriate and healthy interactions with their peers.  This is an important though difficult lesson not only for our students but also for the adults who care for them. Together, we will do our part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

 

Tomorrow, Monday, March 16^th, our dedicated staff at every school will be preparing appropriate enrichment activities to help students remain engaged while school is not in session. They will be gathering materials and preparing online resources for student access. In addition, staff will be coordinating plans to remain in touch with students and families periodically during the week of March 23^rd to assist with accessing enrichment activities and to check in on how students are doing. More details about enrichment activities available will be shared by your child's principal.

 

All school buildings, including the administrative building, will be closed at 3:00 pm on Monday and remain closed through April 6th. Needham Public Schools staff will be working remotely from home to plan curriculum units, engage in professional learning, and collaborate virtually with colleagues in preparation for schools to reopen. Since it is important for all of us to stay connected, staff will be checking and returning emails throughout the week.

 

A number of additional resources are being put in place, including:

 

 • Information from the Needham Office for Special Education is available on the district website.

• The Needham Public Schools Nutrition Services department is collaborating with Needham Community Council to provide food for the community during the school closure period. Families are urged to call 781-444-2415 for assistance.

 

• Needham Public Schools Nurses will be in their Health Offices on Monday, March 16 between 8 am and 10 am so you can pick up your child’s medication if necessary.

• I strongly urge families to sign up for a Twitter account to stay abreast of necessary school information.  I will be sending updates on Twitter that will be easily accessible and informational.  It takes only a few minutes to set up an account, and I expect this way of communicating will be beneficial for students and families.  Click the link to set up an account:

https://twitter.com/@NPS_Supt

 

I assure you that we are committed to prioritizing safety, health, and wellness during these unprecedented times.  Rest assured that Needham Public Schools will keep all of our children and families at the forefront, providing ongoing support, guidance, and education. Please feel free to contact me via phone (781-455-0400, x11203) or email: dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us .

 

Respectfully,

 

Dan Gutekanst

Superintendent