May 19, 2021 - 7:30 PM

Good Evening Triton Families,

As you are aware, the School Committee met this evening to review our existing mask policy with the updated guidance issued in Governor Baker's press release on Monday.

Based on the information reviewed and discussed, the Committee voted to amend our policy to keep us in alignment with the new guidance, and in particular, we will be allowing students and staff to remove masks when outside.

The specific details of the changes that will go into effect as of tomorrow, Thursday, May 20th include the following:

• Students are no longer required to wear masks when outdoors (recess, physical education, sports, and outdoor learning environments), even if distancing cannot be maintained;

• Adults may remove masks if 6' distancing is possible, but must continue to wear masks outdoors if distancing cannot be maintained;

• All students and adults must continue to wear masks indoors;

• Close contacts who were exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual while outdoors at recess do not have to quarantine, but families would still be notified;

• We will continue to structure other outdoor activities to the greatest extent possible (physical education, classes, sports) to ensure effective contact tracing;

Many students and staff may be reluctant to remove masks, and that is to be expected and completely understandable. We will support those students who choose to keep masks on at all times but will remind students during these periods that it is acceptable to remove their masks, and they are not breaking any rules. This will be a difficult transition for some, and we will continue to support students where they are, and respect the pace at which they feel comfortable returning to normal. Further, we will continue to work with students, especially the younger ones, to ensure that masks being removed for these outdoor times are being kept clean and ready to put back on when they return to the buildings!

If you have any questions about this change to the masking requirement, please feel free to contact your school principal, nurse, or me directly.

Thank you,

Brian

______________________________

March 23, 2021 - 6:30 PM

Good Afternoon Triton Families,

I am sending this message to provide some follow-up information to clarify questions submitted to us since last week, as well as to provide the links for the forms for you to confirm your selection for your child's learning model as we make the shift in a couple of weeks.

Please note, we are requesting that all families fill out the appropriate form one time for each of their children, regardless of whether or not you will be making a change in the learning model. Please see the links and submit a response for each of your children by this Friday, March 26th using the forms below!

There were a number of questions submitted through the form provided in my message from last week or to me directly, and there are a series of short videos included on this page to answer the questions raised. If there are still questions after reading the full plan (linked here), watching the video summaries included here, please contact the principal at your child's school or me directly and I will provide an answer or connect you with someone who can!

Family Learning Model Selection:

Please use the links below to confirm the learning model for each of your children. There is a unique form for each school, and they will allow multiple responses if you have multiple children at the same school. To confirm, there are only two options as we transition back on April 7th at the elementary and middle schools and April 12th for the high school. A hybrid learning model is no longer an option, so you will be selecting either full-time in-person or full-time remote learning, and that will be the model your child follows 5 days per week. After making this selection, we will need up to four (4) weeks for any shifts in learning models.

Please submit the appropriate form once for each of your children by the end of the day THIS Friday, March 26th.

• Newbury Elementary: https://forms.gle/CvCpmWZBVmN7b4YHA

• Pine Grove School: https://forms.gle/WYH3mAo9maUfBZ5dA

• Salisbury Elementary: https://forms.gle/LVGFERq2jKkXJsT36

• Middle School: https://forms.gle/eT9MbH8XRUPf1sWT8

• High School: https://forms.gle/FuqiW413mCzcEYPb9

If you have any issues with the forms, or questions about how to answer a specific question, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Thank you, and take care.

Regards,

Brian

______________________________________________________________________

March 17, 2021 - 9:00 PM

Good Evening,

I am writing with a follow-up to confirm the decision made by the School Committee this evening.

I won't go into extensive details in this message, but I would encourage everyone to read the full plan document to ensure a complete understanding. The detailed plan is posted on the Stay Connected page at https://bit.ly/3bSTOpW. The highlights and timeline are included below.

I've also created a quick video update that can be found HERE.

I have created a form to submit questions that may not be answered in the full plan and video linked above. Please submit your questions by this coming Monday at the latest, and we will aggregate these questions and publish Q&A videos by Wednesday, March 24th. If you have questions after reading through the full plan and watching the video, please submit those questions using this Google Form (https://forms.gle/tkLoKnMikvDpU7vEA).

To ensure we have time to plan for the transition in April, families will be asked to commit to full in-person or full remote by next Friday, March 26th after having a week to review all the information and have additional questions answered. That form will be sent out next week!

In summary, the key points of the plan are as follows:

• All of the same safety precautions will be in place, including masks, maximizing distancing, hand washing/sanitizing, and increased air exchange. None of that changes.

• The return of all students requires we reduce our minimum distancing from 6 feet to 3 feet as recommended by the current guidance, but we will still push for 6 where possible. Many classrooms will still be spaced at 4 to 5 feet. We are buying tents as added outdoor spaces for lunches, breaks, and learning.

• There will only be two options once we shift; full-time in-person, or full-time remote. Families will select one option for their child(ren) to follow consistently, 5 days per week and that selection will be made via a form to be sent out next week and returned by Friday, March 26th. Hybrid will no longer be an option. Current full-time remote students will have the option to remain in their current class! After this initial selection, we will need up to 4 weeks' notice to shift between models.

• There is a new full-time remote option for Middle and High School that will allow students to remain with their current teachers, but stream full time from home for the remainder of this year. There will be no streaming at the elementary level since full-time remote students are part of separate, remote classrooms.

• We will have a 90-minute early release each Monday, starting on Monday, April 12th. Middle and High schools will dismiss at 12:43 and elementary schools will dismiss at 1:25 PM. The half days on the calendar for this year in May and June have been canceled to offset this change.

We will be phasing back into full in-person learning on the following timeline:

Changes for All Students - All Grades:

• Monday, April 5th will be a half-day as it is currently scheduled. However, this will now be a fully remote learning day for all learners, including high-priority students. Middle and high school students will be dismissed at 10:42 AM, and elementary students will be dismissed at 11:40 AM.

• Tuesday, April 6th will be a Professional Development day for educators, and there will be no school for students. This is the final planning day that was factored into this year's calendar and the last day of school that is currently on Thursday, June 17th (assuming no more snow days.)

Transition by Grade:

• Preschool - No Change: Preschool has been back to full in-person learning on the normal schedule since mid-February. There will be no changes for Preschool.

• Kindergarten through Grade 8 - April 7th: All K - 8 students will start full-time, in-person learning as of Wednesday, April 7th. All aspects of the transition will take place and be ready, including any adjustments to learning schedules, transportation routes, and expectations. Kindergarten shifts from half days to full days, with the option for half day.

• Grade 9 through 12 - April 12th: All high school students will continue with their current learning model through Friday, April 9th, and will then start full-time, in-person learning as of Monday, April 12th. All aspects of the transition will take place and be ready for this day, including any adjustments to learning schedules, transportation routes, and expectations.

Again, I would ask that you please read the plan in detail as it contains many other important details. I will be sending a message with the follow-up Q&A videos on Wednesday, March 24th along with a link to the form for families to confirm their choice by Friday, March 26th.

Further information that is specific to each school will be coming directly from schools as we approach the transitions on April 7th and 12th.

Thank you, and be well.

Brian

___________________________________________________________

March 11, 2021 - 1:00 PM

Good Afternoon Triton Community,

I am writing with a brief update following last night's School Committee discussion.

Similar to all the other decisions made over the course of this past year, there are many factors contributing to the plan to return students to full in-person learning. While the plan is nearing a point of being finalized, there are still details being confirmed this week and early next week. While more specific details were reviewed last night in my update to the Committee, there have been no confirmed plans or dates at this time as there are factors that may require slight adjustments.

As you are likely aware, the Commissioner established a date of April 5th for when all K-5 students are required to be back to full in-person learning. The requirement for a full return for Middle School students has been set for April 28th, and the date for High School is yet to be determined. Based on many factors, I shared last night that I believe the right approach is to have a consistent return date for all students, Kindergarten through grade 12. This would mean that all students are offered the opportunity to return to full in-person learning on the same date, 5 days per week, including Kindergarten shifting to full days at no cost.

The Committee is set to take a vote on the plan next Wednesday, March 17th. My full proposal for reopening will be included in the agenda/posting for that meeting, and I will share that with you all directly on Monday, March 15th.

Following the decision made next Wednesday night, we will provide extensive communications and opportunities for questions and answers before asking all families to commit to whether they will elect to have their children return to full in-person learning or opt for fully remote. Hybrid learning will no longer be an option that we can offer per updated DESE guidelines. Families will need to make a decision for full in-person or fully remote, and that will be the consistent requirement for their children 5 days per week. As is currently the case, changes between full in-person and fully remote learning after the initial selection would only be possible with several weeks' notice.

Full details on all aspects of the return will be included with the plan that I will send to you on Monday. As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you,

Brian

_____________________________________________

March 4, 2021 - 8:30 PM

Good Afternoon Triton Families,

I hope this message finds you well! I am writing with an update on last night’s School Committee meeting and a request to complete a simple survey. Please read this message in detail, and then see the link below this update to complete the survey for each of your children.

The Committee discussed transitioning to in-person learning 5 days a week starting no later than the week after April vacation. This was spurred by a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education vote to be taken tomorrow that would allow Commissioner Riley to start requiring this transition in April, beginning with elementary schools. I can confirm that we will still be able to offer the Remote Academy through the end of this school year, and we will have an alternative solution to Florida Virtual at the High School. We are expecting additional guidance from DESE following tomorrow's vote, and more specific dates when each grade level would be expected to begin learning fully in-person learning will be determined once the guidance is received and reviewed.

One key question for a full in-person learning model has been the matter of social distance, as distances of less than the current 6 feet would be required. The following is a high level summary of how distancing will be impacted within the schools:

• Classrooms: Based on current enrollments, elementary school classrooms would generally have 4-5 foot social distance with a few classes close to or at the 3-foot distance between students. The middle school and high school will vary by class but have distancing of no less than 3 feet between students.

• Un-masked Activities (snacks, lunches, mask breaks): The District is committed to maintaining the full 6-foot distancing between students for any unmasked activities, the most notable being during any school meals. Further, as the weather warms we will be able to return to having these activities outdoors whenever possible.

• Other (classroom transitions, bathrooms, etc): The District will strive to maximize the distancing for all students as space allows, but will maintain 3 feet of distancing at a minimum.

• Transportation: Buses will have no more than 2 students per bench seat, with all windows lowered at least 2 inches in good weather and every other window lowered at least 2 inches in inclement weather.

• All other current mitigation strategies, including masks, handwashing and cleaning, and ventilation, would remain in place.

The Committee will be receiving updates including these survey results and the updated guidance from the state on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 7:00 PM. Provided that the state guidance is received in a timely manner, the Committee has asked that I draft a document detailing the proposed transition (including dates and timelines) to supplement the existing Re-Opening Plan to be presented and voted on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

A key aspect to that planning is for us to get a sense of how student enrollments might shift with this transition so that we can plan to accommodate that. This is NOT a binding survey, and we will only ask you to fully commit after March 17th when our plan is confirmed and provided in writing so that you can make an informed choice for the balance of this school year.

Please complete this non-binding survey once for each student in your household by Tuesday, March 9, 2021.

SURVEY LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3M5Y7P2

As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you,

Brian

_____________________________________________________________________

February 26, 2021 - 3:30 PM

Good Afternoon Triton Families,

I trust this message finds you well on this sunny Friday! I am writing with two quick updates for you.

• School Committee Discussion: The School Committee will be meeting next Wednesday, March 3rd, to discuss next steps to provide more in-person learning. This discussion for next week was scheduled prior to the announcement on Tuesday by Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley that they may require schools to start a phased return to full in-person learning in April, beginning with elementary schools, but this new information will be important to the discussion. As a reminder, there is currently no set plan in regards to more in-person learning, but the goal of next Wednesday's meeting will be to establish a timeline that would comply with the state's requirements while addressing local factors in this change. The login details for that meeting are included below.

Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:00 PM - Zoom Connection Details:

Join Meeting: https://tritonschools-org.zoom.us/j/86410678767?pwd=SWRvNzFFMDd0UWRGR0l4VitROGV5UT09

Meeting ID: 864 1067 8767

Passcode: 436386

Phone - Audio Only: (301) 715 - 8592 OR (312) 626 - 6799

• COVID Testing - Adding Symptomatic Testing: As reported following our poll of the entire community on pooled testing, the decision was made to not pursue that option for multiple reasons. However, we will be implementing voluntary rapid testing for symptomatic students. This is not routine testing and is only used after parental consent has been provided, and when a student becomes symptomatic in school. This testing would require a full PCR test or isolation outside of school as a follow-up to confirm any positives, but it will provide us with rapid diagnostic information if students are exhibiting any symptoms. This program is offered free of charge by the state and uses the BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Test.

There is nothing that you need to do at this time, but I wanted to provide this heads up that we anticipate being able to offer this testing by the 2nd week of March, and more information about the test and the consent process for your child to participate if/when they show symptoms will be provided next week. Full details on the BinaxNOW test can be found here.

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you,

Brian

___________________________________________________________

January 21, 2020 - 7:00 PM

Good Afternoon Triton Families,

I hope this message finds you well.

As we look to our return to a full hybrid model next week, I wanted to provide a few updates and reminders. I apologize for the length of this message, but this is important information so I have attempted to keep the details brief and bulleted below.

• We will be closed on Monday, January 25th as we make final preparations for the transition back to hybrid learning. We will then welcome Cohort A students back to their Tuesday/Thursday in-person schedule starting on Tuesday, January 26th, and Cohort B students back to their Wednesday/Friday in-person schedule starting Wednesday, January 27th. Any high priority student that has been learning in-person will continue their current schedule unless you are contacted directly. If you have any questions about the transition back, please reach out to your child's teachers or building administrators. If you are considering of shift for your child to the full-time Remote Academy, please contact Anna Bates for more information at Anna.Bates@tritonschools.org.

• A reminder that school meals are FREE for ALL students this year. Any student who is learning in person can receive their free hot meal every day they are here simply by getting in line in the cafeteria! There is no need to sign up in advance. In addition, all children under the age of 18 qualify for 10 free Grab N' Go meals per week (5 breakfasts and 5 lunches) that can be delivered to you by bus or picked up on Monday mornings at one of our schools. There is no paperwork required as ALL students qualify automatically. All you need to do is complete this survey to confirm your interest, or you can contact our Food Service Director directly at Lucinda.Ward@tritonschools.org for more information. Information about menus and other program details can be found here on the district website. Please take advantage of this great program, both in school and in remote!

• There is certainly light at the end of the tunnel as vaccinations have started to roll out, but we still have a long way to go before we can let our guards down! We have continued to refine our in-school protocols with masks, distancing, and overall good hygiene, and are refreshing those for all staff as more students return to our schools next week. Early identification of any individual who may be infected is key to stopping any spread, so it is vitally important that you are screening your child(ren) each morning and not sending them into school if they are experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms. If you have any doubts or questions about whether to send your child, please err on the side of caution and keep them home until you have reviewed the symptoms with your child's school nurse. The full district health protocols can be found here. Thank you for your help in maintaining everyone's health and safety!

• Guidance on our response to cases in our schools has been continuously refined as our understanding of the virus has increased over the course of this pandemic. As such, we continue to adjust our protocols to remain in unison with MA DPH and our local health departments on all health protocols, including individuals needing to be quarantined. There are various scenarios that allow a close contact to quarantine for as little as 7 days after exposure in the updated guidance. However, in consultation with our local health officials, it was agreed that the standard 10 day quarantine period is the best and safest approach as it is unified and reduces the risk of virus development to 1% beyond the quarantine period. All close contacts are encouraged to be tested, but they must self-quarantine for 10 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive, even if they test negative. In order to adhere to this shortened quarantine time, individuals must have no symptoms up to this point AND the individual must continue to conduct active monitoring through Day 14. This information is further detailed in the updated district health protocols found here.

• We will be eliminating the letters that are sent to the full school community each time a new case is diagnosed in that school and moving to a weekly summary message each Friday. I have spoken with several of you who noted that the now routine emails are becoming 'white noise' and filling everyone's inbox and they are not helpful. To that end, we will still update the District Dashboard in realtime as new cases are identified. Anyone interested in monitoring the new cases in any one school or the district as a whole can check the site as frequently as they would like to as it contains up to the minute case counts. Further, anyone who is determined to be a close contact with a newly identified positive case will be called directly and receive a follow-up letter right away. There is no change to our response to new cases and close contacts, as it is only the letter that goes out to the full community that notes a new case that will be moving to a weekly summary.

