August 28, 2022

Dear Quashnet School Community, 

Here it is!  The first day of school for students is on Wednesday, August 31. We can't wait to see our returning students and welcome new scholars to Quashnet School. 

Bus schedules are linked to the bus tab above.  

Third-grade students should all be wearing the lanyard sent to homes earlier in the month.  The different colored lanyards will help us quickly match students to their teachers.  

Students will not report directly to their homeroom; they will meet their teachers in the following locations:

Grade 3 - on the grass near the bus drop-off

Grade 4 - in the cafeteria 

Grade 5 & Grade 6 - in the gym.  

Students being dropped off will have assistance getting to their teachers. 

Parent/Guardian Drop-off Information 

All students should be at school before 9:05 AM. 

Doors will open for students at 8:50 AM. Students should not be let out of cars until there is a staff member on the sidewalk or the front door opens.  

When you enter the parking lot,  go to the very end of the parking lot and then take a left to get in line to drop off your child.  There will be cones on the first day of school to guide you. Going to the end of the parking lot before turning toward the school allows more cars to move off of Old Barnstable Road.

We work hard to quickly clear the cars at Quashnet.  One way to do this is for students to get out of cars along the entire front sidewalk. Please do not wait for your child to disembark until you approach the crosswalk area.  

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - do not let your child out of the car in the parking lot unless you are entering school with them. Having students cross the line of traffic is not safe and significantly slows the drop-off line. 

When you are exiting the Quashnet lot, drivers should form two lines. To head toward KCC School please stay to the right, and the left lane is for cars taking a left onto Old Barnstable.  

Lastly, I ask for your patience.  Expect delays initially, and please remember, that safety is always our top priority. The drop-off lane needs to be a single lane with NO passing.  Some students need to get out of their car on the left side. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

To add to this mix, please be advised that Tuesday, September 6, is the Primary Election.  Voting does take place in the Quashnet School gym.  We work closely with the Mashpee Police, DPW, and the Town Clerk's office to ensure the safety of students and staff and to maintain a productive learning environment. It is wise to expect extra traffic that morning and afternoon. The bus is always a great choice! 

Attendance at school is extremely important, but in the event your child is going to be absent, tardy, or dismissed early from school, please send an email to qsattendance@mpspk12.org and cc the homeroom teacher. The school nurse and front office staff monitor the attendance email and it is a great way to communicate.  

Any special dismissal instructions other than the bus should always be accompanied by a note or an email to the address above. All communication should include 1. your child's first name 2. your child's last name 3. homeroom teacher 4. grade level.  

PARENT PICKUP at Dismissal - 

Please complete this Google form HERE if you need a placard with your child's name on it.  Placards should be placed in the front right side of the car windshield.  

Court/Custodial Documents-

If there you have any updated forms or court documents regarding custodial agreements or dismissal restrictions, please be sure to share this information with the front office. Courts do not share this information with us, it is up to the parents/guardians to notify the school of any changes. We understand that this can be sensitive information and it is handled confidentially. 

An important note from Quashnet School 

Nurse Terri-

Welcome back! I hope you had a relaxing, fun, and healthy summer! Here is an update from the health office with reminders and information to help get the year off to a smooth start.

Health Physicals:  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires complete health records and immunizations for every child in public school. Mashpee Public Schools requires an updated physical, signed by your child’s healthcare provider, for all 4th-grade students and all students new to the school district. Physicals can be scanned and emailed to me at trichards@mpspk12.org, faxed to me at 508-539-6793, or a hard copy delivered to the Health Office. Thank you to those who have already submitted this paperwork. I will send out a friendly reminder in late September. 

Medications: If your child needs to take medication during the school day, I am able to administer it. An order from your healthcare provider and written authorization from a parent/guardian is required. You may find our medication forms on the MPS website on the “Health” section under the Student Supports tab, linked here:  https://www.mpspk12.org/student-supports/health  Copies may also be obtained from the Health Office - just let me know and I will get them to you!

Medical updates and Illnesses: If your child has had any change to his/her health status, please let me know. Please do not send your cold to school if he/she appears ill or has a fever. This is for your child’s welfare and for the health of the Quashnet School Community. Please communicate with me if your child has any communicable illness or if you have any questions regarding your child’s health.  I may be reached by phone at 508-539-1550, ext. 4155, or email at trichards@mpspk12.org. 

Vision/Hearing/Scoliosis Screenings:  Per Massachusetts State mandates, students in grades 3-5 will be screened for vision deficits, students in grade 3 for hearing deficits, and students in grades 5 and 6 will be screened for spinal abnormalities. This will begin in October and continue throughout the fall. You will receive a referral letter if your child does not pass the screening. 

COVID-19 update: With many tools available for reducing COVID-19 severity such as vaccines, boosters, and treatment, there is significantly less risk of severe illness. Therefore the CDC has updated its guidance for people who have been exposed to COVID-19 or have COVID-19. The following is a summary of the key points of the new guidance:

1. If you have COVID-19 and are able to mask:

1. Stay home and isolate for at least the first 5 days

2. Your isolation may end on day 6 if you never had symptoms or your symptoms are improving. If not improved or new symptoms develop, please continue to stay home until you are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication and symptoms are improving. 

3. Wear a mask around others for 10 days (including household). Your mask may be removed prior to day 11 if you have 2 negative tests taken 48 hours apart. 

4. Individuals with moderate or severe illness or with a weakened immune system, should isolate through day 10 and consult your doctor before ending isolation.

2.  If you have COVID-19 and are unable to mask

1. Stay home and isolate for 10 days

2. If you never had symptoms or symptoms are improving you, you may end isolation on day 11.

3. Individuals with moderate or severe illness or with a weakened immune system, should isolate through day 10 and consult your doctor before ending isolation.

3. If you were exposed to COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status:

1. The CDC recommends that instead of quarantining, wear a high quality mask for 10 days and test on day 6

2. If symptoms develop during the school day, the student or staff member must go home and test (we do not test in school)

4. We will not be doing any COVID testing in school, including pool testing, safety checks and symptomatic testing. If a student or staff member becomes symptomatic during the school day, they will need to go home and we advise testing that day and at 48 hours if still symptomatic. 

5. Masks: Although not required, any student or staff member who chooses to wear a mask will be supported in their decision to do so. 

Please feel free to contact me if I may be of any assistance to you. Thank you for your time and everything you do for the Quashnet Community. Here’s to a safe, healthy, and fun school year!

 Nurse Terri

Terri Richards, RN, MS

508-539-1550, ext. 4155 / Fax: 508-539-6793 / trichards@mpspk12.org

A message from QS PTO President, Amber Smith 

We are seeking volunteers to help with the Back-to-School BBQ for set-up and clean-up on September 16. Please contact qsptopresident@gmail.com if you are available to help in any way.

Nomination papers will be going home the first week of school for PTO board positions. Voting will take place at the QS Open House on September 15. Be sure to visit the PTO table in the front lobby of the school to cast your ballot. 

Current Board positions:  President, VP, corresponding secretary, and treasurer. Click the link for the  QS PTO Calendar of Events

There are a lot of reminders and notices this week, but the bottom line is we are looking forward to 

Stay connected, and ask questions! I look forward to coming together as a school community at Open House on Thursday, September 15 @ 6:00PM. 

Respectfully, 

Principal O'Brien