Hanover Public Schools Updates for Families 1/15/21
Earlier today, we received new information from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding the flu shot mandate:
"The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is removing the requirement for flu vaccination for attendance in childcare/preschool, primary, secondary and postsecondary education. Preliminary data show that this has been a mild flu season to date, presumably as people have received their seasonal flu vaccine and have been adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing due to COVID-19. Given the intensive Commonwealth-wide efforts regarding COVID-19 vaccination, DPH wants to alleviate the burden to obtain flu vaccination and focus on continuing our COVID-19 vaccination efforts.” - MA DPH
Prior to receiving this message today, we had no indication that this change was coming. Our Health Services team strongly believes that the high participation rate for flu vaccination has made a significant difference in keeping students and staff healthier this year.
I also want to share some information with you about the professional development sessions that are planned for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. We realize that every minute of instruction is more valuable than ever, but it is also important that our teachers and staff have opportunities to learn and grow as well – especially as we navigate the current pandemic and all of the social issues facing our nation right now. On Tuesday, our staff will be attending sessions with trainers on issues of equity, cultures of belonging, and understanding how these issues affect our school environment, curriculum, and resources. On Wednesday, our staff will be attending a session at 10:00 AM with Sarah Ward, an expert on developmental and acquired brain-based learning difficulties and behavioral problems. Her particular expertise is in the assessment and treatment of executive function deficits. The pandemic, and the resulting at-home learning, has challenged many of our students with time management, organizational skills, anxiety, stress, planning, and motivation. Our entire staff will benefit from this work, and it will help strengthen our understanding of how to better address these issues with our students of all ages. Ms. Ward’s presentation is sponsored by Hanover SNAP (Special Needs Athletic Partnership). Ms. Ward has been a guest of Hanover SEPAC in the past, and her presentations are very well received. We understand that the schedule of this training shortens the time for live instruction on Wednesday, but in working with Ms. Ward, we were unable to find another time that would afford our staff the opportunity to participate in this session and then put the work into practice as soon as possible.
This week also provided our school community with another sign of hope. Hanover first responders, and all of our school Health Services staff, received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The professionals who are risking their own health to support all of us are now one step closer to being safer themselves.
Stay safe and stay hopeful – we are continuing to move forward. Please have an enjoyable holiday weekend.
Sincerely,
Matt Ferron
Superintendent