PORTSMOUTH — Despite the holiday break, the school district has continued to see a rise in the number of in-person COVID-19 cases, Superintendent Thomas Kenworthy reported in an e-mail sent out to the school community Thursday.

The total number of positive cases is 54, according to the district’s COVID dashboard, which regularly updates figures.

Of those, 22 are at the high school — with 12 individuals isolating and 10 who have recovered and cleared for return by the R.I. Department of Health (RIDOH).

Another 12 are at Melville Elementary School — four individuals isolating and eight cleared for return. Hathaway Elementary and the middle school each have eight cases. At Hathaway, four are isolating and four were cleared for return, while two are isolating and six cleared for return at the middle school.

“While we have not had to deal with in-school contacts over the holiday break, we have continued to see an increase in our district COVID cases,” Mr. Kenworthy stated in his e-mail. “The recent surge in cases throughout our state is being spread primarily through close contact, often maskless close contact, with individuals outside of one’s household. As we get ready to return to our in-person learning models, and hopefully move closer to increased vaccinations, I am asking all members of the (district) community to double down on our personal efforts to curb the spread of this virus.” 

He reminded parents and students that the schools will resume distance learning for all grades on Monday, Jan. 4, and return to in-person learning models — full in-person for pre-K through grade 6, and a hybrid model for grades 7 to 12 — on Monday, Jan. 11.

Winter sports

The superintendent also reported that the winter athletic season will start on Jan. 11 for PHS basketball, indoor track and swimming (both boys and girls), as well as hockey and gymnastics. 

Boys’ and girls’ basketball at the middle school will begin the following week, on Jan. 19.

“We will follow all guidelines as approved through the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and Rhode Island Department of Health,” Mr. Kenworthy said. “In addition, any student athlete planning to participate in winter athletics must produce a negative PCR test taken no sooner than one week prior to the start of their season. PCR tests can be scheduled through a RIDOH K-12 testing site. Also, parents/guardians of winter student athletes must consent to their student participating in the district’s testing program which will be rolling out later in January.”

School meals

The superintendent said school meals will be available on all distance learning days during the pause. They are free to all students this academic year and are available on any school day from 9-10 a.m. at Portsmouth High School, Door No. 15. 

“The only exception to this will be on days when there is a weather/emergency decision like this past Thursday,” he said.

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