LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The following letter was recently sent out by SMCPS Superintendent James Scott Smith regarding the upcoming conclusion of Winter Break.

“Happy New Year! We are so happy to welcome our students and staff back on Monday, January 3, after a restful winter break. We will be ringing in the new year tomorrow and our resolution for 2022 is to keep our schools open for students and staff. To do this we all need to do our part by following our health and safety protocols we have had in place. As a reminder, 100% masking remains in effect in all school facilities and on school buses.

Masking, especially indoors, provides additional levels of protection that will help us to maintain our full, in-person schedule in the safest way possible. We will also continue our cleaning protocols, maintain hand-sanitizer stations, and encourage regular hand washing to maintain clean and healthy environments.
In addition, for the first week of January, we will be pausing after school activities and athletic practices and rescheduling games and meets to the extent possible. After school extra-curricular activities may meet virtually during this week, and are scheduled to resume in-person on Monday, January 10, 2022.

Before and after care programs through Recreation and Parks will continue without interruption.

As a reminder, if your child is feeling ill or experiences any symptoms, please keep them home. Staff who are feeling ill or experiencing symptoms should request leave and stay at home as well. The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) has resources available, including information about protecting yourself and others, getting tested, and getting a COVID-19 vaccination. The best way to protect yourself is by getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.

Appointments can be made online at https://smchd.org/covid-19-vaccine/.
We wish you all the best for a Happy New Year, and ask for your continued support. We will find our way through this together.

Sincerely,
J. Scott Smith, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools
St. Mary’s County Public School System”