Dear EWSD Families and Staff,

 

Today we wanted to share some important milestones in our District’s COVID Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-related supply program. 

 

Here are some of the items we received this week:

• 2,170 Disposable Gowns arrived this week. The District is now fully stocked to meet the anticipated need for protective gowns for our school nurses for the entire school year!
• 1,000 Face Shields. The District has now acquired its supply of reusable face shields for the year. All staff will receive a face shield in addition to reusable masks. Extra plastic face shields will be strategically distributed across the district.
• 10,000 KN95 Masks were distributed to EWSD through a joint program with Vermont Agency of Education and Transportation.
• 5 Disinfectant Spray Foggers have arrived and are ready to be placed in the hands of School Custodians.
• Non-Medical Nitrile Gloves (Size Large) were restocked in this latest shipment. 

 

As of this week, the following PPE orders are in progress awaiting shipment to EWSD:

• 25 Disinfectant Foggers (in addition to 20 foggers already in our inventory)
• 200 32x32-inch Plexiglas Barriers
• 1,300 Reusable Youth Student Cloth Face Masks (Size Small)  
• 2,100 Reusable Youth Cloth Face Masks (Size Medium)  
• 5,100 Reusable Student Cloth Face Masks (Size Youth/Adult) 
• 400 SafeNClear Communicator Masks 

We intend to provide further communication about inventory updates soon as items arrive. It’s another way that the EWSD is preparing for a Strong and Healthy Start as we move toward a school reopening in September. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact District Operations at nwheel@ewsd.org.

Dear Families,

 

The EWSD school nurses are looking forward to welcoming our students back to school. We want to provide some guidance on how we can do this as safely as possible. Here are our current general recommendations: 

• Model and practice mask-wearing with your students. It will be expected that staff and students will wear masks in EWSD buildings. EWSD will be distributing two reusable, cloth masks to each student. When attending school, students should arrive wearing a mask and have a spare mask. If a mask is needed at any time during the school day, there will be cloth and disposable masks available in offices, classrooms, and health offices. In approved circumstances, a face shield may be worn instead of a mask. If you believe your student can not wear a mask/facial covering, please contact your school nurse.
• How to wear face coverings
• Discuss and model social distancing. Social distancing will be observed in EWSD buildings and on EWSD property.
• Demonstrate and practice proper handwashing techniques. Students and staff will be expected to practice hand hygiene upon arrival to school, prior to eating, after using the bathroom, when moving from one physical space in the building to another, after using a tissue for coughing or sneezing, after treating a cut or wound.
• Practice and model the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers (>60% alcohol).
• Handwashing: when and how
• In general, only students and staff will be entering buildings.
• Food cannot be brought into the school for sharing and/or celebrations.
• Food allergy specific guidelines will be shared with families for individual classrooms.
• Water fountains will not be available. Please send in a water bottle with your student.
• Students will not come to school if they have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Students should not come to school if they have been in close contact with a person who has, or is suspected of having, COVID-19. Contact your school nurse for guidance on when your student can return to school.
• Per Governor Scott’s Executive Order, students must follow quarantine guidelines when traveling to certain counties in other states.
• If your student becomes sick with COVID-19 signs and/or symptoms during the school day, they will be dismissed promptly. For younger students, the expectation is that they will be picked up within approximately 30 minutes. For older students that are unable to drive or walk home, the expectation is that they will be picked up within approximately 30 minutes. 

 

Guidelines and protocols may change from time to time. We will communicate changes as soon as we are able. Please reach out to your school nurse with questions and concerns (emails and phone numbers can be found on the school websites).

 

*Please know that you can find updates around school reopening and more at: www.ewsd.org/2020-2021

 

Sincerely,

 

The EWSD School Nurse Team

Dear Families and Staff,

 

To promote a strong and healthy return to school in 2020-21, the EWSD has developed a centralized Personal Protective Equipment and COVID-related supply program. This coordination will allow us to obtain necessary supplies and comply with state bid requirements.

 

The EWSD has joined the Food Service Directors’ Association’s statewide buying group to ensure the best pricing and service possible. Items available in the program can be found here. Additional items are being added to the contract as new needs are identified. 

 

As we move toward reopening schools in September, these materials are being distributed to each location so that our schools are ready for teaching and learning. These initial materials and quantities will be supported by the District maintaining an adequate on-hand inventory and setting reorder points. 

