Superintendent’s Update ~ Friday, November 6, 2020

This was a shortened week with our day off for Election Day on Tuesday. There was an important flurry of information on Friday afternoon from Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley. Governor Baker announced that Massachusetts will be updating the metric that it uses for how each community’s COVID-19 information will be communicated going forward. From now on, the state will use three pieces of information: the number of cases ratio of 1:100,000, the community positivity rate, and the size of the community. These three pieces of evidence will be taken together and used to create the color code for each community.

Veterans Day Reminder
Please note that next Wednesday, November 11, 2020, is Veterans Day. It is a Federal holiday and therefore the schools will be closed and no classes will occur in either the hybrid or remote model. Veterans Day marks the armistice that ended World War I on November 11, 1918. The armistice went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” Since that time our nation has used this day as a day of reflection for all who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. For more information about Veterans Day visit the Veterans Administration website at Veterans Day

Learning Model Update
The school committee met on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, and requested that the schools review our current learning plans to see if we could bring more students back into the schools safely. We will be investigating this for our learners with identified challenges and our youngest learners. As we did this summer when we developed our learning models, we are currently working through the myriad of challenges to see what positive steps we can take. We are grateful for the support of the school community especially the school committee, our parents, and our dedicated faculty and staff.

Community Events
The Parent Diversity Council will host an event via Zoom Taking Back Indiginous Narratives with Claudia Fox Tree on November 10, 2020, 6:30 – 8:30 pm rsvp to [email protected] to receive the zoom link.

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Technology
If you have questions about this or any other technology issue or concerns please contact [email protected]

MIAA Guidance
Today the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) released updated guidance to youth and adult amateur sports activities as well as high school sports. These guidelines were created in collaboration with neighboring states including Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) COVID-19 Task Force will review the guidelines early next week and will provide guidance to MIAA Sport Committees in the creation of their sport-specific modifications. We will provide more information as soon as it becomes available. If you would like to review the EEA guidelines please do so here EEA Guidelines 11 6 2020.

DESE Guidance
This week we have not received any new guidance from DESE. Please note that we are working with DESE on how our COVID-19 cases are reported out here in the community and on their website. As soon as we have worked out the details, our information will be updated on their website. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please see the department’s COVID-19 website for more information at http://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/.

COVID-19
With the change in the state reporting, we do not yet have our community COVID-19 information. I expect that Town Manager Stanton will update the town website as soon as possible. Please go to either the state website at MA.GOV Covid Dashboard as part of the COVID Dashboard information. The town information can be found on the Bedford Home News and Announcements page at Bedford Home News and Announcements.

As always, thank you for your patience, your participation, and your continued commitment to our schools.

Wishing you continued health.

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