February 11, 2022
Dear Students, Parents and Staff,
As you are aware, Governor McKee has announced that the statewide mandate for wearing masks in schools will end on Friday, March 4, 2022. This will now leave each school district to decide on whether or not to continue with wearing masks while in school.
While this news is encouraging, with the anticipation that the pandemic is going in the right direction, we still must be diligent in maintaining the health and safety of our school community. Over the past five weeks we have seen the rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 in Cumberland drop dramatically.
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Week ending 1/8/22
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Week ending 1/15/22
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Week ending 1/22/22
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Week ending 1/29/22
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Week ending 2/5/22
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3,082 / 100,000
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2,750 / 100,000
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1,662 / 100,000
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975 / 100,000
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493 / 100,000
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As you know, this data metric is looked at closely when determining whether safety restrictions can be lifted. As of yesterday, the Rhode Island rate had dropped even further. The topic of masking will be on the school committee agenda for discussion at the Thursday, February 17, 2022 meeting.
Positive Covid-19 Cases
The Positive Covid-19 Cases in the Schools spreadsheet is provided for your review. It is also available on the District’s website under Quick Links.
Free Covid-19 Test Kits
Free Covid-19 Test Kits will be distributed to town residents on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at the Cumberland High School back parking lot. The drive-thru distribution will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The Mayor’s Office has collaborated with the Cumberland EMS and CERT Team volunteers to host this event. Kits will be given out on a first come, first served basis.
Vaccination Clinics
The next Cumberland vaccination clinic for age groups 5-11 and 12+ is scheduled for
Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the Cumberland Public Library. You will need to register separately for each age group.
Vaccination Clinics for children and adults – RI Vaccination Clinic Sign-Up
Cumberland Public Library on Saturday, 02/19/2022
1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland RI, 02864
Vaccinations offered: Pfizer-BioNTech Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine (5-11 Year Old)
Vaccinations offered: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (12+)
Age groups served: 12+
Age groups served: 5-11
Covid-19 Testing in the Schools – Voluntary
Our school district will continue to offer voluntary weekly COVID-19 testing to help schools stay safer against the risk of COVID-19. If your student has recently tested positive for COVID-19 they do not need to participate in the weekly testing for 90 days. Once your child has had a positive Covid-19 test result their Concentric account will be deactivated. After the 90 days you can sign your child back up with the link below or by contacting the Covid Department at nancy.gamache@cumberlandschools.org.
Please remember this is entirely voluntary and no students will be tested unless you opt in and the student is registered by a parent or guardian.
To opt into the program, please visit the following site with the access code for your school:
https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent
School: BF Norton – ACCESS CODE: BFNORTON
School: Ashton – ACCESS CODE: ASHTONELEM
School: Community – ACCESS CODE: 352X09
School: Garvin – ACCESS CODE: GARVINELEM
School: Cumberland HIll – ACCESS CODE: CUMBHILLELEM
School: North Cumberland Middle – ACCESS CODE: NORTHCUMBERLANDMIDDLE
School: McCourt Middle – ACCESS CODE: MCCOURTMIDDLE
School: CUMBERLAND HIGH SCHOOL: CUMBHS
As always, if your child develops symptoms of illness please keep him/her home. If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 please keep him/her home and have him/her tested.
Visit Portal RI to find a testing site and make an appointment. You can also call 844-857-1814 to schedule an appointment.
I hope you are able to get outside and enjoy these warmer weather days.
I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the upcoming winter recess February 21 – 25.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
… Read More...
January 7, 2022
Dear Students, Parents and Staff,
I am sure you are aware of the new RIDOH guidance on shortening quarantine and isolation periods that was issued on 1/6/22 – RIDOH Memorandum. We will be adopting these new standards effective Tuesday, 1/11/22 and if your child is affected by the change, you will be receiving a revised notice from your school on Monday.
