The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public School:
Due to our desire to kick-start our new year off well, we will be focusing on testing students and staff who may have traveled or spent extended time with people outside of their immediate household prior to the return to in-person learning. In order to accomplish this, we will start the year in our remote learning model, Monday, January 4 through Wednesday, January 6, with a return to in-person learning on Thursday, January 7.
In addition to our protocols for social distancing, PPE, handwashing, and staying home when sick, student testing is one of the safety measures that has allowed us to remain open. To date, we have processed 3698 staff tests, with 5 positives, and 317 pools of up to 10 students in each pool with
only 3 positive pools. The indication from these tests is that less than .15% of our students and staff that are part of our testing program have tested positive. We have learned of COVID positives outside of our testing program, but even so, our rate of COVID-19 in our schools is significantly lower than the town’s average.
If you have already signed up for testing through our pooled testing program, we ask, encourage, and invite you to bring your children in for testing on Monday, January 4 or Tuesday, January 5 to ensure a safe
reopening for in-person learning on January 7. If you haven’t already signed up for pooled testing, all of the necessary information can be found at this link.
Students in Grade K-8: We will be holding COVID-19 pooled testing on Monday, January 4 for our Cohort A students, and Tuesday, January 5 for our Cohort B students. All testing will take place at Watertown High School from 12-6 pm, with testing for students whose last names begin with A-L from 12-3 and M-Z from 3-6. More details to follow closer to the return.
Students at Watertown High School: We will be holding COVID-19 pooled testing on Monday, January 4 for students with last names beginning in A through Ke and Tuesday, January 5 for students with last names beginning with Kf-Z. All testing will take place at Watertown High School from 12-6 pm. More information about testing for high school students will be sent by Principal Giacobozzi.
Please note that according to the Massachusetts Travel Order, in order to return to school in person, your family must quarantine for 10 days if you travel outside of the state to high-risk states (all states with the exception of Hawaii are considered high risk) unless your child(ren) has a negative PCR test. Participating in our pooled PCR testing meets that requirement. More guidance about the travel restrictions can be found here. This order applies to day trips out of state as well.
How many students are getting tested at High school and WMS given this is not mandatory? Would be interesting to know.