Raymond School District Reports Positive Cases of COVID-19 at Iber Holmes Gove Middle School

Fourth and Fifth Grade Students to Transition to Remote Learning Due to On-Site Staffing Challenges

RAYMOND — Superintendent Tina McCoy reports the Raymond School District was informed today that individuals at the Iber Holmes Gove Middle School have tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, all fourth and fifth grade students will be transitioning to remote learning.

The individuals that tested positive for the virus are self-isolating in accordance with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocol. They will be able to return to school in approximately two weeks, as long as the individuals have been cleared by DHHS to do so. Under state and federal privacy laws, no further information is available about the individuals.

Out of an abundance of caution, all fourth and fifth grade students and teachers will participate in fully-remote learning starting Wednesday, Dec. 2 in order to ensure adequate staffing levels. Fifth grade students will participate in remote learning until Tuesday, Dec. 15. Fourth grade students will participate in remote learning until at least Monday, Dec. 7, but the remote learning period may be extended. More information on changes to the fourth grade schedule will be available in the coming days.

Any family who is immediately in need of a Chromebook for their student to participate in remote learning should call the Technology Support Hotline at 603-690-9005 starting at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

The district is actively working with and following guidelines from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

The district is working to identify and contact all close contacts of the positive individuals. Those who are identified as a close contact (anyone who was within six feet of the infected individuals for 10 minutes cumulatively, up to two days before the positive test result) may be contacted by DHHS and required to quarantine for at least two weeks. Specific quarantine plans will be provided to those affected. Those families and staff will be directed to get tested and keep themselves or their children quarantined until 14 days following their last possible exposure.

If you or your child are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, chills, respiratory illness, aches or change in taste and smell, or believe you have been exposed to someone who has contracted COVID-19, get a COVID-19 test and stay home until you receive your results. Testing can be done either through your primary healthcare provider or at one of the testing sites located throughout the state. 

In addition, to prevent further spread of the disease in the community, the Raymond School District asks that students, families and staff take the following precautions to prevent the spread of the disease:

• Stay home if you have a fever or are not feeling well. Students should stay home from school should any new or unexplained illness, no matter how mild, develop. This precaution is meant to keep all staff and students safe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid close contact with others. When outside your home, please adhere to social distancing guidelines and keep a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.
• Wear a cloth face covering that covers your mouth and nose to protect others when in public areas.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Children may worry about themselves, their family and friends getting sick with COVID-19. Tips for talking to children about COVID-19 can be found here.

To learn more about COVID-19, please check these trusted resources:

• New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
• United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

###