Dear Families,

As the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak increases in New York State, we are writing to update you on our planning. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority and we continue to look to our state and local public health officials to determine next steps.

There are no known cases of COVID-19 in Columbia County and the danger to residents remains low at this time. To provide timely information and comprehensive resources we have set up a COVID-19 Information webpage . Please refer to this page for up-to-date information and resources. We will continue to post updates as available.  

We look to our community to keep everyone healthy and safe by following the practical guidelines from the CDC outlined below:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water when your hands are visibly dirty.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick (and do not return to school until you are fever-free for 24 hours without medication). We ask you to strictly adhere to this policy.
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

If we determine that a child is displaying symptoms of illness, and should not be at school, we will contact parents or care providers to come pick them up.  
 
At this time, New York State Department of Public Health is not recommending widespread school closures or cancellation of activities at school, and  we will continue with our events and extracurricular offerings as planned .  

The school will take extra care with cleaning and disinfection processes. Cleaning of common surfaces is happening throughout the school day and the evening cleaning crew is disinfecting in addition to the regular cleaning.  Disinfecting wipes are being circulated to every classroom today. Additionally, Nurse Kara continues to teach hand washing to students school wide.    

If you are traveling, please carefully check the CDC Travel website and the U.S. Department of State website to ensure a safe experience for your family. We recognize that families may have travel plans for spring break that include international travel. As of this mailing, the Department of State has issued varying levels of travel advisories that include China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan.  If you are travelling to one of these areas, or if you have been in contact with a traveler who has recently returned from these areas, please notify us.

Thank you for your support and partnership in keeping our community healthy.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Kara Desiderio
School Nurse
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