COVID-19 & Return to School Resources
Return to School Information
Please visit each school website for more building-specific information.
For bus information please visit our Transportation page.
- NPS Return to School COVID-19 Plans
- School Hours
- Recorded Open House Q&As
- Recorded Virtual Town Halls
- Return to School FAQ
- NPS Fall Planning Survey for Families Results
NPS Return to School COVID-19 Plans
School Hours
Norton High School
7:40 a.m. - 2:09 p.m.
*Earliest arrival time: 7:30 a.m.
Norton Middle School
8:30 a.m. - 2:57 p.m.
*Earliest arrival time: 8:20 a.m.
H.A. Yelle Elementary School
8:25 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
*Earliest arrival time: 8:10 a.m.
L.G. Nourse Elementary School
7:50 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.
*Earliest arrival time: 7:35 a.m.
J.C. Solmonese Elementary School
Grades K-3
9:15 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.
*Earliest arrival time: 9:05 a.m.
Little Lancers PreK Full Day
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Little Lancers PreK AM
8:30 - 11 a.m.
Little Lancers PreK PM
12 - 2:30 p.m.
Recorded Open House Q&As
Recorded Virtual Town Halls
December 22, 2020 Virtual Town Hall
October 22, 2020 Special Education Families Virtual Town Hall
October 20, 2020 Hybrid Families Virtual Town Hall
September 14, 2020 Tech Q&A Session
September 9, 2020 Return to School Town Hall
August 25, 2020 SEPAC Q&A
August 12, 2020 Parent Q&A Session 2
August 12, 2020 Parent Q&A Session 1
July 30, 2020 Parent Meeting
July 22, 2020 Parent Meeting
Return to School FAQ
We have created a document of Frequently Asked Questions for Returning to School. This will be a living document and updated daily as new questions or issues arise. If you have other questions that you would like answered, please use the form linked here to submit them.
NPS Fall Planning Survey for Families Results
Please click here to view our Mask Policy approved by the Norton School Committee.
COVID-19 Information
Information on COVID-19 testing is available here and to locate testing sites please use the Massachusetts interactive COVID-19 Test Site Locator.
- COVID-19 Fact & Info Websites
- Information and Guidance for Persons in Quarantine due to COVID-19
- Talking to Your Children about COVID-19
- Social Emotional & Mental Wellness Resources
COVID-19 Fact & Info Websites
Information and Guidance for Persons in Quarantine due to COVID-19
You are required to quarantine (separate yourself) from other people because you have been exposed to the 2019 Novel (New) Coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) the virus that causes COVID-19. If you have COVID-19, you could spread it to people around you and make them sick.
The virus is spread through respiratory secretions (mucous and droplets from coughing, sneezing and breathing) from an infected person. Many people can have the virus without ever showing any symptoms, however, it can cause serious illness such as ]pneumonia (lung infection), and in some rare cases, death. If you are infected, it is possible to spread the virus to others even if you don't have any symptoms.
This information sheet provides you with information about what to do and not to do while you are in quarantine. If you have questions after reading this, you can call your local Board of Health, or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health which is available 24/7 at 617-983- 6800.
During your quarantine period, you must not have visitors in your home. The other people who live in your home can continue to do their normal activities as long as they are not in contact with you, as described further below, and have not been identified as a close contact and put into quarantine. If you test positive for COVID-19 and someone has come into contact with you, that person will likely need to be quarantined.
How long must you Quarantine?
The possible incubation period for COVID-19 is still 14 days although the majority of cases have incubation periods of fewer than 10 days 1. You will need to remain quarantined consistent with one of the quarantine options below:
Option #1
7 Days of strict quarantine
Criteria
Release on Day 8 IF:
- A test (either PCR or antigen) taken on Day 5 or later is negative; AND
- The individual has not experienced any symptoms up to that point; AND
- The individual conducts active monitoring through Day 14
Active Monitoring
Individual must actively monitor symptoms and take temperature once daily. IF even mild symptoms develop or the individual has a temperature of 100.0 F, they must immediately self-isolate, contact the public health authority overseeing their quarantine and get tested.
Residual Risk
Approximately 5% residual risk of disease development
Option #2
10 Days of strict quarantine
Criteria
Release on Day 11 IF:
- The individual has not experienced any symptoms up to that point; AND
- The individual conducts active monitoring through Day 14
- No test is necessary under this option
Active Monitoring
Individual must actively monitor symptoms and take temperature once daily. IF even mild symptoms develop or the individual has a temperature of 100.0 F, they must immediately self-isolate, contact the public health authority overseeing their quarantine and get tested.
