Dear SSCPS Families,

We were excited to launch our first round of pool testing in our K through 8 building this week.  The first round of pool testing went smoothly, the students and staff were extremely cooperative and did a great job.  Next week we will be adding the High School to our weekly pool testing.   If you have not signed up but are interested in having your student participate please follow the below link to register them. You can register at any time, you should register by Thursday if you want to be included in the following weeks pool testing. 

https://app.beacontesting.com/register/with-code?code=WPWCQJ

As we await for the results of our first pool testing we wanted to review the pool testing procedure. You will only be called if your student is in a positive pool batch. 

If your student is in a pool that comes back positive, we will then test the participants in the positive pool with the BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen test at school.  If all the rapid tests come back negative, then an individual PCR test will be done at school on all students in the positive pool batch. Students will need to quarantine until the results of the individual PCR test come back.  

If the students are in school when the results come in, they will be removed from class and brought to a designated area for the additional testing. If the student’s rapid test comes back positive they will need to be picked up and will need to isolate.  
If positive pool results are received after hours the on call nurse will contact you and the students will need to report to school the next morning for the rapid testing.  Parents will need to remain at the school until the results of the rapid test come back. 
If you have any additional questions or need any additional information please do not hesitate to reach out to the nursing staff.
  
K - 8:  781-982-4202 x 104
High School: 781-982-4202 x 182
Darcie Edwards, RN
Susan Dupras, RN
Jaime Kjelgaard, RN
Barbara Folan, RN

There have been some significant new developments from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. On Friday, March 5, the Commissioner was granted the authority to determine when hybrid and remote learning models will no longer count toward meeting the required student learning time hours. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted the amendments which will result in some changes to our learning models. 

Yesterday the Commissioner sent out a memo outlining additional guidance for in-person learning requirements and included the following phased in approach:

• Elementary school (Grades K-5): Districts and schools will shift their learning model for elementary school grade levels to full-time, in-person instruction five days per week effective Monday, April 5, 2021.
• Middle school (Grades 6-8): Districts and schools will shift their learning model for middle school grade levels to full-time, in-person instruction five days per week, effective Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
• High school (Grades 9-12): DESE will announce the details and timing of the high school phase of the plan in April. 

In September the South Shore Charter School implemented full in-person learning for all students in grades K-1. Students in grade 2 were given the opportunity to begin full in-person learning on March 1. We will be implementing full in-person learning options for students in grades 3-5 on Monday, April 5 and full in-person options for students in grades 6-8 on Wednesday, April 28.

In order to accommodate these new mandates, DESE has changed the physical distancing recommendation from 3-6 feet to 3 feet. All other health and safety protocols remain in place, including mask wearing and hand hygiene.

Families will retain the right to choose full remote learning for their child for the remainder of the school year. Should individual students or whole classes need to quarantine for COVID-19 health and safety protocols, remote learning will remain an option. 

Included below is a timeline, subject to change, which reflects our school's current state of planning for the upcoming learning transitions.

Learning Model Planning Timeline

• September 2020-June 2021: K-1 Students full in-person
• March 1, 2021: Grade 2 Students full in-person
• March 3, 2021: SSCPS Board of Trustees, Executive Committee Meeting review of DESE intent to return to full in-person learning for students in grades K-5
• March 4 - 17, 2021: Building and learning spaces capacity review. 
• March 5, 2021: Faculty and staff review and planning for DESE intent to return to full in-person learning
• March 8, 2021: Communication to SSCPS families for COVID-19 Pooled Testing
• March 15 - 19, 2021: Family surveys for additional data collection
• March 15, 2021: Implementation of the COVID-19 Pooled Testing Program
• March 24 - 30, 2021: Family information sessions for guidance on new learning models
• April 5, 2021: Implement in-person return for students in grades 3-5
• April 7, 2021: SSCPS Board of Trustees Executive Committee Meeting
• April 15, 2021: SSCPS Board of Trustees Meeting
• April 28, 2021: Implement in-person learning return for students in grades 6-8
• April 2021: DESE issues guidance for high school in-person learning return

We will be scheduling informational Zoom meetings for families beginning March 24, 2021. Additionally, we will be sending out family surveys next week so that we can plan learning spaces  the most effective way possible. 

Please check your email for further information as it becomes available. We will be keeping families up to date as we receive more information from DESE. 

Thank you for your ongoing flexibility and patience as this year progresses. 

Alicia Savage
Executive Director
South Shore Charter Public School

Dear SSCPS Families,

We have received notification from the Facebook page that there are some questions regarding bus services for next year. We will be providing updates on school bus transportation over the next few days. There have also been some questions pertaining to remote learning Fridays. The last remote learning Friday will be on March 26, 2021. We will adjust the school calendar accordingly. Fridays will remain half days (8:15-12:05) until further notice. As a reminder, there will be no school next Wednesday, March 17 as it is a Faculty Professional Development Day and there will be no school on Friday, April 2. 

Have a good evening.
Sincerely,
Alicia
--
Alicia E. Savage
Executive Director
South Shore Charter Public School
781.982.4202 Ext. 101
www.sscps.org

Dear SSCPS Families,
 
Yesterday we sent an email to our school community to introduce all families to the new weekly COVID-19 testing program which will begin on March 15. The program is free and voluntary. Pooled testing of students and staff is intended to help us lower the risk of disease in our school by finding positive cases of COVID-19 quickly. This program will also help identify positive cases in people who do not show any symptoms. Testing will allow us to continue in-person learning while making everyone feel safer when in-person. 
 
We hope that you will participate by signing a consent form for your student. The higher the percentage of participation, the safer school will be. Below please find additional information and the Registration link. 
 
