Health and Safety at GCS

Click to view this PDF

Health and Safety at GCS 11-24-2020

November 24, 2020

Dear GCS Families,

We are writing to express our gratitude to you for sharing your children with us this school year especially, and also to thank you for your partnership in keeping our GCS Community healthy and safe.   We are doing our best to ensure that Groton Community School stays open on site to serve the educational and childcare needs of our children and families.

Just a reminder that the Addendum to our GCS Family Handbook with FAQ regarding COVID-19 policies and procedures at GCS is posted on the Family Login page www.grotoncommunityschool.org/family-login/ with password “GCS2021fam”.  You can also find the most recent requirements and information from our state licensing agency, The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).  The top line facts remain the same, stay home if sick, wear masks, practice hand hygiene and of course let us know if your child or a household member has COVID-19 symptoms or has had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual in the last 14 days.  Please notify GCS if your child will be absent for any reason.

With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, we are asking families and staff to be mindful of gatherings.  The EEC Commissioner has also requested that we share the most recent State Travel Order with families:

TRAVEL ORDER REMINDER

The CDC has advised against traveling at this time and in MA, the Travel Order that took effect on August 1st remains in effect even during the holiday season. More information on the Travel Order can be found here.

The travel order requires people (re)entering Massachusetts from non-lower risk states (a list of which can be found here) to quarantine for 14 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test from a test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival. Travelers under the age of 10 do not need to get a test if the adults in their travel party have negative tests and may return to their child care program upon return.  If a travel party cannot produce a negative test, the entire party, including children under the age of 10, must quarantine for 14 days. Children that must quarantine after travel may not attend child care until they have completed the quarantine.

We have much to be thankful for, with a proactive Governor and administration working in concert with educational agencies, and a number of vaccines on the horizon.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel peeking through, but as numbers rise throughout the country, we are still in the midst of the crisis, and it is imperative that we all follow state guidance.

Wishing all of our GCS Families and Friends a very healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sincerely,

Linda Kosinski, Director and  Lisa Stafford, Assistant Director

Bid It Forward - Together We're Stronger

Online Auction and Chance Drawing Event

Learn more!