Mars Area Middle School will be closed, beginning Friday, Feb. 5, and continuing through Tuesday, Feb. 9.
In accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) guidelines, which establish the minimum number of active COVID cases that require a building to close based upon the school’s enrollment, Mars Area School District is required to close the Mars Area Middle School for a minimum of three (3) days, while the building undergoes a deep cleaning.
As Mars Area Middle School is considered a “medium school” (500-900 students), it is required that the school close for a minimum of three (3) days when 4-6 positive cases are reported or for a minimum of 14 days with 7 or more positive cases, while the building undergoes a deep cleaning. (Note: School closures are based upon a “rolling 14-day period,” which, as defined by PDE, begins with the date of the first positive case in each building.) Within the last 14 days, Mars Area Middle School has reported four (4) positive COVID cases.
To prepare for this building closure, we ask that you please note the following:
Switch to LSI Instruction — During the building closure, all Mars Area Middle School students, who have attending school for Traditional School students, will need to switch to Live-Stream Interactive (LSI) Instruction through which teachers will facilitate instruction from home on a period-by-period basis. Note: Building administrators, paraprofessionals and support staff members will be temporarily relocated to other schools, while custodial crews clean the building.
Technology — Students, who do not have access to a District-issued technology device, will be provided with a device, free of charge, during the closure period only. Those devices must be returned to the school immediately upon the return of students to the traditional setting. Please be advised that any damages to the device are subject to repair or replacement costs being incurred by the parent/guardian. Any questions may be addressed the Mars Help Desk at [email protected].
Athletics/Activities — Any athletics events and/or activities scheduled at Mars Area Middle School during the closure will be cancelled or relocated, where possible. Students are encouraged to contact their coach or activity sponsor for more information.
Food Services — During the building closure, the District will continue to offer free meals for students and anyone in a student's household who is under age 18. To arrange for meal pick-up, contact Bridget Buyna, Food Service Director, at (724) 625-1988 or [email protected].
Students may return to participate in Traditional Instruction on Wednesday, Feb. 10, pending the District’s review of the school’s COVID numbers at that time.