We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available. All communications emailed to families will be posted below. In addition, weekly emails from ENSATS are available here: Messages from the Principal.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Student Work Adjustment
Good Morning Students and Caregivers,
We have made the decision to make adjustments to the workload for students in our final weeks of school. Our goal is to allow students who have fallen behind with assignments an opportunity to catch up before the end of the school year and to allow time for students who have been hard at work all along to complete bonus assignments to improve their averages. Here are the details for this end-of-year adjustment:
- No new assignments will be assigned by teachers as of Tuesday, May 26th.
- Long-term assignments that have already been assigned and that students have been working on can still be done if the due date extends beyond May 26th.
- No assessments will be given after May 26th.
- All teachers will provide enrichment assignments that students can complete for additional or bonus points. These assignments will be optional and available to all students.
- From now until the grading period closes on June 12th, all students can complete any missing assignments and these assignments will be accepted for full credit.
- Teachers will still be available during scheduled class time according to our remote learning early- release schedule for students that have questions or need assistance.
Please understand that the school year is not over yet. We have just over three weeks to go and this leaves plenty of time for students to complete missing work and improve their grades. We encourage students to contact their teachers to arrange an online meeting if they need help with their assignments.
We are hoping that this adjustment will allow all of our students to finish strong.
Take Care,
Shannon B. Donnelly
Principal
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
School Closure Update & Instructional Continuity Plan
Dear Caregivers, Students, and Staff:
In response to Governor Baker’s announcement today that Massachusetts schools are closed until the end of the school year, we wanted to take the time to talk about our plan for the remainder of the year. First, we recognize that this is not an ideal learning or teaching situation. Many have other siblings or children in their homes while remote learning is taking place. We appreciate all of the work everyone is doing!
Accordingly, we will continue remote learning using our Instructional Continuity Plan. We remain committed to the learning of our students. This plan provides a variety of learning opportunities for all of us. We have witnessed students helping students, staff helping staff, parents helping students and staff. It is quite remarkable how a community can come together to make sure we are all supported during this time.
At this time, our anticipated last day of school for seniors is May 29, 2020, and the last day of school for everyone else is June 15, 2020. After April vacation, we will make plans for students to pick-up their belongings while practicing social distancing. Seniors, we want you to know that we are thinking of you! We know this is not what you planned for in your senior year. However, in years to come, you will grow and learn from this. We will do everything we can to have graduation, senior activities, and prom; keeping with Governor Baker’s recommendations. We will be working on a plan over the next few weeks and may call upon your class officers, student leaders, and class advisors to help us.
Commissioner Riley affirmed today that individual districts at the high-school level can determine their own grading system. We want to remind everyone that we are not following a pass/fail grading system. We continue to believe that following our current grading protocols is in the best interest of our students. Our teachers and support staff will follow our mission of academic and technical excellence and provide support in any way necessary to ensure student learning success.
Due to this current situation, there may be additional supports needed. Whether it be for food services, instructional support, or anything else, your Essex Tech family is here for you. We ask you to reach out to us for anything you may need.
We appreciate all of the support and will continue to communicate related to our last trimester, summer work, and our fall opening.
All the best,
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
Friday, April 17, 2020
Message from ENSATS
Dear ENSATS Community,
After a month of remote learning, we have finally reached April vacation, and we are happy that our students and staff will be able to get some much-needed rest and relaxation. We hope that we will be able to return to our remote learning and to school, recharged and ready for a strong finish to the 2019-20 school year when we return on Monday, April 27th. We still await Governor Baker’s updated decision as to whether he will keep Massachusetts schools closed beyond May 4, 2020.
Please click on this picture to view a video message from us.
Here is a quick preview of the schedule for the week we return from vacation:
| Monday, April 27 | Day 9: Green |
| Tuesday, April 28 | Day 10: Green |
| Wednesday, April 29 | Day 1: Blue |
| Thursday, April 30 | Day 2: Blue |
| Friday, May 1 | Day 3: Blue |
Grade 11 & 12 Group Book Read for CTE
When we return from April vacation, our grade 11 and 12 students will be reading a book with their CTE teachers, administrators, and other staff. You are also welcome to join us should you be interested. During these times, we thought this easy read, Make Your Bed https://www.amazon.com/Make-
Progress Reports & Missing Assignments
At this time, we have asked teachers to mark missing assignments with a Missing Assignment code, listed as MI, in Aspen. Please keep in mind that MI grades will become zeros on April 28th, in order to have an accurate grade for Trimester 3 progress reports. Please reach out to us if there are extenuating circumstances we should consider.
