We're writing to share information about COVID-19 increases in our community and updates for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year that are not related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 UPDATES:
- Since our last dashboard update on May 6, 2022, we have 27 additional positive COVID-19 cases at Pike. This substantial rise in case numbers at Pike correlates with a rise in our external community numbers. Please remember that the numbers that the Department of Public Health reports do NOT include home test results.
- Pike’s Dashboard reflects:
- Positive tests administered for symptoms or exposures at home
- Positive tests administered for symptomatic students at school
- Positive antigen tests administered as a reflex test after our weekly pooled PCR testing.
- The Dashboard will continue to be updated on Fridays.
- At the time of this message, Essex County's COVID "community-level" is "medium" per the CDC; however, all neighboring counties are "high."
- The CDC recommends the use of masks in indoor spaces in areas of high community transmission.
- Pike will be distributing at-home COVID antigen tests later this week; please remember to check your child's backpack. These are to be used for testing symptoms or exposures.
- We will continue weekly pooled surveillance testing at school for the remainder of the year.
- As with all of our COVID updates, we have consistently been in consultation with our medical advisor, Dr. Elana Poulter and the Andover Board of Health.
PLANNING AHEAD FOR THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR
The remainder of this note addresses changes for the next academic year, the 2022-23 school year.
Wednesday School Day Schedule for 2022-23
- Drop-off will begin at 8:00 a.m. Monday - Friday.
- We will no longer have late starts on Wednesday mornings as we had this year.
- Wednesday afternoons will have an early dismissal, at a yet to be determined time between 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, we will dismiss students between 3:00 - 3:30 p.m., as we do now.
- We are making this change to allow for Lower and Upper School Division meetings to occur immediately after school and for all-school meetings for adults to occur, as needed, after Division time. This time for adults in the community is designed for us to learn, plan and grow together during designated, predictable time intervals.
- Please know that before-school care will be offered in the mornings from 7:30 - 8:00 a.m., and Pike Plus, our after-school program, will be offered in the afternoons, from dismissal to 6:00 p.m. Pike Plus will continue to offer programming on early dismissal days, professional development days and conference days.
Tentative Calendar for 2022-23
A reminder that our calendar for the next academic year has been released and can be found on the Pike website via the Tentative Calendar For the 2022-2023 School Year.
Planning for After-School Next Year
As COVID restrictions have subsided, we are looking forward to relaunching our after-school offerings. Additional information about Pike Plus will be shared later this month, including a link for registration.
Thank you for your continued partnership. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