• You will be receiving an email from your child's school today or tomorrow with any school-specific information and updates that you need to be aware of as we transition back to our hybrid model next week.

• On an entirely different topic, we are beginning the FY22 (2021/2022 school year) budget development process next week. The impacts of the pandemic this year will set a challenging context for the development of next year's budget, and that will be reflected in our process. I will provide more details in the coming weeks, but we will be making an initial presentation and having a discussion with the School Committee next Wednesday, January 27th at 6:00 PM. The initial budget materials will be posted along with the agenda by Monday night (1/26) on the public posting section of our website at www.tritonschools.org/district/public-meetings-postings.

As always, if you have any questions about the information in this message, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly. Thank you for your partnership in helping ensure we keep our students and staff safe, and we look forward to your child(ren)'s return to our halls and classrooms next week!

Thank you, and be well.

Brian

__________________________________________________________________

January 19, 2020 - 3:30 PM

Triton Community,

I am writing to confirm that the Triton Regional School District will return to a full hybrid learning model on Tuesday, January 26th. The COVID Data Review Group met this morning and reviewed the most recent data, which show Triton’s in-school cases decreasing. As a result of that new information, there is no need for a School Committee discussion later this week.

As scheduled, schools will be closed for all students on Monday, January 25th as a professional development day for staff to help ensure a smooth transition to hybrid. Students will return to the full hybrid schedule as of Tuesday, with Cohort A in-person on Tuesday, January 26th and Cohort B's first day of in-person learning on Wednesday, January 27th. Further information and reminders around the return to hybrid will be sent by the district and individual schools later this week in preparation for next Tuesday’s return.

The Committee urges our community members to continue to take the recommended precautions to help reduce COVID transmission, as described here. If students are experiencing symptoms, test positive for COVID, or are notified that they have been exposed to COVID, please check in with the school nurse as soon as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

The Triton Regional School Committee

______________________________________________________________________

January 14, 2021 - 10:00 AM

Triton Community,

Due to the recent surge in COVID cases following the holiday break, the School Committee voted at last night’s meeting to stay in a remote model of learning for an additional week, returning to hybrid on Tuesday, January 26th. High priority students will remain in the buildings during that time, continuing their current schedules.

The professional development “transition” day for staff that had been set for Tuesday, January 19th will be moved to Monday, January 25th. Students will now have classes on January 19th and will be off on the 25th. The school year calendar has been updated on our website at https://www.tritonschools.org/school-year-calendar.

The district data, which can be found here, is reviewed on a weekly basis. The Committee has tentatively scheduled a meeting for Thursday, January 21 at 7:00 PM in the event that further discussion is needed following next week’s review.

The Committee remains committed to returning students to a hybrid model as soon as reasonably possible. We respectfully ask that the community follow recommended precautions, including isolating and getting tested if you feel sick or have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID, limiting gatherings, wearing masks and social distancing when appropriate, washing hands frequently, and following travel restrictions. If you have questions about symptoms or precautions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school’s nurse.

Thank You,

The Triton School Committee

_________________________________

January 7, 2021 - 7:15 PM

Good Evening,

The School Committee met this evening for a very brief meeting to adjust the school calendar, including the addition of a transition day on January 19th for staff to prepare for our return to the full Hybrid model later this month.

The transition back to full Hybrid is still scheduled for the week following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. However, we added a Professional Development day for educators on Tuesday, January 19th to prepare for the transition of all students back to in-person learning after being remote since the beginning of December. This means that there will be no school for students on Monday and Tuesday, January 18th and 19th, and we will transition back to our full Hybrid model on Wednesday, January 20th with Cohort B in person.

The current calendar still assumes two PD days that have not been previously placed on specific days. This means that the last day of school will NOT adjust based on the scheduling of this PD day on January 19th. An updated calendar will be posted to the website shortly, but I wanted to get this information out to you quickly for planning purposes. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Thank you, and have a great evening.

Regards,

Brian

______________________________________________

December 30, 2020 - 8:45 PM

Good Evening,

I am writing with a follow up from tonight's School Committee meeting. The Committee voted to remain in the current remote model through Friday, January 15, 2021, returning to the Hybrid model as of Tuesday, January 19th. This means that the model remains the same for the first two weeks of January as it was prior to the winter break, with grades PK - 2 learning in person, and grades 3 through 12 fully remote except for high priority students.

The Committee reviewed our current data trends on COVID cases in our schools and in our three member towns, as well as timelines for testing results and contact tracing in our communities. The discussion included feedback and recommendations from our local health officials that were shared with the Data Review Group on Monday. Additionally, I shared a growing challenge with staffing shortages that has been increasing and is expected to be problematic for the weeks following the break due to staff being in quarantine from contact with in-school and outside cases. For these reasons, combined with the expectation that the increased rate of new cases in the schools will continue or perhaps even increase in the coming weeks, the Committee voted to remain in the current remote model through Friday, January 15th, returning to the Hybrid model on Tuesday, January 19th. All schools will be closed on Monday, January 18th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

I understand remote learning is challenging for many, and I appreciate your understanding as we look to provide the most effective education possible within the context of maintaining everyone's health and safety.

Thank you, and I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable New Year.

Sincerely,

Brian

_______________________________________

December 3, 2020 - - 10:00 AM

Triton Community,

Last night, the School Committee met to discuss the recent transition of the Middle School and High School to remote learning and the current information reflected in the data dashboard. The meeting recording is posted at https://youtu.be/MYEBEZCFijs.

After receiving updates on the recent increases in school cases, the staffing situation, and other factors, the School Committee voted 5-4 to transition the district to a remote model from next Monday, December 7, to Monday, January 4. Elementary school high priority learners will remain in-person, and Middle School and High School high priority learners will return to in-person learning on December 14. More information will be sent by the district and schools in the coming days.

This was a difficult decision for the Committee, as evidenced by the split vote. Reasons provided for the affirmative votes included:

• • • deep concerns about staffing

    • rising cases in the schools and towns

    • instances of staff-to-staff transmission and potential student transmission in the schools

    • lengthening turnaround times for test results that would delay reactions to new cases

    • keeping the highest priority learners in person for as long as possible.

The Committee will continue working towards our shared goal of getting all students safely back into the buildings.

The data review group, composed of Administration, School Committee officers, and healthcare professionals, will continue to meet weekly over the next month. The Committee urges students, staff, and the residents of the three Triton towns to take all recommended precautions, as these measures will help ensure the district’s return to hybrid learning in the new year.

Thank you and be well,

The Triton Regional School Committee

SchoolCommittee@tritonschools.org

___________________________________________________________________

November 30, 2020 - 3:00 PM

Dear Triton Families,

I am writing to inform you that the Middle and High School will shift to fully remote learning beginning tomorrow, December 1st. Principal MacRae and Principal Kelley will be sending more detailed information to Middle and High School families later today.

This shift does not impact Newbury, Pine Grove, or Salisbury Elementary Schools.

Further, the School Committee has scheduled a meeting for this Wednesday, December 2^nd at 6:30 PM to review the impacts of this change and determine any next steps deemed to be necessary.

In consultation with our local health care professionals, I have made the decision to shift the Middle and High School to fully remote, for ALL STUDENTS as of tomorrow, December 1st through Friday, December 11th. Community cases have been on the rise for several weeks, but this decision was made primarily in response to a considerable increase in student and staff COVID positive cases and associated close contacts within the Middle and High School over this past weekend and into the day today. Up to date positive cases and associated close contact totals are posted in real-time to the district COVID dashboard. Due to the fact that we cannot confirm whether or not in-school transmission has or is occurring, this transition is necessary and will include a shift to remote for ALL students at the Middle and High School, including our high priority learners who are in-school 5 days per week.

This does not mean that all students and staff at the Middle and High Schools are being placed into quarantine. This is a proactive shift to fully remote learning given the unknown extent of the risk associated with these newly identified positive cases. Anyone who has been deemed to be a close contact (being within 6 feet of the positive individual for at least 15 minutes) from any of these recently identified cases has been contacted directly with details and instructions on the required quarantine. If you have not been contacted, then this is simply a shift for your child(ren) to fully remote learning for two (2) weeks.

For all families, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, and keep your child home if he/she/they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. For Middle and High School families, please give added attention to monitoring for symptoms over the next two weeks, and please contact your child's school nurse if symptoms develop. For any students who are tested for COVID-19, we are asking those parents to please report the results to the school nurse as soon as they are received. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle.

We will continue to be vigilant in enforcing all of the protocols that have been put in place in an effort to continue and/or resume in-person learning. Our student body and staff have been closely adhering to the safety measures including mask-wearing, hand washing, and physical distancing. We are grateful to our families for their continued efforts to keep students home at the first sign of symptoms. These measures, taken in combination, greatly reduce the risk of additional transmission.

For additional information about our COVID protocols or testing information, please see below:

• • Triton COVID Health Protocol: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rmw0Ci8JeLbnhzHm4BSkUljxmr2_ekwFL5FX9kc50-I/edit

  • For more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/about-covid-19-testing#where-can-get-a-test?-.

  • You can also find a map of testing sites at https://memamaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=eba3f0395451430b9f631cb095febf13. Please contact us immediately should your student(s) or someone in your home begin to show symptoms.

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact me by phone at (978) 465-2397, or you can reach out to any of the building principals or nurses directly via the contact links at the top of each school webpage linked off of our website at www.tritonschools.org.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Brian

_____________________________________________________

November 24, 2020 - 3:30 PM

Good Afternoon Triton Families,

I am writing with a follow up from last night's School Committee meeting. After considerable discussion last week and again last night, the decision was made to remain in our current hybrid model following the Thanksgiving break.

There is a new District COVID Dashboard that is being developed and has been published on the Stay Connected Page. This dynamic dashboard includes data for various state measures reported weekly, as well as real-time case counts for positive cases and close contacts identified within our schools. We will continue to develop and refine the overall format to provide the most relevant and up to date information. In-district counts will be updated immediately as cases are identified so everyone is aware, not just those receiving notice from the school where a case is confirmed. As cases rise in our state, towns, and in our schools, this dashboard will be monitored closely and decisions made based on the data. We will be reviewing the data weekly, and a full Committee meeting will be called when district-wide trends suggest that further discussion about any potential adjustments is warranted. Additionally, I will continue to closely monitor school-specific case counts and will make adjustments as required, including a potential short term shift to remote learning for a specific school.

This continues to be a challenging year, and we fully acknowledge that the opportunities we are providing cannot replace full in-person learning. This is hard for everyone, including our students and families as well as our educators who continue to work tirelessly to adjust to meet the changing demands, all while each of us wrestle with our own personal challenges brought on by the pandemic. We are committed to a continuous review of our practice and to make adjustments where we can. To that end, the two surveys remain open through tomorrow for families to provide their feedback on their hybrid and remote learning experiences. Please complete the appropriate survey if you haven't yet done so.

• Hybrid: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3GFRCP8

• Full-Time Remote Option: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J9B7QP9

I also wanted to share that we've added a "remote snow day" option this year to be used instead of a closure when appropriate. As noted on the notice on the Stay Connected Page, the use of a remote day rather than a closure will only be done when there is ample time for both teachers and students to prepare for learning to take place entirely remotely. Depending on the way the winter progresses, you can expect that this will be used in addition to traditional closures, not entirely in lieu of.

As you gather to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, please remember to do so safely and responsibly as outlined on the MA DPH's website. We are currently continuing in the hybrid model, but we can only stay on that course with your partnership. If cases continue to rise in our community and in our schools, we may have to shift back to remote, so we need everyone's help in prioritizing our collective health and well-being. Please remember that any overnight travel to high-risk states (only Vermont remains exempt) over the holiday will require your child to have a negative test or to be quarantined for 14 days before returning to school as outlined in the Massachusetts travel order.

The holiday will look very different this year, but I wish you all a safe, healthy, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Brian

_________________________________________________

November 19, 2020 - 4:00 PM

Triton Community,

We are writing to update you on last night’s School Committee meeting. As noted in the email sent on Tuesday, the Committee had a discussion and vote on the learning model and a proposed change to the district metric. After lengthy discussions, the Committee voted for the district to remain in a hybrid learning model for now and waive the existing metric. We will be meeting again this coming Monday, November 23rd at 7:00 PM to continue those conversations, and we anticipate that there also may be additional discussion about proactive steps that we might have to take in regards to the increased risk of cases following Thanksgiving.

The decision to not shift to remote at this time was largely due to the low number of positive cases and close contacts within the school despite the increase in community cases. Consideration was also given to a memo (linked here) the Superintendent sent to the Committee earlier in the day. The Committee talked through concerns about the data points in the current metric and the way in which they were used to trigger a learning model vote. The decision was made to work toward a more extensive data dashboard that can be considered on a weekly basis moving forward. It is important to note that the Superintendent has the authority to react to emerging situations and change the learning model for a grade, school, or the entire district on a short term basis to ensure student and staff safety. This dashboard would be used when considering a longer-term transition.

The full meeting video is posted to the School Committee YouTube channel. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the School Committee at SchoolCommittee@tritonschools.org.

Thank you and be well,

The Triton Regional School Committee

_________________________________________________________

November 17, 2020 - 3:30 PM

Good Afternoon Triton Families,

I am writing to make sure you are aware that the School Committee will be meeting tomorrow evening (Nov 18) at 7:00 PM to further consider and approve an updated metric for making decisions about opening schools more fully, or for transitioning back towards fully remote.

In addition to approving a revised metric, the Committee will also be taking a vote on whether to stay in our current hybrid model or make a shift based on the newly approved metric.

The agenda is posted online with the draft metric for consideration and other supporting documents at https://www.tritonschools.org/download/school-committee-meeting-agenda-11-18-20/.

Connection details for the remote meeting via Zoom are also included on the agenda.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Regards,

Brian

________________________________________________________

November 16, 2020 - 12:30 PM

Good Afternoon,

We have now completed three full weeks in the new hybrid and optional full-time remote models, and are requesting your feedback on your child(ren)'s overall experience. The results of this survey will be used to help identify any adjustments we might be able to make to the current hybrid and full-time remote models where our resources and structures allow. However, it will be unlikely that we will be making any complete changes to the overall hybrid and full-time remote option format and structures.

Included below are two survey links, and I welcome all parents and guardians to complete this survey for your child(ren). Please select the appreciate survey based on the model your child is currently learning in. This is a slightly longer survey, but I encourage you to take a few moments to review the questions with your child(ren) and complete the appropriate survey once for each of your children by Wednesday, November 25th.

• Hybrid: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3GFRCP8

• Full-Time Remote Option: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J9B7QP9

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. If you have any questions about the survey, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Brian

_____________________________________________

November 10, 2020 - 10:00 AM

Good Morning,

I trust this message finds you well, and enjoying this spring-like weather! Now into our third week since transitioning to a Hybrid model, I am writing with a few brief updates.

• Please remember that we will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11th in honor of Veteran's Day. Thank you to all who have served for your sacrifice in protecting our freedom!

• We will be sending out surveys to all families to gather feedback on our current learning models this coming Monday, November 16th. There will be one survey for those participating in Hybrid and another for those participating in the full-time remote option. More details will be included, but please look for that communication this coming Monday. We hope you'll take the time to provide us feedback so that we can continue to improve our educational opportunities.

• With the uptick in COVID cases across the country, the state, and our communities, we are paying very close attention to the numbers. The School Committee developed a metric for more fully opening schools earlier this fall, and is now reviewing the standard by which we would potentially have to shift back to fully remote. Our metric is based on local school and community factors. On November 4th the Committee reviewed a revised draft metric and will further consider it on November 18th, along with the revised state metrics that were rolled out by the Governor last week. In the interim, the Committee voted last week to confirm that district-wide decisions would be made based on three (3) weeks of COVID case counts due to the volatility of the data because of our small towns. You can review the district's weekly case count report on the Stay Connected site HERE.

• As those who have been following over recent months are aware, we completed a full assessment of all indoor spaces for air exchanges to ensure we have safe classrooms and workspaces. This work has been ongoing since the summer when the baseline readings were taken, and then considerable work completed before retesting. The final report is now posted on the Stay Connected page HERE with details and notes on all rooms and spaces. Overall, the report shows our facilities are in very good standing in regards to fresh outdoor air exchange, with remedies in place for a few specific areas as noted. A HUGE thank you to Kyle Warne, Chris Walsh, the Head Custodians, and the entire maintenance staff for all the work they've done since this summer to complete, organize, and manage all the improvements and changes to our systems to keep our students and staff safe.