Teacher Availability
Our remote learning plan allows students to join a virtual meeting to meet with their teachers each day. These virtual meetings are optional and students can join if they are available and want to participate. We have found that these virtual meetings have been very useful for students and allow time for teachers to answer any questions that the students may have. Students can access assignments and instructions via Google classroom, Aspen, or email and complete the assignments at a time that works best for them. We have seen over the last few weeks that some students are working in the evening or late at night, and students sometimes email teachers with questions at these late hours. It is unreasonable to ask our teachers to be online and answering emails at all times. Therefore, if a teacher receives an email in the evening or later, they may not be able to respond until the following morning. In addition, teachers may not respond to emails over the weekends. Just as the teachers are being flexible with deadlines for students, please be flexible with their response time.
2020-21 School Calendar
On April 15, 2020, the Essex North Shore School Committee approved the 2020-21 school year calendar. There are many dates that are still to be determined. The calendar will be posted to our website and will be updated regularly, so please check back frequently for the most up-to-date information.
Kindness Week Video
Our dedicated DVC and Graphic Communications teachers would like to create a video as a follow up to Essex Tech’s Kindness Week. If you would like to participate and show us what kindness means to you, please click here: Kindness Week Form
Food Resources
Food Services will be working this April vacation and transportation will continue to deliver meals. If you are in need of services due to a recent layoff or other financial hardship, please contact us. We are here for you! Please complete the survey in the link to inform us if we can provide some direct meal assistance to your family: Essex Tech Food Assistance Request. Also, the state’s School Closure Meal Information site offers families up-to-date food resource information in your home communities: http://www.meals4kids.org/
All the best!
Heidi, Shannon, and Tom
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D., Superintendent-Director
Shannon B. Donnelly, Principal
Thomas J. O’Toole, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent
Friday, April 10, 2020
Message from ENSATS
Dear ENSATS Community,
As we come to the end of Week 4 of our Instructional Continuity Plan and the transition to remote learning, we extend our thanks to students, caregivers, teachers, and support staff as you continue to support our learning community. We are all in this together and remain committed to every student’s success.
With the help of our staff, we have created a message to let you all know how much we miss you and are thinking of you. Special thanks to Mr. Mejia for putting this all together.
Please click the photo below or click here. Enjoy!
Here is a quick preview of the schedule for this coming week.
| Monday, April 13 | Day 4: Blue |
| Tuesday, April 14 | Day 5: Blue |
| Wednesday, April 15 | Day 6: Green |
| Thursday, April 16 | Day 7: Green |
| Friday, April 17 | Day 8: Green |
***VERY IMPORTANT*** Progress Reports & Missing Assignments
At this time, we have asked teachers to mark missing assignments with a Missing Assignment code listed as MI in Aspen. Please keep in mind that MI grades will become zeros on April 28th, in order to have an accurate grade for Trimester 3 progress reports. Please reach out to us if there are extenuating circumstances we should consider.
April Vacation
Although many surrounding districts have decided to cancel the April vacation, Essex North Shore will keep our April vacation as planned; students and staff will be on vacation from Monday, April 20th – Friday, April 24th. After more than 4 weeks of remote learning, we feel that everyone deserves some time to rest and recharge.
Food Resources
We recognize that some of our families need continued food assistance and access to community-based food resources and we may have new families in need. We are happy to help. Please complete the survey in the below link to inform us if we can provide some direct meal assistance to your family Essex Tech Food Assistance Request. Also, the state’s School Closure Meal Information site offers families up-to-date food resource information in your home communities: http://www.meals4kids.org/
All the best!
