For a pdf version of the ARPS Update, please click here.

Para obtener una versión de la actualización de ARPS en español, haga clic aquí.

Para uma versão do ARPS Update em português, clique aqui.

Welcome back from the winter break!  We were so excited to welcome our students back to school on Monday.  Thank you to everyone who continues to practice the mitigation strategies we have all become so familiar with over the past months–it truly makes a difference in our ability to keep in-person learning going.  On the topic of masks, all ARPS schools now have KN95 masks available for students who do not bring them from home.  Simply put, these masks filter the air dramaticallybetter than other types of masks, and we encourage their use during the school day to keep our students and staff safer.  The next-best option is wearing a surgical mask under a cloth mask.  Finally, the last acceptable option is wearing a surgical mask, which we have available as well. 

While we have not had to cancel school due to COVID since the break, we did see a considerable increase in cases reported to us from that time.  Some have asked for clarification about when students or staff can return to school if they have tested positive.  This chart from MA Department of Health/DESE provides clear guidelines.

As a reminder, if you have been notified by your school nurse that you are an in-school close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID, you may request a free rapid test by emailing closecontacts@arps.org.  Arrangements will be made for you to pick up the test (via contactless pick-up) at the Central Office.  Rapid tests are not available for out-of-school close contacts.  Unvaccinated student close contacts are required to quarantine for a minimum of 5 days after exposure and cannot return if they have any symptoms of COVID.

One last thing to note is that the District is discontinuing the email notifications when there is a positive case in one of the schools.  Instead, we ask that you follow our COVID Case Dashboard, which is updated daily.