You can find more details on these topics at the included links above, but please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly if you have any further questions.

Thank you, and be well.

Regards,

Brian

_____________________________________________

November 6, 2020 - 5:00 PM

Good Afternoon,

As part of our ongoing efforts to have the school bus routes run as efficiently as possible, we will be making some adjustments to bus routes for all Middle & High School bus routes. While more details will be coming next week, I wanted to confirm that we are going to be adjusting the start time for bus routes beginning this coming Monday, November 9th so that buses arrive closer to 7:30 when students are let off.

Beginning this Monday, Middle & High School busses will start their morning routes 5-10 minutes later than previously scheduled. More exact adjustments and start times will be published later next week. but in the interim, please note that buses will be arriving at your stop up to 10 minutes later than usual starting on Monday. No bus stops have changed for next week!

Thank you for your patience and understanding, have a great weekend.

Regards,

Kyle

________________________________________________________________________________________

November 5, 2020 - 5:00 PM

Good Afternoon,

As we continue to refine our transition into hybrid learning, the number of families opting their child(ren) into and out of the Full-Time Remote Option has continued to fluctuate over the past two weeks. As outlined in our original reopening plan, there is a required notice before a transition is made between models to ensure we have time to plan for the student's movement into the remote classroom or back into the hybrid classroom. As we move further into the year and more fully developed models, like other districts, we are realizing that those transitions create new staffing or resource challenges. Hearing like stories and concerns from across the state, DESE has refined its recommended allowable required notice for such a transition up to 4-6 weeks.

When possible, we have made the transitions for students between the hybrid and fully remote models well within our original standard of 2 weeks. However, as class rosters have now solidified and routines established, adjustments take more time to accommodate. At their meeting on Wednesday, November 4th, the School Committee reviewed DESE's adjusted guidelines and approved my recommendation for an adjusted required notice of up to four (4) weeks for a transition between models. As we have in the past, we will attempt to make any requested transitions sooner, and likely will on many occasions. However, we need to adjust the assumption up to four (4) weeks to ensure we have ample time to address any staffing challenges associated with the change. This isn't something we want to do, but something we have to do based on our current staffing and resources.

If you have any questions about this process, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Thank you, and be well.

Brian

______________________________________________________________

October 23, 2020 - 1:45 PM

Good Afternoon,

I hope this message finds you all healthy and well. We are ready to shift to Hybrid!

You have received a great deal of information over the past months and weeks, and certainly this week as we make final preparations for our shift to hybrid next week. I know there is a lot of information, but please make sure to read the messages, and watch the videos coming from your child(ren)'s schools as they contain important details for the shift next week.

For those who would rather watch than read an email, I created a video update that runs approximately 8 minutes with important reminders and details at https://youtu.be/jT23TY218jg.

Key Points:

Monday, October 26th is a PD day, so NO SCHOOL for all students

Changes for Full-Time Remote Option, New K schedule, and Hybrid schedules all start Tuesday, October 27th

The first in-person day for Cohort A is Tuesday, October 27th

The first in-person day for Cohort B is Wednesday, October 28th

Please remember to use the self screener that nurses provided to assess your child(ren) for any symptoms EVERY day and keep them home if they are not well. Please call the school nurse with any questions. Further, we will learn most quickly about any COVID diagnoses directly from families, so please contact your child's school nurse right away if anyone in your family tests positive!

Remember that masks are required for all students, so please send your child with a mask that adheres to the Mask Policy. We will be asking all families to sign off on their understanding of this policy.

Bus routes are posted online HERE. Please note that the routes are multiple pages, so use the arrows on the bottom/left move to the next page to find your stop! Anyone can ride the bus, regardless of what you submitted on the survey, but students can ONLY ride the bus they are assigned to, both to and from school.

We can in-person learning going if we stay healthy, but that is a community effort. Please do your part to adhere to guidelines on gatherings and parties, and always take the necessary precautions to ensure we keep everyone in our communities healthy and safe!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. Have a great weekend.

Regards,

Brian

________________________________________________________________

October 20, 2020 - 11:45 AM

Good Morning,

As you know, we are set to begin our hybrid learning model one week from today, on Tuesday, October 27th. As a reminder, there is no school for students on Monday, October 26th as it will be a professional day for all educators in preparation for the shift to in-person learning.

The regular day bus routes that will begin next Tuesday, October 27th have now been posted for the 2020/2021 school year on the district website at https://www.tritonschools.org/transportation/#tab-id-4.

Bus routes for this year will be similar to previous years for those who have ridden in the past but adjusted to accommodate cohorts. As you know, students in Cohort A will be attending school in-person on Tuesday and Thursday, and students in Cohort B on Wednesday and Friday. Most students will be on the same bus as in previous years, but there are some adjustments to accommodate the limited capacities, and so routes are posted individually for each cohort. Student cohorts were assigned and communicated with students and families previously, so please contact your child’s school directly if you do not have your child(ren)'s cohort information. For additional information on the overall hybrid model, please review the Stay Connected Page for further details.

Please find the stop nearest to your house, paying attention to the fact that the routes, including start times and stops, adjust slightly for each cohort. For the first few weeks, we anticipate that the run times for these routes will adjust as we settle into the new routines for keeping students safe on the bus. As outlined in the Fall Reopening Plan, students will be required to keep a mask on at all times when riding the bus, and windows will remain open, except in colder weather when only a few windows will remain open. Students will board the bus and proceed all the way to the furthest empty seat in the back upon boarding in the AM or PM, alternating sides and leaving an empty seat, and unload in reverse order. By doing so, no students will pass another student, further minimizing contact. Hand sanitizer will be available and use encouraged as students board and unload.

Further information will be provided by your child’s bus driver and staff at their schools. Loading in the PM at school will be organized by school staff, and students will be provided with further details in-person and assisted in that process.

If you have any questions about the stops or transportation overall, please don't hesitate to contact me by email at Kyle.Warne@tritonschools.org. I just ask for your patience in addressing any questions due to the volume of emails these days.

Thank you,

Kyle Warne, School Business Administrator

________________________________________________________________

October 14, 2020 - 10:00 PM

Good Evening,

I am writing to let you know that the School Committee voted this evening to shift to a hybrid learning model the week of October 26th.

The key details of the shift to Hybrid include:

A professional development day was scheduled for Monday, October 26th to make final preparations. There will be no school for all students on Monday, October 26th.

Cohort A will come for in-person learning on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting Tuesday, October 27th

Cohort B will come for in-person learning on Wednesdays and Fridays, starting Wednesday, October 28th

Mondays (starting Monday, November 2nd) remain remote days for cohort A and B together and will remain largely synchronous.

Remote learning days (Tuesday - Friday) will be largely asynchronous, with check-ins throughout the day, and for each period at the MS/HS. However, there will be some synchronous instruction as content, grade levels, and subject areas allow

High priority students continue to be in-person Monday through Friday

More details about what students can expect when they return to hybrid learning will be coming out directly from schools over the next week to help prepare students and families for the transition.

We continue to communicate additional details with those families that have selected to remain in the optional full-time remote learning, and information sessions have been scheduled for families. This process will be finalized next week for all grade levels and confirmed with families, and this remote option will also begin the week of October 26th. If you did not submit a survey but would like to have your child(ren) participate in the full-time remote option, please contact Anna Bates at Anna.Bates@tritonschools.org.

Due to the number of students selecting the remote option at the elementary level, we had to combine some classrooms that saw larger reductions for in-person students, allowing that educator to become a fully remote teacher. We were able to contain this to 6 classrooms across the three elementary schools, and the remaining students in those 6 classes will be joining another homeroom for the rest of the year. The families of those students who are impacted will be contacted by Monday, October 19th at the very latest.

More details will be coming over the next days and into next week on final details including bus routes and other details as we ensure all our plans are in place to ensure a safe and effective transition into hybrid learning the week of October 26th.

Thank you,

Brian

________________________________________________

October 8, 2020 - 6:30 PM

Good Afternoon,

The School Committee met last night to continue their discussion on our potential shift to a hybrid learning model. After hours of discussion and clarifications, the Committee scheduled a meeting for next Wednesday, October 14th and intend to take another vote on a shift to hybrid at that meeting. While no formal date was confirmed for a potential shift, it was discussed that if the shift was approved next Wednesday, it would potentially take effect the week of October 26th.

To that end, there have been many questions about the Hybrid Learning Model and the Full-Time Remote Option that is available to families not wanting to make the shift. The Stay Connected Page has been updated and there are now two pages dedicated to these two plans. Current information is included on the page, and more details will be added in the days and weeks ahead as more details are confirmed.

These pages are now prominently linked in the middle of the page above the updates, and also directly linked below.

Updated Hybrid Model Page

Full-Time Remote Option Page

I will provide further updates after the vote next Wednesday evening.

Thank you,

Brian

_______________________________________________________

October 7, 2020 - 1:30 PM

Dear Families,

This is being sent as a follow up to the message and survey sent last week on the Full-Time Remote Option to confirm the models we will be offering. If you are intending to send your child back for in-person learning when we shift to hybrid, there is nothing you need to do! We are asking for a commitment from families at this time that intend to have their child(ren) remain in remote learning when we shift as a district to Hybrid.

Elementary: If you completed the survey for your child(ren), there is nothing further you need to do. We have recorded your interest and commitment since only one model was being considered, and that model is summarized below. If you did not submit a survey and would like to have your child participate in the Full-Time Remote Option, please email Anna Bates directly at Anna.Bates@tritonschools.org.

Middle School: Based on the interest, capacity, and resources, we will be creating new remote only classes utilizing current Triton educators. Classes may combine grades 7 & 8, and the assigned teacher will likely not be a student's current teacher. Aside from the shift to new classes/sections, this will be similar to the current remote model. Further detail is included below.

ACTION REQUIRED: Please complete this TMS Enrollment Form by 9:00 AM on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 to formally enroll your child in the Middle School full-time remote option. Next steps in this process will be communicated with families that enroll in this option.

High School: Based on the interest, capacity, and resources, we will be partnering with the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) to allow students to access the content of their current schedule through the FLVS online platform. The program will be largely self-paced, but will be overseen by Triton educators. Further detail is included below.

ACTION REQUIRED: Please complete this THS Enrollment Form by 9:00 AM on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 to formally enroll your child in the High School full-time remote option. Next steps in this process will be communicated with families that enroll in this option.

If you have any questions about this information please don't hesitate to reach out to me or Anna Bates directly. We can be reached by phone at (978) 465-2397 or by email at Kimberly.Croteau@tritonschools.org or Anna.Bates@tritonschools.org.

Respectfully,

Kimberly Croteau

Assistant Superintendent

Additional Full-Time Remote Option Program Details

Grades K-6

This full-time remote model is supported by a Triton teacher, but will likely not be a student's currently assigned teacher. Grade level classes will be made up of students from three elementary schools; classes will not combine grade levels. Students will have a fixed schedule, participate in synchronous and asynchronous learning, and frequent check-ins with classroom teachers. This will be similar to the current remote model.

As this was the only model presented for elementary school, by participating in the most recent survey, your child will be enrolled in this full remote option. We will be in touch next week to share the teacher, timeline, and transition details with the families of enrolled students.

Triton Middle School: Grades 7 & 8

This full-time remote model will be supported by a Triton educator reassigned to be a remote teacher in each core content area. Classes may combine grades 7 & 8, and the assigned teacher may not be a student's current teacher. Students will have a fixed schedule, participate in synchronous and asynchronous learning fully aligned to district programming, and have frequent check-ins with classroom teachers. This will be similar to the current remote model.

To enroll your student in the middle school full remote option, please complete this enrollment form by 9:00 AM on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

Triton High School: Grades 9 - 12

This full-time remote model will allow students to access the content of their current schedule through course content through the Florida Virtual School (FLVS). The course content is aligned with the MA curriculum frameworks and will be overseen by a Triton Educator. The pacing of the courses will be adjusted, when possible, to reflect that of the hybrid/in-person cohort. Students will have access to a full suite of course content and a largely self-directed schedule.

Why FLVS?

In July, the Commissioner of Education released reopening guidance for schools. Part of that guidance included the option of purchasing student licenses for a Learning Management System with full course content. This option was recommended for districts with staffing concerns and those with individual students/families who are interested in a fully remote option for a longer period of time.

By working with FLVS, Triton students will have access to a variety of course content and levels, including honors and AP, to help mirror their current schedules. While FLVS is a public school in which students can enroll, Triton is only using the course content, with our own educators to facilitate the learning process. Triton teachers will be provided with training and support so students may continue with uninterrupted instruction in a new environment.

To enroll your student in the high school full remote option, please complete this enrollment form by 9:00 AM on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

__________________________________________________

October 2, 2020 - 2:00 PM

STATEMENT FROM THE TRITON REGIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE

October 2, 2020

Triton Community:

As you’re probably aware, the Triton School Committee held the second learning model “checkpoint” vote Wednesday night, September 30th. The original vote on August 10th put the district into primarily remote learning, with some “high risk” students attending the schools in person. The reasons were largely health-related: accessibility of fast local testing for minors, the town health departments’ capacity to perform additional school-related contact tracing, and the completion of a ventilation study and any associated remediation within our school buildings.

On Wednesday night, the Committee reviewed information from the health officials from our three towns, our amazing school nurses, and the Triton Administration detailing the resolution or near-resolution of these health-related concerns, but additional questions were raised in regard to the hybrid model and full-time remote structures, as well as trends in new cases in the area. On a difficult 5-4 vote, the Committee opted to continue the current remote learning model. The next scheduled checkpoint date is October 28th, which could potentially result in a November 10th change in learning model.

Our board remains committed to working toward a hybrid return for Triton students, and following the vote on Wednesday night, we are adding additional dates to our calendar. Next week, Committee members will be touring the school buildings individually and a workshop is being scheduled on Wednesday, October 7th to further discuss the concerns raised this past week, including the timeline for further review of a return to hybrid. There will not be a learning model vote at the workshop.

At a time when division seems to be the norm, we as Chair and Vice-Chair understand that only by working together can we come to a solution; we recognize that the conflict in our own opposing votes Wednesday night should serve to make the final product stronger for all Triton students. We hope that our community will continue to be involved by attending meetings and providing constructive feedback as our discussions continue.

Chair Nerissa Wallen and Vice-Chair Maureen Heffernan, on behalf of the Triton Regional School Committee

__________________________________________________

September 30, 2020 - 11:30 PM

Good Evening,

I am writing with a very brief update to let you know that the School Committee voted this evening to REMAIN in a remote learning model for the coming weeks. The Committee will review a potential shift to Hybrid again on Wednesday, October 28th that would take place on Tuesday, November 10th. The decision came down to a split 5-4 vote, and was made after an extensive discussion around the metrics for reopening, the plan for Hybrid learning, and the Full-Time Remote Option for families.

I know this raises many questions, and more details will be forthcoming. However, I wanted to let you all know right away about the decision made this evening. The video of tonight's meeting will be posted to the School Committee's YouTube channel tomorrow morning at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuKUrgOC4_i-PKoOmHT3JhA for those interested in viewing the discussion.

In the interim, the remote learning model in place will remain the same, with all student schedules, instructional delivery, and other supports continuing as they have over the past two weeks.

For those who had previously expressed interest in the Full-Time Remote Option for a shift to Hybrid, we will continue with the survey sent earlier this evening and request submissions by Friday. We will provide an updated timeline for the next steps beyond that early next week.

Thank you, and have a good evening.

Brian

_________________________________________________________

September 30, 2020 - 6:00 PM

Good Afternoon,

This is being sent as a follow up to my earlier message about the Full-Time Remote Option available to families when we shift to any in-person learning. If you intend to send your child into school in a Hybrid learning model, you can ignore this message!

Please see the following updates and a request to complete an updated survey. Based on the results of this survey, we will confirm the final model to be implemented and ask for your commitment early next week if you plan on keeping your child(ren) in this full-time remote option.

An updated summary of the current models has been posted to the Stay Connected Page - CLICK HERE

After reading the update linked in the first bullet, please complete this updated survey by Friday, October 2nd if you are considering the Full-Time Remote Option, even if you completed the previous survey sent last week. New information has been included. Please submit one survey for each of your children.

