• School Health Services  School nurses are ramping up their efforts to check up on student absences, and they are being careful to question students who come into the office and are not feeling well. They also want to continue to be very careful, as we all need to, about maintaining student and staff confidentiality, particularly if someone is ill.  School Health Services Director Barbara Singer has encouraged all teachers to make sure students have ample time to wash hands and use tissues. We are ordering extra tissues and other cleaning materials for staff to use in schools and classrooms.  Please don't hesitate to contact your school nurse if you have a question or concern about your child's health.

• Cleaning Protocols  The school custodians and our transportation vendors and drivers are implementing new protocols to regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (e.g., door handles, bus seats, etc.).  We will bring extra staff on to support custodians and nutrition services workers as necessary.

• Interrupted Teaching and Learning Some students and families have inquired about possible plans to maintain instruction through, for example, online learning should there be a need to close a school or schools for a period of time.  While we do not yet have a specific plan to implement, we are considering what we could reasonably expect to do to assist and support students, especially our most vulnerable students, in the event a school(s) closure becomes necessary. We are working with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), school administrators, and teachers to consider possible ideas, alternatives, and plans.  

• Local School and International Trips  At this time, and in consultation with the Needham Department of Public Health, we are not cancelling school-sponsored and local trips, athletic events, or meetings.  Should the situation change and we are advised to reconsider a field trip or trips, we will alert students and families at that time. Given the Governor’s recommendation to cancel international travel, we will make announcements about trip cancellations or postponements later this week. We have been working with our travel vendors to mitigate the losses that families will inevitably incur as the planned trips are canceled.  

• Additional Information & Communication  Please take a look at the attached "Frequently Asked Questions" or FAQ document attached to this email for additional information.  Updates will be provided as necessary in the days ahead.