Nurses Corner
Dear South Row Families,
I know a lot has changed recently. Here’s what is new:
If your student is fully vaccinated or signed up for Test and Stay and they are identified as a school based close contact, you will receive an email notification only. We will no longer be sending out notifications of positive cases that did not enter the building during the infectious period.
At this time, full vaccinated students and staff are exempt from testing and quarantine protocols for any exposure: school based, community, or household.
Fully vaccinated students are not eligible for Test and Stay.
Test and Stay students will be tested every morning before school for 5 days following the exposure, the day of exposure counts as day 1.
You should continue to monitor your student(s) for symptoms and keep them home if they are sick.
Students who have tested positive for Covid within 90 days of a new exposure are also exempt from testing and quarantine protocols.
The Health Office can now accept home Covid Test results. If your student tests positive, it is in your best interest to confirm the result so that it is reported to the department of public health.
Our protocols have changed for individuals who test positive for Covid and people who are identified as close contacts. See below.
Individuals who test positive for Covid can now return on day 6. See protocol A below. During lunch, all students are advised to put their masks back on when they are finished eating.
If an individual tests positive for Covid they should follow protocol A:
• Duration: Self-isolation for COVID-19 positive cases is a minimum of 5 days after symptom onset or after positive PCR or antigen test, if asymptomatic.
• Return to school: After 5 days and once they have:
o Been without fever for 24 hours (and without taking fever-reducing medications); and
o Experienced improvement in other symptoms; and
o Following the 5-day isolation period, individuals must mask for 5 additional days when around others.
• Note: Return to school should be based on time and symptom resolution. Repeat testing prior to return is not recommended.
***If an individual is a close contact outside of school they are not eligible for Test and Stay. Test and stay is only for unvaccinated in school exposures.***
Individuals who are signed up for Test and Stay and have experienced an in school exposure will follow protocol B1:
• Duration of Test and Stay: 5 days from the date of school exposure
• Return to School: Close contacts can remain in school and do not have to quarantine, as long as they:
o Are asymptomatic
o Wear masks in school at all times, other than when eating or drinking. When these individuals cannot be masked (i.e., when eating or drinking) they should maintain 3 feet of distance from other individuals to the extent feasible.
o Take a rapid antigen test (e.g., BinaxNOW) on each school day and receive a negative result. When the 5 days from date of exposure includes weekends or holidays, individuals should quarantine on weekends, and if they remain asymptomatic, upon return to school be tested immediately. If the individual remains negative, they can stay in school.
o Conduct active monitoring for symptoms through day 10, and self-isolate at home if symptoms develop.
• Note: If an individual has symptoms at the time they are designated as a close contact or develops symptoms during the Test and Stay period or the 10 days following initial exposure, they should follow the protocol for symptomatic individuals (Protocol C). If an individual tests positive at any time, they should follow the protocol for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 (Protocol A).
If an individual has an outside exposure or they have an in school exposure and are not signed up for test and stay they will follow protocol B2:
Duration: Quarantine is at least 5 days from the date of school exposure
• Return to School: After 5 days, returning on day 6, provided that they:
o Remain asymptomatic
o Conduct active monitoring for symptoms through day 10, self-isolate if symptoms develop, and adhere to strict mask use for an additional 5 days
o For those exposed, it is strongly recommended to test at day 5 after the exposure with a PCR or antigen test; a home test will be accepted but is not the preferred method.
• Note: If an individual has symptoms at the time they are designated as a close contact or within the 5 days following initial exposure, they follow the protocol for symptomatic individuals (Protocol C). If an individual tests positive at any time, they follow the protocol for individuals who test positive for COVID-19
If an individual has symptoms from the Covid -19 Symptom List they follow protocol
C:
• Duration: Dependent on symptom resolution
• Return to School: Individuals may return to school after they:
o Have received a negative PCR or antigen test result for COVID-19. An antigen test may be self-administered and does not need to be proctored or performed by a healthcare professional. Note: So long as the individual is not a close contact, if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis for the COVID-19-like symptoms, the individual may use this recommendation (e.g., for influenza or strep pharyngitis) in lieu of a PCR test or antigen test.
o Have improvement in symptoms
o Have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• Note: If the symptomatic individual was a close contact to an in school exposure and they are not exempt from testing and quarantine response protocols, after symptoms resolve and they receive a negative PCR test, they should follow Protocol B-1 for Test and Stay.
oIf family or individual chooses not to participate in Test and Stay, they follow Protocol B-2.
Individuals who have symptoms but prefer not to test will follow protocol C-2:
• Duration: Isolation is at least 5 days from symptom onset
• Return to School: After 5 days, returning on day 6, assuming they:
o Have improvement in symptoms
o Have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
COVID-19 symptoms list:
• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• Muscle aches or body aches
• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
• Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
• Headache when in combination with other symptoms
• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
I know this is a lot of information. I apologize for that, but it is all important! Please bookmark or save this link so that you can refer to it later as needed.
Feel free to reach out to me with questions or concerns. I am doing my best to promptly respond to emails and messages. If I do not respond to your email within 24 hours, please call me at the school. 978-251-5177 Option 2.
Warmly,
Nurse V.
PTO Corner
PTO Meeting
Please join us virtually for our next PTO meeting on Monday, January 10 at 7:00 PM. Please note that there will be no in-person component of the meeting this month. You can get the agenda, budget report, and last meeting's minutes on the Meetings page of our website.
Mon, Jan 10, 2022 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (EST)
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/138342285
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (669) 224-3412
Access Code: 138-342-285
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/138342285
4th Grade Shirt Orders/Activity Fees
If you are the parent of a 4th grader, please be sure that you have submitted your shirt order, as we will need to place the order for shirts soon in order to have them in time for the 4th grade group picture to be taken for the memory book. Paper order forms were sent home, or you can place your order online here.
Ongoing Fundraisers
This is a friendly reminder that we have three ongoing fundraisers that you can easily participate in that earn money for the PTO through purchases you are already making, at no additional cost to you!
* Amazon Smile - a portion of your purchases from Amazon come back to the PTO. See how to turn on Smile your Amazon app here, or access Amazon through smile.amazon.com every time you shop.
* Mabel's Labels - Mention South Row PTO in the comments of your order
* Box Tops for Education - Download the Box Tops app and scan receipts in seconds. View a tutorial here.
Stay Connected
Find our website at www.southrowpto.com.
Follow us on social media:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SouthRowPTO
Twitter - https://twitter.com/southrowpto
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/southrowpto/
Text SRPTO to 66599 to receive occasional event reminders by text.
Contact the South Row Administrative Team!
Principal
Mr. Jayson Ramalho, M.Ed.
Assistant Principal
Email: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.chelmsford.k12.ma.us/Domain/15
Location: 250 Boston Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-251-5177
Facebook: facebook.com/SouthRowElementary
Twitter: @CPSSouthRow
Contact the Main Office Staff
- Mrs. Terri Gilbert, Principal: gilbertt@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 4
- Mr. Jayson Ramalho, Assistant Principal: ramalhoj@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177 ext. 3
- Mrs. Shannon Vandevoordt, School Nurse: vandevoordts@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.2
- Mrs. Debbie O'Neill, Secretary: oneilld@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext. 0
- Mrs. Kim Sepe, School Clerk: sepek@chelmsford.k12.ma.us, 978-251-5177, ext.0
- Absentee Line: 978-251-5177 ext. 1
