Pentucket Regional School District Urges Caution Amid Increase in COVID-19 Cases

pentucketporta on November 1, 2021

WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew wishes to share that the Pentucket Regional School District has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases involving students in lower grades in recent weeks.

Fourteen positive COVID-19 cases have been reported at Bagnall Elementary School, including 12 among students. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education mandated that two sixth-grade classes be fully tested because of the increased number of positive cases. Four COVID-19 cases have been reported at Page Elementary School.

Through contact tracing, most of the 18 cases were determined to be connected to social gatherings outside of school involving multiple Pentucket district students.

Superintendent Bartholomew recommends that parents have their child tested if there is close contact with someone who has COVID-19, and to keep their child home until they receive a negative test result. Parents of students age 12 and older who have not yet vaccinated their children are urged to do so to help protect them from the virus and curtail its spread.

“The health and well-being of our students and staff is a paramount concern at all times,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “I ask that parents and guardians use this new data to inform their decisions about their children’s activities outside of school.”

Page School ‘Superheroes’ Team Up With West Newbury Departments to Support Food Pantry

pentucketporta on June 1, 2021

WEST NEWBURY – School Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Fire Chief Michael Dwyer are pleased to report that Page School students became true “superheroes” by helping to fill the shelves of West Newbury’s food pantry last week.

On Friday, May 28, Page School students took part in “Superheroes Day,” participating in a fun run dressed as their favorite superhero. The day was sponsored by the Page School PTO and organized by first-grade teachers Bridget Murray and Krista Niles.

The School partnered with the West Newbury Police and Fire Departments and the Council on Aging, and asked the students and their families to donate non-perishable items.

The donations filled a police cruiser and Engine 24.

“I am very proud of our Page School teachers for creating an opportunity to teach about giving and charity, and of our first-graders who participated and learned a life-long lesson,” Superintendent Bartholomew said.

“We know there are families in need in our community,” Chief Dwyer said. “By filling both the engine and cruiser, these young students have helped alleviate food insecurity in our community.”

If you can help the Food Pantry, please contact Council on Aging Director Theresa Woodbury at coa@wnewbury.org or 978-363-1104.