As you know, respiratory illnesses, such as RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus), COVID-19, the Flu, etc, are on the rise everywhere. We want to remind you of the following steps you can take to help keep our school community healthy and safe:

Get a Flu Vaccine (ages 6 months & older);

• Get a COVID-19 Vaccine or Booster (ages 6 months & older);

• Stay home if you’re sick & test for COVID if you have any COVID-19 symptoms; repeat COVID testing if symptoms persist;

• If you test positive, follow Isolation guidelines

• If you’re exposed to COVID-19, follow Exposure precautions; 

• If you test negative for COVID-19 and continue to experience Mild symptoms, wear a mask around others;

• Wash Your Hands Often

• Practice cough/sneeze etiquette

  • Cough/sneeze into your elbow or tissue

  • Discard the tissue

  • Then wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (sing the Happy Birthday song)

• At school, work or in crowded public spaces, consider wearing a Mask to stop the spread of viruses

Flu & COVID Vaccine locations

For more info on respiratory illnesses, please visit healthychildren.org

Health Protocols for Illness

Please keep your child home from summer school if they display any of the following symptoms:

• Fever of 100 degrees or more, and until the child has had a normal temperature for 24 hours; without the use of Tylenol or Advil
• Vomiting or diarrhea during the night or in the morning before school
• Uncontrollable or infectious (phlegm-laden) cough
• Abdominal pain lasting more than 2 hours
• Rash of unknown cause
• Signs of infection of the eyes, ears, nose, throat, skin or scalp. For example: conjunctivitis or pink eye, open sores in mouth, untreated strep throat, impetigo or open weeping wounds
• If on antibiotics for less than 24 hours for infectious conditions such as strep throat, conjunctivitis or impetigo
• Untreated lice and/or presence of nits (eggs) or scabies.

Please remember to call the NURSE  to report their illness. 

COVID Management 

Please keep your child home from school and get them tested for COVID using an At Home Antigen test for any of the following symptoms: 

If your child has symptoms of COVID (see above), they must have a negative test in order to come to school. 

COVID Positive (COVID Case Management Protocol)

1. For any Student or Staff member who is COVID-19 Positive

   1. Isolate from others for 5 days

   2. Return on day 6 with a mask through day 10, if: 

      1. they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving, and 

      2. they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours

   3. A COVID-19 home test is not required to return on day 6, but can be done if desired

      1. If the individual has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.

      2. If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later

   4. The school nurse can provide iHealth AHA tests as needed and pending supply availability.

COVID Exposure

If your child was exposed to COVID-19, MA DPH recommends that they take precautions to prevent spread, which includes:

1. masking indoors when around others for days 1-10
2. Watch for symptoms and do a home test if symptoms develop
3. Test on day 6 is still asymptomatic
4. If positive at any point, follow our positive protocol

Cardiac clearance and a graduated return to play is required for all students who have had COVID.  The purpose of this clearance and modified activity level is  to mitigate the risk of heart damage and sudden death as a result of elevated cardiovascular stress levels post-COVID.  This process includes an evaluation by their primary care provider (PCP)  of their illness severity and risk for cardiac complications. This is a conversation with the primary care provider reviewing the student’s health history and their COVID recovery, resulting in a note for the school nurse that either clears the student to begin return to play or restricts activity participation for a period of time.

For students under 12, they can advance acitivity as tolerated.  However, there is a graduated return to play plan for students 12 and over.  The plan and supporting documents are linked below.  

COVID Protocol - Graduated Return to Play for Competitive Sports & Gym

Return to Play Algorithm by AAP

Cardiac Risk Assessment Guide

NMRSD will not be conducting any surveillance testing of any kind.  However, the district has a substantial supply of rapid tests, both iHealth AHA tests and Abbott BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen tests available from last year’s testing program.  While supplies last,  students and staff who develop symptoms at school during the day will be able to be tested in the health office with the Abbott BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Test with written permission from a parent/guardian.  In addition, we will continue to send home iHealth AHA tests with families who request them for exposure or symptomatic management. 

1. Any parent/guardian who would like their student to be tested in the health office if symptomatic needs to complete the following form:

   1. Parent/Guardian Consent Form

2. Testing will be performed in accordance with the NMRSD COVID Testing Standing Order

3. All test results will be reported to the parent/guardian by the school nurse and instructions will be given on next steps for care