[Superintendent's Update] Superintendent's Update

[Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update]

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
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NdyqyVm2qpIn6KEN3bBjMpB8XabmKkolkr7uNBiTeiA/edit?usp=sharing>

*• 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 <http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/> 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 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZHaE85iAZk> 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,

Dan Gutekanst
Superintendent of Schools
Needham Public Schools
1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492
781-455-0400 x11203
dan_gutekanst at needham.k12.ma.us

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.

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。

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.

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.
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