Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Dear Auburn Village School Families and Staff,
I received notification of three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Auburn Village School. I have completed contact tracing following guidelines from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Anyone who was identified as a close contact has been notified of the self-observation guidelines via email and the positive person is now isolating.
We are working closely with the New Hampshire (NH) Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to follow the guidance they have provided for this situation and will provide updates should their recommendations change. DHHS has recommended that students and staff in grades 5 and 6 should wear masks to control the spread of COVID-19 in this group. Therefore, beginning tomorrow 11/3, we are instituting a mask requirement for fifth and sixth grade students. The mask requirement will be reevaluated each week based on current conditions.
DHHS also recommends that students remain in their cohorts as much as possible. Students in grades five and six will stay in their classrooms and teachers will rotate, rather than students. Unified arts classes have some cohort mixing. When possible, UA teachers will travel to rooms but some students may travel to their unified arts classes. Students will eat lunch in their classrooms. Recess cohorts will be instituted for these grade levels as well.
As always, if your child is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as congestion – stuffy or runny nose, headache, fatigue, sore throat, cough, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, muscle aches, fever or chills, shortness of breath or change in taste or smell, please keep them home and contact the school nurse, Mrs. Bernier, avsnurse@sau15.net.
Symptomatic students or staff can be allowed to return to school when one of the following two conditions is met:
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Person receives an FDA-approved COVID-19 test that is negative, AND the person’s symptoms are improving and they are fever-free for at least 24 hours off any fever-reducing medications.
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Person has met CDC criteria for ending home isolation (i.e., if a person is not tested, they are managed assuming they have COVID-19).
The safety of our children and staff is our top priority. To ensure your health and safety, we have been following CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting for our high-traffic areas and frequently touched surfaces.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 603-483-2769 or lcollins@sau15.net.
Sincerely,
Lori Collins
Principal
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