Residual Risk
Approximately 1 % residual risk of disease development
Option #3
14 Days of strict quarantine
Criteria
Release on Day 15 IF:
- The individual has experienced ANY symptoms during the quarantine period EVEN if they have a negative COVID-19 test; OR
- The individual indicates they are unwilling or unable to conduct active monitoring.
Active Monitoring
No additional active monitoring required
Residual Risk
Maximal risk reduction
While you are in quarantine you should follow these instructions:
- Do not leave your home except for urgent medical care. If you must leave your home for urgent medical care, wear a mask, such as a cloth mask, or a surgical mask if one is available. Call the healthcare provider before you go, and tell them that you are quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure. For the protection of others, you should not take public transportation, ride shares (e.g. Uber or Lyft), or taxis to get to your healthcare provider.
- Wear a mask, such as a cloth mask, or a surgical mask if one is available, if you must be in contact with other people. Maintain a distance of six feet from others; when this is not possible, limit your time being closer to people to five minutes or less.
- Do not have any visitors in your home.
- Maintain six feet of distance from other people in your home. If absolutely necessary, have one person help you and do not have contact with other people in your home. Wear a mask, such as a cloth, or a surgical mask if one is available when in the same room room as that person. In addition, try to maintain a distance of six feet from others; when this is not possible, limit your time being closer to people to five minutes or less.
- If at all possible, use a separate bedroom and bathroom. Do not share towels or bed sheets/blankets with other people in your home. If you have to use a bathroom that other people use, make sure to wipe down all touched surfaces with a disinfectant after every use.
- Do not share eating or drinking utensils. Wash utensils normally in a dishwasher or by hand with warm water and soap.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw tissues away in a lined waste container. Then wash your hands.
- Wash your hands frequently using soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time you wash. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Anyone you have to come in contact with (including anyone in your home) should:
- Wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds often. If soap and water are not available, they should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Wear a mask, such as a cloth mask, or a surgical mask if one is available. They should be careful to only touch the parts of the mask that go around the ears or behind the head. Do not touch the front of the mask. They should wash their hands immediately after taking the mask off. In addition, they should try to maintain a distance of six feet from you; when this is not possible, limit their time being closer to you to five minutes or less.
- Wear disposable gloves if they have to have direct contact with your body fluids (saliva/spit, mucous, urine, feces, vomit) or handle your dirty laundry. Remove the gloves carefully without touching the outside of the gloves, throw the gloves away, and wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
Anyone you have to come in contact with (including anyone in your home) should remain aware of their health and watch themselves for:
- a fever (temperature over 100.0 degrees). They should take their temperature in the morning and at night.
- other symptoms such as a cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chills, muscle or body aches, fatigue, sore throat, headache, congestion or runny nose, new onset loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.
If anyone you came into contact with has any of these symptoms, they should go get tested and then stay home while they wait for results. If they need to seek medical care, they should call their healthcare provider before they go and tell them that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.
Other advice to keep your germs from spreading:
- Your disposable gloves, tissues, masks and other trash should be put in a bag, tied closed, and put with other household trash.
- Your laundry may be done in a standard washing machine using warm water and detergent. Bleach may be used but is not needed. Do not shake out the dirty laundry.
- Surfaces in the home that you touch or that become dirty with your body fluids
(saliva/spit, mucous, urine, feces, vomit) should be cleaned and disinfected with a household disinfectant according to the label directions. Wear gloves while cleaning.
- Your bathroom should be cleaned every day using a household disinfectant according to the directions on the label. Wear gloves while cleaning.
Talking to Your Children about COVID-19
How to Talk to Children about the Coronavirus:
- www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-talk-to-children-about-the-coronavirus-2020030719111
- childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus
- Parent Guidelines for Discussions of Covid-19 with Children
Talking to Teen/Tweens about Coronavirus:
- www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/well/family/coronavirus-teenagers-anxiety.html
- www.hemot.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Pamphlet_HEMOT_english.pdf
A Comic created from NPR based on interviews with experts
The National Association of School Psychologist resource for parents
Social Emotional & Mental Wellness Resources
Mental Health and Well Being Site
Mental Health Wellness Tips for Quarantine
Resources for Your or Loved Ones’ Mental Health
Calming and Alerting Strategies to Support Student Engagement in Remote Learning
COVID-19 Community Support Options
Click here for information on the Norton Meals Program.
Fuel Assistance
For more information visit: https://www.nortonma.org/council-aging-human-services-norton-senior-center/pages/fuel-assistance
Internet Assistance
Updated For COVID-19: Guide To Internet Plans For Low And Fixed-Income Households
Comcast Internet Essentials: To sign up, applicants can simply visit www.internetessentials.com. The accessible website also includes the option to video chat with customer service agents in American Sign Language. There are also two dedicated phone numbers - 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.