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New Year Updates

January 3, 2021

Dear Families:

Happy New Year!  We hope this past week was one of time together with family.  I know 2021 brings a renewed sense of optimism toward what will be eventually.  In the meantime, it will require patience, vigilance, and a commitment to working together to get us from here to there.  Tonight, I share updates to our district COVID data as well as other reminders of our protocols and upcoming community events.  

COVID Cases Since December 28

I did not provide notification of cases if student contact tracing was not required over the vacation.  Below is a list of the additional 9 cases brought to our attention since December 28.  

1 Alcott student

2 Willard students

3 CMS students

1 CCHS student

1 Thoreau adult

1 CCHS adult

District COVID Dashboard 

The District COVID Dashboard is posted on the webpage as of January 2, 2021.  Including the additional cases since then, the district total from September through today is 64.

Concord Carlisle COVID Data

The Department of Public Health released updated community numbers on December 31, 2021.  The DPH report is posted to the district webpage. Both Concord and Carlisle are in the yellow range.   

Travel Order

If you traveled, your child needs to be tested after returning to Massachusetts.  If we do not have a negative test result on file, your child should not attend in-person learning until we have it.  We expect this protocol to remain in place while case counts are high so please incorporate it into your plans.  We understand the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation. 

Siblings Stay Home if Anyone in the House is Ill

Please remember that our current protocol is for all siblings to stay at home until the ill family member receives a negative COVID test.  Given the spread of COVID among immediate family once it is in the house, this is a conservative approach to reducing the number of potential close contacts and quarantines at school.  If someone in the house is a close contact to a positive case, we also ask that all children remain home until the close contact has a negative test.  

COVID Testing

We are pleased that the COVID testing option in Cambridge has been helpful to many of you.  If you need the contact information, please email the school nurse.  We will soon be testing staff who are symptomatic or close contacts at CCHS with students to follow.  Please watch for additional information.  

Safety Reminders

The best way to slow the spread of the virus is the same as has been since March by wearing masks, remaining 6 feet apart and not gathering with those outside of the immediate family.  There is no doubt that even casual time with people whom you know well can spread COVID.  Please do not have students socializing, on playdates, or on sleepovers.  

Snow

Given tonight’s predicted light snowfall, I expect a regular school schedule tomorrow.  I will be monitoring the forecast very early tomorrow morning and provide any necessary updates.  As a reminder, delayed in-person openings are not an option this year given the current elementary school plan.  Tomorrow would be a remote day if somehow we needed to stay home.   I have definitely heard some of the feedback about traditional snow days and will be continuing to take that into consideration.  

Upcoming Events:

Concord Free Public Library

The Concord Free Public Library shared an overview of their upcoming winter events that is found on this link.  

ConcordCAN Sustainability Webinar

The schools partner with the Concord Climate Action Network to share information about upcoming events.  At the bottom of this email you will information regarding the webinar on January 19.  

We look forward to a great start to 2021 in the schools!  Thank you for your ongoing support! 

Best,

Laurie

 

Zero Carbon, Zero Bills for Concord, 

a Live Webinar

Tuesday, January 19 at 7:00 p.m.

On Zoom

This webinar is taught by David Green, who has completed an energy transformation of his own home and has written a book about it. (Zero Carbon Home). The improvements he has made by installing insulation and air-sealing, heat pumps and solar PV have reduced his energy costs and carbon footprint to zero, resulting in an excellent return on investment, and he will tell you howGreen describes himself as “an energy geek, with a degree in physics from Oxford University, and a finance nerd with an MBA from Harvard Business School.”  After a presentation by Mr. Green, there will be an opportunity for Q & A. All attendees will receive a free ebook copy of his book.


For more information and to register, click here.