Note from Ms. Moulton
Greetings Hosmer Families,
Happy New Year! The next few months will be busy months for us at the Hosmer - highlighted by our February move into our amazing new building!
As we return following the vacation week, I know that the covid surge is on everyone's mind. If you have not yet read Dr. Galdston's letter to parents and guardians that was sent last week, please take the time to do so today as it contains answers to many questions. I have included it below for ease.
Tomorrow (Monday) is a half-day of school. There is no before or after-school programming and no instrumental music lessons. Lunch will be "grab and go".
Our primary goal for tomorrow is to test all students and staff through pooled testing (which is a PCR test) so that we can make the most strategic decisions for the coming week(s). If your child is not in school to participate, they should test elsewhere before returning.
In addition to pooled testing tomorrow, we will take the following precautions:
- Face masks must be worn during all school activities. Please reiterate the importance of appropriate mask-wearing with your children. Keeping masks over the nose is critical.
- All student desks will be facing forward with appropriate spacing.
- We will remind/reteach children about appropriate physical distancing.
- Small group work will only take place if students can be kept at least three feet apart.
- Snack will be eaten outdoors tomorrow. Please dress appropriately for the predicted cold weather.
- Tomorrow during morning announcements, I will remind students of the ways that we will keep one another healthy.
Despite the challenges of our current times, we are excited to see all of your children tomorrow. Together as a community, we will continue to care for one another. Thank you for your continued support of our wonderful school.
With a grateful heart,
Ms. Moulton
No Before School Program, Extended Day Program,or Late Bird Program TOMORROW
As shared with the WPS Community in Dr. Galdston's December 30, 2021, Smore - Update: Return to School-January 3, in order to allow time for COVID-19 testing and to minimize student contact during lunch and before and after school activities, the Watertown Public Schools have announced an early release day schedule this coming Monday, January 3, 2022. As such, before-school and after-school activities, including The Before School Program, The Extended Day Program, and The Late Bird Program, will not run on Monday, January 3rd. At this time, we are planning to resume these programs on Tuesday, January 4th. If there are updates from the district that may impact any of these programs on Tuesday, January 4th, and/or future dates, families will be notified.
Message from Dr. Galdston
Good afternoon, WPS Community,
I hope that you are enjoying a peaceful and quiet week off from school and that you are able to spend time with your families. As we head into the New Year’s weekend, please consider avoiding large gatherings that may provide exposure to COVID.
A couple of updates:
Return to School: We will be returning on Monday, January 3, with an early release schedule and no Extended Day/morning care. The rationale for doing so is to ensure that all students can be tested for COVID as part of our pool testing program. By keeping children in rows or seated in the same direction, and by not having lunches or Extended Day/morning care, we will be able to minimize the number of close contacts as we determine the extent of COVID in our schools. We will test any student Tuesday who misses testing on Monday. Please send your child(ren) in with a mask that is tightly fitted around the nose and chin, preferably a surgical mask. We also are considering a delayed opening for reflex testing on Tuesday. Please check your email for an update on Sunday.
You must keep your child(ren) home from school if they have any symptoms of COVID (fever, chills, headache, sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath, congestion or runny nose, muscle aches, loss of taste/smell, nausea, or diarrhea). You should plan to take your child to the FREE rapid symptomatic testing clinic at Lowell West on Monday, January 3 (former St. Jude’s, 175 Main Street, Waltham) any time between the hours 7:30 to 10:30, no appointment is necessary. If you have any doubts or questions, testing at Lowell West is the best option. Any children who exhibit symptoms in school on Monday will be sent home immediately.
Vaccination Clinic: We will be holding a vaccination clinic on Tuesday, January 11, from 3:30-7:00 at the Watertown Middle School for 5-11-year-olds. Our students 16 and over can get a booster at this clinic as well. Advanced sign-ups are required- please use this link. If you are signing your 16+ child up for a booster, please make sure to sign up for a Pfizer booster.
Changes in isolation times: The CDC, the Massachusetts DPH, and DESE have adjusted the isolation times for people who have COVID. The isolation time is 5 days whether you are asymptomatic or your symptoms are resolving and you are fever-free. You will still have to wear a mask for the next 5 days, as you normally would at school (see chart below).
As always, please consult with your physician if you have questions about your child, and inform the school nurse if your child will be out due to COVID. If you find out your child has COVID prior to January 3, please inform our Director of Student Services, Kathleen Desmarais (kathleen.desmarais@watertown.k12.ma.us), as our school nurses are not in over vacation. We will be sending out updated COVID protocols shortly as well, as we await further guidance from the state.
I want to thank you all for your continued perseverance and resilience during this challenging time, and hopefully, we will see improvements after this wave of COVID. Even though we have seen cases rising in Watertown, our safety protocols, testing strategy, and vaccination clinics are the best ways that we can continue to offer the safest environment for our students and staff.
Best,
Dede Galdston, Superintendent
Mark Your Calendar!
Thursday, December 6th - ACCESS Testing for English Language Learners begins
Monday, January 17th - No School - Martin Luther King Day
Thursday, January 20th - DIversity Council - 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Friday, February 4th - Report Cards go home
Friday, February 18th - NO SCHOOL - Faculty/Staff Unpack in our New Building!
Help Wanted - Instructional Assistants
About Us
Website: www.watertown.k12.ma.us/hosmer
Location: 1 Concord Road, Watertown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-926-7740
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HosmerElementarySchool/
Twitter: @HosmerSchool