Elementary Survey - CLICK HERE

Middle School Survey - CLICK HERE

High School Survey - CLICK HERE

Based on the results of this updated survey, we will follow up next week with a confirmation of the model to be implemented at each level and request a final commitment by next Tuesday, October 6th.

Again, even if you completed the survey sent last week, please complete the updated survey(s) no later than this Friday, October 2nd if you are interested in your child participating in the Full-Time Remote Option.

As always please feel free to reach out with questions on this remote option to Anna Bates at Anna.Bates@tritonschools.org.

Thank you,

Brian

________________________________________________________

September 30, 2020 - 10:00 AM

Good Morning,

I am writing with a follow up to last night's Information Session on the Full-Time Remote Option. For those that were not able to attend, the recorded meeting can be viewed online at https://youtu.be/0jsoaOLLs64.

The meeting included a brief overview of our plans, but the bulk of the 2+ hour meeting was spent answering questions raised by parents and guardians. This forum proved to be helpful for everyone in that we were able to clarify questions for families, but also receive feedback that will help us adjust our plans to better meet the needs of our students.

The slide deck from the presentation can be viewed online by clicking here. It is important to note that the term 'option' as used last night refers to the fact that all families will have the option of participating in the Full-Time Remote model when we return to any in-person learning. In developing that option, we are creating various models for possible implementation. While there is only one model in development for elementary schools, we are exploring two different models for the Middle and High schools. However, we will be selecting one model, and the decision about which model ultimately gets implemented for families to opt into will be driven by the overall number of students who opt into full-time remote learning. We would like to be able to offer families the ability to choose, but that will not be possible as the decision will ultimately be driven by our overall availability of resources and staffing.

Based on feedback last night, we will be adjusting the survey/form that was previously shared, adding additional questions that will help parents better provide their input. For that reason, we will be asking anyone interested in the Full-Time Remote Option to submit this new survey, including those who previously submitted on the form sent last week.

More information on the plan as well as the updated survey will be coming out by first thing tomorrow morning at the latest, but I wanted to get this video out for anyone interested in the option who wasn't able to attend last night.

Thank you, and be well.

Brian

________________________________________________________________

September 29, 2020 - 4:30 PM

Good Afternoon,

Included at the link below is an updated Hybrid Model plan. As you know, the School Committee is scheduled to take up the vote tomorrow night for a potential shift on Tuesday, October 13th. This document is also published on this Stay Connected Page by clicking here.

This model has been updated to reflect new information and details we have gathered in the seven (7) weeks since the reopening plan was finalized back on August 12th. Our review and planning has continued, informed by the experiences of our own educators, students, and families as we have begun under a fully remote model, as well as in speaking with other neighboring district educators and families who opened in, or who have shifted to hybrid already. We have had countless discussions with educators and families as we approach the shift to hybrid learning, and we have continued to adapt the plans based upon what we know works well and what we know doesn't work well. Our goal was, and continues to be ensuring that we are putting the most effective instructional model in place while balancing the significant impact on families when students are not in our classrooms. As we have said before, until we can return to a full in-person model, there is no perfect solution.

To that end, this revised model contains details and expectations for the Hybrid model that have changed since originally published on August 12th. It is important to note that these changes are due to new information we have received over the past 7 weeks, not because we in any way intended to mislead with our original plan. Further to that, as we continue to address staffing challenges as our educators are impacted by the pandemic, our overall picture of our capacity to implement the Hybrid model continues to change. While we had every intention and belief that the model described in August would be what we could and should offer, we are now needing to adjust our plans to meet the changing understanding of what works best in the Hybrid model and the reality of our resources.

For those interested in listening to the School Committee discussion tomorrow evening on the potential shift to Hybrid, the Zoom Meeting can be accessed by CLICKING HERE or by connecting in other ways using the details on the agenda posted HERE.

For those interested in learning more about the Full-Time Remote Option, we continue to develop those plans and have a Forum scheduled for this evening at 6:30 PM. You can access the Zoom Meeting by CLICKING HERE, or for Audio Only, can dial in at (301) 715-8592 using the Meeting ID: 821 9588 4792 and Passcode: 458763.

Regards,

Brian

________________________________________________________________

September 23, 2020 - 6:30 PM

Good Afternoon,

I apologize for the length of this message, but it contains important information. I am writing with a follow up to information that was sent out earlier this week in regards to the Full-Time Remote Option that will be available to families when we shift to a Hybrid model.

A message was sent on Monday to those families who had opted via the survey back in August to remain in remote when we shift to any in-person learning model. I asked in an email later on Monday evening sent to all families for those who would like more information but didn't submit the survey and receive the email to reach out to Anna Bates directly. Based on the large number reaching out, there are still additional families considering this option. Given that what we can offer is dependent on the number who participate, this offering continues to be developed and there are many lingering questions. We will be sending out more detailed and updated information to all families by the end of this week.

We asked for a commitment via a Grade K-6 and Grade 7-12 webform by this Friday (9/25), but it is clear that there are many questions to be answered before families are able to confidently commit to this option. To that end, we are extending the deadline to next week (10/1) and scheduling a Full-Time Remote Option forum and Q&A session for next Tuesday, September 29th at 6:30 PM. This meeting will be held via Zoom, and will be recorded and made available following the session for those who are unable to attend. We will first provide a more detailed and in-depth presentation on the plan for this remote option, and then allow those in attendance to ask questions so we can provide further clarification.

Full-Time Remote Option Parent/Guardian Forum Zoom Connection Details:

When: Tuesday, September 29th at 6:30 PM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82195884792?pwd=eXMyVmc5dXVBUE5NQ2MvdjZ5dWtHUT09

Meeting ID: 821 9588 4792

Passcode: 458763

Connect by Phone - Audio Only: (301) 715-8592 OR (312) 626-6799

Obviously, the timing of when this option comes into play depends on when we transition to Hybrid. We continue to plan for all scenarios, and the School Committee will be meeting next Wednesday, September 30th at 7:00 PM to vote on a potential shift to Hybrid that would be made starting Tuesday, October 13th.

For anyone considering this full-time remote option when we return to a hybrid model, I would encourage you to attend this session next Tuesday evening. Following the session on Tuesday and the Committee decision next Wednesday on Hybrid, we will then ask families to commit if they plan to have their child(ren) remain in the full-time remote option by completing the Grade K-6 and Grade 7-12 forms no later than that end of the day next Thursday, October 1st to ensure we have everything provisioned for a potential shift on October 13th. For those who are ready to commit now, you can certainly complete the appropriate form at this time.

Thank you for your continued patience as we work through the changing details of the reopening.

Respectfully,

Brian

_______________________________________________________________

September 21, 2020 - 5:15 PM

Good Afternoon Triton Families,

Two important details as we look to a shift to Hybrid in the coming weeks. As noted in the District Reopening Plan, the School Committee established routine checkpoints to assess our readiness to move to a hybrid model. The first of these assessments will happen next Wednesday, September 30th, with a shift to a hybrid model on Tuesday, October 13th if that shift is confirmed. We are continuing with our planning with the assumption we will be making the transition!

First, those families who noted their intention to keep their child(ren) in the fully remote option when we shift to Hybrid should have received an email earlier today from Anna Bates, the District Teaching & Learning Coordinator. If you intend to keep your child(ren) in full time remote when we shift and did not get that email, please contact Anna directly at Anna.Bates@tritonschools.org.

Second, regular day transportation will be provided with precautions in place for all students attending in-person learning as outlined on page 20 of the District Reopening Plan. In short, students will be seated 1 per seat (unless in the same household), with assigned seats, windows opened for added ventilation, with masks at all times, and hand sanitizer used as students board and leave the bus.

We are looking for all families to confirm your intentions for your child(ren) to ride the regular day bus this year. Please complete the survey separately for each of your children, regardless of whether or not you intend for them to ride the bus, and submit them by this Friday, September 25th.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TDT7ZLQ

If you have any questions about this information, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you,

Brian

_______________________________________________________________

September 11, 2020 - 11:00 AM

Good Morning Triton Families,

Welcome Back! While the return to school this fall is not what any of us envisioned, I want to assure you the Triton Food Service Department is working hard to create a welcoming and safe environment to provide healthy meals that will support our students, both in school and at home.

We have established a plan that will provide both a grab and go breakfast and lunch at no cost for anyone 18 years and under on any days when students are not attending in-person learning this year, whether you live in Newbury, Rowley, and Salisbury. The grab and go meals will contain freshly prepared, pre-packaged meal components, allowing us to set aside any concerns about added exposure to germs during this pandemic closure, and the bags will contain all the meals for the school week. Further, all handling of food, including deliveries by school bus, will be handled by ServSafe trained Food Service workers. Lunch calendars will be updated online each month, as usual, to confirm the meals offered that month (first 3 days noted below).

For the first 3 days of school, we will have meals available for pickup ONLY at the curbside locations only on Wednesday, September 16th. Delivery via bus routes will not begin until Monday, September 21st.

Beginning Monday, September 21st, we will be offering FREE Grab-n-Go meals containing both a breakfast and a lunch program for anyone 18 years and under. We will be preparing and delivering all weekly meals (10 meals - 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches) on Monday of each week, to be delivered in one of the following ways:

Bus Routes: We will be running bus stops in Newbury, Rowley, and Salisbury where you can pick up your breakfast and lunch bags (delivered at the same time) every Monday morning. Bus routes will be determined from the survey results. Bus route delivery will not begin until Monday, September 21st.

For All Residents: You can pick up your breakfast/lunch meals curbside at the following locations every Monday morning. You will not need to get out of your car for any reason, rather you will simply pull up to the curb and confirm the number of breakfasts/lunches you need and they will be handed to you.

Triton Middle/High School, 112 Elm Street in Byfield from 7:30 - 9:30 AM

Salisbury Elementary School, 100 Lafayette Road in Salisbury from 8:30 - 10:30 AM

Newbury Elementary School, 63 Hanover Street in Newbury from 8:30 - 10:30 AM

Pine Grove Elementary School, 191 Main Street in Rowley from 8:30 - 10:30 AM

*** Please choose the best curbside location for your family regardless of the town you reside in when completing the survey!!! ****

Please complete this survey as soon as possible: https://forms.gle/amwb6bK4pF1TpdUj9

The survey will remain open going forward!

And for those among us who are in a place to provide assistance, our entire community would benefit from our monetary donations to these three amazing organizations that routinely provide food, clothing, supplies, counseling, and other important services to our community. You can find out how to give and support their work at the links below.

Our Neighbor's Table: https://www.ourneighborstable.org/give.html

Pettengill House: http://www.pettengillhouse.org/donate.aspx

Boys and Girls Club: https://www.bgclmv.org/how-you-can-help/donate/

Please reach out with any questions you might have. Your children are the reason we do our jobs and we are here to make sure that they are fueled with nutritious food!

Sincerely,

Lucinda Ward, MEd, RD, SNS

Director of Food and Nutrition Services

Lucinda.ward@tritonschools.org

____________________________________________________________________________

September 9, 2020 - 9:30 AM

Good Morning,

I am writing with two brief updates on actions taken by the School Committee late last week.

The first is a comprehensive policy on face coverings. As we have been discussing throughout the reopening planning process, masks are an integral part of keeping everyone safe as we reopening schools. Masks will be required to be worn by all students and staff unless there is a medically documented exemption. There will be no other ability to opt-out of wearing masks, and this policy further clarifies this requirement. We will be requesting parents to sign off on this policy in the first weeks of school as part of the student handbook acknowledgment process. The policy can be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking HERE.

Secondly, the School Committee approved the metric by which they will assess our readiness and ability to move to Hybrid, and then ultimately to a full in-person return. The document attached outlines the conditions that will be reviewed when making their decision on September 30th on whether or not to shift to Hybrid starting on Tuesday, October 13th. More information will be shared as we approach the September 30th meeting. The metric can be downloaded as a PDF by clicking HERE.

Thank you,

Brian

------------------------------------------------------------------

----------- Policy on Face Coverings ----------------

------------------------------------------------------------------

The Triton Regional School District is committed to providing a safe environment as schools reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to public health experts, one of the best ways to stop the spread of coronavirus and to keep members of our school community safe is the use of face masks or face coverings. Therefore, in accordance with guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), the following requirements are in place until further notice.

A close-fitting face covering that covers the nose and mouth must be worn by all individuals in school buildings, on school grounds, and on school transportation, even when social distancing is observed. Face coverings made from mesh or with holes in the fabric, open-chinned bandana style masks, and any face covering with a valve or vent will not be allowed. Face covering designs must comply with the dress code guidance as outlined in the student handbooks.

Individuals may be excused from the requirement for the following list of reasons, per CDC guidance, if the individual:

has trouble breathing;

is unconscious;

in incapacitated;

cannot remove the mask or face covering without assistance.

In addition, masks or face coverings will not be required for anyone who has a medical, behavioral, or other challenge making it unsafe to wear a face mask or face covering. A written note from a physician is required for a requested exemption. Parents may not excuse their child from the face mask requirement by signing a waiver. When a student is determined to be exempt from wearing a mask or face covering, additional steps including but not limited to physical barriers, increased distancing protocols, and alternative travel patterns for transitions within school buildings may be instituted for the student at the discretion of the administration to reduce the risk to other individuals.

Additionally, face masks or face coverings will not be required when appropriate social distancing is enforced, under the following conditions, at the direction of a district staff member:

during mask breaks;

while eating or drinking;

during physical education classes in which physical distancing of at least 10 feet can be maintained;

while engaged in an activity outside in which physical distancing of at least 6 feet can be maintained;

while a single staff member is alone in an otherwise empty enclosed space.

Exceptions to this policy under certain circumstances, such as for students with medical, behavioral, or other challenges who are unable to wear masks, must be approved by the building principal in consultation with the school nurse or local Board of Health. Face shields or physical barriers may provide an alternative in some instances.

A student’s mask or face covering is to be provided by the student’s family. Masks and face coverings for staff members will be provided by the district. The district will supply disposable face coverings for individuals who arrive at a building, or board school transportation, without one.

If students are in violation of this policy, the student may be removed from the school building for in-person learning until such time as they can comply with the requirement or the requirement is lifted.

Violations of this policy by staff will be handled in the same manner as other violations of the School Committee policy. Visitors in violation of this policy will be denied entry to the school/district facility.

This policy will remain in place until rescinded by the School Committee.

Adopted by the Triton Regional School Committee on Thursday, September 3, 2020

____________________________________________________________________________

August 31, 2020 - 7:00 PM

Triton Families,

I trust this message finds you well. Over the next two weeks as we approach the first day of school on September 16th, you will be hearing directly from your child(ren)'s school about class lists, student schedules, cohorts, school meals, and other information. With class lists/schedules being posted in the next two days, you will also begin to hear directly from teachers in regards to specifics about the start of the year. As you know, we will start the school year remotely for all students, unless you have been contacted about your student attending in person based on her or his high priority needs.

I am pleased to note that we will be providing an opportunity for students to make a connection with their teachers through a brief orientation on Monday and Tuesday, September 14th and 15th. Exact details and time slots will be confirmed by next week, but I wanted to make sure you have this on your calendars. For safety reasons, we will limit these to short, scheduled, one on one meetings for each student with an educator, which will require that parents/guardians provide transportation to the schools. These are not required, but we strongly encourage families to find a way to participate to make these important connections with educators given the remote start. Full details on time slots and the process to schedule will be forthcoming.

At the elementary level, students will be welcomed at the door with families, and then taken down to their classroom to meet their teacher one on one for a brief time along with a chance to pick up important materials. Parents/guardians will remain outside to ensure we limit the number of individuals in the school, and school staff will facilitate the students being brought to their new classroom.

At the Middle and High School, the logistics of safely arranging a one on one meeting for each student is significantly more challenging, so we will be focusing on the incoming Grade 7 and Grade 9 students as they are new to the schools. Those students will be able to meet with their homeroom teacher (7th) or Advisor (9th) for a brief time to connect and gather materials. Similar to the elementary level, parents/guardians will need to remain outside to ensure we limit the number of individuals in the school.

For students in Grades 8, 10, 11, and 12, we will be scheduling a curbside greet and pickup over the same two days.

Further details will be coming from each school in regards to the process to sign up for a slot for these opportunities to connect.

