As communicated over the past several weeks, the District has been exploring the possibility of returning all students to in-person instruction on a daily basis. The NYSDOH issued updated school guidance on Friday, April 9, 2021, which redefined social distancing requirements based on the age of students and community transmission levels. We are now able to share the following updates with you.
- Students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 6 will now be able to maintain a social distance of only three feet. While reducing social distancing in these grade levels is now allowable, the District will continue to keep students spaced six feet apart whenever possible.
- Students in grades 7 and 8 will be able to return to in-person instruction on a daily basis beginning on Monday, April 19, 2021 due to the fact that they are grouped in “cohorts,” meaning that for the majority of their school day, they are grouped in one classroom with the same students. These students will be socially distanced by three feet. Based on updated guidance, use of barriers is not recommended, and as such will not be placed on student desks.
- Students in grades 9-12 will need to remain in a hybrid learning environment, as currently, the state is not allowing for the in-person return of high school students with less than six feet of social distancing in areas of high transmission of COVID-19 if the students are not grouped into cohorts. Due to the nature of high school schedules, the grouping of high school students into cohorts is not a feasible option.
- Students will now be required to remain only six feet apart when singing, engaging in physical activity or when playing a wind instrument.
In addition to these changes, the following items remain true: students and staff must continue to wear masks at all times, except for when consuming food or drinks. This requires students in grades 7 and 8 to eat breakfast in the HS small gym, which is equipped with student desks. Also, students and staff must remain socially distanced at a space of six feet even when students are permitted to be only three feet apart. Finally, guidelines for quarantine remain such that if a person is in contact with a COVID positive person with less than six feet of distance for 10 or more minutes or less than 12 feet of distance for 45 or more minutes over a 24 hour period he or she will continue to be subject to quarantine.
Parents and guardians will be reminded of the expectation that in all grade levels, students will attend school each and every day that they are scheduled to attend.
We appreciate everyone’s continued support, patience and flexibility. We will continue to keep you apprised of changes if and when they occur. In the meantime, we will continue to remain Saber Strong throughout the course of this pandemic!
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