Dear Rising Tide Families,
I would like to provide an update related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). We continue to follow guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), the Plymouth Public Health office, and the the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Yesterday Governor Baker declared a State of Emergency in Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner, Jeffrey C. Riley, has provided additional guidance to public schools. As of this afternoon, the DPH has no reported cases of COVID-19 in Plymouth County.
Following the guidance from these state and federal agencies, we will continue to operate school. With many colleges and universities sending students home, it is understandable to wonder about the potential for school closures in Massachusetts. Commissioner Riley has provided guidance that “the longest that any school district will be required to go is its scheduled 185th day.” The scheduled 185th day for Rising Tide is Thursday, June 25. Due to the cancellation of school last Friday, the current last day of school at Rising Tide will be on Monday, June 22.
Governor Baker has recommended that large organizations “limit or eliminate non-essential travel” and “limit or eliminate large events where possible.” For the next thirty days, all Rising Tide non-essential field trips will be canceled. We do plan to proceed with upcoming family or parent events at the school, but strongly encourage any individuals with vulnerable health conditions to stay home; if any event plans need be postponed or canceled, we will communicate with families about the change.
Although there are no reported cases of COVID-19 in Plymouth County, I encourage all of our community members to follow the guidance for prevention from the DPH and the CDC. We can all work together to contain the spread of COVID-19 by staying home when sick and following the guidance for prevention.
Thank you for working together as a community through this evolving situation. We will continue to monitor the situation and update our school community as we move forward together.
Sincerely,
Michael O’Keefe
Head of School
