Good morning, Hopkinton families:

I’m asking you to read this email fully as it contains important information, mostly for people who have chosen hybrid learning. Soon the December break will be upon us, giving us eleven days away from school until our return date of Monday, January 4, 2021. Many hybrid families have asked whether the schools will be going remote for the week after the December break. The answer to that question is that at present there is no plan to transition teaching and learning to a fully remote model. If anything changes between now and January 4th, I will reach out as soon as I am aware of the change in conditions. According to the town of Hopkinton public health officials, recent data reveal that COVID-19 cases have been trending down in our community. Further, if people are traveling out of state for the Christmas holiday, with Christmas being on Friday, December 25, people should be able to find time before January 4th to meet the COVID-19 testing criteria set forth in the Governor's Travel Order.

We are also working closely with the Hopkinton Health Department to see if antigen tests might be available on Monday morning for faculty.

Therefore, it would seem that we should be able to open our doors as planned in the hybrid model on January 4, 2021. Statistics from Hopkinton Youth and Family Services, our own school-based data, and anecdotal information all indicate just how important it is to have students in-person with their peers and teachers.

Please also note that Hopkinton High School student athletes will likely be in our community over the break to participate in practices. While I am very excited that Hopkinton is engaging in winter sports, I want to remind student athletes how important it is to engage in safe COVID-19 behaviors. Remember that the fall season was played largely outdoors; playing indoors changes things.

I wish everyone a happy holiday season and a restful break.

All my very best, Carol Cavanaugh