Regards,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

August 12, 2020 - 6:00 PM

Dear Triton Community,

I present this plan to you under the most extraordinary of circumstances, as we contemplate a return to school this fall that will not resemble any of the previous openings that we have in our collective memories. As we continue to grapple with the realities of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the implications for us here in Massachusetts and more specifically in our towns, universally understood facts and answers to questions remain elusive. The result is a situation where we are fully aware that any decision we make will be received quite differently depending on one's personal beliefs and overall situation, and the impact on families to plan for this return to school will vary greatly. At the core of the planning process, we have maintained our focus on the physical, emotional, and mental health of our students and educators, a priority from which we cannot waiver.

The planning for our reopening has been a collaborative effort, informed in large part by the Reopening Working Group comprised of educators, staff, parents, students, administrators, and other community partners. This plan lays out three (3) possible models for the reopening of our schools, including a full in-person return, a full remote learning model, and a hybrid of both in-person and remote learning. At the heart of the entire planning process is the commitment to a more consistent and clearly defined teaching and learning process, regardless of the model. These three options were developed with the anticipation that we will find ourselves transitioning between models as the specifics of COVID-19 cases and that our ability to respond safely as a community will continue to change over the coming months. The School Committee confirmed the Final Reopening Plan for all Triton Schools on Wednesday, August 12th that calls for a remote start for all students on September 16th, with the exception of a small population of high need students, and a clear commitment to move towards bringing students into schools for in-person learning in a Hybrid model as soon as October 13, 2020. The final plan outlines a schedule for the Committee to review current data/trends and to reassess our readiness to shift to a Hybrid model every four (4) weeks.

Final Plan: https://sites.google.com/tritonschools.org/trsd/fall-reopening-plan

The School Committee has held weekly (or more) meetings since June to review and analyze all the various aspects and factors that play into the reopening of schools. All meetings, including last night's final vote, are available to review On Demand on the SC YouTube channel. The complexities and expanse of information considered in this final decision are too great to capture in a single email, so I am hopeful that these videos will help answer questions in regards to the many factors considered in the final plan approval.

SC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuKUrgOC4_i-PKoOmHT3JhA/featured

With the anticipation of moving to in-person learning, we will be establishing the cohorts for the Hybrid model now to allow for families to adequately plan for that transition, even though we will be starting remotely. Cohorts will be identified along with class/teacher schedules and will be released in the next two weeks. As outlined in the plan, when we transition to in-person learning, whether in a Full In-Person or Hybrid model, families will have the choice to remain in a fully remote learning plan. Students who select this remote option will be able to transition back into the hybrid model at any time with a two-week notice/transition period. To that end, we are requesting that families confirm their intentions at this time if they intend to keep their students in remote learning when we transition to a Hybrid model. This information will be key to ensuring our cohorts maximize our ability to balance cohorts and ensure the most consistent and safe learning environment. I am requesting that all families complete this survey one time for each of your children enrolled in the Triton Schools by Wednesday, August 19th.

Family Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/trsdremoteoption

In response to the needs expressed by families after the spring school closure, we have developed a number of learning opportunities for parents and guardians to support learning this fall. These have been scheduled over the coming weeks, and we will continue to add more opportunities throughout the end of the summer and into the school year. These will be linked and updated on the Stay Connected page via the "Family Learning Center" link at the top. For questions about these training sessions, please contact Anna Bates at Anna.Bates@tritonschools.org.

Family Learning Center: https://sites.google.com/tritonschools.org/trsd/family-learning-center

Individual details for students will be sent to families by each school in the coming weeks as we approach the start of the school year, including student schedules, teacher assignments, and other important information. We will also continue to keep the Stay Connected page updated, along with email/phone/text with any additional information or details. If you have questions specific to your child(ren)'s school, please contact the building principal directly.

Thank you for your continued involvement and ongoing support of our schools in these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

August 10, 2020 - 11:00 PM

Good Evening,

I am writing with a brief update after tonight's School Committee meeting. More discussion will follow and a final vote on the plan will occur this Wednesday night, including further details about the decisions made this evening.

However, I did want to confirm that the School Committee confirmed this evening that our first day for students will be on Wednesday, September 16th, and we will be opening in a Fully Remote model. In making that decision, they confirmed that we will have a review and reconsideration every 4 weeks or so, looking to transition to a Hybrid model as soon as feasible, and not an indefinite plan to stay in fully remote. I will be proposing a schedule of transition dates every 4 weeks or so, along with a decision point approximately 2 weeks prior to each date to allow for planning as part of the final plan on Wednesday evening.

For those interested in watching the discussion, the meeting should be posted on the Committee YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuKUrgOC4_i-PKoOmHT3JhA by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

I will be sharing a full updated plan, including the Executive Summary that outlines all details of the plan and calendar this Thursday, August 13th following the final approval by the School Committee on Wednesday, August 12th at 7:00 PM.

Thank you,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

August 10, 2020 - 1:30 PM

Triton Families,

As noted in the message sent last week, the School Committee will be meeting this evening to fully review the draft of our reopening plan for September. While they will not be voting on the final plan document until Wednesday evening, the Committee intends to take a final vote on key aspects of the plan this evening, including the first day of school, and the model (Hybrid or Fully Remote) that we will open with on the first day. I will message you tomorrow morning with key decisions made this evening.

The draft plan was emailed to families and it is also posted HERE on the Stay Connected page. After weeks of meetings and discussions of all the various aspects of our reopening, we will be walking through this plan in detail this evening as we move towards a final decision.

For those wishing to join the meeting via Zoom tonight, you can log in using the connection details below. Please note, tonight's meeting starts at 6:30 PM.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87992684276?pwd=cERuYUFnU21URzhOK2dYUnUwaVRWdz09

Meeting ID: 879 9268 4276

Passcode: 893053

Join by Phone: (312) 626 - 6799 or (646) 876 - 9923

The final detailed plan will be edited to reflect the discussion held this evening, and then approved by the School Committee on Wednesday night at their meeting starting at 7:00 PM. I will be sharing the final plan and full details on the reopening of schools on Thursday morning with the entire Triton Community.

As we have continued to reiterate throughout the spring and summer, there are factors of the pandemic overall and the closure of schools, in particular, that may require that we pivot and adjust our plans. While we have attempted to confirm as many details as possible before making a final decision to limit this possibility, changes could be required, even after a final vote is taken on Wednesday evening.

Again, key decisions including the first day of school and model for reopening will be determined tonight, and I will be sending everyone a brief message with those details first thing tomorrow morning.

Sincerely,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

August 4, 2020 - 6:30 PM

Triton Families,

We are writing with a brief update on a few aspects of the fall school re-opening. First, thank you to everyone who filled out district surveys, attended the online forums, and sent in feedback and questions via email. While a lot of work is still ongoing and some answers are not available yet, it became clear through those communications that we were able to answer many of the questions!

We want to address four particular items that came up repeatedly:

Safety is a paramount concern in district planning. We are examining every aspect of the school day for all grades in all buildings, as well as reviewing protocols and processes with our town health agents and public health nurses. The safety of our students and staff has always been a priority, and we heard our concerns mirrored in your comments.

Remote learning, regardless of whether it is in a hybrid or full remote model, will be significantly different with regard to structure, expectations, grading, and support (both academic and technological) than this past spring. We are planning on using recent Federal COVID Relief funding from the state to provide a Chromebook to every student and ensure internet access for those who do not currently have it in their homes.

There will be a full remote learning model offered for those families that would prefer it, even if the district is using a model with an in-person component.

Planning and scheduling need to happen as fast as reasonably possible. We know you are eagerly waiting for information about the school calendar, educational model, school day schedules, and childcare options. We anticipate having the most significant decisions made at the School Committee meeting being held on Monday, August 10th, and a full plan out to you within a couple of days afterward. More information on this will be coming out by Monday afternoon at the latest, including a plan in draft format.

An updated list of other frequently asked questions from the survey and the discussion forums, a summary of the survey results, and the initial plan filed with the state on July 31st is available on the Triton Stay Connected site at https://sites.google.com/tritonschools.org/trsd/home.

Thank you again for ongoing feedback and patience as we work to ensure our reopening plans address all safety and academic concerns. If you have further feedback or question on the plan to reopen schools, please send feedback to schoolcommittee@tritonschools.org and questions to reopening@tritonschools.org.

Respectfully,

Nerissa Wallen, School Committee Chair

Brian L. Forget, Superintendent of Schools

____________________________________________________________________________

July 23, 2020 - 7:15 PM

Good Afternoon,

We trust this message finds you well. As we continue our planning towards a safe and effective reopening in September, we wanted to provide a brief update and share some opportunities to receive your feedback.

A survey has been created and we are asking families to provide a response for each child in your household. This survey contains detailed questions and information, so please take some time to read the information and questions carefully and provide us with answers to all questions so our planning can be well informed. The survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ReopeningFamilySurvey07222020.

We also wanted to remind everyone of the District Q&A webpage that was launched a couple of weeks back and is being kept routinely updated, and was updated again today at https://sites.google.com/tritonschools.org/trsd/home. Please check this page routinely as we are providing answers to questions as decisions are made. If you have questions to be added to this resource, please send a message to the Reopening Working Group at reopening@tritonschools.org.

Finally, we are hosting a series of discussion sessions for School Committee members and administration to listen to your opinions and perspective on re-opening schools in the fall. One session is scheduled for each school, but if you cannot attend the session for the school(s) your student(s) attend, feel free to join any other session that does work for you. These sessions are hosted virtually via Zoom Meeting. Feedback can also be submitted by email to schoolcommittee@tritonschools.org.

Newbury Elementary: Tuesday, July 28th, 4:00 - 5:30 PM

Attend online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86309712557?pwd=Y1l6Q2laSUtvN2crVS9HZ1psWFZMQT09

OR call in: +1 646 876 9923

Meeting ID: 863 0971 2557

Passcode: 129161

Pine Grove School: Wednesday, July 29th, 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Attend online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87350567460?pwd=Nkp2TE5aNGNYRHRmSmx3NlFqaVJtUT09

OR call in: +1 646 876 9923

Meeting ID: 873 5056 7460

Passcode: 840916

Salisbury Elementary: Tuesday, July 28th, 8:30 - 10:00 AM

Attend online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85798748698?pwd=UW55WURSZmRUaEVGb2UyT1plMnBxQT09

OR call in: +1 646 876 9923

Meeting ID: 857 9874 8698

Passcode: 733499

Triton Middle School: Thursday, July 30th, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Attend online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81621599096?pwd=MU5BSXZlcHhOdVl3MnVBLzJRcEoyZz09

OR call in: +1 646 876 9923

Meeting ID: 816 2159 9096

Passcode: 910734

Triton High School: Thursday, July 30tg 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Attend online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88998953234?pwd=Z1ZVN3J0c2pyYkU3NVVOMEtaMk0wdz09

OR call in: +1 646 876 9923

Meeting ID: 889 9895 3234

Passcode: 769436

Community Feedback: Friday, July 31st, 10:30 - 11:30 AM

Attend online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88372981383?pwd=Wit5aWsrbWlRK0ZqUStDbjlMT1RtZz09

OR call in: +1 646 876 9923

Meeting ID: 883 7298 1383

Passcode: 431104

We thank you for your patience and involvement as we work through this process, and remain committed to establishing plans for reopening in the fall that prioritize the overall health and well being of our students and staff.

Respectfully,

Nerissa Wallen, School Committee Chair

Brian L. Forget, Superintendent of Schools

____________________________________________________________________________

July 2, 2020 - 4:00 PM

Good Afternoon,

I am writing with a brief update on the reopening planning process, as I promised I would by the end of this week!

The reality is that there is very little new information that I can report, a fact that is frustrating for everyone involved, from students and families to educators and administrators. I assume many have seen the official guidance released by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) late last week, but I have also included the link at the bottom of this message for those interested in a deeper dive into the details. There are many questions that remain unanswered as this is only initial guidance, and we do not expect final guidance and all the answers until later in July.

Our Reopening Working Group has met several times and will continue to meet almost weekly through the summer. This group includes students, educators from all disciplines, administrators, and parents, all of whom bring diverse perspectives to the table as we grapple with the details of a safe and effective opening. This group is working through the initial guidelines as well as new information received through on-going meetings with the Commissioner and DESE staff.

As required, the working group is working through the planning for three scenarios: a full return with restrictions, a hybrid model (alternating remote and in-person learning), and fully remote. The guidance places a very clear priority on a return of all students while reducing the social distancing requirement to 3 feet and requiring masks to be worn all day for staff and students in grades 2 and above. We are working to test out those assumptions for our classrooms and spaces to determine our capability to bring students and staff back in a way that ensures their health and safety. While DESE places this full return for all students as the priority, we will only do so if we can ensure that it is safe for all involved.

Regardless of the scenario in which we open in September, we will have a solid plan in place in the coming weeks that will ensure that we offer a high-quality learning experience for all students. Unfortunately, as we continue to await further clarity from DESE, I will not be able to share concrete plans the first week of July as I had originally hoped and planned. I understand that if we were to open in September in either a hybrid and fully remote model, that families need considerable time for planning. I will confirm plans as soon as possible, but not until I am confident that our methodology is solidly in place and that we are unlikely to have to change course!

There have been questions asked about families having the option of which model to choose for their child(ren). There will not be an a la carte approach to the various scenarios, as we will need to implement a district-wide, uniform approach across all schools. That said, in cases where there is a medically documented reason (i.e. being immunocompromised) why a student (or staff member!) is unable to be present in school, we will be making alternative arrangements that rely more on a remote learning experience. Those decisions will be made on a case by case basis, and more information will be forthcoming on that later in July.

We expect to send several surveys to inform our next steps in the coming weeks, getting more detailed as we progress through the summer. Please look for those and participate to ensure that we are developing a plan that best meets the needs of all students, families, and educators!

I will be in touch with further information as soon as possible. In the meantime, I wish you all a safe, healthy, and happy Fourth of July!

Regards,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

June 25, 2020 - 9:00 AM

Good Morning,

Some of you may have already seen reports in the Boston Globe or other news outlets, perhaps with some inaccuracies, about the initial state guidelines for schools that are being issued later today. This continues to be a challenging situation, made worse when news outlets have access to information before school administrators, making it impossible to prepare and provide answers to the real and pressing questions that you all have. We just received the guidelines overnight, and they are being issued publicly by DESE later today, so we are just now in the midst of unpacking the requirements. I expect there will be a mechanism to provide direct feedback to the state for those interested, and I will provide that information to you all once available.

We have a district working group of high school students, educators, and administrators that was previously scheduled for today, and that group will continue the work of planning for September, now with the initial guidance in hand. There are also a series of meetings and calls starting today and into next week with DESE and other statewide organizations that will fill in the many gaps and questions raised by the guidelines as written, as they set the priority of having all students return to physical schools in September. This is only initial guidance, and we expect that there will be a continuous flow of updates and adjustments throughout the summer, so it will take some time to confirm our plan. Regardless, I will provide an update on our progress with further details by the end of next week.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Sincerely,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

June 16, 2020 - 1:30 PM

Video Update: https://youtu.be/1yUlQAtUgE8

To the Triton Community,

Another school year has come to an end, only this marks the end of a year like no other. With the final 13+ weeks of the year happening remotely, this spring has challenged, students, families, and educators in ways we could never have predicted back in early March. I have had hundreds of conversations throughout the past months, hearing the stories of how we as a community of students, educators, staff, and families have supported one another to provide the greatest possible outcomes for everyone involved. This has included finding new ways to make learning relevant for students, providing meals and support for those in need, and celebrating accomplishments in new and creative ways. That Triton Community pride was on full display this past Saturday night when so many of you lined the 12 mile route from Rowley to Salisbury Beach to cheer on the Triton Class of 2020 as they paraded to their graduation ceremony. This was just one example, and I thank you all for the way you actively demonstrated your partnership and support over these past months.

With the school year behind us, we look to the fall with uncertainty remaining as to the trajectory of the pandemic, the state and local budgets, and the guidelines that will emerge from the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) for opening schools in September. I am sorry that I cannot yet provide any further clarity. There have been various concepts for the fall that have been floated out, some of which have caused quite a stir. The fact remains that we do not have any definite answers from DESE, so I am not willing to breed further confusion by speculating on the guidance we will be operating under. We expect these guidelines, likely to be requirements rather than suggestions, to be formally issued in writing by the end of June, or very early July.

