Willard School COVID-19 Update 1.9.21

January 9, 2021

Dear Willard Faculty, Staff, Students and Families, 

This letter is to inform you that another individual associated with Willard School tested positive for COVID-19 this morning.  This individual was in school this past Tuesday, January 5th.  All known close contacts have been notified and must quarantine for 10 days from their last exposure to the positive individual.  (Note - a negative test result does not get an individual out of quarantine.) 

Out of an abundance of caution, the following first grade classrooms at Willard School are  fully remote effective immediately:

  • All Grade 1 Group A students (Mrs. Flannery, Mrs. Mercier, Mrs. Payeur) are scheduled to return to in-person learning on Thursday, January 21st (due to Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday)
  • Grade 1 Group B students in Mrs. Flannery’s and Mrs. Mercier’s classrooms are scheduled to return to in-person learning on Tuesday, January 19th. (Grade 1 Group B students in Mrs. Payeur’s classroom will continue regular in-person learning on Tuesday, January 12th

At this time, all other Willard students will follow their normal in-person learning schedule on  Monday, January 11th.  Please be aware that we will continue to monitor the situation and this plan is subject to change due to additional information or circumstances. 

Please continue to monitor yourself/your student for signs and symptoms and call a health care provider if symptoms start.  It is important that you call a health care facility before you show up in person.  Stay home if you are sick.  Continue to follow the safety precautions that are in place.  Together our preventive steps can protect the health of our students, school personnel, and the Sanford community and allow in-person learning to continue safely.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe.  The virus mainly spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus.  Signs/symptoms include:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea  

Questions for the school can be directed to your building administrator.  For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695).  You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org.  Call a health care provider for questions about your symptoms.  More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus .

Sincerely,

Matt Nelson, Superintendent of Schools