Seekonk High School Students Will Return To Hybrid Learning

SEEKONK, MA—Seekonk High School students are scheduled to return to in-person classes on Tuesday after learning remotely since November 17.

The high school closed following five new positive cases of coronavirus reported within the district and a high number of staff members being forced to quarantine due to contact tracing, announcing the temporary switch to remote learning on November 16. The school is now preparing to continue the district's current hybrid learning model.

"Excellent attendance rates today for Remote Monday!! I'm really looking forward to welcoming our #SeekonkHS students back to the building this week after going full remote for a short while," said Principal Bill Whalen in a Twitter post on Monday. "Cohort A returns tomorrow followed by Cohort B on Thu."

Although Seekonk High School closed for two weeks, Martin Elementary School, Aitken Elementary School, and Hurley Middle School have continued their in-person classes without interruption.

Seekonk Public Schools reported two new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 27. None of the positive cases seem to be tied together or transmitted within the school district, according to Superintendent Rich Drolet.

Seekonk High School is reopening during a spike in COVID-19 cases in the town and statewide. Seekonk is currently considered a "red zone", meaning it is a high-risk community and has at least 10 average daily cases per 10,000 residents and a 5% positivity rate.

The town has experienced a total of 336 cases since the start of the pandemic and 81 cases in the last two weeks, according to Friday's data released by The Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Seekonk currently has an average daily incidence rate of 41.3 and a positivity rate of 7.52%.