Heidi, Shannon, and Tom
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D., Superintendent-Director
Shannon B. Donnelly, Principal
Thomas J. O’Toole, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent
Friday, April 3, 2020
Message from ENSATS
Dear ENSATS Community,
As we move into our third week of remote learning, our students and teachers are adjusting to the new learning routine. The Administrative team has been able to join some of the virtual classes and have enjoyed seeing the students and teachers at work. Our Facilities crew has been working to deep clean the school building and our Farm crew has been hard at work caring for all of our animals. The Food Service staff has been preparing meals for families and the transportation department delivered these meals and were delighted to see some of the students as they made their deliveries. We have volunteers who are printing masks for those on the frontlines of our healthcare industry. We are all busy with our new normal, but we definitely miss seeing our Essex North Shore family every day.
Here is a quick preview of the schedule for this coming week.
| Monday, April 6 | Day 9: Green |
| Tuesday, April 7 | Day 10: Green |
| Wednesday, April 8 | Day 1: Blue |
| Thursday, April 9 | Day 2: Blue |
| Friday, April 10 | Good Friday: No School |
Food Resources
We recognize that some of our families need continued food assistance and access to community-based food resources. We are happy to help. Please complete the survey in the below link to inform us if we can provide some direct meal assistance to your family Essex Tech Food Assistance Request. Also, the state’s School Closure Meal Information site offers families up-to-date food resource information in your home communities: http://www.meals4kids.org/
Progress Reports & Missing Assignments
At this time, we have asked teachers to mark missing assignments with a Missing Assignment code listed as MI in Aspen, these missing assignments will not have a negative impact on student grades. However, please keep in mind that these MI grades will become zeros on April 28th, in order to have an accurate grade for Trimester # progress reports. As always, we will make considerations for students who are sick or experiencing other extenuating circumstances.
Parking Fees
We will be providing a pro-rated refund for student parking. Seniors will receive a refund of $61.00 and Juniors will have the $61.00 credited to their parking fees for the 2020-21 school year. Please understand that it will take some time for the Business office to issue the refund and for School Committee approval. Seniors should expect the refund some time in late May 2020.
Spring Sports Update
The MIAA Board of Directors met on March 30th and determined that the Spring season will begin no earlier than May 4th and will be completed by June 27th, with consideration of June 28th for weather and/or facility needs. If at a later date, the decision is made to cancel the spring season, all registered athletes will receive a refund for their athletic fee.
Senior 2020 Europe Trip
We will be sending out information next week regarding the updated refund policy by Explorica.
All the best!
Heidi, Shannon, and Tom
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D., Superintendent-Director
Shannon B. Donnelly, Principal
Thomas J. O’Toole, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent
Monday, March 30, 2020
DESE Letter to Families
Dear Caregivers,
We would like to share with you a letter from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey Riley. Commissioner Riley’s letter, linked below, provides recommendations about remote learning, updates on MCAS testing, along with Special Education clarifications and other useful information.
Our Instructional Continuity Plan is aligned to these DESE guidelines, and our focus at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School is to keep our students engaged and supported in their learning throughout this COVID-19 shutdown.
We thank you for continuing to support us as we prepare your child for academic and technical excellence during this remote learning process.
As always, please contact us if you have any questions or need additional support.
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
DESE_Letter_to_Families_
DESE_Spanish_Letter_to_
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Instructional Continuity Plan & School Closure Update
Dear Caregivers and Students:
We would like to thank the entire Essex North Shore community for your continued understanding and cooperation as we have shifted to remote learning using our Instructional Continuity Plan in response to the Coronavirus situation. As a school community, we remain committed to providing alternative learning opportunities for our students, which we believe offers them structure and consistency during these challenging times.
Governor Baker has extended the date for all Massachusetts schools to remain closed through at least Monday, May 4th, 2020. In response to this announcement, our plan is to continue with remote learning for all Essex North Shore students. In addition, please be assured that we are working diligently to support students as they begin to participate in remote learning and to help them in any way that we can throughout this period.
SCHEDULE
We will continue expecting students to log in through their Chromebook, iPad, or other device every school day and, depending on which cycle they are in, go to their Aspen or Google Classroom page for their different classes. It is important to keep in mind that we will follow the established school calendar for blue/green days for the duration of this learning phase from now until May 4th. In addition, we will have no school on Friday, April 10th and vacation as planned from Monday, April 20th until Friday, April 24th. We will continue to have One Boston Day on April 15th where students can participate in kindness activities for their family. Officer Chase will provide more details in the near future.
