News

Children holding hands
Children holding hands

 Kindergarten Information Night

 

March 27th 6:30pm
Snow date March 30th 6:30pm

Registation will be open from March 28th through April 5th at noon

Information Night will be in person with a virtual option:

Online Zoom link
Passcode: 113119

Registration is for Holliston residents only

**A complete registration packet, with all required documents, must be submitted no later than 12 noon on April 5th to be considered for a potential lottery in French Immersion or Montessori.

Immunize MA Logo

FLU MESSAGING AND RESOURCES

 

With influenza (flu) activity increasing nationally, and troubling early data showing drops in flu vaccine uptake this season, CDC has issued an urgent reminder about the importance of vaccinating for flu. Hospitalization rates in kids are among the highest seen at this time in about a decade so far this season.

 

Remember, your strong recommendation is a key factor in whether people get vaccinated.

 

Getting a flu shot is the most important action a person can take to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as possible. Encourage flu vaccination by sharing the following messages and resources with patients, especially those at higher risk, and those with parents of young children.

 

The flu vaccine:

  • Reduces the risk of flu illness
  • Can make illness less severe among people who get vaccinated, but still get sick with flu, reducing the risk of serious flu complications, such as hospitalization
  • Can be given at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine, for people who are due for both
  • Protects against four different flu viruses - even if a patient has already gotten flu, other flu viruses are circulating and it’s possible to get flu more than once a season

 

Groups at higher risk of serious illness from flu include:

Adults 65 Years and Older

Children under 5

  • Flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children, and healthy children 5 years and older can spread flu to vulnerable family members like infants younger than 6 months and adults over 65

During Pregnancy

  • Due to changes to the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make people more susceptible to potentially serious flu complications. Flu may also be harmful for a developing baby.

 

 Resources

 

Questions? 

  • For questions about influenza please call the DPH Immunization Division at 617-983-6800 or your local board of health.  
  • For questions about state-supplied influenza vaccine, please call the DPH Vaccine Unit at 617-983-6828.

 

 

 

Have questions about immunizations? Contact us!

Immunization Division | 617-983-6800

Vaccine Unit | 617-983-6828

MIIS Help Desk | 617-983-4335

Book fair

Tuesday, November 1st and Wednesday, November 2nd

Our school book fair will be held Tuesday and Wednesday of this week from 4:00-8:00pm in the Placentino library.

Please click for our flyers: EnglishPortugueseSpanish.

 

Unified Arts Back to School Night

Our Unified Arts Back to School Night will be held on Tuesday, November 1st from 6:00-7:30pm. Students and families are welcome to attend to meet their UA teachers (art, music, physical education, science, and world langugage)

 Please click for our flyers: EnglishPortugueseSpanish.

DESE Logo

Holliston Public Schools will be following the state's COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.

You can view this guidance on the state website by clicking the following link: Mass.gov - COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, Out-of-School Time (OST) and Recreational Camp/Program Settings

OR you can read the guidance policy below:


Overview

Effective August 15, 2022, children and staff in child care, K-12, out-of-school time (OST) and recreational camp settings should follow the below guidance.

  • rapid antigen test, such as a self-test, is preferred to a PCR test in most situations.
  • To count days for isolation, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms OR the day the day positive test was taken, whichever is earlier.  
  • Contact tracing is no longer recommended or required in these settings, but schools or programs must continue to work with their Local Board of Health in the case of outbreaks.
  • The Commonwealth is not recommending universal mask requirements, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing, or test-to-stay testing in schools. While masks are not required or recommended in these settings except for in school health offices, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, should be supported in that choice.  For those who need or choose to mask, masking is never required in these settings while the individual is eating, drinking, sleeping or outside.
  • All individuals are encouraged to stay up-to-date with vaccination as vaccines remain the best way to help protect yourself and others.

Isolation and exposure guidance and protocols

Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, OST, and Recreational Camp Settings:

  • Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for children or staff in these settings, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10, and it is recommended that they test on Day 6 of exposure. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals, below.
  • Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:
    • If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
      • If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
      • If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.
  • Symptomatic individuals can remain in their school or program if they have mild symptoms, are tested immediately onsite, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms are fully resolved. For symptomatic individuals, DPH recommends a second test within 48 hours if the initial test is negative.
    • If the symptomatic individual cannot be tested immediately, they should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return.  

