We are very quickly approaching the one-month benchmark in full remote learning. Having established new systems and protocols, developed new skills sets with new tools, and adapted in countless ways to launching a school year in way unlike we have ever had to before, I would say that we are moving right along. I set ambitious district wide goals of 100% of students having an Internet connected device and signed on to Schoology and an average daily attendance of 95% by October 9th. With one day to go before that chosen deadline, we have come very close to meeting that goal. At present, 91% of the current enrollment has signed on to Schoology and we have distributed just over 14,000 devices, which constitutes 90 percent of the total student body (bear in mind that some families have chosen to use their own device). With a recent arrival and distribution of IPads (which began October 7th), we will should have enough devices to cover our kindergarteners and thus reach 100% goal. Our average daily attendance has hovered around 92%.

Local Soup Kitchen, which has seen a dramatic increase in meals served, to raise much-needed funds.

My Brother’s Table Soup Kitchen (MBT), located in Lynn, MA, will hold its 39th Annual Walk virtually this year.  The virtual Walk appropriately named Walk Your Block encourages participants to walk safely in their own neighborhoods, any distance, during the first two weeks of November to help raise money to feed their neighbors.

Every registered walker will be entered into a raffle to win a $250 Amazon Gift Card!  Prizes for top fundraisers, photo contest, and more!  Register yourself, form a team, sponsor someone, or find more Walk details at www.mybrotherstable.org/walk.  Your steps will help My Brother’s Table serve over one half million meals this year.

On October 13, two 60-foot trailers will be delivered to the Buffum Street Parking Lot and will become Lynn Community Health Center’s expanded COVID-19 Testing Site.  The health center’s current site, located in the Element Care Parking Lot at 9 Buffum Street, uses tents from the City of Lynn Fire Department to protect patients and staff from the elements.  The more permanent structures will make it easier for the health center to offer testing services through the winter.

“COVID-19 is still a serious concern in our community and is likely to remain so for a long time,” said Dr. Geoffrey Pechinsky, Chief Medical Officer at LCHC.  “The 7-day average positive rate in Lynn is 7.9%, significantly higher than the state rate of 1.1%.  We are working very closely with the City to encourage people to get tested any time they feel unwell or are concerned about exposure.  Some people, for example those whose jobs put them at high risk of exposure, should get tested regularly.  We are happy to do repeat tests as needed.”

Every week on the MA Department of Public Health releases numbers for how COVID-19 has impacted the state, and we try to highlight some of these numbers so the community is informed. Their numbers factor in the past week as well as the week before, giving 2 weeks worth of data.

There are currently 78 communities in the yellow category (with 4-8 cases per 100K), & 40 communities in the red (with more than 8 cases per 100K). Last week there were 80 communities in the yellow category & 23 in the red. This means that in just the last week 17 communities were added to the red category, indicating that COVID-19 is still running rampant in the state. With news of many cities not cancelling Halloween and tourists still visiting Salem, despite most activities being cancelled, at least a small spike in cases can be expected next month.