During this time, we will continue to follow our early-release schedule below:
Block A: 7:50-8:26 am
Block B: 8:31-9:07 am
Block C: 9:10-9:46 am
Block D: 9:49-10:25 am
Block E: 10:28-11:02 am
Teachers will be available online for any student questions and support (via email, Google Meet, Google Classroom, etc.) during these official class times.
STUDENT LEARNING
As we move into the third week of remote learning, we are asking you to check in with your child daily on assignments that are due or questions they may have. You are an essential member of the remote learning team! You can help by reminding students that their teachers are accessible online to students every school day. Teachers will continue to post all instructions, assignments, and learning materials to Aspen or Google Classroom. Teachers will continue to answer any email within 24 hours.
We strongly recommend caregivers to sign up for Aspen notifications when students are not submitting their work. You can easily do so following this link.
Students are expected to log in every school day to access teacher instructions, assignments, and learning materials in either Aspen or Google Classroom. If students have questions, they need to email their teacher through school email, and these emails are then shared through Aspen.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Student attendance will continue to be taken based on participation in online learning. Some teachers may continue to ask students to join a virtual class on Google Meet, reply to an update or forum on Aspen or Google Classroom, participate in a chat on a Google doc, submit an assignment, or simply respond to an email. Teachers will record their student class attendance as a participation assignment in Aspen. Keep in mind that teachers know to be flexible with attendance because for some students, for a variety of reasons, they will not be able to be online at the same time.
If a student is not turning in assignments, teachers have been asked to make the first contact with BOTH the student and caregiver and then to refer any instances where they do not hear back to the student’s school counselor for follow up. For students receiving special education services, their liaison will continue to reach out to them and, if necessary, to their caregiver.
STUDENT SUPPORT
Students need to know that their general education and special education teachers and paraprofessionals are all working together to ensure that student learning needs are being met and that modifications and accommodations are being provided whenever necessary. For more information regarding Student Support Services please click here.
As always, we truly appreciate your support and partnership as we continue the learning for your child. We hope you are all well, and we will continue to update you regularly.
All the best,
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Senior Class Update
Hello Class of 2020,
We hope you are all adjusting well as we all have had to make our transition to remote learning and that you are all staying safe and busy during this time away from school. We miss you and can’t wait until school starts again.
That said, we have received a few questions regarding senior activities, such as the Prom and Graduation, and whether or not they will be canceled. Given the fluid nature of this COVID-19 crisis, new information and restrictions are coming in daily. Therefore, we are not going to make any decisions about canceling senior events at this time. The only senior event that has been postponed is Senior Trivia Night, which was originally scheduled for this Thursday, March 26th.
Fortunately, most of our senior activities are not scheduled until the first week of June so we have some time. Please do not worry. We will figure it all out.
We will be in touch with any updates should they arise.
Be Well,
Ms. Riccio and Ms. Donnelly
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D., Superintendent-Director
Shannon B. Donnelly, Principal
Friday, March 20, 2020
Message from ENSATS
Dear ENSATS Community,
Once again, we would like to thank all of the Essex North Shore staff, students, and families for their understanding and cooperation over the past week as we begin our Instructional Continuity Plan and respond to the COVID-19 situation. We would like to also commend our staff as they work to implement this plan and engage with our students to keep them learning during this time away from school. We also want to thank caregivers who are supporting students at home as we make this transition to online learning. Special thanks to our Facilities, Farm, and Grounds crew who are still working to clean our buildings and to take good care of our plants and animals.
Here is a quick preview of the schedule for this coming week. In keeping with the school calendar, we will have five Green days next week.
| Monday, March 23 | Day 9: Green |
| Tuesday, March 24 | Day 10: Green |
| Wednesday, March 25 | Day 6: Green |
| Thursday, March 26 | Day 7: Green |
| Friday, March 27 | Day 8: Green |
Resources for Parents & Guardians
While our teachers are using different platforms to communicate with their students. Many are using Aspen, so I wanted to remind students and families to send all questions regarding Aspen use or Aspen issues to [email protected]. In addition, Google Classroom is being used by many of our teachers. I wanted to share this Google Classroom Parent Letter created by our staff, in the event that you would like to learn more about Google Classroom to best support your student.