Be on the lookout in your email for surveys for families and staff in the coming days, requesting feedback on the experience this past spring. That feedback will be used in conjunction with guidance from DESE once received in writing to confirm our plans, and we will provide confirmed details to families as soon as feasibly possible.

You can expect communication about any noteworthy budget developments or fall plans through our traditional methods of email, phone, text, and social media over the summer, and we will also look to set up some opportunities for virtual question and answer sessions as well. Please stay tuned.

Until then, I thank you for your continued patience, and wish you all a restful and relaxing summer, free from Zoom and Google Meet lessons and class meetings. : )

Sincerely,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

June 2, 2020 - 2:30 PM

Dear Triton Families,

As we approach the end of year, there are some updates I wanted to share.

You have, or will soon, receive details from your child(ren)’s school in regards to celebrations of important milestones, end of year processes, picking up of personal belongings, and returning school property. We are attempting to keep our schedule and routines as normal as possible within the restrictions and context of the closure. As I have said time and time again, we are so appreciative of your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenging times.

The Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, June 13th. The celebration will include a graduate parade beginning at approximately 6:30 in Rowley, proceeding through Newbury and on up into Salisbury. The anticipated route will be up Route 1A and restricted because of the size of the procession, but we will provide an update of the exact route next week. Come out and find a place along the route, as we would love to see everyone from Viking Nation out to support our seniors as they roll to their ceremony out at Salisbury Beach!

The nature of this pandemic and the resulting restrictions has made it difficult to plan proactively, and that continues to be the case as we look towards next year. We are anticipating that we will have joint guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) by mid-June in regards to what the reopening of schools may look like in Massachusetts. This information will be used to confirm our own plans, and will dictate the model for our return, whether that is in person, remote, or a hybrid of the two.

As this state guidance will coincide with the end of the school year, I will be asking for your help in completing a survey to provide us with feedback on your experience with remote learning this spring, helping to inform our decisions for September. You can expect to see that survey released within a couple days of the final day of school on June 16th. We will be using this information in late June and early July to confirm plans for the fall and share them with all families as early as possible in July.

Please note that at this time, we are not planning to run any summer activities, including Athletics and Kids Club. For those students receiving summer services through Special Education, we are planning primarily remote services, perhaps with some limited in person services within the buildings as state guidelines may allow. Students who have summer services on their IEP`s will be receiving more information as we receive guidance from the state in the next week or two.

On a final note, you are likely well aware of the financial challenges created by the pandemic at the national level, for Massachusetts, our communities, and for many among us as you face the loss of jobs. I am so grateful that our member town officials have remained supportive of the district budget for next year, and we are hopeful Annual Town Meetings can occur as scheduled later this month to approve our spending. That said, we are beginning to plan for the very real possibility that we could lose considerable state funding that would result in the need to make cuts to our programming and staffing. While a final determination is not likely until later summer or early fall, we anticipate some updated information by July 1st. While I remain cautiously optimistic that we will not see significant reductions, it is prudent that we prepare, and we are beginning the process of identifying possible reduction scenarios at this time. I will provide an update to our community as soon as possible, and we will also be available to answer any questions during our remaining virtual drop in sessions scheduled for late today (4:00 PM) and Thursday. (see schedule HERE)

These are challenging times, and I suspect they will remain challenging for the months ahead. However, I am confident that we will get through this by supporting one another as we have, by celebrating our successes in any way we can, and by working together to provide for our students and our communities.

Thank you,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

May 15, 2020 - 3:20 PM

Good Afternoon Triton Families,

I trust this message finds you healthy and well, now enjoying some weather that is starting to feel like a real spring!

With the adjustment of having worked through April Vacation, the final day of school will be on Tuesday, June 16th. As we approach that final day without the ability to return to our buildings, we are currently working on a schedule to organize all student belongings for pickup in a safe, contact free manner.

Over the coming weeks, educators will be able to get into their classrooms to pack up, organize, and consolidate all materials and student's personal belongings. To do this in a way that maintains social distancing and safety guidelines, this will require a staggered and limited number of educators in the building at any one time. The amount of time and energy this will take varies greatly by grade level, so the pickups will be scheduled over the weeks of both June 1st and June 8th, with an exact date/time to be confirmed by your child(ren)'s school. Student's belongings will be organized in bags and clearly labeled with student names, and pickups will be completed curbside, within no need to exit your vehicle, and our staff members fully protected and with social distancing in place.

Specific details about the schedule for your child(ren)'s pickup will be shared by your building principal by the last week of May. Please note, our goal is to ensure efficiency, safety, and accuracy in collecting and returning all student belongings, so for those with more than one student in a particular school, you may be asked to pickup materials for each child at different times. Thanks for your understanding.

As a result of teachers needing to be in and consolidating your children's belongings, there may be a day or two where the daily expectations for remote learning are adjusted or relaxed for your child(ren). That information will be confirmed on a case by case basis.

Again, specific information about scheduled pickup dates and times will be coming to you from your child(ren)'s school by the week of May 26th at the latest, with pickup times being scheduled either the week of June 1st - 5th, or June 8th - 12th. In the meantime, we ask for your patience with questions until the schedule is shared with you.

As always, if I can assist in answering any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

May 6, 2020 - 1:15 PM

The MA Department of Public Health's Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program is informing our health and community partners that WIC services are available by phone. ALL WIC Programs are able to provide all services by phone to align with social distancing efforts. Our website will be kept up-to-date as well. Contact local WIC programs with any questions about breastfeeding, nutrition or shopping. Even if local program offices are not open, they are responding to phone calls and providing services from remote locations. WIC is committed to providing families with continued support now and in the days ahead.

WIC welcomes families at any time. Check out WIC's eligibility page to see how families can apply online for WIC services. Parents, grandparents and foster parents may apply for children under the age of five years who are in their care.

Call WIC at 1-800-942-1007 or 617-721-6601 weekdays Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you hear a recording, please leave a message with your name and telephone number, and staff will respond the same business day or email a Local WIC Program directly with any questions.

Download the list: WIC Local Program Email Addresses.

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May 5, 2020 - 6:30 PM

Good Evening Triton Families,

I hope this message finds you healthy and well getting used to the chilly air again after the taste of summer this past weekend. As has come to be the norm, I apologize for the lengthy email, but ask you read it in detail as it contains important information.

As I mentioned in my brief message last week, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released updated guidance on April 24th that will guide our remote learning through the end of the school year. After 'unpacking' the guidance locally, we have revised our Remote Learning Plan for this third phase of closure. The plan is available at the link above and by clicking HERE, and includes a chart that shows the key differences between the three phases since our closure on March 13th. While the changes are not significant, these new learning expectations will begin on Monday, May 11th. I encourage you to read this plan as it has more extensive information that the summary in this message.

Our top priority remains the overall well being of our students and staff, and maintaining connections between school and home. By and large, the remote learning arrangement we have had in place now for several weeks will continue, with some tweaking of expectations and content. The As I have said before, we are attempting to provide an effective learning experience for all students, with a broad range of capabilities and access. The plan clearly sets out expectations for students to engage both in online and offline work, with both scheduled (synchronous) as well as self-paced (asynchronous) learning. As we fully understand the challenges brought on by this pandemic and resulting closure, we are favoring asynchronous learning that can be scheduled to best fit family schedules, but do want to make sure we are continuing to have students maintain connections through online sessions with peers and educators. If you have a situation or challenge with meeting these scheduled expectations, please contact your child's teacher to talk through alternatives so your child won't be adversely effected.

The key changes to the plan include:

As was the case in recent weeks, students are expected to participate in learning experiences and assignments provided by all teachers, including core, elective, and specials classes (depending on grade level). Moving forward, we will be maintaining a more consistent system to ensure we are engaging all students. This is not attendance in the traditional sense, but a way to ensure that we are effectively engaging all students in the remote learning experience.

We will introducing new learning focused on priority standards that attempt to minimize the gaps in learning to ensure students the greatest success as they transition to the next grade level in September. It is important to note that no student is falling behind, as we are taking a consistent approach at the district and state level. We will be completing further work over the summer and next year to mitigate the lost classroom time for all students.

Similar to what many are already experiencing, students will be required to participate in weekly meetings online via Zoom or Google Meet. While we are favoring asynchronous learning as noted above, it is important to maintain connections between students and educators. As noted, please contact your child's teacher if there are extenuating circumstances from the closure that preclude your child from participating.

In this new phase, we anticipate that some classes will need access to learning materials that are in classrooms. This will vary by grade level, but teachers will be coordinating times to gather these materials and will contact students/families to arrange times for curb side pickup as needed. This will not include students' personal belongings (see below). If you do not hear from your child's teacher, you can assume no further instructional materials are needed.

I have spoken with many parents over the past weeks about the challenge of managing learning from home. This is further complicated by the many online systems and portals that are being used by our 250+ educators. I understand this challenge myself as a parent, and we have worked to streamline all information onto the Stay Connected Pages. While we would like to further consolidate the information, and will continually tweak and improve over the coming weeks, unifying under a single platform is not possible. However, to assist in signing onto many of our student systems and portals, students/families can use the Clever Portal for a single access to those systems. Information on how to access this site is on the Technology Stay Connected Page that is linked above.

Closing out this school year remotely will be very challenging for students, educators, and families. We have been working on ways to celebration those students hitting milestones in the 6th and 8th grades, and certainly the Class of 2020, as well as other end of year celebrations and rituals. There are also ongoing discussions about ways that we can provide some genuine closure for students and teachers on this school that has taken some very wild twists and turn. You will be hearing more directly from schools in the coming days/weeks about those events and processes that will affect your child(ren) directly.

I understand that most students still have many personal belongings in the school that need to be picked up, and you are anxious to get them. As noted above, any curb side pickup of materials this week will be confined to learning resources teachers determine to be needed. We are working to confirm a schedule during May and into June that will provide staggered curb side pickup of all student belongings. We are monitoring the required state wide closure of school buildings and expect to be able to begin this process of organizing, bagging, and labeling student materials for pickup by next week. You will hear directly from your child(ren)'s building principal once a schedule is confirmed with dates and times for your child . Thank you for your patience.

Finally, with the decision to open schools for remote learning during April break, the last day of school was tentatively moved to Tuesday, June 16th. As the calendar has been anything but typical this year, the School Committee will be reviewing the adjusted school year requirements and officially confirming the final day of school for this year at their meeting next Wednesday, May 13th.

Thank you for your continued patience and partnership as we continue to improve each day on our remote learning experience that has taken everyone outside their comfort zone. Please don't hesitate to reach if there are any questions I can answer.

Regards,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

April 24, 2020 - 11:45 AM

Good Morning,

I am writing with a brief reminder about our Grab & Go Meals program, including an update for existing participants! We will continue this program right through the last day of school on June 16th. As a reminder, we are offering FREE Grab & Go meals to ALL children 18 years and under, regardless of income, 7 days per week, provided on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. If you have a child(ren) and live in Newbury, Rowley, or Salisbury, you are encouraged to participate in this program. New menu items are being offered each day, and each day's meals included both a both a breakfast and lunch.

We will continue to offer the meals as we have since mid March, with the following adjustments starting Monday, April 27th:

Curb side pickup at Salisbury Elementary will be now be from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM (M,W,F)

***NEW*** - We are ADDING curb side pickup at Pine Grove School from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM (M,W,F)

If you are already participating, you don't need to do anything (except note the new pickup times). If you have not been participating and would like to, please complete this anonymous meal form by clicking HERE. While completion of the form is not required to receive meals, we encourage you to provide us with very basic, anonymous information simply to ensure we are preparing an adequate number of meals and to let us know if you prefer pickup or delivery.

Meals will be provided for all seven (7) days per week, but provided on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We will provide 2 days of meals on Monday, 2 days of meals on Wednesday and 3 days of meals on Friday. All preparation and handling of food, including deliveries by school bus, are being completed by ServSafe trained Food Service workers.

Thank you again to the amazing Food Services folks who are doing outstanding things to continue to provide these much needed meals to our community. If you have any questions about this program, please reach out directly to Lucinda Ward at Lucinda.Ward@tritonschools.org.

Regards,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

April 21, 2020 - 12:20 PM

Triton Families,

I am saddened as I was hopeful we would be able to bring students back for even a small portion of June, but Governor Baker announced at his daily press conference moments ago that all schools in Massachusetts will indeed be closed for the remainder of the school year.

I know this extension raises a whole host of further questions about what that means for the rest of this year and what a return will look like in September, and we are working on answers. We anticipate updated Remote Learning Guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) by the end of this week that will likely be largely consistent with prior guidance and our local plan, but may include some slight tweaks with this closure is now extended an additional 7 weeks. While we have been planning for this in our 'what if' scenarios, we will now be shifting into high gear to confirm further details as we have a clear determination that we will not be returning this year. Further communication will be coming by next week.

In the meantime you can expect that the remote learning experience your child(ren) have had in place for the past two weeks will resume tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22nd as planned. In addition to any tweaks to the remote learning that will continue for the rest of this school year, we will also be making decisions about how we will adjust the many end of year activities within this remote model, including a way to truly honor and celebrate the Class of 2020. For decisions specific to schools and grade levels, we will be in touch with those impacted as they are made in the coming days and weeks.

Again, thank you for your patience and understanding. Please contact me by email if there are any questions I can help answer.

Thank you,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

April 10, 2020 - 10:00 AM

As we wrap up our first week of the new Remote Learning model, I want to provide you with a brief update on that process and alert you to a change in the upcoming April Vacation.

The shift to remote learning as of this past Monday has been a major adjustment for everyone, including students, families and educators. I appreciate the communication I have had with many of you, and fully understand the stress that this shift has created for many of you. Above all our goal remains caring for one another, and know that our shifting expectations are framed in a complete understanding of everyone's current reality. If you or your child are having challenges with the workload or expectations, please reach out to your child's teacher.

I also wanted to alert you to a change that we have made in the April vacation schedule. After a great deal of internal discussion and with families over the past days and continuing with the School Committee Wednesday night, we have adjusted the April vacation week and will not be taking a full week off from delivering remote learning. We will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, April 20th and 21st, and then reopen for remote learning Wednesday through Friday, April 22nd to 24th. The decision was made in an attempt to balance the need for a break with the importance of continuity as we are just finding our stride with the new Remote Learning model.

I am growing more confident by the day that a May 4th return to our physical buildings may not be feasible, but I remain hopeful that we return at some point later in May or June. This change to the April vacation would make the final day of school Tuesday, June 16th based on the current school calendar and the updated requirements issued by the Department of Education. However, with the potential return uncertain at this time, we will be periodically re-evaluating with the School Committee whether the school calendar needs to be adjusted as the state provides additional guidance. The final day of school will remain flexible, but the absolute latest we would be ending the school year would be on Friday, June 19th as currently listed on our calendar. I will be sure to keep you updated in the weeks ahead.

Please remember that this is new for everyone, and we fully understand that this has placed a burden on families to facilitate school in your homes. We are continually adjusting our approach, so if you are finding the new expectations challenging, please be in contact with your child's teacher to ensure we are able to accommodate your personal situation.

This information has been posted to the Stay Connected page linked to our main district page or found directly at https://sites.google.com/tritonschools.org/trsd/home.

Thank you, and to all those who celebrate, I wish you a Happy Easter!

Sincerely,

Brian

____________________________________________________________________________

April 1, 2020 - 5:00 PM

Good Afternoon,

My apologies for the length of this update, but please read it in its entirety as it contains important information.

As we continue our journey through this unprecedented closure of schools and non-essential services, I am hopeful, first and foremost, that this message finds you and your family healthy and well. Many of us are now feeling and seeing the expanding impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in our own families, friends, and social circles, making it difficult to focus on anything other than day to day progress. While we are primarily an educational institution with limited capacity to support families beyond that, we are here to support our community in any way that we can. Please reach out to me or any of your routine contacts within the schools if we can be of assistance in supporting you or connecting you with other local agencies.

I provided to you a message from Commissioner Riley on Monday that outlined the state’s guidance on continuing our academic programming for the duration of this closure. At present, the closure takes us through May 4th, with the realistic possibility that it may be extending beyond that. I am hopeful we will be in a place to have that decision made sooner rather than later, but we are planning for all possibilities. There are many questions that remain in regards to the spring and ending of the school year, from grading and the MCAS exams, to the spring athletic season and end of year ceremonies such as senior week and graduation. As we gain more clarity as to the certainty of our return on May 4th, we will be in a better place to finalize these decisions and communicate them with the entire Triton Community. Thank you for your continued patience.

