Dear Westbrook Schools Community,
We received notification this morning of two positive Covid-19 cases at Westbrook Middle School. One individual was present in-person on Tuesday, March 1st. The other individual was present in-person on Friday, February 26th.
The families of all students who have been identified as close contacts have been notified with instructions to quarantine and monitor symptoms.
These cases also impact staffing capacity due to the number of staff members required to quarantine.
Grade 6 will continue to operate in Remote Learning mode until Thursday, March 11th.
Grade 5 will transition to Remote Learning starting tomorrow until Thursday, March 11th.
There is no school on Friday, March 12th. It is a professional development day for staff.
Grades 5 and 6 will return to In-Person mode on Monday, March 15th.
Grades 7 and 8 will continue to operate In-Person.
Over the last few weeks, we have had to make difficult decisions about transitioning classes and entire grades to remote learning due to required quarantines that impact students, staff, and staffing capacity. In school, we continue to follow CT DPH and CDC guidelines regarding frequent hand washing, masks, and social distancing. These mitigation strategies have been highly effective in preventing in-school transmission of Covid-19.
We need community support and assistance to reduce community cases and household exposures. We have seen an increase in community cases over the last few weeks, including cases associated with students in our three schools.
Please see the community message below from First Selectman Noel Bishop and Westbrook Health Director Zachary Faiella.
Thank you for your continued partnership during this challenging time,
Kristina J. Martineau, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Westbrook Public Schools
To All Westbrook Residents:
We are all aware that the State has begun vaccinating for Covid-19 based upon age categories. With the exceptional support of our Regional Health District, Zachary Faiella our Director of Health, Courtney Burks, Senior Center Director and staff, we have collectively reached out to all of our residents 65 and older (over 2,000 telephone calls) to assist them on the process of registering and receiving the vaccine. As vaccine demand has outweighed supply, residents are encouraged to have patience in scheduling their vaccine.
It is important that we continue to be ever vigilant regarding this Pandemic. This is not the time to be complacent and we urge your review and cooperation on the following procedures. We are all eager, with the coming of Spring, to socialize and engage in other activities with the assumption that because we have been vaccinated, we can be more relaxed about our personal responsibilities to each other. Our Health Director and I however, must continue to remind everyone that these basic, simple procedures should be adhered to even though you have been vaccinated:
* Wear a mask to protect yourself and others (completely over the nose and mouth).
* Social distance from others who don’t live in the same household.
* Do not gather in large groups. Avoid crowds. The more people someone is in close contact with, the more likely they are exposed to COVID-19.
* Wash hands often with soap and water.
* Get vaccinated when you are eligible (Eligibility determined by the State of CT https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccination---Phases).
* If you have been tested for COVID-19, stay home and away from others while awaiting results of your test. In the case of a potential positive result, staying home and away from others while waiting for your test results will reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19, if positive.
* If someone in your household is positive or contagious with COVID-19 and you have been exposed to that person, please stay home for a proper amount of quarantine. Residents are encouraged to visit the CDC website relative to quarantine guidelines https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html.
* Remember, those with COVID-19 can be contagious 2 days prior to symptom onset/positive test date, and until 10 days or more have passed since symptom onset/positive test date. It’s critical to stay away from COVID-19 positive individuals during this time frame.
Thank you.
Noel Bishop, First Selectman
Zachary Faiella, Director of Health