Note: At this time, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or authorized any at-home rapid antigen test for use in children under 2 years of age. However, at-home rapid antigen tests may be used off-label in children under 2 years of age for purposes of post-exposure, isolation, and symptomatic testing. It is recommended that parents or guardians deciding to test children under 2 years of age administer the at-home rapid antigen test themselves.

COVID-19 symptoms

COVID-19 Symptoms for Child Care, K-12, OST, and Recreational Camps
  • Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle aches or body aches
  • Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
  • Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nausea, vomiting, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms

Friday, April 1, 2022

Dear Parent/Guardian(s) of ,

 

Important Dates

  • March 29-April 5 - Online Kindergarten Registation 
  • Wednesday, April 6 - K-2 Early Release, No PM Preschool, Professional Development 
  • Friday, April 8 - Food Pantry Donations (optional)
  • Thursday, April 14 - Incoming Kindergarten Lottery, if needed
  • Friday, April 15 - No School, Good Friday
  • Monday, April 18-Friday, April 22 - No School, April Break
  • Wednesday, April 27 - Grade 2 into Grade 3 Miller School Parent Orientation

 

NEW! Early Release Day

Wednesday, April 6th

Next week, on Wednesday, April 6 will be an early release day for students in kindergarten through grades 2.

  • AM Preschool - Dismisses at 11:30am (typical time)
  • K-2 - Dismisses at 11:55am
  • No PM Preschool

NEW! RAMS Mary Poppins Musical

Friday, April 8 - Sunday, April 10

We are so excited our second grade students were able to walk over to the middle school this morning to see a 20 minute preview of the RAMS ReACT theater club's upcoming play, Mary Poppins! 

This is the first RAMS ReACT musical since 2019. The cast and crew would love you to join them in their production of Mary Poppins as well! If you are interested tickets are online this year.

 

NEW! HEF's Bowling Fundraiser

Thursday, April 14

Please click here to learn more about HEF’s Bowling Fundraiser!

 

NEW! Miller Incoming 3rd Grade Parent Orientation

Wednesday, April 27

Save the date! More infomormation about the grade 2 into grade 3 Miller school parent orientation will be shared in the future. 

 

REMINDER! Kindergarten Registration

March 29-April 5

2022-2023 Extended Day Enrollment

Extended Day is pleased to announce that registration for Summer Oasis 2022 and the 2022-23 school year. Please visit their website for information and registration links.

 

2022-2023 Preschool Registration

If you are interested in registering your 3 or 4 year-old for preschool at Placentino, please contact the Placentino School office. 

 

COVID Testing Options

Every student has the opportunity to participate in COVID testing two times per week: COVID-19 Safety Checks (a weekly PCR test) and antigen tests to be administered at home.   If you have not enrolled in these testing opportunities, please consider doing so below.

  • Routine COVID-19 Safety Check. Please click here to give consent for all COVID Testing offered at HPS (which currently includes COVID-19 Safety Checks and testing your child in the health office if they are symptomatic.

    • This is a PCR test.

    • Testing at Placentino occurs on Tuesdays and results are typically received on Wednesday

    • You will only be contacted if your child tests positive ​

  • Weekly Home Antigen tests. Please click here to opt into receiving home antigen testing kits. 

    • Two tests are distributed to be used over the course of two weeks. HPS asks that you test on Friday evening. If your child tests positive, please contact our health office. 

If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 testing offered at HPS, please contact our health office at 508-429-0647 ext 1206,  harkinc@holliston.k12.ma.us or holmes@holliston.k12.ma.us

 

If your child tests positive for COVID, PLEASE email our nursing staff as soon as possible so that they can advise you on next steps including return to school dates and protocols.

 

Placentino Family Calendar

If you would like to add our Placentino Family Google Calendar to your computer/device please click here.

 

Open Positions at HPS

If you know anyone looking to work for Holliston Public Schools, we are still looking for full time paraprofessionals, part-time paraprofessionals, lunch monitors, and many other positions. In addition, we are also still looking for daily substitutes

 

CARE
At Placentino we CARE

Cooperation     Acceptance     Responsibility     Effort

 
Instagram & Twitter
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @SamPlacentino.

 


Sincerely,

Dr. Slaney, Ms. Lassey, and Mrs. Dicruttalo