JENNIFER C. WILLARD,
Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District Superintendent
Athletic team practices can begin
SOUTHWICK – All Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School students following the hybrid learning model will return to in-person hybrid learning beginning Monday.
Students at Woodland Elementary School and students in substantially special programs returned in person last week.
Superintendent Jennifer C. Willard announced Friday that the students could return because there have been no positive cases within the district community in more than a week.
“The District Safety Committee met today to review COVID-19 data in our community and discussed the possibility of reopening our schools for in-person learning for the coming week,” Willard told families in a recording and letter posted on the district website. “After thorough review of the data, I am pleased to notify you that ALL students, grades PreK-12, will return to in-person/hybrid learning effective February 1, 2021. We are able to do so because the SRS cases reported on Monday, January 25, 2021 were for positive tests that were administered the previous week.”
Students in the district have largely been in a full remote learning mode since before Thanksgiving. Willard noted that if circumstances change, she will notify families.
“Because the State metrics have Southwick in ‘Red’ and Hampden County over 5%, a positive case of a student or staff member who is a member of an in-person cohort and has been in our buildings will necessitate a pivot to full-remote learning for that building,” Willard stated. “If any cases are reported over the weekend that result in any closure, we will notify families immediately.”
The return to in-person hybrid means Southwick Regional School sports can begin its winter season.
“The return . . . will also allow our athletic teams to begin practicing,” said Willard.
Willard praised the community for doing what was necessary to get back in school buildings.
“Our ability to return to in-person/hybrid learning is a result of the combined efforts of everyone in our daistrict community and I want to thank you for your diligence and commitment to adhering to the protocols that prevent the spread of COVID-19,” she said. “I ask you to please continue those efforts and look forward to seeing staff and students on Monday.”
