5-DAY, IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION UPDATE
As part of the Superintendent’s Report, I announced that students in Cohorts A and B in Kindergarten and Grades 1 and 2 will return to school five days a week, beginning March 15. In-person learning for Kindergarteners will follow the current hybrid schedule. First and second graders will receive 4-hours of in-person instruction per morning, with remote learning in the afternoon. I noted that principals will communicate specific scheduling information to families and that a timeline for Grades 3-5 and intermediate schools was forthcoming. (See my February 26 email for an update.)
The forecast for dangerous holiday spikes in COVID cases unfortunately proved true in Westfield. Regional Health Officer Megan Avallone calculated that January alone accounted for almost a quarter of the total of the town’s cases since March. She noted that…