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Updated 1/22/21 - This information is based on data from public health departments and family reporting. The dashboard will be updated weekly.
Current active COVID cases within MRSD:
Chatham Elementary School: 2 cases • Harwich Elementary School: 2 cases
Monomoy Regional Middle School: 1 case • Monomoy Regional High School: 0 cases
Students temporarily learning remotely:
- 3 HES classrooms (return date: 1/27/21)
- 3 MRMS classrooms (return date: 2/4/21)
For Dr. Carpenter's Updates and other information, click here.
Updates on coronavirus (COVID-19)
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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Department of Education are providing frequent updates on the current status of COVID-19. Please refer to the links below for information and updates, as well as Dr. Carpenter's weekly briefings.
1/19/21: Barnstable County launched the COVID-19 Helpline: (774) 330-3001. Callers can speak with trained Medical Reserve Corps volunteers Mon. through Fri., 8 am – 4:30 pm, who can answer questions regarding COVID-19 testing sites, vaccine rollout information, and more.
12/29/20: Testing resources
Asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 is common, particularly among school age kids, and getting a test is the best way to ensure we can identify positive individuals before infection of others occurs. Testing has finally expanded on Cape Cod, and below are details on where and how to get tested, including a free rapid test option available at Outer Cape Health Services.
There is PCR testing available at the Falmouth Fairgrounds and the Hyannis Melody Tent. Persons must call ahead for an appointment. Click here for more details on these options. Additionally, Outer Cape Health Services is offering PCR testing by appointment in Harwich Port. Click here for more details on the Outer Cape option.
If you have symptoms or have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, testing should be covered by your health insurance, otherwise tests cost $75 (or $110 for travel-related tests). Contact your primary care provider to get a referral for a test. If you do not have health insurance, call the Barnstable County Community Testing line at 508-534-7103 to be screened by a provider. No one will be turned away due to lack of insurance or inability to pay.
Outer Cape Health Services is also offering FREE rapid testing for asymptomatic individuals until January 10, 2021. If you are curious if you have COVID but don’t have any symptoms, call for an appointment at 508-905-2888. Locations are available in Harwich, Wellfleet and Provincetown. (Note: this is not a PCR test and does not satisfy the state’s Travel Order requirements.)
10/21/20: The CDC has revised its definition of close contact. The new definition of close contact is: "Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated."
Health Services Department COVID-19 Information
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MRSD health services COVID-19 information for parents
MRSD health services COVID-19 information for parents.pdf 292.9 KB (Last Modified on September 9, 2020) -
MRSD Health Services Standard Guidelines 2020-2021
MRSD Health Services Standard Guidelines 2020-2021.pdf 415.13 KB (Last Modified on September 9, 2020)

Exponential Growth & Social Distancing by MRHS Teacher Joe Nystrom
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Guidance on MRSD Attendance Policy
This message is meant to clarify ongoing confusion regarding attendance policies in Monomoy during the COVID-19 situation in Massachusetts. Many families may have seen that the Department of Education and Governor's office stated that “For accountability purposes for school year 2019-20, DESE will calculate chronic absenteeism as of Monday, March 2, 2020 and disregard all attendance data for the remainder of the school year.”
This statement refers directly to one of the measures used to evaluate each school district across the state annually and assign an accountability rating. This does not mean that schools are no longer required to monitor student attendance, it just means that school districts do not need to worry about the impact of student attendance on their accountability rating for absences that occur after March 2, 2020. This allows districts to relax attendance policies; however, does not relieve us from our responsibility to monitor attendance.
As such, Monomoy Regional School District will continue to monitor student attendance each day our schools are in session. If families decide to keep their children home from school in response to concerns over COVID-19, these absences will be recorded by the district; however, families will not be penalized in any way for absences from March 2, 2020 until this situation with COVID-19 is resolved in the state. This does not absolve attendance concerns prior to March 2, 2020.
Lastly, if families decide to keep their children home from school in response to concerns over COVID-19, the school district will not be providing curriculum for students at home while schools are still in session. As long as the schools are open, curriculum will be delivered in our schools. Families looking to provide curriculum at home when schools are not closed are encouraged to apply for homeschooling through the district and seek a homeschooling curriculum to meet the needs of your child. If a decision is made at some point to close and offer remote learning, that information will be communicated to all families.
Briefings and Updates
Resources
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Massachusetts Department of Early and Secondary Education
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Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource