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COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Families have mixed views on travel restrictions, Westborough Schools superintendent says
By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer
WESTBOROUGH – The reopening of schools in Westborough concluded April 26, with high school students returning following spring break.
Through this process, travel has emerged as a “hot topic” according to Superintendent Amber Bock, who discussed the state coronavirus travel advisory and other issues related to in-person learning at an April 7 School Committee meeting.
After traveling out of state for more than 24 hours, the Westborough Public Schools continue to require a PCR COVID-19 test or a 10-day quarantine before students can return to school. Children younger than 10 need to follow what the adult they are traveling with is doing.
Exempt are fully vaccinated travelers who received their doses 14 days prior and don’t have virus symptoms. They can return to school without a quarantine or test.
Acknowledging that some families are upset about testing, Bock said that it is “appropriate” and for the safety of students and faculty.
In addition, she said, there can be a quick turnaround of a couple of days between the time the person arrives home, takes the COVID-19 test, engages in remote learning, and then gets negative results and can return to school.
Although some parents are upset about the testing requirement, there is also concern by people feeling worried about other families who are traveling and afterward may come in contact with their children.
“A bell curve exists for every decision we make,” Bock said.
She noted even though routines had to change to reopen schools five days per week, the transition was “seamless”
PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN
The Westborough High School parking lot sits empty just a matter of days before reopening for full-time in-person learning.
Amber Bock Superintendent
thanks to thoughtful preparations.
“Good planning is invisible, the absence of errors. I feel very confident the schools are running smoothly,” she said.
On a different matter, the superintendent said that the state has “very rigid” restrictions on gatherings like proms. Administrators are working on ways to “create a heavily modified experience that feels celebratory,” as a result, she said.
More information will be forthcoming.
Finally, the Westborough School Committee voted to name Friday, June 18, as the last full day of school.
Originally, the date was the following Monday as a half day. But committee members agreed the change made more sense.
School Committee Chair Kristen Vincent pointed out that the state is requiring 170 school days this year (instead of the usual 180), so June 18 puts the district at 171 days.
Student Representative Kyla Kamugu said that last year, the sixth period on the last day of school was devoted to mental health activities like mindfulness and yoga where students could “check in with themselves.” She wondered if that practice would be repeated this year.
Teachers will have the discretion whether or not to incorporate those activities, Bock replied.
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Algonquin and Westborough provide normalcy for athletes with Thanksgiving game
Football | from page 1 earmarked Week Six for a rivalry meeting early in the season.
But the chance to continue the tradition was not a guarantee as COVID-19 could have altered plans at any moment. If Westborough, Algonquin or any of their opponents ran into issues with the virus, forcing a postponed regular season game, this game would not have taken place.
“Every day we played or practiced in the season was a small miracle,” DiCarlo said.
Shrewsbury athletes take the court for unified basketball
A Shrewsbury unified basketball player dribbles up the court April 16.
PHOTO/JESSE KUCEWICZ “...We never knew what each day would hold for us.”
The Rangers/Tomahawks rivalry game would not be announced until April 15.
That was a calculated choice, according to Mocerino.
“We waited to announce the match-up until we knew that we both had this week open to schedule the game,” he said.
Ultimately, Mocerino and DiCarlo noted the game was a win for both teams.
“Providing this opportunity for all the student-athletes involved represents some sort of normalcy for students,” Mocerino said.
DiCarlo expanded on the importance of the game.
“We always love competing against Algonquin,” she said. “So, the fact that we can get this game in for the kids and the communities is special.”
In the game itself, both defenses stood tall out of the gate.
Algonquin scored though in the second quarter. It then traded touchdowns with the
PHOTO/JEFF SLOVIN
Westborough senior Ashton Worstell tries to break away from Algonquin senior Mike McEvoy
Rangers in the third quarter, before then dominating the fourth quarter by a score of 16-7.
The Tomahawks won the game 30-14. This first win of the season was also the first win of Coach Mark Allen’s head coaching career in town.
“Great game, and great win for our team,” the official Algonquin football Twitter account posted following the victory.
Only family members of players as well as members of the press were allowed to attend the game. The game was livestreamed, however, with commentary from Andrew and Ken Roberts and can be viewed in full by going to the Northborough Cable YouTube channel looking for the ARHS April 22 Football game.
By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor
SHREWSBURY - The Shrewsbury Unified Basketball program held a team scrimmage April 16 as the Fall II season neared its conclusion.
This marked the third and final such scrimmage this spring, as players navigated an awkward season of abbreviated practices and scrimmages.
Unified Basketball is an adaptive high school sports program run through the MIAA and Special Olympics Massachusetts. According to the Special Olympics, it pairs players with “intellectual disabilities” with other athletes without such disabilities.
After quickly proliferating through the region in recent years, though, Unified Basketball programs at schools like Shrewsbury and Marlborough have had to change course during the pandemic.
Some practices are shorter or more infrequent. Some players have not been able to participate, and opportunities for interscholastic play are few and far between.
Regardless, coaches and athletic directors are happy.
“Anything to get the kids together is a win,” Marlborough Athletic Director Jeff Rudzinski told the Community Advocate earlier this spring.
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