On July 13, the Essex Westford School District learned about a person in our Essex High School summer school community who tested positive for COVID-19.

 

The unvaccinated members of our Essex High School community that were exposed to COVID have been contacted and will be coordinating with the Vermont Department of Health on the next steps. 

 

Summer session will still be open for in-person learning as scheduled. 

 

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 you/your household are washing their hands.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow, and then wash hands afterward.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Call your primary care provider if you 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.

 

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

Sincerely,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent

Dear EWSD Families,

 

Please view this letter from Vermont Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine and Vermont Agency of Education Secretary Daniel French in regards to COVID-19 vaccines for Vermont students age 12 and above.

 

Sincerely,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent
bcobb@ewsd.org

Even with the low number of COVID-19 cases and the increase in the number of Vermonters who have been vaccinated, we still ask that you please keep an eye out for potential symptoms as we near the end of the school year. 

• Cough
• Temperature of 100.4 and above
• 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
• Diarrhea

 

The Vermont Department of Health still requires school nurses to follow the guidelines that they have provided on when to keep staff and students home.

 

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.

 

Let’s all keep in-person happening for the next few days. We are almost to the end and we, as a community, have done such a great job keeping everyone safe and healthy this year.  

 

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

 

Sincerely,

 

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent 

Dear EWSD Families and Staff,

The forecast for next week presently includes some unusually high temperatures, potentially in the mid to upper 90’s. We have found over the years that high temperatures such as this creates significant challenges inside our classrooms and buildings. 

Our experience has found that by mid-day classroom temperatures can be 5 to 10 degrees hotter than the outdoor temperatures, bringing learning spaces at times above 100 degrees. Compounding the challenge are the various COVID-19 guidelines the Vermont Department of Health has released and the District continues to follow.

Even as masking requirements are relaxed, the Vermont Agency of Education has said that schools should continue to follow the guidance on masking found in A Strong and Healthy Year: Safety and Health Guidance for Vermont Schools. This is aligned with the CDC's continued recommendation of universal masking in schools through the remainder of the school year.

The Department of Health also clarified that fans that simply recirculate the same indoor air without filtering it or replacing it with fresh air are not helpful in reducing airborne virus particles.

With our goal all along to maximize as much in-person learning as possible, we recognize at temperatures approaching or exceeding 100 degrees that teaching and learning become difficult, if not impossible. While our facilities staff will look at ways to cool the buildings down in the evenings and overnight, as we have done in the past, we want to notify each of you ahead of time that there is a possibility the District may choose an early release to avoid the worst of the afternoon temperatures. 

If that is the case, the District will notify families as soon as possible. 

Sincerely,

Beth Cobb
EWSD Superintendent
bcobb@ewsd.org

The Essex Westford School District will be distributing free two-day meal kits for the upcoming weekend for all children 18 and under just outside the Essex High School guidance lobby tomorrow (Friday, June 4) from 4-6 p.m. 

 

We will also be distributing three or five-day meal kits on Monday, June 7, and three-day kits on Wednesday, June 9. See the times and locations listed below: 

• Albert D. Lawton School, 9-10 a.m. 
• Essex Elementary School, 9-10 a.m.  
• Westford School, 9-9:30 a.m. 

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to EWSD Senior Child Nutrition Manager Scott Fay at: sfay@ewsd.org or 857-7263.

 

It’s important to note that these free meals are not only for families in need, and you won’t be taking away a meal from someone in need. By picking up the meals, you will be supporting your community. Funding is based on participation, so the more people that take the free meals, the stronger we can be for those that need us the most.