Please keep in mind that now, more than ever, given the new guidance, it is important for you to monitor your child at home for symptoms of COVID-19. There may be times where we send students home for what seem like minor symptoms when they fall into a newly exempted category. We are doing this at the direction of the RI Department of Health and to preserve the safety of our students and staff. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation while we navigate the ever changing guidance from our state and federal agencies.
If you have any questions regarding the new guidance, please contact your child’s school principal or nurse.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools… Read More...
January 1, 2022
Dear Students, Parents and Staff,
Happy New Year!
We would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!
As we return to school on Monday, January 3, 2022 there are a few items of importance that I would like to share with you:
Covid-19 Testing in the Schools – Voluntary – Re-register or Register
As you may be aware, our school district has chosen to participate in Operation Expanded Testing, a program supported and funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide COVID-19 testing to K-12 schools at no cost to the school. Participation in this program is entirely VOLUNTARY and helps schools stay safer against the risk of COVID-19.
We were previously testing but paused due to a vendor change from Affinity to Concentra.The transition process is almost complete. If you had previously registered to have your child tested in school you will need to re-register. You may also register now if you were not previously enrolled but now wish to participate. Please remember this is entirely voluntary and no students will be tested unless you opt in and the student is registered by a parent or guardian.
To opt into the program, please visit the following site:
https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent
School: BF Norton – ACCESS CODE: BFNORTON
School: Ashton – ACCESS CODE: ASHTONELEM
School: Community – ACCESS CODE: 352X09
School: Garvin – ACCESS CODE: GARVINELEM
School: Cumberland HIll – ACCESS CODE: CUMBHILLELEM
School: North Cumberland Middle – ACCESS CODE: NORTHCUMBERLANDMIDDLE
School: McCourt Middle – ACCESS CODE: MCCOURTMIDDLE
School: CUMBERLAND HIGH SCHOOL: CUMBHS
Quarantine –
You may have seen the updated CDC guidance on quarantine protocols. We received confirmation yesterday that the State of Rhode Island is not yet adopting these new protocols for schools. They may be considering adopting the new protocols in the coming weeks depending upon the review by the RI Department of Health.
Cumberland schools will continue to follow the recommendation option as follows:
People with one (1) major symptom or two (2) minor symptoms of COVID-19 need
to isolate, go home, and get tested.
Any ONE Major symptom: •Cough (new) •Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- New loss of taste or smell
Any TWO minor symptoms: Fever or Chills •Muscle or body aches •Headaches
- Sore throat •Fatigue •Congestion or runny nose (new)
Effective immediately, per RI Department of Health Guidance, asymptomatic siblings/household members (both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated) to remain in school pending test results for the symptomatic individuals.
Unvaccinated individuals determined to be close contacts will be placed in quarantine unless they fall within an approved classroom or bus exemption as approved by the Rhode Island Department of Health. Unvaccinated individuals placed in quarantine will be able to return to school on the 8th day after the close contact exposure if they receive a negative PCR or Antigen test on day 5 or later of quarantine.
Please note that vaccinated individuals will not have to quarantine unless they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for COVID-19.
Covid-19 Testing
If you have Covid-19 symptoms, testing is available. Please go to covid.ri.gov/testing.
Students and staff in Pre K-12 schools or child care can schedule a COVID-19 test
State run sites
Vaccination Clinics
We encourage everyone to get vaccinated and, if eligible, boostered as the best way to prevent COVID-19.
Vaccination Clinics for children and adults – RI Vaccination Clinic Sign-Up
The Covid-19 vaccine is available for children ages 5 – 11.
You can learn more about the vaccine at covid.ri.gov/5to11vaccinefaqs.
**The next Cumberland vaccination clinic (ages 5-11) is scheduled on Thursday, January 6, 2022 (Ann & Hope Building)**
Here is some information about Upcoming Vaccination Clinics for Children Ages 5-11 by School District and Community Vaccination Clinics (open to the public).
As always, the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff in the schools is very important.
I feel that it is in the best interest of our students for us to remain in school as we continue to navigate through this pandemic.
Sincerely,
Philip D. Thornton, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools… Read More...
