May 12, 2022
Hello Brunswick Staff and Families:
I hope you have been able to enjoy the springtime weather the last few days. It’s taken a while for the nice weather to get here but it’s worth it!
Brunswick School Department is experiencing a significant increase in the number of COVID cases. The cases include both staff and students and are in all schools. This increase is similar to increases being experienced throughout much of the Northeast.
Our medical team has been closely monitoring the situation and reviewing our health and safety practices. They have decided to continue all current practices. In addition,
We highly recommend that students and staff wear a well-fitting, quality surgical mask on buses and in school facilities. These are available in all facilities. Although this is not a requirement, the evidence is clear that masks go a long way to preventing transmission.
We highly recommend that students and staff test when they have symptoms. At-home rapid antigen tests are being distributed for free to all staff and students, are available for free through Project ACT and Covid.gov, and are sold in stores. In addition, all school nurses can also test symptomatic individuals with BinaxNOW tests in schools. Knowing if you are positive and acting responsibly is crucial to preventing the spread of COVID.
Individuals who tested positive should test again on day 6. If you are still positive, you must isolate until day 10. You should only return to school if you are negative, you are not experiencing symptoms, and you are willing to wear a well-fitting, quality mask.
Finally, with the reliance on at-home tests, it is more important than ever to notify your school nurse when you/your child tests positive for COVID-19. We have developed school-specific forms to complete when your/your child tests positive for COVID. Links to the forms are on the school webpages. Simply click the REPORT POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS on your school’s webpage. Links to each form can also be found on the district webpage and below:
Kate Furbish Elementary School
Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School
Keeping our students and staff healthy and our doors open is our number one goal. With your help and support we can do this!
Sincerely,
Shawn Lambert
Assistant Superintendent