Dear Hardy families,
Here are a few additional updates to share with you as we get closer to the start of the school year.
Welcome Back Video
As in the past couple of years, we have created a welcome video…enjoy!
Safety Guidelines
On Wednesday, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lussier shared an email to the community that provided information about our health & safety plans for the district.
8/25/2021
Dear Members of the Wellesley Public Schools Community,
I write to provide you with an update on our COVID-19 mitigation efforts, as we move closer to the start of school on Wednesday, September 1st. Yesterday, the State Board of Education provided the Commissioner of Education with the authority to require indoor masks for all students and staff across the Commonwealth for the month of September. Similarly, the Wellesley School Committee approved this same directive last night, along with approving the WPS Administration’s other proposed COVID mitigation strategies. (The Wellesley Board of Health approved a similar recommendation at its meeting on August 23rd.) WPS will revisit this masking requirement in early October and reassess its necessity with the Wellesley Board of Health and in consideration of any additional state/federal guidance.
The indoor mask requirement will go into effect on Thursday, August 26th, across all of our WPS buildings to help ensure that the increased school activities occurring this week are happening in a safe environment.
Attached to this message is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that outlines the district’s COVID mitigation plans to start the year. Our response in some of these areas is still being refined in light of this recent news from the state. Our goal is to safely return to as much of our normal school operations as possible this year. Thank you in advance for your support of our students and staff as we begin this new school year together.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Lussier
Superintendent of Schools
WPS COVID-19 FAQ for SY2021-22 8.25.2021.pdf
Arrival Procedure
Supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. outside in the back playground.
At 8:23 a.m., students will begin to line up by class in the area located by the entrance to the Hardy playground (near the outdoor drinking fountain and sign that reads “Town of Wellesley/Hardy School”). Students will then be led to designated doors to wait to enter the building.
Students arriving after 8:25 a.m. should proceed directly to the following areas.
K- by Kindergarten porch
1- by exterior door that leads into the music room
2- by exterior door leading directly into the classrooms (modulars)
3- by exterior door that leads into the the gym
4- by grassy area that is in between the front bus drop off/pick up loop and the gym exterior door
5S- by exterior door leading directly into the classroom
5A- by the door that leads into the hallway of the lower level on the Hardy Road side of the building
Students will be supervised in these areas until 8:30 a.m.
At 8:30 a.m. the bell rings and the children will be led into the building.
School Absence and Dismissal Change notification – new
To better track illness trends across the district Hardy is now using an online form for reporting absences. We are no longer using the absentee phone line. Parents will also be able to change their students’ dismissal plans using this form. The form is located on the homepage of the Hardy website https://wellesleyps.org/hardy/. It can be bookmarked on smart phones using the video tutorial found on the website.
If you are unable to use this form you may still call the office at 781-446-6270 to report absences and changes in dismissal plans. Changes in dismissal must be reported by 2:30 p.m.
Insider’s Guide
We have updated our Insider’s Guide since sharing the link to this document last week. Please see the following link:
21-22 Student Insider’s Guide to Hardy
Welcome Back PTO coffee
Please join the Hardy PTO for coffee on the first day of school. We will meet on the grassy area outside of the gym on Wednesday, September 1st, 8:30-9:00am. This will be a chance to reconnect and meet some new Hardy families!
We look forward to welcoming back all Hardy Huskies next week Wednesday, September 1st (which as a reminder is a half day, 12 noon dismissal for all students).
Respectfully yours,
Grant Smith
Principal