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Shabbat Shalom!
Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, November 23: Thanksgiving Crafting Afternoon, Register
- Wednesday-Friday, November 24-26: Thanksgiving Break- No School
- Tuesday, November 30: Wear your Light It Up shirt!
2021-22 Calendar
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News & Updates
Light It Up Shirts
As we enter the season of darkness, let's light up our entire community with joy! Your child will be bringing home a special shirt. Wear it as many times as you can between now and the end of Chanukah to light it up. If your child attends school on Tuesdays, we also invite them to wear their shirt on Tuesday, November 30 for a class photo!
Covid Vaccinations
TBS is adding the covid vaccination to our list of required immunizations for Children's Center students as of January 1. This is an important step to mitigate against the spread of illness in our community. Children ages 5+ are expected to receive the covid vaccine by December 31. Once your child has received the two dose vaccination series, please email the documentation to paperwork@tbsneedham.org for your child's file. If your child has not yet received a first dose, TBS is hosting a vaccination clinic for Pelmeds, a local pharmacy, on Saturday, December 4 and there are a few first dose appointments available by registering here: Vaccination Sign Up
Thanksgiving Crafting Afternoon
Tuesday, November 23
Come make a Thanksgiving centerpiece for your holiday table. We'll have willow wreaths for you to decorate with fall favorites. The perfect gift to take to grandma's...or keep to beautify your own home. Meet us outdoors at the picnic tables. Rain cancels. Register!
Thanksgiving Gathering & Travel
During Thanksgiving and winter break, some limited gathering, hosting, and travel may be planned. Currently, all children enrolled in the Children’s Center are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. That means we must take special precautions to minimize risk. By attending a gathering, hosting, or traveling, you have added responsibility to take extra steps to mitigate risk, not only for your own family, but for our entire community.
If you choose to gather with family or friends, please take the following precautions as a risk mitigation strategy:
- If you plan to mix households indoors without masks, test the entire group first. Keep your gathering small, and limit the number of others who, like your child, are unvaccinated.
- After your child has mixed households, monitor closely for symptoms for 14 days after the event, regardless of vaccination status.
- After your child has traveled, monitor closely for symptoms for 14 days after the event, regardless of vaccination status.
- If anyone in your household or a member of your holiday gathering group becomes symptomatic or tests positive for Covid, notify TBS immediately.
If your holiday celebration will not meet all of these criteria or if you unexpectedly find your child has not followed all of the risk mitigation strategies above, please let us know. In this situation, we will ask that you have your child stay home and get tested on Day 5, or later, after your holiday gathering or upon your return from travel. With a negative test and no symptoms, your child may return to school. We know that this adds another layer of complexity to your holiday plans, and we appreciate the dedication of each family to keeping the entire community healthy.
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Health Updates
Symptom Follow Up & Reporting Update
If your child is sick with any of the following symptoms, please keep them home and let us know:
- Fever of 100°F or higher
- Cough (not due to other known cause, such as asthma or chronic cough)
- Sore throat
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Gastrointestinal distress
- General illness or fatigue
To return to TBS, children must be:
- Energetic and ready for an active day
- Able to participate in all activities
- Able to eat regular diet
- Symptom free for 24 hours with no medication.
- For ages 2+, able to keep mask on over mouth and nose, cover cough, blow nose and wash hands independently
Exception: After a cold, a cough may linger. As long as no new symptoms begin, and the cough continues to improve, a child can return to school when all other symptoms have been resolved for at least 24 hours and they meet the rest of the criteria above.
In addition, a negative covid test or a note from the doctor is required to return after any of the following symptoms:
- Fever over 100℉
- Chills or shaking chills
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Muscle aches or body aches
- Cough
- Sore throat when in combination with other symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, when in combination with other symptoms
- Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
- Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
Note the following update: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sore throat no longer require a covid test if they are stand-alone symptoms. Children are required to be tested if they have another symptom along with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or sore throat.
If you obtain a covid test at a testing site or pediatrician office, send the results to us at paperwork@tbsneedham.org. If you would like TBS to perform the covid test, please register on our testing calendar and bring your child to the main lobby at your appointment time. TBS covers the costs of these tests for all enrolled children.
If you have a question about whether or not your child should attend school, please call Brittney Tarantino, Remote School Nurse, at 781-474-2528 or btarantino@tbsneedham.org. Brittney’s office hours are Sundays from 7-8pm and weekdays from 7-8am. Outside of those hours, please call or email us as usual.
How Sick is Too Sick?
Sometimes children don't have one of the serious symptoms and have been cleared for covid, but are still feeling sick. While these children may be happy and active at home, the demands of group interactions at school can become too much. A sick or overtired child has a difficult time learning. We count on you to determine whether your child is physically well enough to attend school. Remember that our days are full and active, and we do not have appropriate facilities for a child who needs sleep or sick care. If your child is not well enough to play outdoors or participate in another part of the school day, please keep your child home.
Covid Notification
There were two confirmed cases of covid in the Children's Center this past week. In both cases, with quick testing and a quick move into quarantine and then isolation, the individuals were able to protect others. The result is that no one at TBS was a close contact. The individual's households are in quarantine and isolation in accordance with instructions from their physicians and local health department and will be out of school until cleared to return. The classes involved have been notified separately. Our thanks go out to Public Health Nurse Mary Fountaine from the Needham Health Department for her skilled work on behalf of our entire community. If you have any questions Mary can be reached on her cell at 508-479-9630.
