Dear Parents and Community Members,

Over the weekend, we were notified that we had three of our students test positive for COVID-19; one at Gibson, one at Perry Browne, and one at the MS. The Department of Health was able to contact trace and did not feel there was any need to close the schools. Instead, they quarantined students at the Middle School. The DoH only asked the class at PB to stay home today. The students in the Gibson classroom were give the clearance to attend today.

In the Norwich Reopening Plan, we explained a number of precautions that we took to allow the majority of students to continue to attend school if there is/was a positive case within a building. Each classroom is considered a cohort and they basically stay within their classrooms so there is very limited mixing throughout the day. Our specials teachers go into the classroom, lunch is brought to the students and eaten within their classroom, and the only time they exit during the day is to go outside or to the gym. When they are in common areas, they are masked. The majority of the time, they wear their masks within the classroom with the exception of mask breaks and lunch.

We have had much success using these precautions, since these are the first reported cases since the beginning of the year at the elementary schools. We anticipate that there will be additional cases throughout the year, but they will be limited as the result of the ongoing dedication we have to our students’ well-being and ensuring that we do whatever we can to stay healthy. We will continue to notify you of any additional information.

My best wishes to you and your family for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the break.

- Norwich City Schools Interim Superintendent Diana Bowers, Ed. D.