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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 Good afternoon,
Thank you for your patience and your assistance as we tested out the RFID scanner system over the past few days. The trial went well and we are ready to have it up and running for Monday's dismissal. The tags work best when they are placed on the passenger side of the vehicle on the dashboard or the windshield. I am asking that the tags be in place for Monday. Please slow down when you approach me at the corner so that I am able to scan your tag. Don't worry, if you are in a different car or if a different driver is picking up, I am still able to enter cars manually. We have had complaints from our neighbors about visibility when the cars are lined up around the curve. Please leave space before and after the driveways of the VNA building. We will have staff members helping enforce this. Please follow the directions of those staff members. If you require an additional RFID tag you can request one by sending an email to [email protected]. Additional tags will be sent home with students. Thank you for your cooperation during this transition. Have a wonderful weekend! Angie Dear Families,
In an effort to increase the speed and efficiency of the dismissal process at 100 Longwater Circle, we will be implementing RFIDs for use with SchoolPass. RFIDs are small electronic tags that are similar to parking passes and building entry cards. The tags will be scanned at school to notify teachers to send your student(s) to the door when you arrive. With the implementation of the RFID tag system, dismissal check-in will no longer be dependent on the SchoolPass app to function properly and we will be able to control the number of students outside at one time. Drivers will no longer need to remember to check in each day. We will be handing out one RFID per primary driver during dismissal and arrival this week and hope to have the system up and running next week. The RFID tag should be kept on the front dashboard or attached to the car. The tags are not required for occasional pickups and they are not needed for early dismissal. If your driving situation includes regular secondary drivers picking up, additional RFIDs can be requested by calling the front desk at school at 781-982-4202 or emailing [email protected]. Please continue to use the old system for the remainder of this week. I appreciate your cooperation and patience as we work to make dismissal both safe and quick. Sincerely, Angie -- Angie Pepin Principal, K-12 South Shore Charter Public School 781-982-4202 x102  COVID-19 Testing is being offered in school this year to limit learning disruptions to the greatest extent possible. The program for the 2021-2022 school year has three components: Symptomatic for students who show symptoms of COVID-19 at school, Test and Stay for students who may have been exposed while in school but are not showing symptoms, Weekly COVID Safety Testing to prevent the spread of the virus undetected among students who 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 to do. An overview of the three different testing programs we are planning to offer this year is below. Symptomatic rapid antigen testing for students that become ill while at school.
Test and Stay rapid antigen testing for unvaccinated students that are deemed close contacts from a school exposure.
Weekly Covid Safety Testing, which will be a grouped weekly PCR test.
We are currently up and running for Symptomatic Rapid Antigen Testing and the Test and Stay Rapid Antigen Testing. If you would like to have your student participate in these programs sign up using the link below. Students MUST be pre-registered to participate in these programs. If you choose not to have your student participate they will need to remain out of school if they are close contacts or if they are symptomatic for the above COVID-19 symptoms. Register Here: https://pbcovid.cic-health.com/register/with-code?code=KDHEHV Code: KDHEHV ***Due to the overwhelming number of schools that have signed up with the state to run COVID testing programs, we have been moved to CIC Project Beacon testing platform. If you had previously registered your student under the CIC consent from the newsletter, you will need to sign them up for this testing platform in order for them to participate. If your student has received their COVID-19 vaccine please send in proof of immunization. Vaccinated students will not be required to quarantine if they are considered close contacts unless they become symptomatic. COVID-19 Symptoms List
If your child is ill please have the child remain home and reach out to the appropriate Health Office: 100 Longwater (K-8) Darcie Edwards, RN [email protected] Jaime Kjelgaard, RN [email protected] 781-981-4202 x104 700 Longwater (9-12) Barbara Folan, RN [email protected] 781-982-4202 x182  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 Families,
We had a wonderful first week of school! Thank you for your patience as our community gets back into a routine. We all have a vested interest in getting students into the building in the morning and into their cars in the afternoon safely and as efficiently as possible. When everyone follows the expected procedures, arrival and dismissal run safely and quickly. Please review the Arrival & Dismissal Procedures which can be found here. I ask that everyone pay particular attention to the guidelines listed below.
Thank you for your help as we enter week two following the holiday. I hope that everyone enjoys the long weekend! Sincerely, Angie -- Angie Pepin Principal, K-12 South Shore Charter Public School 781-982-4202 x102 Dear Families, This school year the South Shore Charter Public School will continue to use SchoolPass to facilitate dismissal. SchoolPass is a communication tool that allows families to sign a child in late, dismiss a child early, and change dismissal plans using a simple phone app. The app also facilitates an efficient dismissal process directly from classrooms. This year families will not be required to complete daily wellness checks using the app. SchoolPass sent activation emails to our families last week. The email included account information and instructions for activating your account. Please take a minute to set up your account as soon as possible. Please ignore the “pickup location” field. All K-8 students will be picked up at 100 Longwater Circle and all high school students will be picked up at the high school. Once the account has been created, you can download the SchoolPass app on your phone. The registered parent will be able to add other adults that are authorized to pick up. You are able to change dismissal plans directly through the app or the website. More information about the SchoolPass app can be found here. A video explaining the process is available here. Use the password +9GHLACR to access this short training. We will be using the SchoolPass app to run dismissal at both buildings beginning tomorrow. You will click “Pick Up” once you are on campus to notify your child’s teacher that you have arrived. Please wait to click the "Pick Up" button until directed to do so by a staff member. This will help us stagger the timing of students coming out to their cars. This system is new to many of our families and we understand that not everyone will be able to use it immediately. We appreciate that there is a learning curve with any new system and will work with families to make it work. Thank you for your patience as we work to get SchoolPass up and running! Sincerely, Angie -- Angie Pepin Principal, K-12 South Shore Charter Public School 781-982-4202 x102 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 Summer Updates from SSCPS
A Message from Alicia - August 11, 2021 Supply Lists
Scheduling Information
Student & Family Handbook
FERPA Notice PPRA Notice |
