Dear Staff and Families,
I am hopeful our families and students are enjoying our Family Engagement Decathlon activities. If you haven’t checked them out yet, please take a minute to try an activity or sign up for a technology session.
Current COVID-19 Protocols
As we continue to prepare for the 2021-2022 school year, I want to share the current COVID-19 protocols that we believe will be in place for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. First, I want to remind you that Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 13A, which is in effect until the end of September (unless changed or rescinded), requires wearing a mask inside of all school buildings. Masks must also be worn on buses, but in keeping with our effort to reduce the number of students on buses, families are encouraged to drop off and pick up students when feasible. Our facilities staff will continue to assess and repair building ventilation, as needed, to meet state requirements. We will also follow the Department of Public Health (DPH) Return to Service guidance for reopening water fountains for bottle filling only, which will also include testing by the local health department.
With regard to other building protocols, we will use the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), the Department of Public Health (DPH) and Stamford Health Department recommendations, as follows:
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To the greatest extent possible, adhere to social distancing of three feet in all classrooms and six feet or three feet with a barrier when students remove masks to eat or drink.
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No cohort/grouping requirements
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Return to regular cleaning and disinfecting with a focus on restrooms
As mentioned in an earlier message, to date, there is no option for general remote learning in Connecticut. However, all school districts are required to consider specific individual student needs and develop plans for individual families, as applicable.
Students who are required to quarantine (which will remain a 10-day requirement) or isolate due to in-school COVID-19 contact will be provided with an instructional plan that includes access to education through remote learning.
As we receive final guidance from the CSDE and DPH we will update our Safe Return- In-person Instruction Plan currently posted on our website as well as provide an updated Staff and Family Handbook.
K-8 SPS Olympian Scholar Summer Program Surveys
If your student participated in the SPS Summer Olympian Scholar morning program please provide us your feedback by completing the survey here. For those families with K-8 students who participated in the afternoon Summer Enrichment program, which was coordinated through Stamford Cradle to Career, please go to the 2021 Summer Enrichment Program Summary – Stamford Cradle to Career and complete the survey for the afternoon program linked there.
2021-2022 District Calendar
Finally, I want to make sure that everyone is aware of a recent correction/update to the SPS District 2021-2022 Calendar. The original version had one too many days scheduled. The corrected calendar reflects the last day for students and staff as June 13, 2022. As always, that date is tentative depending upon any inclement weather days, which will be added. And, in case you were wondering, we are no longer able to use remote learning days when school is cancelled due to inclement weather “snow days” as per the CSDE.
Upcoming Vaccination Clinics
Please see information below from the Stamford DOH regarding upcoming vaccination clinics for staff and students:
Stay safe and healthy!
Dr. Tamu Lucero
Superintendent of Schools