Dear Parents/Guardians:

I am pleased to inform you that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is now allowing us to fill the school buses as we had done prior to COVID 19 and they are encouraging us to bring students physically into school more days each week. Please know that all safety mitigations such as mask wearing, frequent hand washing, sanitizing, and social distancing will remain in place. As students return, desk will be placed 3-4 feet apart.  Students will  remain 6 feet apart at lunch time and during mask breaks. 

On January 25, grades 1 & 2 students returned to school four days a week. After a month there has been no transmission of COVID 19 in school by students or staff. I am excited to inform you that we feel very confident that we can now begin to gradually bring in additional grades back to school four days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) according to the following time table.

Grade 8: Monday, March 1

Grades 3 & 4: Monday, March 8

Grades 5 & 6: Tuesday, March 16 (March 15 is a professional development day)

Kindergarten & Grade 7: Monday, March 22

Due to a huge concern about traffic congestion at the beginning and end of the school day, I strongly urge Berkley parents to have their children ride the school bus when possible. Your child's building principal will be providing you with more information as the date for each grade level's return gets closer. 

Please note that there is a possibility that we will be able to return to a "normal" school week sometime this spring. Wouldn't that be wonderful?!

I would like to extend my appreciation to all of our teachers and staff for their extraordinary efforts. The vast majority of students have done a remarkable job pivoting from one learning platform to another as well. Thank you for supporting and assisting them as well.

Sincerely, 

Tom Lynch, Berkley Superintendent of Schools