Families, Colleagues, and Community Members,

Every day in school is a gift. It is like gold.

Last year, our schools and the Gloucester Community did a fabulous job keeping our students in school, safe, and healthy. We learned that when we support each other, work together, and appreciate the hard work of our fellow community members, Gloucester accomplishes remarkable things.

This year we aim for every day to be a regular, full length, in-person school day for every student for the entire year.

Unfortunately, COVID is still with us, so we must continue with a modified set of COVID safety protocols. As the Delta Variant sweeps the nation, these protocols will help prevent the spread of COVID in our schools. These important steps, all of which we did so very well last year, will keep our students and staff healthy, and help ensure that our schools are open every day so our students get the support and education they need and our community and families can operate fully.

Please be sure to check yourself and your child for symptoms every day and please keep them home if they are feeling sick.

There's also good news. This year close contacts with no symptoms will not always have to quarantine and miss school. Our Safety Protocols including who is exempt from quarantine, can be reviewed here.

We are looking forward to welcoming back students and families to our schools. On Tuesday, August 31, our schools will be filled with energy, excitement, new faces, old friends, and a lot of learning. Our educators, staff, and school leaders will do what they always do – connect with students, work together to support our students, and show up every day ready to teach and prepare Gloucester’s children and teenagers so they can achieve their dreams.

Ben Lummis
Superintendent

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Use this site as your "go-to" spot for information and resources for being in school safely.

What Parents & Guardians Must Know about Returning to School

1. Stay Home if Sick -- Make sure to do a COVID-19 Symptom Check everyday before your child comes to school. Use our COVID-19 Symptoms Check Guide.

2. Masks & Face Coverings - All students (PK-12) and all staff must wear masks or face coverings. Families are expected to supply their child's/children's masks. Please be sure your child comes to school every day with a face covering or mask. See our Masks & Face Coverings for tips for selecting and wearing a mask safely.

3. What if? - We have clearly defined Protocols in case a student or staff member has symptoms or gets COVID-19. See all of our COVID-19 Scenario Protocols.

4. Health Hand Hygiene - We have added hundreds of hand sanitizing stations in all of our schools. Students will wash or sanitize their hands regularly.

5. Fall Athletics at GHS - Fall Athletics are a full go for the Fall of 2021. Athletes do not need to wear masks when outdoors and are required to wear masks when indoors.

After looking at our Safety & Health page, if you have more questions, please contact your School Principal and talk to your child's teacher. They will have answers that are specific to your school or student.