COVID Protocols and Online Learning

IMPORTANT COVID INFORMATION:

• Daily Health Screener are no longer required to enter school building.  
• Stay home if sick: Students and staff should stay home if they show any symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses and get tested for COVID-19. 
• Isolate if COVID-19 positive: Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for 5 days and can return to school on day 6 if they have no symptoms or symptoms are improving. They must wear mask until day 10 after symptom onset or date of positive test, whichever is earlier.
• Get tested if exposed to COVID-19: Students and staff who are exposed to COVID-19 should get tested.  Anyone exposed will receive home tests from our school and take two tests, at least 24 hours apart on day 4 and day 5 of their exposure. All exposed individuals should monitor for fever and other COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days after their exposure. If symptoms begin, they should not attend school and should isolate and get tested for COVID-19 again right away. 
• Testing:
  • Starting the first day of school, schools will offer home test kits to those with a potential in-school exposure and those with symptoms
  • In addition, each staff and student will receive 4 tests per month to take home. These tests can be used by school families for testing due to symptoms, exposures, high-risk activity (such as travel and large gatherings) and can give staff and students immediate results.
• Situation Room:
  • Schools will report positive cases of COVID-19 to the situation room. Staff and parents will receive communication that is provided by the situation room.
• Masking- Face coverings are strongly recommended to be worn when indoors. Masks will be made available at the school for all those who need/want them.
  • Students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask when:
    • Returning to school on the sixth day after testing positive for COVID-19, through day 10 after symptom onset or date of positive test, whichever is earlier, including when traveling on a school bus.
    • Entering the school medical room, nurse’s office, or school-based health center.
    • Exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 at school.
  • Students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, are strongly recommended to wear a mask:
    • When they were exposed to someone with COVID-19, whether the exposure occurred in school or outside of school. The person should wear a mask for 10 days after their last day of exposure and get tested at least 24 hours apart on day 4 and day 5 of their exposure.
    • When they are moderately-to-severely immunocompromised, and masking is recommended by their healthcare provider.
    • In crowded indoor settings 
• Ventilation:
  • 160K+ air purifiers distributed to schools –  two in every classroom
  • Monitoring ventilation in buildings on a daily basis and perform any required work in a timely manner
  • HVAC upgrades in alignment with CDC guidance, including 110,000 MERV-13 filters installed
• School Building Cleaning:
  • Routine cleaning of surfaces will be maintained

If you have any additional questions please reach out to your child's teacher via ClassDojo or email first. Then, if you still need support reach out to our Assistant Principals Erin Meizlik (emeizlik@schools.nyc.gov) and Scott Postel (spostel@schools.nyc.gov)

If your child needs to isolate at any point during the school year, they will receive asynchronous instruction.  The lessons will be posted on google classroom for them to complete.  The teacher will have two virtual office hours per 10 days to assist student or answer any questions.

• Vaccination: Vaccination is the best way to reduce COVID-19 risk. Encourage up to date COVID-19 vaccination for everyone six months or older.
  • Visit the vaccine finder page(Open external link) or call 877-829-4692 to find a location near you.
  • Up to date includes boosters for everyone who is eligible and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people. See At-A-Glance COVID-19 Vaccination Schedules (cdc.gov)(Open external link).
  • Vaccination Requirements:
    • Vaccination is still required for all visitors entering school buildings
    • Vaccination is still required for all DOE employees
    • Vaccination is still required for other individuals who work in DOE buildings
    • Vaccination is no longer required to participate in high-risk extracurricular activities including high-risk PSAL sports