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Dear Families,

I am writing to share reminders of and updates to our health protocols. Most critical of all is the deep commitment from each of us to keep ourselves and others healthy by wearing masks, avoiding crowds, and staying home when sick. 

For at least the month of January, we ask you to tighten your practices, adapt a heightened approach to household symptoms, and behave in ways that protect the health of not only those in your home but in our broader community. In doing so, we are all prioritizing a healthy and consistent school environment. 

Please carefully review the following details:

Thank you for your partnership as we work together to stay healthy!

Ellen

Weekly Home Testing

For the next three weeks, starting next week and continuing through February 4, we ask that each child be tested at home twice per week using a home antigen test. The first test should be done the morning of your child's first day of school for the week. The second test should be done later in the week, on the day of your choosing. We will provide each child with three home test kids (six tests) for this purpose. Because we are not sure when the tests will arrive, we ask that you use any tests you already have at home for next week, letting us know if you don't have two at home and need some. Please send a photo of the completed test to paperwork@tbsneedham.org. 

In addition, we will continue to test at school through our surveillance program, using both antigen testing and PCR testing. Children who have recovered from covid in the past 90 days are exempt from all testing.
 

Home Test Kit Orders

We are expecting a large order of iHealth tests to arrive next week. They are $14 per two-pack. Test Order Form
 

Return After Exposure

The protocol to return to school after a masked exposure has changed, consistent with the new recommendations from the Department of Early Education and CDC. When a child who is old enough to mask is exposed to covid in a masked setting, such as school, there is now an intensive testing option that allows return to school on Day 6 after an exposure. This does not apply to children too young to mask. Read more details. Please be in touch with us if your child is exposed and we will help you work through the details. 
 

Return After Positive

After testing positive, children isolate for 10 days starting the day after onset of symptoms or positive test. Please be in touch with us if anyone in your household received a positive test result and we will help you work through the details.
 

Runny Noses & Other Minor Symptoms

For the month of January, and until the case rate improves, we are asking that children with even a slight runny nose or any other minor symptom take a covid test and send us the results before returning to school. Children with significantly runny noses should stay home until symptoms improve and take a test before returning.
 

Remote School Nurse

If you have a question about whether or not your child should attend school, please call Brittney Tarantino, out 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.
 

Symptom Follow Up & Reporting

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 
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) 
  • 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
  • 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's 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.
Copyright © 2022 Temple Beth Shalom, All rights reserved.

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