Points of Contact
If you have questions or concerns regarding specific assignments or course work please contact the teacher or liaison (if applicable) directly via email. If you or your child would like to schedule a conference with their School Counselor regarding school-based matters, please email the counselor directly.
Update on MCAS Testing
At this time, there is no definitive update on Spring 2020 MCAS testing other than the MCAS English Language Arts Test scheduled for March 24th and 25th has been delayed. We will continue to update you as we receive information from Commissioner Riley.
Delay of Spring Athletics
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Board of Directors announced that the start of the 2020 spring sports season has been delayed until April 27, 2020. We will provide additional information regarding spring sports as we receive it.
Student Activities
At this time, all student activities are postponed until further notice.
Food Resources
We continue to support students and families by providing access to food resources for ENSATS’ families in need. Here is a Student Resource Letter that will help should you need further assistance.
Taste of Essex Tech Community
The Essex North Shore PTO’s Taste of Essex Tech Community Event has been postponed until Saturday, May 16th. We are hopeful that things will improve and that we will be able to hold this fun family event in May. If you are unable to attend the event on the rescheduled date, you can request a refund on Eventbrite by using the following link. https://www.eventbrite.com/d/
We will continue to keep you apprised as we receive information, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate these uncharted waters.
We hope you all stay healthy and wash your hands,
Heidi, Shannon, and Tom
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D., Superintendent-Director
Shannon B. Donnelly, Principal
Thomas J. O’Toole, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Instructional Continuity Plan Reminder
Good Evening, Caregivers!
I am sending you this message to remind you that our Instructional Continuity Plan will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18th. To clarify, teachers will be available to students following the 11:02 release schedule. Students can complete their work any time during the day to receive attendance credit. For more details, please review the Instructional Continuity Plan here.
As always, we appreciate your support and assistance during this time.
Sincerely,
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Instructional Continuity Plan & School Closure Update
Dear Caregivers and Students:
We would like to thank all of the Essex North Shore staff, students, and families for their understanding and cooperation over the past days as we manage and respond to the dynamic Coronavirus situation. We will continue to keep you apprised as we receive information, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate these uncharted waters. Please check your email regularly as this is our primary source of communication.
In light of Governor Baker’s press conference on Sunday evening, March 15th, school will be closed through Monday, April 6th, 2020. While new information is coming in daily, we are not aware of any changes to April vacation at this time.
We realize that students may have left personal belongings or items that they need in school. If you need to pick up these items, the building will be open on Tuesday, March 17th from 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Please understand that picking up your items is not mandatory. This is just an option should you need these items for online learning.
As a follow-up to our announcement last Friday and with the Governor’s announcement today, Essex North Shore will remain closed through Monday, April 6, 2020. Based on this updated information, we want to let you know more about our Instructional Continuity Plan. First, this is a remote or online learning plan for all Essex North Shore students, who would otherwise be in school, that starts THIS Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
SCHEDULE
Students will be expected to log in through their Chromebook, iPad, or other device on Wednesday morning and, depending on which cycle they are in, go to their Aspen or Google Classroom page for their different classes. On March 18th, students in grades 9 and 11 will be in Academics and students in grades 10 and 12 will be in Career Technical Education (CTE) and Wellness.
We will follow the established school calendar for blue/green days for the duration of our online learning. The only schedule change is for March 24th and March 25th, there will be no MCAS English Language Arts testing, so these days will be regular online learning days for grade 10 and grade 12 students.
Friday, March 20th was scheduled to be a Professional Development day for staff and there was to be no school for students. We will keep to this schedule; therefore, students will not be required to log in or complete online learning on Friday, March 20th.
Teachers will be available online for questions and support (via email, Google Meet, etc.) according to the 11:02 am early-release schedule below:
Block A: 7:50-8:26 am
Block B: 8:31-9:07 am
Block C: 9:10-9:46 am
Block D: 9:49-10:25 am
Block E: 10:28-11:02 am
At this time, all student activities and athletics are on hold. This includes captains’ practices, tryouts, conditioning, and team practices.
