 Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year. We are so excited to see all of the students back in school and we wanted to go over a few updates for this school year.
Medication drop off: You are still required to drop off all medication for your student(s) and hand it directly to one of the nurses. No medication should be transported on the buses by a student. We are available for medication drop off on Thursday, 8/25 and Monday, 8/29 during school hours. You can also drop off any day next week while school is in session. Please make sure to have a new doctor medication form or action plan filled out, it is required to have a new one every school year. If your doctor’s office does not have their own medication form please use the one in the attached link. Parents/guardians also need to sign the medication authorization form. http://files.sscps.org/browsable/Health+Office/FY21%20Prescription%20Medication%20Release.pdf Water: Please have your student bring a reusable water bottle to school every day. Water fountains are available to refill. Cups will no longer be available and students are able to use the water fountain if needed. Sick student at school: If your student becomes sick at school, you will be called to come pick up your child. They will not be able to stay at school until the buses arrive for dismissal. Please make sure you fill out the Emergency Contact form with 2 contacts other than a parent. Please make sure to have a back up plan for someone to pick up your child in case of an emergency or illness and you are unable to come. COVID-19 Protocols: This year there is NO requirement to wear a mask but students still have the option to wear one. Masks need to be brought in from home if you would like your student to wear one. There will be NO COVID testing at school this year, this includes in school symptomatic testing, weekly testing or sending home test kits. It is the responsibility of the guardian to test if a student is symptomatic or sent home from school. Quarantine is not required if you are a close contact. It is recommended to test on Day 6 after exposure or if symptoms occur. It is also recommended to wear a mask from the date of known exposure through Day 10. Symptomatic individuals should stay home from school and test at home. If the student develops symptoms at school they will be sent home and asked to test at home. They can return to school if a negative test results and symptoms are improving. For a positive at home COVID test, Day 0 is when symptoms begin or day of test if asymptomatic. Individuals should isolate for 5 days and may return to school on Day 6 if symptoms have resolved. They are required to wear a mask from Day 6-10 only. Please call the appropriate health office or email [email protected], if your student tests positive for COVID at home. Please reach out for any questions or concerns, Darcie Edwards, RN (K-8) [email protected] Jaime Kjelgaard, RN (K-8) [email protected] Barbara Folan, RN (High School) [email protected] Dear SSCPS Families,
Earlier this week Governor Baker announced that the Massachusetts mask mandate for school districts will expire on February 28 and not be extended. The DESE memorandum sent by Commissioner Jeff Riley on February 9, 2022 is attached for your reference. The memo states the following: After consulting with medical experts and state health officials, the Commissioner will not renew the state mask requirement after it expires on February 28, 2022. Effective Monday, February 28, the DESE mask requirement will be lifted statewide. The Commonwealth’s high vaccination rates and widespread availability of COVID-19 testing for school personnel and students supports this decision. The South Shore Charter Public School will continue to follow DESE and DPH recommendations and will adopt the mask optional policy for students and staff beginning on February 28, 2022. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) strongly recommend that unvaccinated individuals continue to wear masks in school settings. In line with DESE and DPH recommendations, mask wearing will continue to be required in three scenarios: 1. In compliance with the DESE-DPH Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios, mask wearing is required for all students and staff returning from quarantine for up to five days, inside and outside while attending school or work to align with quarantine timelines and guidance. 2. The SSCPS Health Office will continue to require students and staff to wear a mask while in the Health Office in compliance with the DPH order. 3. Masks must be worn on all school buses and school transportation per federal mandate. Please remember that individual students and staff members retain the right to wear a mask on campus at any time regardless of health protocols or immunization status. The decision to continue to wear a mask in the school setting is a personal one and will be supported by our school community. Sincerely, Alicia E. Savage Executive Director South Shore Charter Public School 781.982.4202 Ext. 101 www.sscps.org Dear SSCPS Families: At the South Shore Charter Public School, keeping your students safe has remained our first priority. We are writing to let you know, in accordance with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Public Health (DPH), our school is updating our COVID-19 Testing Program, effective January 31, 2022. We are opting into an at-home testing program that will increase testing of our participating students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. For more information about this update to the statewide testing program, please click here. The at-home testing option will begin during the week of January 31, 2022. In addition to this new at-home antigen test option, we will continue with routine COVID safety checks (pool testing) and symptomatic testing during the week. As part of this shift in the program, we are discontinuing Test and Stay and contact tracing for in-school close contacts. This means that if your child is a potential contact in school, they may continue to come to school and do not have to quarantine. This new at-home testing opportunity is voluntary and only those who opt-in will receive tests. We are sending hard copies of this form home with your student today. We strongly encourage you to fill out the form by Wednesday, January 26, to opt-in. If you do not opt in by Wednesday, you may opt in for the next round of at-home antigen testing in two weeks. If you have questions, please contact one of our nurses in the Health Office. COVID-19 Testing Programs in our Schools:
Overview: At-Home Rapid Testing Program
How do I administer the test?
How do I submit results?