In an attempt to maintain some normalcy to the academic progress of our students, we have developed an updated Remote Learning Plan that will take effect on Monday, April 6th and be in place for the duration of the closure. This plan, as required and outlined by the Commissioner, attempts to provide academic services to the greatest extent possible given the circumstances. There are myriad challenges to provide equitable access for all students in a routine academic setting, and that is made more complex by moving to a remote learning model and the increasing challenges for our community because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The plan is a very formal document, and reads that way with important legal notices included within it. However, while we are looking to advance the academic programming for our students as a whole, we are doing so with the full understanding of the realities many of our families are facing.

The plan can be found via the link above, or directly at https://sites.google.com/tritonschools.org/trsd/remote-learning-plan. A PDF version of the plan can be found at the link.

You have likely seen and accessed the “Stay Connected” websites for each school, and we have created a district site to be the hub for all important resources. The district Stay Connected page is now prominently linked to our main website at www.tritonschools.org. This page will be the central point for all further updates, with direct links to each of the Stay Connected pages for schools, as well as key resources like the Grab n’ Go Meals program and technology resources and support. A huge thank you to the many folks who had a hand in bringing these sites and resources together, and to Dan Jewett, assistant principal at NES for being the mastermind behind the concept. This is an incredible tool to see all the amazing work being done to keep everyone connected.

Please review the plan in detail, as it includes important information about the expectation for students to engage in learning, a shift from the original approach we established for the initial weeks of closure. It is important to note that since some students may face inequitable access to learning during this closure, credit will not be withheld if lack of engagement is due to access challenges. Further information on the specifics in regards to what this will look like for your child will be provided by their teacher(s) in the coming days.

Please remember that we are all learning together how best to implement remote learning. To that end I ask for your understanding and patience as we continue to adjust our learning model to best meet the needs of all students, improving our effectiveness with each day that passes. Please hold off on any specific questions to educators until Monday, as they are currently in the process of planning for this change in approach. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

If there are questions about any of this information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at Brian.Forget@tritonschools.org.

Sincerely,

Brian

_____________________________________________________________________

March 30, 2020 - 5:45 PM

Good Afternoon,

Please find attached at the link below a letter from Jeffrey Riley, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. The letter to all families in Massachusetts officially outlines the guidance provided to us this past Thursday by DESE, and is included in both English and Spanish.

As noted in the attached letter and in my message to you last weeek, we are developing an updated remote learning plan that will begin on Monday, April 6th and carry us through the duration of this extended closure. I will be sending that out to you all by Wednesday at the latest. Thank you for your continued patience.

Sincerely,

Brian

DESE Letter to Families on COVID-19 (English)

DESE Letter to Families on COVID-19 (Spanish)

_____________________________________________________________________

March 27, 2020 - 9:15 AM

Good Morning Triton Families,

I am writing to provide an important update on the Grab & Go Breakfast and Lunch program that we are providing to ALL Triton families at NO cost, regardless of income.

If you have already been participating in the program, skip right to the Program Update.

If you have NOT signed up and want to participate, please see both the Summary and the Update.

Summary:

We are providing a grab and go breakfast and lunch for any district child who wants or needs them, whether you live in Newbury, Rowley, or Salisbury, for the duration of the closure. No qualification or personal information required! You just need to complete this anonymous survey to assist us in meal quantity planning and preferred delivery method. We are delivering via buses throughout Salisbury, offer curb side pickup for families from all towns from 8:00 - 9:00 AM at Salisbury Elementary, and have coordinated deliveries to Newbury and Rowley families at their homes through the Boys & Girls Club. Bus routes are posted in the survey, and also at this link.

Program Update: Effective this Monday, March 30th

We will be ONLY offering delivery/pickup three (3) days per week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for the safety of all those involved

We are offering meals seven (7) days per week, now including weekends!

Monday Morning: Each child will receive a bag with 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches for both Monday and Tuesday

Wednesday Morning: Each child will receive a bag with 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches for Wednesday and Thursday

Friday Morning: Each child will receive a bag with 3 breakfasts and 3 lunches, for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

NO delivery/pickup on Tuesday or Thursday.

Again, these grab and go meals contain freshly prepared, pre-packaged meal components, allowing us to set aside any concerns about added exposure to germs during this pandemic closure. Further, all handling of food, including deliveries by school bus, will be handled by ServSafe trained Food Service workers.

On behalf of our entire community, I want to send a massive and heartfelt thank you to our Food Services Director, Lucinda Ward and the entire Food Services staff for their efforts to date to establish this program and the work they are doing each day to keep our children fed. We literally cannot thank them enough!

Again, for those among us who are in a place to provide assistance, our entire community would benefit from our continued support of these three amazing organizations that routinely provide food, clothing, supplies, counseling, and other important services to our community. You can find out how to give and support their work at the links below.

Our Neighbor's Table: https://www.ourneighborstable.org/give.html

Pettengill House: http://www.pettengillhouse.org/donate.aspx

Boys and Girls Club: https://www.bgclmv.org/how-you-can-help/donate/

If you have any questions, please contact Lucinda Ward at Lucinda.Ward@tritonschools.org.

Sincerely,

Brian

_____________________________________________________________________

March 25, 2020 - 4:30 PM

Good Afternoon,

I am writing with a very brief update on an extension of the school closures in Massachusetts that was just declared by Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley a few moments ago. The original closure was declared through Tuesday, April 7th, and that has now been extended through Monday, May 4th. There are clearly decisions being made at the state level in response to the rapidly changing data on this virus, the result of which was that superintendents and educators learned about this extension at the same time everyone else did.

We have certainly been preparing for this possibility, but there are questions that remain in regards to our capabilities to provide remote learning opportunities for all students. Commissioner Riley noted that we can expect further clarification and documented guidance tomorrow morning from the Massachusetts Department of Education that will speak to our responsibility and ability to provide an equitable educational opportunity for all students. We will be working diligently to unpack that information in the days ahead, and I will provide further details about any changes to our approach to student learning through the extended closure by early next week. Academic expectations as laid out out on our website and through communications by educators will remain in place until further notice.

For those families taking advantage of our Grab and Go breakfast and lunch program, that will continue for the duration of the closure. More details about some slight tweaks to that program, including the addition of weekend meals, will be posted by the end of the week.

I was hoping that we would receive advanced warning of any extended closures to allow us to accurately plan and share further details when that was announced. Unfortunately, this situation is evolving rapidly at the state level and that didn't happen. I understand this is a difficult situation for all of us, and I want to thank everyone, including students, families, and our educators and staff for your patience and understanding during these trying times.

Sincerely,

Brian

_____________________________________________________________________

March 19, 2020 – 1:30 PM

Good Afternoon,

I am writing with a few quick updates on food resources. While we have our own program rolling in partnership with outside agencies for student breakfasts and lunches, there are also many resources within our communities that have stepped up to help families. Please see the following updates.

As of this morning, day two of our Grab and Go program, we had over 166 students involved, with 332 meals delivered for today. That number will continue to grow by the day! Curb side pickup is going as planned. However, if you are waiting at the bus stop, please be patient!!! The route times are computer generated assuming normal operation. The stops are taking a bit longer as bagged meals are unloaded, so those stops later in the route will run behind. Please be patient; we will be there! 🙂

Our Neighbor’s Table has organized a listing of local agencies and organizations that are providing food pantries, meals, and other resources within our communities across the Northshore. The information can be viewed as a dynamic listing online by clicking HERE.

Thank you to everyone, across all our communities, for the working being done to assist families in need.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

March 18, 2020 – 5:00 PM

As we continue to navigate the many challenges that we are all facing relative to COVID-19 as individuals and as a community, I wanted to provide you with a quick update on our non-academic operations while schools are officially closed. We remain committed to fulfilling our responsibilities to our students, families, and the greater Triton community. As such, we will continue to provide all essential school and district functions, but operating remotely wherever possible.

With an eye towards the health and safety of all employees, effective tomorrow, March 19th, we will be shifting our employees to primarily work remotely. While there will still be essential employees in and through the buildings on a daily basis, we will not be answering the phones and the buildings and offices are closed to the public, as they have been since this past weekend. All employees, however, remain active and accessible to families, students, and the public.

While we will be monitoring voice mails, there will likely be a delay in responding to phone calls during this closure as most will be away from their desk. Email will be the best communication method for the coming weeks, and we are committed to timely responses to any questions or requests you have. You can find a listing of the email contacts of all district employees on our website at https://www.tritonschools.org/faculty-staff/central-office-staff/, and can expect prompt responses to inquiries during our normal business hours.

As you know, the website at https://www.tritonschools.org/#tab-id-2 has been, and will continue to be the hub for all district wide closure information. Specific information and materials are being shared by each school in relation to academic and enrichment experiences for our students. Please continue to communicate with building administrators and teachers as you have been on issues specific to each school.

Despite the uncertainty of the situation we are navigating, I am so encouraged and proud to be part of the Triton community as everyone continues to work together in the best interest of all those that we serve.

Thank you for your continued support.

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March 18, 2020 – 3:30 PM

Comcast is offering free WiFi for everyone, with hotspots available to all, including non-Xfinity subscribers. To access the service, look for the “xfinitywifi” network name in a list of hotspots. For more information, go to www.xfinity.com/wifi.

You can also receive free internet services for 60 days and then it’s $9.95 per month after that if you qualify. In order to qualify to pay just $9.95 per month, you must be eligible for public assistance programs such as National School Lunch Program, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others. Please read more at this link: https://www.internetessentials.com/

For more information, please contact Debra Jones, Director of Technology. Debra.Jones@tritonschools.org

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March 17, 2020 – 3:30 PM

As we navigate through the challenges that this current closure presents, there are many factors contributing to what student learning can and should look like. As a public education institution, our charge is to provide a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) for all students. With the schools closed, the only opportunity for learning is the ‘distance’ model. While access to technology and the internet is an obvious challenge in a distance learning model, the range of academic abilities and disabilities presents the most difficult obstacles to overcome.

To that end, we have established expectations for enrichment opportunities that will keep our students engaged and supported by their teachers and other educators. The following bullets outline what you can expect in regards to academic support from Triton educators during the closure.

Teachers will be providing daily online “office hours” so that children know when their teacher(s) are available. These hours will be shared directly with you and your child by tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18th. Please be patient if you contact a teacher tomorrow, as there will be a lot of emails to address for some teachers. For older students, routine communication from teachers beyond tomorrow’s initial plan being sent to families will be directly with students, as is usually the case.

Enrichment activities and opportunities will be shared daily. These enrichment activities are meant to support outside learning while school is not in session. No work will be assigned with a due date, and no work will be graded. Teachers will, however, be available to provide feedback and guidance as needed.

Teachers will be providing you with links to a variety of online resources. Some of these sites may require a special login. If your child is having difficulty logging on, please submit a ticket to request assistance at https://helpdesk.tritonschools.org/support/login. Please note we can only support the sites that have been approved by the district. For a complete listing of sites supported by the district please click HERE. This listing will be updated routinely, and you can also contact your child’s teacher with any other questions about sites or resources they may suggest.

We are working to have Chromebooks available for students who do not have access to a laptop/device. If you would like to borrow a device for your child, please contact our Director of Technology, Debra Jones at Debra.Jones@tritonschools.org. We can also provide information about how families who qualify can receive free Internet service through Comcast if needed.

Special education timelines for meetings, evaluations and IEP development will all be modified based on the mandatory school closure. Once we are certain when school will reopen we will work to reschedule meetings and timelines will resume. We are in the process of determining the possibility of holding meetings canceled during the closure via telephone or web-based technologies.

If you have questions about your child specifically, you can reach out via email to your building principal. You can also contact our Administrator of Special Education, David Magee at David.Magee@tritonschools.org.

Throughout this closure, please remember that the loss of structure and seeing classmates can be overwhelming for children. Educators will be connecting with your child throughout the school closure, and please also be in contact with them if there are ways to help support your child during this time. School based educators and administrators are the best contact for any specific issues or concerns. If you have questions about the overall academic approach during this closure, please contact Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Croteau at Kimberly.Croteau@tritonschools.org.

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March 17, 2020 – 11:00 AM

Good Morning Triton Families,

We have been working with our partners at Our Neighbor’s Table, Pettengill House, and the Boys and Girls Club in Salisbury to help those who are needing assistance with daily meals during this trying time. I want to thank them for their continued and strong partnership in supporting our communities.

We have established a plan that will provide both a grab and go breakfast and lunch for anyone who is need, whether you live in Newbury, Rowley, and Salisbury, daily during the week on Monday through Friday, for the duration of the closure. These grab and go meals will contain prepared, pre-packaged meal components, allowing us to set aside any concerns about added exposure to germs during this pandemic closure. Further, all handling of food, including deliveries by school bus, will be handled by ServSafe trained Food Service workers.

Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18th, we will be offering a grab and go breakfast and a grab and go lunch program (delivered at the same time) to ANY Triton student to be delivered in one of the following ways:

For Salisbury Residents: We will be running buses to all the routine bus stops in Salisbury, and you can pick up your breakfast and lunch (delivered at the same time) at your stop. Bus routes will begin at about 8:00 AM each day, and the routes with stops/times is included HERE.

For Newbury, Rowley, or Salisbury Residents: You can come to pickup your breakfast/lunch at Salisbury Elementary School. We will have daily (M-F) curbside pickup from 8:00 to 9:00 AM. You will not need to get out of your car for any reason, rather you will simply pull up to the curb and confirm the number of breakfasts/lunches you need and they will be handed to you.

For Newbury or Rowley Residents who are unable to pickup at SES, we have partnered with the Boys and Girls Club, and they will be coordinating deliveries to our students in need in Rowley and Newbury who are not able to come to SES to pick up their meals. The survey will provide more information about how to contact the club to arrange your delivery, as more details will be needed.

For anyone wishing to participate, I have included a very brief survey, to be completed anonymously, to assist us in planning for this new meal program and the number of meals we need to prepare. If you are planning to pick up your breakfast/lunch at SES, then the survey is very quick and easy. If you are a Salisbury resident and will get your breakfast/lunch from the delivery by bus routes, we need to know the route you live on. For Newbury or Rowley residents requesting delivery, we have asked for your email address so that we can communicate further details with you about arranging the program with the Boys and Girls Club.

Please complete this survey as soon as possible if you would like to participate: SURVEY LINK

And for those among us who are in a place to provide assistance, our entire community would benefit from our monetary donations to these three amazing organizations that routinely provide food, clothing, supplies, counseling, and other important services to our community. You can find out how to give and support their work at the links below.

Our Neighbor’s Table: https://www.ourneighborstable.org/give.html

Pettengill House: http://www.pettengillhouse.org/donate.aspx

Boys and Girls Club: https://www.bgclmv.org/how-you-can-help/donate/

I also want to thank our Food Services Director, Lucinda Ward and the entire Food Services staff for their efforts to date to establish this program, as well as the work they will be doing in the weeks ahead to keep our children fed. They are simply the best in the business!!!!

If you have any questions, please contact Lucinda Ward at Lucinda.Ward@tritonschools.org. You can also call the main district office at (978) 465-2397. If no one answers your call, please leave a message.

Thank you.

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March 15, 2020 – 6:30 PM

In the continued spirit of information changing on an hour by hour basis, superintendents were alerted by the Commissioner of Education just before the Governor’s Press Conference moments ago that there would be a mandatory three (3) week closure of all schools across the Commonwealth.

Given that we have already established a two (2) week closure as previously communicated, this extension for one additional week does not in any way change our approach and efforts taken to date. With this statewide closure, schools and school buildings will now be closed through Monday, April 6th, reopening on Tuesday, April 7th.

Given this state-wide proclamation, there will likely be further guidance forthcoming on academic and other implications for our students. As I have previously noted, you will be receiving further updates in the coming days this week. As we have to this point, we will continue sharing information and answers in real time as we have them.

As I requested and encouraged in my message earlier today, social distancing is the only way to stop the spread of COVID-19. Please do everything in your power to take steps by you and your family, for the benefit and protection of our larger community and those most at risk.

Thank you for your continued understanding and patience as we wade through these uncharted waters.