Registration link:
https://app.beacontesting.com/register/with-code?code=WPWCQJ
 
Please follow the link below for additional information on registering your student through the Project Beacon website.   We have also included a link to FAQ’s about pool testing. 
https://help.beacontesting.com/article/83-registration-guide-for-parents
 https://help.beacontesting.com/article/86-faq-for-parents-k-12-pooled-testing
 
What is the COVID-19 pooled testing program?

• Participating students will be tested for COVID-19 once a week by our nurses in the SSCPS Health Office
• The test is performed at school
• COVID-19 pooled testing is quick, easy, and it does not hurt. It is a nasal test that gently swabs the lower inner nostril, and most students will be able to swab themselves. 
• We will accommodate all students' needs to help them feel comfortable during the test.
• The test is free. You do not need to pay for the test or have insurance to get the test.
• The optional program begins on March 15, 2021

How can my student participate in the program?
To participate in the testing program, please sign a consent form for your students. You only need to sign up once for the weekly testing. This form gives us permission to share student information with the technology platform we use to track testing. Student information will only be shared with the Department of Public Health and other departments if a student tests positive in an individual test. Please sign up electronically by using the registration link above.  If you need assistance with the link, please call the SSCPS Health Office. 
 
The program is voluntary. Students are not required to participate in the program. If you do not consent to participate, your student can still come to school. We strongly encourage all students to participate to help us reduce the spread of COVID-19. 
 
How does it work?
The type of testing we are using is called "pooled testing." Pooled testing makes it easier and faster to find individuals who might have COVID-19. Here is how it works:

• Participating students are testing individually once a week with a nasal swab. Most students will be able to swab themselves.
• Immediately following, up to ten swabs will be placed in the same tube, creating a group of swabs called a "pool." The pool is sent to a lab where the whole pool is tested for COVID-19 at one time.
• If the pool test comes back negative, all students in the pool are COVID-negative. No further action is necessary.
• If the pool test comes back positive, it means that at least one person in the pool is COVID-positive. In this case, all students in that pool will return to school the next morning for an individual follow-up test. 
• Individual follow-up tests will be done with BinaxNOW which produce results in 15 minutes. If the individual follow-up test comes back negative, the student returns to school as normal. If the individual follow-up test comes back positive, we will work with families to make arrangements to have the student quarantine and get connected to care. The local board of health may also reach out to start the contact tracing process

 
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the SSCPS Health Office nurses:
 
Susan Dupras, RN [email protected]
Darcie Edwards, RN [email protected]
Barbara Folan, RN [email protected]
Jaime Kjelgaard, RN [email protected]


--
Alicia E. Savage
Executive Director
South Shore Charter Public School
781.982.4202 Ext. 101
www.sscps.org

Dear SSCPS Families,

We are seeking ways to bring all of our students back to school safely. We are starting a voluntary free weekly COVID-19 testing program to help keep our students, staff, and community safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Regular COVID-19 testing of students and staff is intended to help us lower the risk of disease in our school by finding positive cases of COVID-19 quickly. This pooled testing program will also help identify positive cases in people who do not show any symptoms. Testing will allow us to continue in-person learning while making everyone feel safer when in-person. 

We hope that you will participate by signing a consent form for your student. The higher the percentage of participation, the safer school will be. 

What is the COVID-19 pooled testing program?

• Participating students will be tested for COVID-19 once a week by our nurses in the SSCPS Health Office
• The test is performed at school
• COVID-19 pooled testing is quick, easy, and it does not hurt. It is a nasal test that gently swabs the lower inner nostril, and most students will be able to swab themselves. 
• We will accommodate all students' needs to help them feel comfortable during the test
• The test is free. You do not need to pay for the test or have insurance to get the test.
• The optional program begins on March 15, 2021

How can my student participate in the program?
To participate in the testing program, please sign a consent form for your students. You only need to sign up once for the weekly testing. This form gives us permission to share student information with the technology platform we use to track testing. Student information will only be shared with the Department of Public Health and other departments if a student tests positive in an individual test. Please sign up electronically by checking your email for a link which will be sent out under separate cover. If you need assistance with the link, please call the SSCPS Health Office. 

The program is voluntary. Students are not required to participate in the program. If you do not consent to participate, your student can still come to school. We strongly encourage all students to participate to help us reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

How does it work?
The type of testing we are using is called "pooled testing." Pooled testing makes it easier and faster to find individuals who might have COVID-19. Here is how it works:

• Participating students are testing individually once a week with a nasal swab. Most students will be able to swab themselves.
• Immediately following, ten swabs will be placed in the same tube, creating a group of swabs called a "pool." The pool is sent to a lab where the whole pool is tested for COVID-19 at one time.
• If the pool test comes back negative, all students in the pool are COVID-negative. No further action is necessary.
• If the pool test comes back positive, it means that at least one person in the pool is COVID-positive. In this case, all students in that pool will return to school the next morning for an individual follow-up test. 
• Individual follow-up tests will be done with BinaxNOW which produce results in 15 minutes. If the individual follow-up test comes back negative, the student returns to school as normal. If the individual follow-up test comes back positive, we will work with families to make arrangements to have the student quarantine and get connected to care. The local board of health may also reach out to start the contact tracing process.

​
Learn more about the SSCPS COVID-19 Testing Program on the SSCPS Health Office website.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of the SSCPS Health Office nurses:

Susan Dupras, RN [email protected]
Darcie Edwards, RN [email protected]
Barbara Folan, RN [email protected]
Jaime Kjelgaard, RN [email protected]

--
Alicia E. Savage
Executive Director
South Shore Charter Public School
781.982.4202 Ext. 101
www.sscps.org