STUDENT LEARNING
Our teachers will be sharing their learning assignments for students to do online. While our students already know how to log into Aspen or Google Classroom and check for assignments, what will be different for them is that they will be given directions from their teachers on video clips to watch, texts to read, and then students will be expected to post their ideas and responses to these clips and texts online. Teachers will direct students to post through either Aspen, Google Classroom, or some other site, and they will provide clear directions to do so.
Here is an overview of what we expect from students and teachers to make this online learning happen, beginning on Wednesday, March 18th.
Students need to know that their teachers are expected to be accessible online to students every school day. Teachers will post all instructions, assignments, and learning materials to Aspen or Google Classroom. Each week, teachers will post an update with an overview of the learning objectives and expectations. It will help to be overly clear with students. Teachers will answer any email within 24 hours.
Students are expected to log in every school day in the morning to access teacher instructions, assignments, and learning materials in either Aspen or Google Classroom. If students have questions, they need to email their teacher through school email and these emails are shared through Aspen.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Student attendance will be taken based on participation in online learning. Teachers may ask students to join a virtual class on Google Meet, reply to an update or forum on Aspen or Google Classroom, participate in a chat on a Google doc, submit an assignment, or simply respond to an email. Teachers will record their student class attendance as a participation assignment in Aspen. Keep in mind that teachers know to be flexible with attendance because for some students, for a variety of reasons, they will not be able to be online at the same time. If a student is not turning in assignments, we have asked teachers to contact the student’s school counselor for follow up. For students receiving special education services, their liaison will reach out to them and, if necessary, to their caregiver.
STUDENT SUPPORT
Students need to know that their general education and special education teachers and paraprofessionals will be working together to ensure that student learning needs are being met and that modifications and accommodations are being provided whenever necessary. For more information regarding Student Support Services please click here.
We thank you for working with us to support student learning over the next two weeks.
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
Friday, March 13, 2020
Dear Caregivers and Students,
We want to reach out to let you know that Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School (ENSATS) is collaborating with other North Shore superintendents to make a timely and unified decision about school closure that we feel is in the best interests of our faculty, staff, students, and families in dealing with the Coronavirus, which the World Health Organization has this week labeled a global pandemic.
We are one of 28 North Shore public school districts that have mutually decided to close schools through at least Friday, March 27, 2020. This will allow us time to perform a deep cleaning of the school facilities that will have a positive impact on preventing the spread of this virus.
As a participant in the Alternative Learning Pilot (ALP) with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Essex North Shore will shift to our Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP) where students will learn remotely. Beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, instructional staff will post online assignments for students. We understand that this transition process will take time to connect with students and to direct them to online resources. Students will be given support from school counselors and, if they are receiving special education services, we will continue to assist students in their learning. We will be sharing more information about the ICP early next week. It is important to note that the Commissioner of Education supports the use of this ALP for ENSATS, and our students will not be held beyond 185 days which is June 19, 2020.
We also recognize that some students may need food services during this closure. We ask that you contact us if you need assistance. We have a plan for providing some food support beginning early next week to our students in need. If you need assistance, we encourage you to contact our Director of Food Services, Grace Clarke, at (978) 304-4700, extension 2008 or email her at [email protected].
Please know that we are committed to seeking ways to offer you our ongoing support. As always, we appreciate your understanding.
Sincerely,
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
Thursday, March 12, 2020
No School 3/12/2020
Dear ENSATS Community,
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Early Release 3/12/2020
Dear Caregivers:
Tuesday, March 11, 2020
Dear ENSATS Community,
In light of Governor Baker’s State Of Emergency announcement yesterday, we are responding to frequently asked questions regarding scheduled events and operational changes at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School.
- We are committed to following the clearly defined recommendations from public health officials, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control, and the Governor’s office.
- These recommendations include no international student travel and no out of state student travel.
- For recommendations that are less clearly defined, we are seeking further clarification regarding possible cancellations of large school-related gatherings.
- Please keep in mind that this situation is fluid and decisions to cancel or reschedule events may be made the day of the event.
- We ask that everyone remain understanding as we adjust our practices based on future public health recommendations.
We continue to:
- Perform detail-cleaning of all contact surface areas, including door handles, handrails, and fixtures in all high-traffic areas. This includes the use of several Electrostatic Sanitizing machines, disinfecting wipes, and the use of other traditional methods.
