UPCOMING EVENTS

CHRISTMAS BREAK
MONDAY, DECEMBER 20 –
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31

Pioneer Valley Christian Academy will be closed for Christmas Break Monday, Deccember 20 -Friday, December 31. School will resume Monday, January 3, 2022 at 7:45 AM.

There will be a Christmas Concert for Grades K-8 on Friday, December 10 at 7:00 PM in the new gym. Elementary students should report to their classrooms by 6:45 PM and middle school students should report to their classrooms at 6:30 PM where they will remain until it is time for their class to perform. The students will then return to their classrooms for the remainder of the concert. Each class will perform separately to ensure proper social distancing.

*This performance is mandatory for the Middle School Choir and is worth 40% of their grade.

Attire for the concert

Grades K-5:

 • Black pants or Dark blue jeans (preferably black pants)

• Students will be provided a T-shirt to wear, however, it is advised that all students arrive wearing a shirt that can be layered under the provided T-shirt. This can be a plain t-shirt, tank top, or a white, long sleeve t-shirt

Middle School Choir 

• Black pants

• Black shoes

• Boys should wear a white, button-down, collared shirt
(I will provide a red tie)

• Girls should wear a solid, white top. This can be a blouse, sweater, or turtleneck.
(I will provide a red scarf)

CHRISTMAS CANDY-GRAMS:EXTENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 15

The PVCA Booster Club will be holding a school-wide Candy-Gram sale. Fill out a message for each person you or your student would like to have a Candy-Gram delivered to on Friday, December 17. A Candy-Gram may be sent to students, classmates, teachers and/or staff. Each Candy-Gram is $1.00. To complete your order, fill out one message for each individual you wish to receive a Candy-Gram. Return the form with payment to your student’s homeroom teacher no later than Wednesday, December 15.

**At the top of your form, please print your child’s grade number.

Attention all “Dads & Grads

You are invited to participate in pick-up basketball games on Mondays, 7:30-9:00PM, in the PVCA gym.
The basketball games are for men who are either dads of PVCA students or are PVCA alumni.

If you have questions, please contact Slav Zenchenko at 413-883-0455.

Masks are optional.

A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires all school-age children to have an updated Physical Examination Form and a Physician Certificate of Immunization on file. Our records indicate that your child needs an updated Physical Examination (or an updated Physician Certificate of Immunization).

If your child has had a current physical, please submit it to the school nurse. In order for a student to be exempt from the Massachusetts immunization requirements a medical or religious exemption form must be annually submitted. Please refer to the following link for further information. https://pvcama.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Exemption-Letter-Final-Draft-PDF.pdf

Paperwork needs to be submitted to the front office, faxed to 413-782-8033, or emailed to mgunn@pvcama.org.

If you have further questions please call 413-782-8031 and ask to speak with the school nurse. Thank you for your cooperation.

Mylah Gunn
School Nurse

UPDATED TARDY POLICY

Although we understand unforeseen circumstances can occur which prevent a student from arriving to school on time, Tardiness often results in missed important information in the classroom, as well as interruption of the learning environment for the teacher and other students.

Excused tardies include illness, death in the family, medical appointments, unforeseen emergency, (to be determined by the Administration) or prior arrangement with the Principal. Without a phone call or a note, your child’s tardy will be marked unexcused.

As a reminder, our school day begins at 7:45 AM. We appreciate your cooperation in having your student arrive on time to school. If you have any questions, or if we can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact one of us via email Malissa Feragne / Edward Campolongo or by phone (413.782.8031).

PROTOCOL A: INDIVIDUAL WHO TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

DURATION
Students who test positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for a minimum of 5 days after symptoms onset or after positive PCR or antigen test, if asymptomatic.

RETURN TO SCHOOL
Students isolate for 5 days, return on day 6 provided that they:

• Remain fever free for 24 hours (without taking fever-reducing medications)
• Improvement in all other symptoms

NOTE

• Follow the 5-day isolation period, individuals must wear a mask for 5 days when around others.

PROTOCOL B: PROTOCOL FOR ASYMPTOMATIC CLOSE CONTACTS

DURATION
Quarantine is at least 5 days from the date of exposure.

RETURN TO SCHOOL
Students isolate for 5 days return on day 6, provided that they:

• Adhere to strict mask use for an additional 5 days
• Remain asymptomactic 
• Conduct active monitoring for symptoms through day 10
• Self-isolate if symptoms develop

NOTE

• If an individual has symptoms at the time they are designated as a close contact or within the 5 days following initial exposure, they follow the protocol for symptomatic individuals (PROTOCOL C).
• If an individual tests positive at any time, they follow the protocol for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 (PROTOCOL A). 
• For all those exposed, best practice would also include an antigen or PCR test for COVID-19 at day 5 after exposure. An antigen test may be self-administered and does not need to be proctored or performed by a healthcare professional.

PROTOCOL C-1: PROTOCOL FOR SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS (TEST)

PROTOCOL FOR SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS VACCINATED AND NON-VACCINATED WHO EXPERIENCE
COVID-19 SYPTOMS WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

PROTOCOL C-1 (RECOMMENDED) 

RETURN TO SCHOOL POST-SYMPTOMS WITH A NEGATIVE COVID TEST.

DURATION
Dependent on symptom resolution.

RETURN TO SCHOOL
Individuals may return to school after they:

• Have recieved a negative PCR or antigen test result for COVID-19. An antigen test may be self-administered and does not need to be performed by a healthcare professional.
  NOTE - So long as the individual is not a close contact, if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis for the COVID-19-like symptoms, the individual may use this recommendation (e.g., for influenza or strep pharyngitis) in lieu of a PCR test of antigen test.
• Have improvement in symptoms
• Have been without a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

NOTE

• If the symptomatic individual was a close contact who is not exempt from testing and quarantine response protocols, after symptoms resolve and they receive a negative PCR test, they should follow Protocol B.

PROTOCOL C-2: PROTOCOL FOR SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS (NO TEST)

PROTOCOL C-2 

ALTERNATIVE PROTOCOL FOR SYMPTOMATIC INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT CLOSE CONTACTS AND CHOOSE NOT TO RECEIVE A COVID TEST IN ORDER TO RETURN TO SCHOOL.

DURATION
Isolation is at least 5 days from symptom onset.

RETURN TO SCHOOL
After 5 days, returning on day 6, assuming they:

• Have improvement in symptoms or have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

EXEMPTIONS

-ASYMPTOMATIC, FULLY VACCINATED CLOSE CONTACTS ARE EXEMPT FROM TESTING AND QUARANTINE RESPONSE PROTOCOLS

-CLOSE CONTACTS WHO HAVE HAD COVID-19 WITHIN THE PAST 90 DAYS.

NEED PRAYER?
THE PVCA PRAYER LIST

The PVCA prayer list is updated daily and sent out monthly to subscribers. If you would like to sign-up for the PVCA prayer list or have a prayer request, fill out the form(s) below.

The PVCA dress code, or standard of dress, is posted on the website under the parents tab. Please review the dress code to be sure your son or daughter is following it.

Common dress code violations are:

• wearing shirts that are not polos such as t-shirts

• wearing sweatshirts and hoodies with words or images

• wearing shorts, dresses, or skirts that do not follow the fit requirements

Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than three inches above the middle of the knee for the purposes of modesty and ease at play times.

Leggings are also not allowed unless they are being worn for warmth underneath a skirt or dress.

Sneakers are required on gym days or the student will not be permitted to participate in gym class activities.