This afternoon, in a letter to the Bethel Public School community, Superintendent Christine Carver addressed the recent news from the Town of Bethel that the community has been identified as COVID orange based on the number of cases per 100,000 people.
"In consultation with the Department of Public Health, we feel that our schools can remain open (in-person, PreK-8 and hybrid 9-12). We will continue to navigate exposures and make adjustments based on public health guidance," said Carver.
Please read Carver's note below:
Given the trends over the last several weeks, we anticipated that this would occur given the recent rise in cases. In our Bethel community, through contact tracing, we are seeing transmissions as a result of social gatherings, outdoor sports, and within families.
Although we have had exposures in school, we have not seen transmission within schools. We feel that this is a reflection of the mitigation strategies we have implemented as a school system. In consultation with the Department of Public Health, we feel that our schools can remain open (in-person, PreK-8 and hybrid 9-12). We will continue to navigate exposures and make adjustments based on public health guidance. That being said, families who are concerned about the shift in our town data can, at any point, switch your child(ren) to be distance learners. All you need to do is email your child’s principal.
- Berry School, Danielle Legnard legnardd@bethel.k12.ct.us
- Rockwell School, Trish Soucy, soucyt@bethel.k12.ct.us
- Johnson School, Alison Salerno, salerno@bethel.k12.ct.us
- Bethel Middle School, Bryan Watson, watsonb@bethel.k12.ct.us
- Bethel High School, Christopher Troetti, troettic@bethel.k12.ct.us
We have come so far as a state and community. We know that if we shift our behavior, we can reduce the transmission of the virus by:
- Wearing a mask;
- Maintaining social distancing;
- Washing your hands frequently; and most importantly,
- Avoid social gatherings, even within families.
In addition:
- If anyone in your household has COVID symptoms, keep your children home and consult your medical provider about COVID-19 PCR testing. It is very difficult to differentiate whether mild respiratory symptoms are a cold or COVID-19.
- The Governor is now recommending that if someone from your household is being tested (and is symptomatic), then the whole family should be tested (PCR test recommended). All household members should stay home until they receive negative results. Please let your child’s school nurse know that your child is being tested. Testing centers can be found at this link. Testing is free for all Connecticut residents. You will need to supply your child's school nurse with a copy of the PCR test results before returning to in person learning.
- If your child has any COVID-19 symptoms, they will immediately be sent home. Please do not put the school community at risk.
- A reminder, DO NOT send your child to school with medication to suppress your child’s symptoms. This creates an unsafe environment for our staff and students.
- If you were told to quarantine, it means that your child should not participate in ANY activities outside the home, going to stores and restaurants, and clubs and sports.
- Due to the high rates of community transmission AND spread through families, we are recommending that you AVOID all social gatherings, including youth activities (including sports where mitigation strategies are not consistently being enforced).