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March 15, 2020 – 10:45 AM

There have been many questions and conversations about the decision to close schools through March 29th, most notably what these two weeks look like for our students if they are not in school. The point of the closure is to slow the possible spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, which means social distancing and avoiding high traffic public places. While our students in general are not in the high risk group because of their age, limiting the spread is imperative to protecting those in our communities who are most at risk. Our collective response to this pandemic is imperative to promote the health of the the whole of our community, and we need to take efforts in that regard.

The logical question being raised is about how much our kids can socialize with friends during this school closure. Simply put, if kids are gathering and hanging out during this closure, it does not help slow the possible spread of COVID-19. The experts are still learning about this virus, but it is believed that it can live on surfaces for days. Please avoid public spaces like playgrounds, and wherever possible, don’t let your kids go to friend’s homes to gather and socialize. As a parent of two teens myself, I don’t suggest that lightly as I know that this is incredibly challenging.

More information will be coming in the days ahead in regards to academic resources to keep your children engaged during this closure. Additionally, I encourage you to take advantage of the warmer days to be outside exploring the amazing natural resources and hikes that can be found in our area. I have listed three resources for outdoor experiences below, many within our member towns.

Mass Audubon: https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/places-to-explore/north-shore

Essex Greenbelt: https://ecga.org/trails

Trustees of Reservations: https://www.hiketrustees.org/explore

During this closure, it is very important to keep your social circles small. Whenever there is a potential case of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, the public health nurse in that city or town completes what is called contact tracing. The tracing process requires gathering information about every person the suspected case has come in close contact (within 6 feet) with. By keeping our social circles small, we can greatly enhance the effectiveness of that tracing and containment of COVID-19.

For the health and safety of everyone in our communities, I ask that you limit your child(ren)’s contact with others during the school closure!

Thank you for your cooperation.

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MARCH 13, 2020 – 3:15 PM

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Dear Triton Community,

Triton, along with several North Shore school districts, has decided to close its schools and facilities beginning Saturday, March 14th, through Sunday, March 29th in an effort to reduce the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to our school community. This decision comes after significant consideration and as we continue to await additional clarifying guidance, specific procedures, and information from state and federal officials. We will provide you all with updated information as it becomes available.

I apologize as you may have already seen a draft joint press release that was issued by a neighboring district in error. That was sent prematurely, and ahead of our agreed timing for alerting everyone in unison. The health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is our primary concern at all times, and we are all acting as quickly as feasibly possible.

While we realize and acknowledge that we are not setup for virtual learning, we value the concept of keeping children engaged and actively learning. We are continuing to review our capacity to keep students engaged with learning during the two week closure, and will be making determinations early next week about how best to proceed. While we cannot replicate these school days, our goal and intent will be to minimize the impacts of this closure.

This virus has caused a great deal of concern internationally, and our district is here to support our students, faculty, and staff. I would encourage you to have honest conversations with your children about what is happening with the coronavirus as this can be a very stressful and anxiety producing topic for them given all of the media and social media attention that they see without any explanation. As such, here are several resources that you may find helpful:

How to Talk to Children about the Coronavirus

Talking to Teen/Tweens about CoronavirusHere is a pamphlet from the article

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate this complex, evolving situation. I fully understand and expect that you have many questions about what this means for your own children. While our schools will be closed for two weeks, we will be very busy in the coming days to make further decisions and clarifications, and I will be in touch with further details and updates for you all next week.

Sincerely,

Brian

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MARCH 12, 2020 – 7:55 PM

Good Evening Triton Families, Staff, and Community,

Much has happened in the last 48 hours since I last updated you on our efforts against COVID-19. I want to reassure you that the health and safety of our students, staff, and community is at the forefront of all our actions and decisions at this time. Enhanced cleaning protocols remain in place for our schools and buses, and I have been in continual conversation with our local health agents and state agencies. We are addressing new information and concerns as they arise, and following CDC and Mass DPH protocols. The available information is changing rapidly, sometimes hourly, and we are responding to all situations in line with updated protocols.

A state-wide conference call originally scheduled for this afternoon was rescheduled for tomorrow morning for all schools with the Department of Education and Department of Public Health. I expect very clear guidance from the state on protocols for the cancelling of events and any potential future school closures.

A regular school day is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, March 13th. Our district team will be meeting tomorrow morning and will be making decisions about our next steps, thoughtfully and carefully, guided by current local information and the updated guidance from state agencies received on the call.

Updates on any and all changes to routines, canceling of events, or school wide closures will be communicated through all our communications and social media platforms, as well as the this site tomorrow afternoon.

Sincerely,

Brian

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March 10, 2020 – UPDATED 5:25 PM

Dear Triton Regional Community:

The reporting of Coronavirus has continued to be very high profile, with a marked increase in new cases over the past week. With that said, the most important information for you to know is that we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Triton Schools, and no knowledge of any connections through students or staff to those who have been diagnosed. Further to that, as of Monday, March 9th at 4:00 PM there have been no presumptive or confirmed cases in Essex County.

We met with district administrators, staff, and our Newbury, Rowley, and Salisbury health agents on Thursday, March 5th to review our procedures and protocols. Our local health officials will continue to take actions as warranted by the evidence and in consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). We all know how fluid this situation is and we continue to stay in close communication with all of these agencies for any new information or guidance.

We are asking ANYONE who might be feeling sick to not come to school, whether students, teachers or parents. For parents planning on attending parent conferences, volunteering in your child’s classroom, or attending a special event, please contact the school to make other arrangements if you are sick or have been in contact with anyone who is currently sick or at risk of contracting Coronavirus because of connections to existing cases or travel to a high impact area of the world.

On Friday, March 6th, Triton administrators participated in the Mass. DESE joint conference call with the Mass department of Education and DPH. During this call, we learned the thoughts and protocols DESE will be using in case of the need of school closures. As we are not prepared to provide education to all students remotely or through distance learning, we will be required to address any required closures as we would other weather related closures.

As we approach the upcoming April vacation, and with many Triton families having college age siblings currently on spring break, there will likely be many families traveling. For anyone traveling outside the United States, please contact your school nurse directly to assess any impact to your family and our schools. For those traveling domestically, the risk is significantly less, but I would encourage you to contact your child(ren)’s nurse if you have questions, and to review any potential risk for your family and the community in general.

I have included information below in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) format. This information has been posted to our website, and will be updated as this situation continues to develop, with new information being added as we receive it.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue, and partnering with us to ensure our schools and community are safe.

Sincerely,

Brian

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) OVERVIEW & FAQ’s

Updated: March 10th

The health and safety of our students and staff is paramount, and we are monitoring the news surrounding COVID-19. At this point, there is no significant risk to the Triton community relative to COVID-19. District plans are being developed in accordance with the latest guidance from the local boards of health, MA Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We recognize that reports of the impact of COVID-19 in the U.S. and around the world can be very troubling, especially for members of our community who are from or have friends and family in affected areas. You can access up-to-date information about COVID-19 on the MA DPH COVID-19 website. Moving forward, we will continue to communicate with you regularly as new information becomes available.

The Frequently Asked Questions included below will be updated as new information becomes available.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) FAQS

Background

Many parts across the world are experiencing an expanding outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. This virus can spread from person-to-person and the number of cases detected in the United States and many other countries is growing. Currently, the immediate risk to the general public in Massachusetts and the United States is considered to be low. Sharing accurate information during a time of heightened concern is one of the best things we can do to keep rumors and misinformation from spreading.

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually cause mild respiratory illnesses such as the common cold. Some coronaviruses have caused more severe illness, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus that was not identified in humans before December 2019.

What are common symptoms of COVID-19?

Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It takes 2 to 14 days after a person gets the virus in their body to become ill. COVID-19 is a new disease, and we are learning more each day about its symptoms and how it is spread. Most often, it is spread from person-to-person via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how flu and other respiratory pathogens spread.

It’s currently unclear if a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or their eyes. Often, with most respiratory viruses, people are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).

What should I do if I suspect a student, staff member, or volunteer is at risk for COVID-19?

If a student, staff member, or volunteer presents with the above criteria, it is important to place them in a private room away from others and ask them to wear a face mask. In consultation with the school nurse and principal, they will immediately notify the district lead nurse and superintendent’s office. Guidance will be provided in consultation with the local health departments and protocols established locally based on guidance from Mass DPH and the CDC.

What if I was near someone who was exposed or diagnosed with COVID-19?

If an individual was in the same location as a person with COVID-19 before they had symptoms, even if they were in close contact, health officials stress that they were not exposed to the virus because the individual was not contagious at that time. In addition, health officials advise that walking through a building or room where there is or was a positive case of COVID-19 does not mean you are a close contact. If you were indeed in close contact with someone who was diagnosed and is symptomatic, you should follow DPH and CDC self quarantine guidelines for 14 days.

What is a Close Contact?

According to DPH, a “close contact” is a person that has been within six feet of a confirmed case for longer then 15 minutes at one time, or in direct contact with infectious secretions, while the case was likely to be infectious. A person is likely to be infectious from when they begin exhibiting symptoms up until at least 24 hours after they are symptom free.

What if I feel sick?

As always, if anyone displays symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough or shortness of breath, they should not come to work or school and they are advised to contact their primary care physician. You may also visit the DPH’s website by clicking here and the CDC’s website by clicking here.

What will happen to the students and employees who miss school?

We are reviewing the potential use of online learning technologies to enable students to continue their lessons with as little disruption as possible. Without any previous wide scale implementation of online or distance learning for students, we will likely not be able to implement this on a wide scale basis if the schools are required to close for a period of time. No student or employee in self-quarantine will have their absences counted against them, and employees will not be using their paid sick or personal days.

Should I avoid coming to the Triton Schools for events or meetings?

At this time, with the information and guidance we have, we are not cancelling district events and gatherings. However, we are asking ANYONE who might be feeling sick to not come to school, whether students, teachers or parents. For parents planning on attending parent conferences, volunteering in your child’s classroom, or attending a special event, please contact the school to make other arrangements if you are sick or have been in contact with anyone who is currently sick or at risk of contracting Coronavirus because of connections to existing cases or travel to a high impact area of the world. If you have questions about any specific events, you can reach out to your child’s teacher or principal. If you are not comfortable coming in for any planned meetings or appointments, we will do our best to provide alternative arrangements for the meeting or event.

I’ve heard other districts are cancelling school to sanitize their classrooms. Is Triton planning on doing the same?

Our maintenance and custodial crews are already working hard to sanitize high contact surfaces daily and we remain in routine contact with our local health departments for the latest updates from our communities, as well as reviewing recommendations from DPH and the CDC. We have not received any information to indicate that anyone in our community is being monitored for novel coronavirus-like symptoms so we have no reason, at this point, to disrupt the school day to perform this type of special cleaning.

We are in the process of acquiring newer ‘electrostatic’ misting devices that more easily provide disinfecting to more surfaces, beyond high contact areas. We did not have these previously, so we are now in a situation where they are back ordered, and we do not anticipate them arriving before early April.

Are student trips planned for this spring still being run as planned? – UPDATED 3/10 at 5:25 PM

The Triton Schools will be acting on the advice and guidance of the CDC and DPH. Updated advice at a 3:30 PM press conference by the Governor changed the recommendation, declaring a State of Emergency in Massachusetts. Previously, these agencies are recommending that all international travel be postponed or cancelled, but that has now changed MA DPH is now recommending no school-based group travel outside of the state be completed.

There are no international trips planned for any Triton groups this spring or summer. We do currently have two trips scheduled in April, including an 8th grade trip to Washington, DC, and a high school Visual & Performing Arts trip to perform at Disney World in Florida. This new guidance will be reviewed and discussed by the School Committee at their meeting on Wednesday, March 11th at 7:00 PM prior to final approvals for these trips, and any adjustments will be made. Information about potential cancellation and any penalties has been communicated with those involved in the trip.

For other routine local field trips this spring, we continue to review them on a case by case basis, but have not cancelled any trips at this time. This may change in the coming weeks based on any changes to the DPH guidance, especially for any trips planned to locations with large numbers of individuals in confined spaces. We will update this FAQ if/when changes are made, in addition to notifying those who are involved in those field trips.

How will the school handle students who are traveling for April break, or who have family members traveling during college spring breaks?

As we approach the upcoming April vacation, and with many Triton families having college age siblings currently on spring break, there will likely be many families traveling. For anyone traveling outside the United States, please contact your school nurse directly to assess any impact to your family and our schools. For those traveling domestically, the risk is significantly less, but I would encourage you to contact your child(ren)’s nurse if you have questions, and to review any potential risk for your family and the community in general.

How will missed days be handled if schools are required to close down for a period of time?

On Friday, Triton administrators participated in the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) joint conference call with the Mass Department of Public Health (DPH). During this call, we learned the approach and protocols DESE will be using in case of the need of school closures. As we are not prepared to provide education to all students remotely or through distance learning, we will be required to address any required closures as we would other weather related closures. This will be the case for the vast majority of schools across the Commonwealth. If there are extended closures, the situation will require further assessment.

Per DESE Guidance: – UPDATED 3/10 at 5:25 PM based on new Guidance by the Governor

• All days lost to health, weather, or safety emergencies between the first day of the school year and March 15th must be made up by rescheduling full school days to ensure a 180-day school year.

• All days lost to health, weather, or safety emergencies between March 16th and June 1 must be made up to ensure a 180-day school year or until the district has reached its previously-scheduled 185th day, whichever comes first. (Triton’s 185th day set for June 19, 2020). If all five snow days have been used prior to this point, the district is not required to schedule additional school days. Districts are not required to make up any days lost to health/weather/safety emergencies that occur after June 1.

What about the MCAS testing?

We are always mindful of the spring state exams. If necessary, we will be in contact with the Department Elementary and Secondary Education to determine if it is possible to postpone the exams this spring in light of the coronavirus situation.

Should students, staff or volunteers returning from China, Italy, or other countries with widespread cases of COVID-19 stay home from school for 14 days?

The CDC recommends that all travelers (including school students, staff and volunteers) from several hard hit countries, including China, Italy, South Korea and Iran, arriving in the United States stay at home, away from others, and monitor their health for 14 days. CDC travel advisories can be found at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices. If these individuals develop a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing during this 14-day period, they should call their local health department and healthcare provider to tell them about their symptoms and recent travel. If any staff member becomes aware of any such individuals in the Triton Schools, they should contact the Superintendent immediately.

What can I do to help prevent COVID-19 in our schools?

Schools do not need to take any special precautions beyond what is normally recommended to prevent the spread of viruses in schools. Students and staff reduce their risk for getting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including the flu and the common cold by taking simple steps which will also prevent COVID-19. These steps include:

• • Staying home when they are sick.

  • Frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after they blow their nose. Help young children do the same. If hands are visibly dirty, use soap and water to clean hands.

  • If soap and water are not readily available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

  • Advising people to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.

  • Following the school’s routine cleaning and disinfection program. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

  • Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and cleaning hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer (if soap and water are not readily available).

  • Provide adequate supplies for good hygiene, including clean and functional hand washing stations, soap, paper towels, and alcohol‐based hand sanitizer.

What steps will the district take to disinfect the schools?

Special processes beyond routine and heightened cleaning are not necessary nor recommended to slow the spread of respiratory illness, including COVID-19. Our maintenance and custodian crews have the necessary equipment to ensure thorough and proper disinfection, and have increased their attention to the highest contact surfaces. Our schools will follow standard procedures for cleaning and disinfecting with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectant with a claim for human coronaviruses. Disinfecting is the responsibility of school custodial staff. They are trained to use disinfectants in a safe and effective manner and to clean up potentially infectious materials and body fluid spills – blood, vomit, feces, and urine. Staff should contact your head custodian if students are ill and your classroom needs cleaning and disinfection.

What will happen if a family member of a student is required to self quarantine?

DPH has confirmed that relatives who are living with someone that is self-quarantining because of a potential exposure, but who is symptom free, can attend school and/or work. This information was confirmed by Dr. Stephen Fleming from DPH. If that family member who is quarantined, or anyone in that household begins to show symptoms or test positive, then that changes. At that point, you would strictly follow additional DPH guidelines, and all members of that household should be isolated for 14 days, and individuals should contact their primary doctor and notify the schools.

Where can I turn for more information?

• • Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – A Parent Resource

  • Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus NPR

  • Handwashing to Prevent Illness at School

  • Handwashing Video World Health Organization

  • The Center for Disease Control COVID-19 Page

  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health COVID-19 Page