- Remind staff and students to follow good hygiene practices as identified in this poster. These posters have been displayed throughout the building in high-visibility locations and shared through our digital signage.
- Increase fresh air makeup.
- Increase our custodial cleaning shifts on the weekends.
Updated information as of 3/11/2020:
- All out of state field trips and international trips have been canceled as directed by Governor Baker.
- In-state field trips, depending on location, will be rescheduled, if possible.
- Clinical work for Dental Assisting and Health Assisting classes have been suspended until further notice.
- CTE programs that provide services to the general public, including the Maple Street Bistro & Bakery, Cosmetology, Automotive Technology, Automotive Collision Repair, and Animal Grooming will be closed to outside guests.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued advisories on the Coronavirus as well as communicated preventative measures to reduce the spread of the flu and COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based gel.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Clean things that are frequently touched, such as doorknobs and countertops, with household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Ideally using a tissue or your inner elbow and not your hands.
- Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
Please keep in mind that our concern is always for the wellbeing of our students, staff, and community members. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
Friday, March 6, 2020
Dear ENSATS Community,
I am writing to share an update regarding Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School’s efforts to protect our students and staff in response to the evolving situation related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Based on the recommendation of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Governor Baker, we continue to follow their advice regarding precautions that we can take to protect our school community.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued advisories on the Coronavirus as well as communicated preventative measures to reduce the spread of the flu and COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based gel.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Clean things that are frequently touched, such as doorknobs and countertops, with household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Ideally using a tissue or your inner elbow and not your hands.
- Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
- Think ahead about how you take care of yourself and your loved ones in the event that there is news of community spread of the virus.
Efforts since our last update to combat the spread within our school include:
- Our facilities staff are regularly detail-cleaning all contact surface areas, including door handles, handrails, and fixtures in all high-traffic areas. This includes the use of several Electrostatic Sanitizing machines, disinfecting wipes, and the use of other traditional methods
- Staff and students have been urged to follow good hygiene practices as identified in this poster. These posters have been displayed throughout the building in high-visibility locations and shared through our digital signage.
- We have modified our HVAC system to take in more fresh air.
Parents and guardians are reminded to keep their children home if they are ill and to notify the Attendance Office.
We will continue to monitor and update you as new information becomes available.
Sincerely,
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
Friday, February 28, 2020
Dear ENSATS Community,
We are reaching out to provide information about the respiratory disease COVID-19 or the “Coronavirus.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 62 confirmed cases in the United States with one case in Boston. Currently, exposure risk remains low for individuals who have remained in the U.S. and who have not traveled abroad to countries where the virus has spread. (https://www.cdc.gov/
Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School is in communication with local health departments and the Massachusetts Executive Offices of Health and Human Services Department of Public Health (DPH), and according to the DPH, contracting the flu is a more prevalent concern for Massachusetts residents than COVID-19.
While students were on break last week, Essex Tech performed a deep cleaning consisting of dusting and sanitizing all horizontal and vertical surfaces including lockers, door handles, and plumbing fixtures; scrubbing and sanitizing floors; disinfecting all desks and chairs; and using an electronic sanitizing system on all surfaces. Director of Facilities Joseph St. Pierre also increased the fresh air makeup in the school’s buildings, and the school has been wiping down surfaces that are regularly used. Essex Tech has also provided disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer for every classroom and office area at the school, with recommendations to clean often. Parents and guardians are reminded that, in an effort to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as the flu, respiratory viruses, and gastrointestinal illnesses, students need to be free from fever, vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school if they have been sick.
We also wish to provide students and their families with the following recommended actions from the DPH to prevent infectious diseases from spreading:
- Wash hands frequently, with soap and water, for a minimum of 20 seconds.
- When sick yourself, stay home to protect others.
- Always cover your cough or sneeze
Furthermore, rapid flu and strep testing can help diagnose and treat illnesses both curing disease and shortening duration. The CDC (www.cdc.gov) recognizes that prevention efforts offer the strongest protection from all illnesses including the Coronavirus.
We hope that this information allows you to make informed choices regarding you and your family’s health and wellness.
Sincerely,
Heidi T. Riccio, Ed.D.
Superintendent-Director
