Dear Upham Community,
As you are aware the state-wide indoor mask mandate for schools expired on February 28th.
Currently, all WPS schools exceed an 80 percent threshold for vaccination among all students and staff. WPS believes that all of the conditions are in place for the District to begin relaxing many of the COVID-related mitigation practices that have been in place during the pandemic.
We will transition from a “mask-mandatory” to a “mask-optional” environment for all students and staff, effective Monday, March 7, 2022.
We have conducted conversations throughout this week to help with the transition to “mask-optional” next week. The conversations were centered on some students and teachers continuing to wear masks and being respectful of their choice. We also discussed some of the areas in which masks must still be mandated. Those areas are the Health Office, those returning between days 6 and 10 of a COVID-positive diagnosis, and buses.
We will transition to normal, indoor lunches at tables in the cafeteria. Outdoor lunches will continue to be encouraged whenever possible.
For visitors and volunteers, we will resume our typical policies and procedures.
For Performing Arts/Athletics, both have already returned to unlimited participants without incident. A mask optional environment for participants and athletes has been established.
Field trips may be approved with the following considerations:
● Venues that require proof of vaccination. A Field Trip coordinator will research venue guidelines and inform students/families of the process involved with regard to providing the documentation on the field trip form. Masks must be worn during any busing.
Below are the continued Mitigation Measures:
● Encouragement of vaccination and boosters for those who are eligible.
● Weekly at-home testing through the state viral testing program.
● In-school symptomatic testing as well as at-home symptomatic testing through the WPS private supply.
● Maintain upgraded air filtration system (MERV 13 filters).
● Water fountains will remain closed (water bottle filling stations will remain open) through the end of the school year.
● Schools will continue to have masks available for students and staff who request them.
● Open windows in classrooms, weather permitting.
● WPS, in collaboration with the Wellesley Health Department, will continue to carefully monitor the District’s COVID indicators and make any adjustments to mitigation practices as necessary.
If you have any questions please contact me and I will reply immediately. Thank you for your support.
Dare to Dream,
Mr. Dees