The Essex Westford School District has learned about two members of our educational community who tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) this week. These members were not in school to possibly expose others to COVID. The positive cases were at Essex Elementary School and Essex Middle School. 

 

The EWSD only sends out individual communications around a positive COVID-19 case at one of our schools if that student or staff member was in one of our buildings while possibly infectious. In these scenarios, the positive cases had no school contact. 

 

All EWSD schools will still be open for in-person learning as scheduled on Monday, September 20. 

 

We are working with the Department of Health to keep our community safe:

• We continue to follow the Department of Health’s guidance for children, youth, and families. 
• We will continue to follow the guidelines and recommendations of the Vermont Department of Health with all of our cleaning and disinfecting in our buildings.
• Employees and sick children will not return to work/school until they are healthy.
• Learn more about getting tested in Vermont.

 

The most important things you can do right now:

• Make sure your child(ren)/household is washing their hands.
• Make sure your child is wearing a mask.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and then wash hands afterward.
• Keep your child home if they are sick.
• Call your primary care provider if you or your child have symptoms of COVID-19.

 

What is COVID-19 and how does it spread? - Learn more here.  

 

Thank you for understanding that, due to medical privacy laws, we are not able to release the names of the individuals with COVID-19. We will continue to communicate updates with you as we receive further information. 

 

At this time, we ask our community for compassion and understanding for all who may be impacted by this virus.

 

For more EWSD updates related to COVID-19, please visit: www.ewsd.org/covid 

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at: bcobb@ewsd.org

 

Sincerely,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent

On September 16, the Essex Westford School District learned about three members of our Essex High School community who tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We recommend that you take action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, even if your child is not experiencing symptoms. 

 

The members of our EHS community that were exposed to COVID have been contacted and will be quarantining. 

EHS will still be open for in-person learning as scheduled on September 17. 

We are working with the Department of Health to keep our community safe:

• We continue to follow the Department of Health’s guidance for children, youth, and families. 
• We will continue to follow the guidelines and recommendations of the Vermont Department of Health with all of our cleaning and disinfecting in our buildings.
• Employees and sick children will not return to work/school until they are healthy.
• Learn more about getting tested in Vermont.

The most important things you can do right now:

• Make sure your child(ren)/household is washing their hands.
• Make sure your child is wearing a mask.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and then wash hands afterward.
• Keep your child home if they are sick.
• Call your primary care provider if you or your child have symptoms of COVID-19.

What is COVID-19 and how does it spread? - Learn more here.  

 

Thank you for understanding that, due to medical privacy laws, we are not able to release the names of the individuals with COVID-19. We will continue to communicate updates with you as we receive further information. 

 

At this time, we ask our community for compassion and understanding for all who may be impacted by this virus. 

 

For EWSD updates related to COVID-19, please visit: www.ewsd.org/covid

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at: bcobb@ewsd.org

Sincerely,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent

On September 13, the Essex Westford School District learned about a member of our Essex Middle School community, a member of our Essex High School community, and a member of our Center for Technology, Essex community who each tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We recommend that you take action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, even if your child is not experiencing symptoms. 

 

The members of our EMS, EHS, and CTE communities that were exposed to COVID have been contacted and will be quarantining. 

EMS, EHS, and CTE will still be open for in-person learning as scheduled on Tuesday, September 14. 

We are working with the Department of Health to keep our community safe:

• We continue to follow the Department of Health’s guidance for children, youth, and families. 
• We will continue to follow the guidelines and recommendations of the Vermont Department of Health with all of our cleaning and disinfecting in our buildings.
• Employees and sick children will not return to work/school until they are healthy.
• Learn more about getting tested in Vermont.

The most important things you can do right now:

• Make sure your child(ren)/household is washing their hands.
• Make sure your child is wearing a mask.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and then wash hands afterward.
• Keep your child home if they are sick.
• Call your primary care provider if you or your child have symptoms of COVID-19.

What is COVID-19 and how does it spread? - Learn more here.  

 

Thank you for understanding that, due to medical privacy laws, we are not able to release the names of the individuals with COVID-19. We will continue to communicate updates with you as we receive further information. 

