Health Updates
Massachusetts Travel Policy
Per the state's Travel Policy, if you and your student(s) travel to a Red ("restricted") state, you must provide a negative COVID test - PCR test ONLY - taken within 72 hours of returning, to return to school for in person learning. You must receive a negative test result in order to return. You may not return if your test results are pending. We are following this mandate to maintain the health and safety of the entire community.
Please remember that if your child requires a Covid test, it must be a PCR test, NOT a rapid test.
Please send any medical test results to Nurse Melissa Smith. You may send them in hard copy to her attention or they may be scanned and emailed to her at msmith@stmaryschooldanvers.org
Click here to visit the mass.gov site
Updated: August 1, 2020
Flu Vaccine Now Required for all Massachusetts School Students
State public health officials announced that influenza immunization will be required for all children 6 months of age or older who are attending Massachusetts child care, pre-school, kindergarten, K-12, and colleges and universities. All St. Mary’s students will be required to be immunized and documentation will be necessary.
Please send documentation of your child's flu vaccination to the attention of our School Nurse, Mrs. Melissa Smith. All students must receive the vaccine and forward documentation by December 31, 2020.
Click here to visit the mass.gov site
Updated: August 19, 2020
Updated Covid Requirements for Sick Students
Here at St. Mary’s, we are committed to keeping our school healthy! We have been working hard to maintain a clean and safe environment at school. However, we can’t do this alone! Everyone must continue to do their part to protect themselves and others.
With recent updates and surges in COVID-19 cases in some communities, we have new guidance with regards to sick students. Please be sure to screen your child for symptoms everyday using the provided Family Checklist prior to coming to school. If your child is experiencing any of the symptoms listed, he/she should remain home. Additionally, per updated CDC, DPH and DOE guidelines, they will need to be tested for COVID-19 prior to returning to school-even for mild symptoms. Alternately, they may quarantine for 14 days from the onset of symptoms. These symptoms include:
- Fever (100 degrees or higher), chills or shaking chills
- Cough (not due to chronic condition)
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Muscle or body aches
- New loss of taste or smell
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (in combination with other symptoms)
- Headache (in combination with other symptoms)
- Fatigue (in combination with other symptoms)
Please understand that although some of the above listed symptoms are the same as other colds and illnesses, we will still need to follow appropriate guidelines, as COVID-19 symptoms can vary from person to person. Of course, students will continue to get sick here and there with other viruses, but we all need to continue to comply with the most up to date protocols. This may seem unnecessary in some cases, but it is imperative that we take extra precautions that under different circumstances we may not normally require. Our success as a school depends on it!
If a student (or staff member) displays any of the above mentioned symptoms (regardless of the severity of the symptoms), he or she will need the following in order to return to school:
- A negative PCR COVID-19 test or quarantine for 14 days from the onset of symptoms
- Fever-free (without the use of medication) for at least 24 hours
- Improvement in symptoms (symptoms also should not distract from learning)
It is important to keep in mind that students may also become ill during the school day. Strict protocols are in place for monitoring and caring for symptomatic students while limiting exposure. It is necessary to limit visits to the Health Office, as well as time spent there. We may ask you to come pick up your child for a reason that in the past was not necessary, but safety protocols restrict the length of time individuals may remain in the Health Office.
If you have any questions regarding these “Sick Day” or other COVID-19 guidelines, please contact the Health Office at ext. 2118 or msmith@stmaryschooldanvers.org.
Updated October 15, 2020