Superintendent's Letter

Dear Students, Staff, Families, and Community Members,

We had a great start to the 2021-2022 school year. It is wonderful to have our staff and students back in school!

Newsletter Topics:

• PreK-12th grade Students and Staff voluntary COVID testing via Concentric (vendor)
• Lebanon High School Track Fundraising Committee-Call for Volunteers

Voluntary COVID Testing for Staff and Students

Thank you to our families and staff members who are participating in voluntary COVID testing. We need to do all that we can to keep our schools open and our students, staff, families, and community members safe.

We just learned that our PreKindergarten students and staff members can also be included in no-cost, voluntary COVID testing!

Based on a recommendation from Concentric, LHS athletes will be tested once a week along with their classmates on Fridays during Advisory.

The Lebanon School District is partnering with a PreK-12 COVID testing vendor, Concentric, who provides end-to-end testing services in partnership with DHHS as an approved vendor.

We will be providing voluntary COVID testing one time per week for Pre K-12 staff and students.

· This optional asymptomatic screening testing can identify positive cases in our schools and generate important information on the prevalence level of the virus in the school community, such that actions can be taken to slow the spread.

· By implementing an optional testing program, we can help prevent outbreaks and keep students safely in person and on the athletics field.

· A “pooled” or cohort testing methodology which Concentric runs allows for testing of an entire classroom, sports team, or extracurricular group at once in a single sample, without collecting any personal information from test-takers, and takes about 10-15 minutes to test a classroom.

· All PreK-12th grade testing and staffing is provided by Concentric and is funded through the federal government. There is no cost to the Lebanon School District.

Please note that the nasal swab method to test for COVID is not the intrusive one many of us may have experienced. Please see the Concentric video overview of COVID testing procedures here.

Overview of Voluntary COVID Testing

Using antigen pool testing if a positive result comes up in a pool taken from a single classroom or pool:

· The school principal will notify staff members and parents with a child in the class there is an unconfirmed positive case based on COVID antigen testing

· Test all individuals in the positive pool using rapid antigen test (Abbott BinaxNOW), results in 15 minutes --> If no positive results come back on the antigen tests, test all individuals using individual PCR (saliva)

· Results of the PCR test are received and if they are positive- we inform staff members and parents that there is a confirmed positive COVID case and we would follow guidance from DPHS.

· The child(ren) or staff member(s) who test positive will be asked to isolate.

· Members of the household and close contacts in the household (including if there was a children's sleepover) will be asked to quarantine if they are not vaccinated. (NH DPHS guidance for people who have been exposed to COVID-19).

· Close household contacts who are fully vaccinated and close contacts in school, whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated, will not be required to quarantine, but they will be asked to monitor their symptoms and can continue to go to school if they do not have viral symptoms (NH DPHS guidance for people who have been exposed to COVID-19).

· Staff and students need to stay home if they have any new symptoms suggestive of a viral infection. This means that coming to school when a person is not feeling well or might have symptoms even of a common cold is still not acceptable – such symptoms can include any of the currently listed symptoms of COVID-19.

To sign up your PreKindergarten-12th grade child, 17 years old or younger, for voluntary COVID testing, please use this link.

For staff and students who are 18 years or older please use this link to sign up for voluntary testing.

When prompted please use the following access codes:

• Hanover Street School: 532H6E
• Lebanon Middle School: 81ZM9C
• Mount Lebanon Elementary School: XHBBGP
• Lebanon High School: KLFZAN

PreKindergarten through 12th-grade parents will need to complete a separate form for each child participating in voluntary COVID testing.

Lebanon High School Track Fundraising Committee-Call for Volunteers

The Lebanon School Board has approved much-needed repairs to the Lebanon High School track.

Besides allowing NHIAA competition to return to the city, this project will restore safe conditions for community members and groups who use the facility. The School Board plans to raise funds from a variety of sources to offset the cost of the project.

Volunteers are needed to organize and carry out our fundraising campaign. We seek enthusiastic individuals who are well connected in our community, business people, friends of Lebanon athletics, people with fundraising experience, and others who would like to contribute to this important undertaking.

Members of the committee should expect a six-month time commitment.

Please send letters of interest to: lhstrackfundraising@sau88.net

In Closing

We understand that the start of the school year comes with excitement, some feelings of anxiety, and although we proactively planned to ensure a smooth start, glitches are bound to happen.

Please know that we are grateful for your patience, understanding, and support. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your school principal or me.

Dr. Joanne Roberts

The Lebanon School District, in partnership with the community, is committed to providing a challenging, positive, and safe learning environment that CARES:

• Cultivates curiosity and collaboration
• Achieves academic excellence
• Respects and values diversity
• Encourages responsible citizenship
• Supports the needs of every learner

Upcoming School Board Meeting:

Lebanon School Board Meeting Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 6:30 pm LMS Cafeteria

Please visit the SAU #88 website for further information.

Link to Board Agendas and Minutes

Website: www.sau88.net
Location: 20 Seminary Hill Road, West Lebanon, NH, USA
Phone: 603-795-8500