Wellness Committee

Meeting Dates

Meetings for the upcoming 2021/2022 School Year will begin in person. To be held the fourth Tuesday evening of each month at 7:00 pm at the LHS Library Seminar Room. Depending on the State guidelines, we may have Google Meets and/or in person meetings. 

COVID Boosters: Please get boosted if you haven't done so already!!! This helps increase your protection from the current surge and the new variant, Omicron, which appears to be more transmissible than the Delta variant but seems to have milder symptoms. CDC has updated its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines with a preference for people to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna).The following is attributable to CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky release 12/9/21:

“Today, CDC is strengthening its booster recommendations and encouraging everyone 16 and older to receive a booster shot. Although we don’t have all the answers on the Omicron variant, initial data suggests that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen the protection against Omicron and other variants. We know that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and I strongly encourage adolescents ages 16 and 17 to get their booster if they are at least 6 months post their initial Pfizer vaccination series.”

COVID Test Sites:

Doctor's offices, Urgent Care sites, CVS, and Walgreens are starting to get backed up for tests. Please consider the list of Stop the spread sites below (free tests, appointment not necessary):

1) Lowell.
Lowell Covid Test Site
2) Marlborough
Marlborough Covid Test Site
3) Lawrence
Lawrence Covid Test Site
 

*Just a reminder- If your student is sick, please keep them home. Call the school to report illness and receive guidance. 

Revised COVID-19 Symptoms List  (DESE released on 8/13/21):
Below is the full list of symptoms for which caregivers should monitor their children, and staff
should monitor themselves. Please note that students will be sent home and asked to quarantine and test for COVID if the following symptoms present:

COVID-19 symptoms list
• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
 New loss of taste or smell
Muscle aches or body aches
Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
Headache when in combination with other symptoms
Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

Unvaccinated individuals and any close contacts presenting these symptoms should follow testing and quarantine response protocols per school policy.
Vaccinated individuals who are not close contacts should follow the testing and quarantine response protocols if they are experiencing symptoms in bold. These individuals may also seek
clinical guidance to assess the need for PCR testing if they have other symptoms on this list.

COVID Scenario Flowchart:

Covid Scenario Flowchart 

If anyone in your family has tested postive for COVID or is considered a close contact, make sure to inform the nurse. This applies to remote as well as in person students.

Pooled Testing:

If your child obtained a COVID test, please submit proof of your student’s negative COVID test
to the school nurse.

***Definition of a Fully Vaccinated Individual: A person is considered fully vaccinated if it has been a minimum of 14 days after receiving the 2nd dose in a 2-dose series vaccine (e.g. Pfizer or Moderna) or the single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson/Janssen). 

COVID-19  Vaccination:
Use Vax Finder MA to search for appointments at pharmacies, health care providers and other community locations. 

COVID-19 Vaccine is approved by the FDA and CDC for ages 5-17: Children ages 5 and older are now able to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This can help further protect your whole family against COVID-19. For more information about the Pfizer vaccine, including the vaccine fact sheet and vaccine safety for children, go to this link https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccinations-for-children-ages-5-11. Please speak to your child’s doctor about their plans to administer the vaccine and raise any questions or concerns you have about the vaccine and your child. Use VaxFinder to search for an appointment to get the vaccine. Pediatrician offices are also carrying the COVID vaccine and hosting their own COVID vaccine clinics.Please refrain from providing proof of vaccine to the school nurse until both doses are administered, thank you.

People ages 12-17 can only receive the Pfizer vaccine while those 18+ may receive any vaccine brand. As a reminder, the COVID vaccine is free for all. More information, including finding a vaccine site, safety information, and helpful Q&As, is available at www.mass.gov/COVIDvaccine.
Sites offering walk-ins include:

• CVS and Walgreens pharmacies
• Lowell General Hospital - sheduling appts Monday-Wednesday, 8:00am – 4:30pm
• Vaccines for people who are homebound: If you know of someone who would like to receive a covid vaccine but can’t get to a clinic, please contact the Nashoba Board of Health at 978-772-3335 to arrange a visit.

CDC Travel Update (update is highlighted):

Do NOT travel if…You have been exposed to COVID-19 unless you are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.

• You are sick.
• You tested positive for COVID-19 and haven't ended isolation (even if fully vaccinated)
• You are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test. If your test comes back positive while you are at your destination, you will need to isolate and postpone your return until it's safe for you to end isolation. Your travel companions may need to self-quarantine.

International Travel Requirement when flying to/returning to the US:
All air passengers (2 years or older) with a flight departing to the US from a foreign country are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 1 day before travel, or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days, before they board their flight.

Domestic and International Travel Recommendations (Not required):

• Get tested 1-3 days before your trip
• After travel, get tested again 3-5 days after returning home
• Quarantine at home for 7 full days, even if your test after travel is negative
• If you don't get a test, quarantine at home for 10 full days.

Wellness Resources

• NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness
• The Trevor Project - The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
• Littleton Community Farm 
• LPS Mental Health Supports - From School Committee presentation April 15, 2021
• Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Resource - Hand to Hold
• Reach Beyond Domestic Violence  REACH works with survivors of domestic violence to foster safety and support while engaging communities to promote healthy relationships.
• Feb 9, 2021  Parenting in Unpredictable times
• Letter to Littleton Families Regarding Coronavirus
• Parenting in a Time of Unprecedented Challenges - Charity Bell
• SEL4MA.org
• Stop Addiction in its Tracks
• Tobacco/Vaping Dangers - Talking to our kids
• MA Rehab Centers
• Partnership for Drug Free Kids
• Safe Coalition
• MA Substance Use Hotline
• Learn to Cope

See A New Sun Foundation Inc.
Jackie Zegowitz 
567 Newtown Rd
Littleton, MA 01460
978-486-4928.
jackiezegowitz@gmail.com
P.O. Box 1344
Littleton, MA 01460
www.4sans.org

Survivors of Suicide Loss
Meets the 2nd and 4th Monday
7 pm to 9 pm at First Church Unitarian
19 Foster St Littleton, MA 01460

William James College INTERFACE Helpline provides personalized counseling referrals matched for location, specialty and insurance or fee requirements and is is available to Littleton residents. INTERFACE is also available for Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend and Westford. For Mental Health Resources and Referral call 617-332-3666 x1411 or 888-244-6843 x1411 Monday through Friday 9 AM - 5 PM. More information on their web site http://interface.williamjames.edu/

INTERFACE Referral Service

Littleton Coalition Against Addiction

The Littleton Coalition Against Addiction (LCAA) was created to raise awareness and provide resources and support for anyone struggling with drug dependency and addiction to opioids.  We also offer support and resources to friends and family members of anyone suffering from the disease of addiction.

We acknowledge that addiction is an illness and not a choice. We embrace anyone in need of help with compassion and an open mind.  Our mission is to empower people to seek treatment and provide them with the tools to achieve a successful recovery.

https://www.littletonma.org/littleton-coalition-against-addiction

Loaves and Fishes
Area Food Pantry
234 Barnum Rd, Devens, MA 01434
Loaves and Fishes

Mass Department of Public Health
Making Smoking History