 

At this time, we ask our community for compassion and understanding for all who may be impacted by this virus. 

 

For EWSD updates related to COVID-19, please visit: www.ewsd.org/covid

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at: bcobb@ewsd.org

Sincerely,

 

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent 

Dear Families and Staff,

 

Thank you for your continued support as we kick off the 2021-22 school year. In the Essex Westford School District, keeping our students and staff safe and in school is our top priority. We have learned a great deal over this past year and our current guidance and procedures reflect the most updated recommendations from the CDC and the Vermont Department of Health (DOH).

 

For this school year, the DOH and Vermont Agency of Education are offering an extra layer of protection to prevent the spread in our schools with a COVID-19 testing program. This program is free for students and staff, and participation in the program is highly encouraged, regardless of vaccination status. 

 

Although those who are vaccinated are less likely to spread or contract the virus, unvaccinated individuals are still at risk of exposure, and it is important for us to create an inclusive environment for both the vaccinated and unvaccinated.

 

Vermont schools will be conducting weekly testing by way of a quick, non-invasive nasal swab, collected under the supervision of a school nurse, or other trained staff. Unlike many COVID-19 tests of the past, these are easy for students five years and older to perform themselves under supervision.

 

Through weekly testing, our school(s) will be better equipped to:

• Prevent the spread of the virus, especially among those individuals who are asymptomatic
• Make evidence-based decisions. By deploying a school testing program, the EWSD will be able to make well-informed decisions.
• Prepare our community for future uncertainties in the pandemic. In preparation for the possibility of new, more harmful strains, having a comprehensive testing program in place in schools will help inform our community of new strains and viral patterns.

 

Students may only participate in the program with permission from a parent or guardian. For anyone 18 or older, they would fill out the adult form. For children under 18 to participate in the program, families must sign this consent form on behalf of your student. There is no charge for participating. Any student aged five years or older, as well as any EWSD staff member, is eligible to participate.

 

If you sign the consent form for your student, or if you sign it as a staff member, tests will be administered weekly (each Monday that school is in session) starting on October 18 District-wide as part of this opt-in program. If you opt-in but later decide you no longer want to participate, then please contact your school nurse to let them know. 

 

In preparation, Essex Middle School will pilot the program on Monday, October 4, while Essex High School will also administer it, but for staff only that day. 

 

In advance of signing the consent form, it is important to the EWSD that you are fully informed regarding the process and that we answer any questions you might have. To learn more about the COVID-19 testing program, please visit the Agency of Education’s Covid-19 Surveillance Testing Program Overview.

 

With this testing program in place, it will help us keep our schools safe and our students in school. Thank you again for your support during this challenging time. 

 

For more information on COVID-19 and the EWSD, please visit: www.ewsd.org/covid 

 

Sincerely,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent
bcobb@ewsd.org 

On September 9, the Essex Westford School District learned about a member of our Albert D. Lawton Team 3/Nova community who tested positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We recommend that you take action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, even if your child is not experiencing symptoms. 

 

The members of our ADL community that were exposed to COVID have been contacted and will be quarantining. 

 

ADL will still be open for in-person learning as scheduled on Friday, September 10. 

We are working with the Department of Health to keep our community safe:

• We continue to follow the Department of Health’s guidance for children, youth, and families. 
• We will continue to follow the guidelines and recommendations of the Vermont Department of Health with all of our cleaning and disinfecting in our buildings.
• Employees and sick children will not return to work/school until they are healthy.
• Learn more about getting tested in Vermont.

The most important things you can do right now:

• Make sure your child(ren)/household is washing their hands.
• Make sure your child is wearing a mask.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and then wash hands afterward.
• Keep your child home if they are sick.
• Call your primary care provider if you or your child have symptoms of COVID-19.

What is COVID-19 and how does it spread? - Learn more here.  

 

Thank you for understanding that, due to medical privacy laws, we are not able to release the names of the individuals with COVID-19. We will continue to communicate updates with you as we receive further information. 

 

At this time, we ask our community for compassion and understanding for all who may be impacted by this virus. 

 

For EWSD updates related to COVID-19, please visit: www.ewsd.org/covid

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at: bcobb@ewsd.org

Sincerely,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent