BPS 2023-2024 School Year
Family Resources and COVID-19 Protocols
COVID-19 Health & Safety Measures
Getting students and educators back to school in person relies on a combination of mitigation strategies
and personal responsibility, including:
Masks / Face Coverings
Masks are optional in schools and on school buses.
As always, we support those students who wish to wear their masks.
Hand Washing / Sanitizing
Handwashing removes pathogens from the hands. While handwashing with soap and water is the best option, alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60 percent ethanol or at least 70 percent isopropanol) may be utilized when hand washing is not available.
Staying Home When Sick
Students and staff should stay home if they test positive for Covid-19 or if they have the symptoms of Covid-19 detailed in “Coming to School” below.
Your child should also be kept home if:
Your child has a fever of 100.0ºF or above.
Your child has a contagious illness such as chicken pox, strep throat, or flu.
Your child has a skin rash or condition not yet diagnosed by a physician.
Your child is vomiting or has diarrhea.
Your child’s eye is pink or red, itchy and/or drainage from the eye is present.
Your child has an active case of head lice.
COVID-19 Protocols for Staff & Students
Coming to School
Please monitor your child for the following symptoms each morning to determine if they should go to school or remain home for further evaluation:
Fever (100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Muscle aches or body aches
Cough (not due to other known causes, such as a chronic cough)
Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, when in combination with other symptoms
Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
Nasal congestion or runny nose (not allergies), when in combination with other symptoms.
Please keep your student(s) home if they exhibit one of the bolded symptoms above or if they exhibit a combination of any of the unhighlighted symptoms. Students who present in school with any of the highlighted symptoms will be dismissed to home. If your child tests positive for Covid-19 please alert your school nurse to discuss further.
Individuals Positive for COVID-19 or sick with COVID-19 Symptoms
Individuals Positive for COVID-19
Remain at home for at least 5 days in self-isolation
Return to school on Day 6 as long as the individual has been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and has experienced an improvement in symptoms.
Wear a mask in school, except when eating or outside at recess, for days 6 - 10.
*Repeat testing is not required to return to school.
Individuals Sick with COVID-19-like Symptoms
COVID-19 testing is recommended.
Students or staff may come back to school if results are negative or symptoms have improved and the individual is fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
Do not come to school until symptoms resolve.
Additional Health Information
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus
EEE is rare, but it is a serious medical illness, and MA DPH wants to remind residents of the need to protect themselves from mosquito bites as EEE activity increases
The best prevention continues to be using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, weather permitting, and avoiding outdoor activity between the hours of dusk and dawn in the highest risk areas.
Outdoor spaces will be used during the school day when permissible so students and staff are encouraged to apply mosquito repellent before coming to school on nice days as well as sunscreen on exposed skin.
Town of Braintree
The Town reports positive cases in the community on a daily basis, to view these reports and community guidelines please visit: https://braintreema.gov/914/COVID-19-Coronavirus
Helpful Links
Nursing Contacts
Kristin Houlihan
Director of Nursing Services
781-848-4000 x7840
BPS Food Services
Programs & Assistance
We are happy to announce that all students are eligible for 1 free breakfast and 1 free lunch every day this school year. Any second meals and a la carte items will be charged to student meal accounts like in years past. We recommend adding money to your student’s account via myschoolbucks.com or by sending cash or check into school in a labeled envelope. Envelopes sent into school with cash or checks should be labeled with your student’s name so that the money is deposited into the correct account.
If your family typically qualifies for free or reduced-price meals and has not received a letter of direct certification for the 2021-2022 school year, please be sure to complete a free and reduced-price meal application. These will be mailed out during the first week of school.
Although meals are free this year, it is important for us to track your eligibility. Free and reduced-price meal eligibility often helps determine whether or not your family qualifies for reduced-price kindergarten tuition, athletic fees, club fees, and testing fees.
As per usual, monthly menus will be posted on our school nutrition website. Here you can view nutrition information, allergen alerts, and other important information. If your child has a food allergy, please be sure to communicate with the director of school nutrition. Please note that menus are subject to change.
Food Assistance
The Braintree Food Pantry is a great resource for families in need of food assistance
The Marge Crispin Center provides food to any Braintree resident in need of assistance.
Learn more at: http://www.margecrispincenter.com/social-services
If your family is in need of more assistance, please consider applying for SNAP benefits at https://www.mass.gov/snap-benefits-formerly-food-stampsor WIC benefits (for children 5 and under) at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/women-infants-children-nutrition-program
School Menus
Learn more about our BPS Grab & Go Meal Services and weekly lunch menus
Our Facilities
Building Assessments
Existing Assessments & Preparation
NORESCO - Energy Savings Projects (ESCO): All but East & South Middle Schools
All heating and ventilation units were assessed & repaired
Installation of Energy Management Systems
Contracted for air exchange assessments in accordance with ASHRAE Standards, completed during 2020-2021 school year
BALA Consulting evaluating South Middle School and Elementary Schools
The THB Company is testing & balancing Braintree High School and Elementary Schools
Strategies to Enhance HVAC Air Flow (not exhaustive)
Equipment adjustments & operational hours
Increase outdoor ventilation - Outdoor dampers, Windows
Portable HEPA Air Cleaners in classrooms
Clear signage on hand-washing, and other safety topics at each site.
Installation of plexiglass for front office staff & others as appropriate
Hand sanitizer stations
Building Assessments