Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh, in an email to the schools community, stated that there are no plans to switch to a fully remote model the first week after winter break.

The schools went fully remote the week after Thanksgiving, prompting some to speculate that a similar strategy might be used again to prevent a spread of COVID-19, especially with people traveling or welcoming family and friends into their homes during the recess.

“According to the town of Hopkinton public health officials, recent data reveal that COVID-19 cases have been trending down in our community,” Cavanaugh wrote. “Further, if people are traveling out of state for the Christmas holiday, with Christmas being on Friday, December 25, people should be able to find time before January 4th to meet the COVID-19 testing criteria set forth in the Governor’s Travel Order. We are also working closely with the Hopkinton Health Department to see if antigen tests might be available on Monday morning for faculty.

“Therefore, it would seem that we should be able to open our doors as planned in the hybrid model on January 4, 2021. Statistics from Hopkinton Youth and Family Services, our own school-based data, and anecdotal information all indicate just how important it is to have students in-person with their peers and teachers.”

Cavanaugh noted that Hopkinton High School student-athletes will be practicing over the break, and she cautioned them to “engage in safe COVID-19 behaviors.”