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Dear parents, guardians, and members of the Newmarket community,
We wanted to provide you with an update on the two confirmed cases of COVID-19 at our Junior Senior High School. The staff member who has tested positive did not have any close contact with any students but did have close contact with several staff members. These staff members must remain in quarantine until October 30th. For this reason alone, we will shift Newmarket Junior Senior High School to remote learning from Tuesday, October 20th through Friday, October 30th at which time we will reevaluate the situation and provide further guidance. During this time, we will continue to run the SST bus from the Rec Department to SST according to the existing schedule. This shift only impacts Junior Senior High students. On campus learning will continue at the elementary school at this time.
All meals will continue to be provided to students at no charge, for both on campus and remote meal service. All remote meals are available for pick up at entrance behind the Newmarket Elementary school between 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM and can be ordered by clicking on the "Elementary Meal Order Form" link on the school district website. If meals were already ordered by Junior Senior High School students prior to this announcement, parents will be contacted directly by Food Service to confirm if they plan to pick up meals at the Elementary School during this period of remote instruction.
The investigation for the student who tested positive for COVID-19 is still underway and close contacts in that case are still unknown at this time. We are actively working with and following guidelines from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). NH DHHS has requested we provide contact information for anyone who has been identified as having had close contact (within 6 feet for longer than 10 minutes) with the infected person. NH DHHS will contact these individuals and will instruct them how to self-quarantine at home. Those staff and students will be directed to get tested and keep themselves quarantined until 14 days following their last possible exposure. View our guide for self-quarantine.
Just a reminder, if you or your child are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, chills, respiratory illness, aches or change in taste and smell, please stay home and away from others and get a COVID-19 PCR test. You may also choose to seek out testing from your healthcare provider or at one of the testing sites located throughout the state
(https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/documents/covid-testing-options.pdf). If you choose either of those options, you should bring this letter with you.
The safety of our children and staff is our top priority. To ensure their health and safety, we have been following CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting for our high-traffic areas and frequently touched surfaces. In addition, to prevent further spread of the disease in our community, please:
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
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Avoid close contact with others. When outside your home, keep a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others. This is known as social distancing.
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Wear a cloth face covering that covers your mouth and nose to protect others when in public areas.
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Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
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Stay home if you have a fever or are not feeling well.
Children may worry about themselves, their family and friends getting sick with COVID-19. Tips for talking to children about COVID-19.