| Dear NPS Families, Tonight, the Newton School Committee voted to revise the mask policy in the Newton Public Schools. Beginning tomorrow, March 8, 2022, masks will be OPTIONAL in our K-12 school buildings. In this new mask-optional environment, we will emphasize personal choice and responsibility around masking. There will be many reasons students and staff continue to wear masks. There will be reasons students and staff decide not to wear a mask. All decisions will be supported and we will ask our school communities to be respectful of others’ individual choices. Please note, masks will still be required in the following circumstances: — People returning from COVID infection on days 6-10 (CDC requires 10 days of masking, regardless of vaccination status) — In nursing/health offices — Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP) — Certain school environments (assemblies, field trips, music class) – please continue to send your student to school with a mask in the event it is needed. Our elementary principals created this helpful slide presentation that has and will continue to be shared with elementary students in the district: Slide Presentation – Something New! Mask Choice. Below is a link to the revised health and safety plan, which includes the revisions to the mask policy, as well as other changes to health and safety protocols in our schools. Health and Safety Plan – Revised March 2022 We know this is a significant change for our students and staff filled with many different emotions. We will continue to work with students to help them to understand the changes and how they can support each other in the personal decisions they will make with their families. As always, we will continue to monitor the health and safety conditions with the goal of promoting a healthy learning environment for all of our students and staff. Sincerely, David Fleishman |