Dear Parents and Guardians:
As we continue through the 2020-2021 school year, the health and safety of our students and staff remain our top priority. In order to keep everyone safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are required to follow the strict guidelines and policies set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the New York State Department of Health (DOH), and the New York State Department of Education (NYSED).
This includes screening and isolation of any student or staff member who develops any CDC-defined symptom of COVID-19 while at school. Many illnesses and conditions can present with any of these symptoms. If a student is required to be evaluated by a doctor, a “Return to School” DOH Protocol must be completed before returning to our buildings.
The current “Return to School” protocol from the DOH requires one of the following before a student may return to school after being sent home with one or more COVID-19 symptoms:
- documentation from a health care provider following evaluation stating the student may return to school, OR
- a negative COVID-19 test result, OR
- a 14-day quarantine
Please contact your school nurse with any concerns or questions. We know these guidelines can be burdensome and we appreciate your cooperation this year.
Below are two flowcharts released by the New York State Department of Health. The first may help parents understand, on a daily basis, if your child should attend in-person school. The second will help parents understand the process for when a child may return to school after displaying symptoms.