Surveillance Screening Results
This week, we processed 235 PCR tests and 22 antigen tests and all were negative. Our screening included faculty and children.
Testing Notification Update
Eurofins and Assure/Affinity, the companies that run our weekly PCR testing, are rolling out an update for the notifications of our weekly surveillance testing. When the update is complete, you will receive a weekly email notification that your child has been tested. You can then log into the portal to view your results. You will most commonly see the following negative result. 
Occasionally there is not enough matter on the swab to produce a result, for example, if the child was wiggly while being swabbed. In that case you may see an inconclusive or invalid result. This does NOT indicate a cause for concern or any need to retest. As the notifications are rolled out, it is possible that some families will receive a notification and others will not. That is also not cause for concern, but simply the software updating process. Anyone who receives a positive result will also get a direct call from TBS to discuss next steps. In other words, we will ensure that no one misses a notification that is time sensitive or needs follow up.
Drive-Through Testing Events
We are providing two optional, drive-through testing events to make testing after gathering and travel easy for your family. Sign up for either or both!
- After Thanksgiving: Sunday, November 28 from 3-5 pm Sign up here
- After winter break: Sunday, January 2 from 3-5 pm Sign up here
TBS Children's Center and Mayim Tamid children and staff will be tested at no cost. We can also test family members and family caregivers for $10 each.
BinaxNow Home Test Kit Orders
We know testing can be difficult to find. Given this, TBS has ordered a pallet of BinaxNow two-pack home test kits, which we expect to arrive on December 10. We are passing them along to you at $20 per pack, below our cost. If you need some, please order them here: BinaxNow Order Form
More COVID-19 Health Resources
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Around Temple Beth Shalom & the Community
Light Up the Night
Saturday, December 4 
Bundle up and join us in the TBS parking lot for an outdoor candle lighting to celebrate the 7th night of Chanukah! Come to one party or both!
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5-6pm: Families with Children of All Ages: Latkes hot from the pan, line dancing, light painting photo booth, glow sticks, songs and fun!
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7-8:30pm: Adults (Ages 21+): Latkes hot from the pan, wine, beer and hot drinks at the outdoor bar, light painting photo booth, and hot appetizers from Mandarin Cuisine!
Give one night of Chanukah gifts to a child in need. We have partnered with Birthday Wishes, an amazing organization that is dedicated to bringing birthday parties to homeless children. If you would like to participate, choose a gift, do not wrap, and bring it along with you! (see wishlist)
Get your tickets!
Chanukah Dinner from Michael’s Deli
Order here by November 24
Pick up Monday, November 29, 4-5:00pm, The Bistro (formerly Three Squares)
Enjoy Michael’s Deli for Chanukah! Order anything (and everything!) from the Chanukah menu, put “pickup at TBS” in the special instructions at the bottom of your order, and the Peljovich family will bring the food right to The Bistro (formerly Three Squares, across the street from TBS) on the second night for easy and convenient pick up. They’re even giving 10% off orders placed through TBS--what a delicious gift! Payment by cash, check, or Venmo, at pick up. Contact Steve Peljovich with any questions.
Sufganiyot from Blacker’s Bakeshop
Order here by November 22
Pick up Monday, November 29, 4-5:00 pm, The Bistro
Enjoy the tradition of eating sufganiyot (jelly donuts) on Chanukah! We’ve partnered with our good friends at Blacker’s Bakeshop to bring this delicious treat right to you. Preorder a half-dozen--or more!--for easy pickup at The Bistro on the second night of Chanukah. Choose jelly-filled or plain, egg-free available on request. $10.00 per half-dozen. Contact Jessica with any questions.
Winter Holiday Creativity Kit Subscription
Brighten your child's winter with a monthly subscription to our very own TBS holiday play kits! Imaginations will take off as they create and explore!
- December: Tinkering Kit (Chanukah)
- January: Let's Grow Sensory Playdough Kit (Tu B'Shevat/New Year of the Trees)
- February: Friday Night with the Penguins Sensory Playdough Kit (Shabbat)
- March: Create & Dress Up Kit (Purim)
- April: Dramatic Play Kit (Passover)
Subscription is $32 and includes a series of five kits. Kits are designed for children ages 6 years and under. Thank you to Combined Jewish Philanthropies and the Selwyn Foundation for sponsoring this program. Order by Monday, November 15. Place your order here!
Wee Weekenders
Sunday, November 14, 10:45am
Are you looking for an activity to do outside on the weekend? Explore the outdoors and allow your child to engage in new materials. Circle time, an activity, bubbles, and a book. Geared towards families with children ages four and under. The whole family is invited to join us! $25 per family. Register today
The Great Dreidel Hunt
Sunday, December 5 at Echo Bridge
How many dreidels can you find? Hunt for 1,000+ colorful dreidels hidden all around the field. Find the golden dreidel to win a piece of gelt! This is sure to be a memory making morning! Dress warmly and bring the entire family for a 15 minute hunting time. Rain cancels. Register today!
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