 

District-wide Face Coverings & Shields

• 2 cloth reusable masks per student
• 2 cloth reusable EWSD-branded masks per staff person
• 1 reusable face shield per staff person
• 1 package SafeNClear communicator masks for select Special Education/ELL staff
• Free-standing 32”x32”, tabletop plexiglass shields/dividers (for high traffic areas where face shields are impractical - schools will receive a supply of shields/dividers that can be placed at the discretion of the principal)

 

District-wide Instructional Classroom Kits

• 1 box of disposable three-layer masks 
• 1 14oz bottle alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• 1 1-gallon alcohol-based hand sanitizer with dispenser 
• 1 reusable face shield
• 1 box of nitrile gloves 
• 1 bottle of spray disinfectant
• 1 container of hard surface disinfectant wipes
• 2 reusable/washable microfiber cloths 
• 1 labeled caddy for storing supplies

 

District-wide Office/Department Kits

• 1 box of disposable three-layer masks 
• 1 14oz bottle alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• 1 1-gallon alcohol-based hand sanitizer with dispenser 
• 1 reusable face shield
• 1 box of nitrile gloves 
• 1 bottle of spray disinfectant
• 1 container of hard surface disinfectant wipes
• 2 reusable/washable microfiber cloths 
• 1 labeled caddy for storing supplies
• 1 non-contact thermometer 
• 1 box reusable masks for student

 

District-wide Nurse/Health Office Kits

• 10 boxes of disposable three-layer masks (youth/adult sized)
• 50 N95 disposable masks
• 50 KN95 disposable masks
• 5 reusable face shields
• 1 1-gallon alcohol-based hand sanitizer with dispenser 
• 10 boxes of medical and non-medical gloves 
• 2 bottles of spray disinfectant
• 5 containers of hard surface disinfectant wipes
• 6 reusable/washable microfiber cloths 
• 5 non-contact thermometers 
• 2 packages of protective gowns
• 2 boxes of shoe coverings

 

Transportation Supplies

• 35 boxes of disposable three-layer masks 
• 35 14oz bottle alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• 7 1-gallon alcohol-based hand sanitizer with dispenser 
• 1 box (50 count+) alcohol swabs (for cleaning face shields & thermometers)
• 2 reusable face shields
• 35 boxes of nitrile gloves 
• 35 bottles of spray disinfectant
• 35 containers of hard surface disinfectant wipes
• 35 labeled bus caddies for storing supplies
• 1 non-contact thermometer 
• 10 boxes of reusable masks for student
• 35 COVID safety reminder signs for each bus terminal 
• 5-10 disinfecting foggers with batteries/extension cords
• Extra fogger cleaning solution/tablets
• 5 gallon-size Ziploc bags for safe disposal of contaminated items
• 35 pedal-operated trash cans 

 

District-wide Safety Supplies & Equipment

• 2 disinfectant foggers (based on sq ft some schools will have more)
• 12-24 social distance floor decals
• Directional floor decals
• 3 sandwich-board COVID-19 stop signs
• 10-20 safety cones
• 5-10 a-frame traffic barricades 
• 2-8 retractable 10’ stanchions
• Visitor signage for all entrances

 

To view the latest updates from the District, please visit: www.ewsd.org/2020-2021

 

The EWSD Leadership Team

Dear Families,

We have asked you to choose between a hybrid model (a combination of in-person instruction and remote) or fully remote. We know this is a difficult decision, and we appreciate your patience as we work on our models. We have included a sample schedule for both K-5 students and one for students in grades 6-8. 

As you are aware, on July 15, the Vermont Agency of Education issued guidance to support a strong and healthy start to the school year. As part of that guidance, the hybrid model was recommended.

The District has put together an outline for what the hybrid learning model will look like for our students when we return to school on Tuesday, September 8:

• K-5 Hybrid Model - Example
• 6-8 Hybrid Model - Example

Why the Hybrid Model?

• Return to school is student-centered, focused on social-emotional needs, and designed to keep our students learning at a high level
• The hybrid model affords the ability to offer in-person learning in the safest environment possible while adhering to the best practices of the guidance issued by the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) (allowing six-feet social distancing)
• The hybrid model will best address the health and safety of our students and staff given the current health data available
• Having fewer students in the building at a time will help reduce contact with others and allow for improved distancing. The smaller groups will also allow teachers and staff more time to assess the academic progress and needs of our students. 
• With fewer students in the building, we can better assist them in adjusting to new expectations while fostering healthy routines throughout the day, such as regular hand washing.
• The ability to use both asynchronous (not occurring at the same time for all students) and synchronous (occurring at the same time for students) teaching methods

We hope that this will help you and your family. I would also like to remind you to please finish the supplemental registration survey if you have not yet already done so. That is due by Friday, August 7.

For more information on the 2020-2021 school year, please visit: www.ewsd.org/2020-2021

With gratitude,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent

Dear EWSD Families,

The Essex Westford School District recently announced that schools will open this fall in the hybrid phase of instruction that would result in children coming to school two full days per week (Mon and Tues, or Thurs and Fri) for most students. The same is true for all districts in Chittenden County.

We know this hybrid model causes hardships for parents and their work schedules. The District and our community partners have been working together to provide a solution for child supervision during the three remote days. It is our hope that we can find state funding to offset the cost to families or at least have this offered at a reduced fee.

If you are in need of school-day child supervision during this hybrid phase, please complete this request form. This will help us to better understand the needs of our families and to inform our work with our community partners.

The deadline to complete this survey is Tuesday, August 11, 2020. This survey is ONLY for us to collect numbers so that we understand what spaces are needed in our community. Actual registration will need to be completed at a later date.

With gratitude,

Beth Cobb

EWSD Superintendent