-- Alicia E. Savage Executive Director South Shore Charter Public School 781.982.4202 Ext. 101 www.sscps.org How to Use the iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test 
 UPDATE: The Weekly Safety COVID Testing will begin on Tuesday, January 4, not tomorrow as stated in yesterday's email. Included below is additional information including directions from the Health Office as to how to sign your child up for all COVID-19 testing programs.
Weekly Safety COVID Testing will be weekly on Tuesdays. This is a shallow nasal swab that most students will be able to do by themselves. About 10 swabs are put in the same pool test and a PCR test is run. This takes about 24 hours. You will only be notified if your student is in a positive pool test. If this happens, all individuals will be tested separately using the Rapid BinaxNOW test at school to try to identify the positive individual. If your student is negative, then they can return to class and learn. If your child is positive, then we will ask you to come pick them up and quarantine. Please sign up for COVID testing with the link below. https://pbcovid.cic-health.com/register/with-code?code=KDHEHV Please enter the student’s information when registering. When creating a secondary profile please remember to include the school’s organization code: KDHEHV If you have a student currently signed up for COVID testing and would like to opt out of the Weekly Safety Testing, Please email Jaime at [email protected] to opt out in writing or send a note to the health office. Dear SSCPS Families, I hope this email finds you well and safe. This email is being sent to provide you with the latest updates from the Massachusetts Department of Education (DESE). Below please find the Updated Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios updated by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Public Health (DPH). Updated Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios As indicated earlier this week, DESE and DPH have updated our joint guidance on Protocols for Responding to COVID-19 Scenarios - SY 2021-22 (Coronavirus/COVID-19: Guidance/On the Desktop Messages (mass.edu). The updated Protocols document includes new language on isolation and quarantine durations, as well additional flexibility in the use of antigen tests for symptomatic individuals. In addition to posting the latest guidance document at the link above, we are also attaching a PDF version that highlights the revisions made for ease of use. We also wanted to include below one important FAQ as you work to implement these new protocols. We will be releasing additional FAQs soon. Q: Does the DESE/DPH guidance recommend that individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 take another test before returning to school after the 5-day isolation period? A: No, the DESE/DPH guidance does not recommend repeat testing prior to returning to school, so long as individuals are asymptomatic and/or their symptoms are improving. Individuals must mask when around others for an additional five days after the isolation period. Please note that DESE is still requiring all schools and districts to be in-person, full time, five days a week. We understand that this may be a cause for concern for some families. Parents and guardians retain the right to use their best judgment before sending their child to school. Our faculty and staff will continue to post all assignments on Google classroom for our students in grades 5-12 and learning bins will be available for students K-4 to accommodate those students learning from home due to isolation and quarantine. Monday morning we begin the weekly COVID-19 safety testing program. This program will be added to our symptomatic as well as test and stay testing programs already in place. We are hopeful that these three testing programs will assist in making our learning environment safer for all students and staff. Lastly, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support throughout this year. It has been a demanding year to be an educator, but there is no job more demanding than being a parent. As we face a new year and new challenges, your support and patience mean more than ever. Sincerely, Alicia -- Alicia E. Savage Executive Director South Shore Charter Public School 781.982.4202 Ext. 101 www.sscps.org  Thank you for your continued support as we kick off the 2021-2022 school year. At SSCPS, keeping your students safe and in school is our top priority. We have learned more about COVID-19 over this past year and our current guidance and procedures reflect the most updated recommendations from the CDC and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
For the 2021-22 school year, we are offering an extra layer of protection to prevent the spread of COVID-19, our COVID-19 testing program at school. This program has three components: symptomatic testing for students who show symptoms of COVID-19 at school, routine COVID safety checks to prevent the spread of the virus undetected among students who are not showing symptoms, and test and stay for students who may have been exposed while in school but are not showing symptoms. Each of these is a quick, non-invasive nasal swab that is collected under the supervision of a school nurse or trained health provider. Unlike COVID-19 tests of the past, these are not uncomfortable and easy for students to do themselves. Students only participate with permission from a parent or guardian. It is important to our school that you are fully informed regarding the process and that we can answer any questions that you might have in advance of asking you to sign the linked consent form. Below we describe each of the three parts of our testing program, how they are conducted, and what they are used for.
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, they must quarantine at home for the CDC-recommended ten days since symptoms appeared or ten days after the positive test before returning to school. The student must also be without a fever for 24 hours. Although students who are vaccinated are much less likely to spread or contract the virus, it is important for us to create an inclusive environment for both vaccinated and unvaccinated students. To participate in the program, you must complete the linked consent form on behalf of your student. There is no charge for participating. It is our hope that these measures will work together to keep our schools safe and your children in school. Thank you again for your support. Please see the Health Office page on the SSCPS website for more information on COVID-19 testing, along with other COVID-19 information. 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 Dear SSCPS Families,
In just a few short days the 2021-2022 school year will begin. Here on campus the excitement is building. Teachers have been preparing their classrooms to welcome our students when they arrive for those special first days of school. Throughout the summer our facilities team has done extensive work, not only painting walls and waxing floors, but also updating air filtration systems and revisiting sanitization protocols to keep our buildings as safe as possible. After a summer of preparation we look forward to kindergarten and freshman orientation on Monday and the first day of school for all students on Tuesday. The first priority of the South Shore Charter Public School is a safe and healthy learning environment for all students, teachers, and staff. Although the circumstances created by this phase of COVID-19 are not what we would have hoped for, it is important to remain optimistic and to share that outlook with our children. The good news is that this year we have additional information about controlling the spread of the disease and have been given specific protocols to put into place to minimize virus transmission. Working together we can more safely open our school, sustain academic excellence, and maintain an environment where social and emotional learning flourishes. The Massachusetts Department of Education (DESE) has provided three important provisions for the opening of the 2021-2022 school year.
