WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Interim Principal James Day report that all Bagnall Elementary Pre-K students will transition to fully remote learning beginning tomorrow through at least Thursday, Nov. 12.
This change comes after two students at the school tested positive for the virus and are self-isolating in accordance with Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocol. Under state and federal health privacy laws, no further information is available about the individuals.
All three sections of Bagnall’s Pre-K students will be working remotely through at least Thursday, Nov. 12. Because of the protocols that are in place at the school, no other grades are affected and there is no change to the schedule for K-6 students.
Since being informed of the incident, the school has followed all Department of Health protocols, including collaborating with the Public Health Nurse and Board of Health to complete contact tracing. The Public Health Nurse has contacted all individuals who were in close contact of the positive individuals.
All close contacts should be tested but must self-quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive, regardless of the test result.
The school district reminds students and residents: If you are not contacted by a local or state public health official, you are not a close contact.
If you or your child are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, chills, respiratory illness, aches or change in taste and smell, please stay home and get a COVID-19 test. Testing can be done either through your primary healthcare provider or at one of the testing sites located throughout the state. Additionally, the district asks those parents whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse.
The facilities team will also be sanitizing the entire school building before students return to school.
Students and staff are also urged to continue following state guidance to reduce the risk of COVID-19 including:
- Stay home if you have a fever or are not feeling well. Students should stay home from school should any new or unexplained illness, no matter how mild, develop. This precaution is meant to keep all staff and students safe. To review COVID-19 symptoms, visit the CDC’s website by clicking here.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid close contact with others. When outside your home, please adhere to social distancing guidelines and keep a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.
- Wear a cloth face covering that covers your mouth and nose to protect others when in public areas.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Children may worry about themselves, their family and friends getting sick with COVID-19. Tips for talking to children about COVID-19 can be found here.
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