December 20, 2021
Dear HUUSD Families & Staff:
As this calendar year draws to a close and we prepare to take a break from school for some winter rest, we thank each of you for all you are doing to keep our students safe and schools open. We are all weary of pandemic living– but it is through the safety measures and open communication that we are practicing that we are able to carry on with educating our students in a safe, supportive and mostly uninterrupted environment. It is certainly our new year’s wish that this trend will only improve.
How to Keep Our Community Safe Over the Vacation
Please continue to monitor all in your family for COVID-10 symptoms and stay home when you are sick. Do not attend gatherings if you are not feeling well.
If you develop symptoms and test positive for COVID, you are considered infectious the two days before you develop symptoms. If you test positive for COVID and do not have symptoms, you are considered infectious the two days before you tested. Please connect to those you may have spent time with during your infectious period.
If you spent time with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 during their infectious period, you should follow the quarantine guidelines on the Vermont Department of Health website. You should quarantine for 7 days after you were around the person who tested positive. Day 0 is the last day you had contact with the person who tested positive.
If you test positive for COVID-19 over the break, please call 802-583-8027 and leave a message. We will contact those who test positive to determine if they were in school during their infectious period and provide guidance on returning to school.
Contact Tracing
HUUSD will continue to conduct contact tracing over the school break. We do not expect the Vermont Department of Health to notify the district of any cases; therefore, we are counting on families to report a positive case to the schools. You may call the confidential COVID Coordinator line at 802-583-8027 and leave a voicemail with your information. Someone will return your call within the next business day. We will not be making calls to families on Christmas Day. We will be notifying any close contacts, vaccinated and unvaccinated, by email (rather than phone calls) during the school break. Please be sure to check your email if a notification is sent out through our Swiftreach alert system.
Please note that the Test to Stay program for returning to school is only available to those who are identified as close contacts in the school setting. If your child is a close contact of someone during the holiday break, they should get a PCR test on Day 7 after their exposure. Day 0 is the last day they were around the person who tested positive.
COVID Testing Sites during School vacation
Health Department testing information can be found here. All testing is FREE.
Berlin 1311 Barre-Montpelier Rd. |
Waitsfield United Church 4355 Main St. |
Waterbury 1727 Guptil Rd. |
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Mon, Thurs, Sat 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Tues 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Wed, Fri 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm Sun 10:00 am - 4:00 pm CLOSED Thurs, Fri, Sat, Dec. 23, 24, 25. Also closed Thurs, Fri, Sat, Dec. 30, 31, Jan. 1. There will be special testing in Berlin on a couple days during those weeks. Information about that testing will be posted on the VDH Testing site during the week of Dec. 20. |
Fri, Sat 9:00 am - 2:00 pm CLOSED Fri, Sat, Dec. 24, 25. Also closed Fri, Sat, Dec. 31, Jan. 1.
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Mon, Tues, Fri 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Wed 1:00 - 7:00 pm Thurs 1:00 - 5:00 pm Sat 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Sun 9:00 am - 3:00 pm CLOSED Thurs, Fri, Sat, Dec. 23, 24, 25. Also closed Thurs, Fri, Sat, Dec. 30, 31, Jan. 1. |
Vaccine Boosters Did you know that boosters are now available for anyone ages 16 and up? Please check out the website for more information on vaccines. The Berlin Mall is open from 8am-6pm Monday-Thursday this week for vaccines for those ages 12 + and from 6pm-8pm for children ages 5-11 years old. Walk-ins are welcome at each of these clinics.
For more information about these topics, visit the Vermont Department of Health COVID-19 Page.
Have a restful and healthy winter break.
Respectfully,
HUUSD COVID-19 Leadership