We will keep you updated when changes are made to DESE recommendations, mandates, and guidance. As the beginning of the school year approaches, we remain committed to the well being of all students and look forward to working together with families in the days to come. Thank you for being a part of our school community. Sincerely, Alicia E. Savage Executive Director South Shore Charter Public School 781.982.4202 Ext. 101 www.sscps.org Dear SSCPS Community,
I am writing to inform you of the results of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting earlier today. During today's meeting Commissioner Riley requested that the Board of Education grant him the authority to issue a mandate for universal indoor mask wearing for all public school students K-12 and school staff through at least October 1, 2021. The Massachusetts Board of Education voted in favor of the request and granted Commissioner Riley full authority to issue the mandate. Consequently, there will be a universal indoor mask mandate in all public school districts, regional and vocational schools, and charter schools until October 1 at least. The universal indoor mask mandate is for all public school students K-12 as well as teachers, administrators, school staff, and visitors in the buildings. The memorandum issued on Friday regarding this decision is attached for your information. Because it is no longer possible for the Board of Trustees to vote on this safety protocol, the Special Board of Trustees Meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening, Wednesday, August 25 has been cancelled. We will be sure to keep our school community updated as the situation progresses. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Alicia E. Savage Executive Director South Shore Charter Public School 781.982.4202 Ext. 101 www.sscps.org Dear SSCPS Families, Good afternoon. The purpose of this email is to provide you with an overview of some of the statewide changes to the health and safety protocols we have been following. Attached for your review please find the latest Frequently Asked Questions installment from the DESE. Yesterday, the Commissioner of Education met with school leaders to discuss the latest guidelines and the impact it will have on the remaining days of the school year. We will transition to the new guidelines on Monday, May 24. This will allow students, teachers, and families to prepare for the protocol shifts safely. The most significant changes to our current protocol are, first, students no longer have to wear masks outdoors, even if distance cannot be maintained. And second, schools no longer have to avoid sharing objects. Although the new guidance points to shifts in a positive direction, it is important to remember that the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over. We are asking all families to discuss the changes with their students to alleviate any concerns they may have. Teachers will be doing the same in classrooms so that the messaging is consistent and reassuring. Because students will be able to remove masks outside for longer periods of time we are recommending that families send children to school wearing clothes with pockets for clean mask storage during outside time. We continue to recommend that students come to school with two masks; one to wear, and one as a spare. Yesterday DESE released updates to the K12 Graduation Guidance. Changes were made based upon the most recent CDC and state guidance. The May 19, 2021 updated graduation guidance is also attached for your convenience. Families of graduating seniors may expect additional communication early next week. Thank you for your ongoing flexibility and commitment to our school. Sincerely, Alicia -- Alicia E. Savage Executive Director South Shore Charter Public School 781.982.4202 Ext. 101 www.sscps.org
The Health Office is now running 2 separate COVID testing programs. Both of these tests are voluntary. In order to participate in each program you will need to sign up for them separately.
The BinaxNow Rapid Test is for students/staff that develop COVID-like symptoms while at school. This test can be administered at school and results are available in fifteen (15) minutes. Students/staff will still be required to leave school, even with a negative test result. Positive results are presumed positives and students will be required to isolate. Register your student for Symptomatic Rapid COVID testing with the following link: https://app.beacontesting.com/register/with-code?code=EKMBEX Pool Testing is a weekly COVID test for students and staff. Students will be tested on the weeks they are in person learning. This program is not available to remote students. Pool testing is when a number (usually 5-10) swabs are put in the same tube and a PCR test is done on the batch/pool. If the pool comes back negative, it is presumed all individuals in this pool are negative. If the pool comes back positive, each student is individually tested using the BinaxNow Rapid test done at school. Any positive students will be sent home to isolate and contact tracing will be done. If all students come back negative with the rapid testing, each student will then have an individual PCR test to be sent out from school. All students will be asked to quarantine until the PCR results come back. When you sign consent for pool testing, you are consenting for all 3 types of testing to be done at school (pool testing, rapid antigen and individual PCR testing). Register your student for weekly pool testing with the following link: https://app.beacontesting.com/register/with-code?code=WPWCQJ Please see the Health Office page on the SSCPS website for more information on rapid and pooled testing, along with other COVID-19 information. 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 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 |
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