4th day of Chol Hamoed Sukkos
20th of Tishrei, 5781
Dear Parents,
Good Moed!
We hope you and your children are enjoying Zman Simchoseinu. As we prepare for the reopening of school, the events of the past week concerning the Department of Health, the laws that govern our state, our city and our neighborhood, have been weighing on us. After much deliberation, we have determined that a heightened possibility of Covid exposure may occur especially during the last 2 days of Yomtov; (specifically Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah) when we celebrate in our shuls, with our families and visitors to our Shchuna.
In most cases, the incubation period is 2 days, and in order to prevent students and staff from coming to school on Tuesday and then discovering that they have a positive case of Covid, (once someone is in school and then reports a positive case-the entire class needs to quarantine, and if there are multiple cases the school will have to close), therefore, we have opted to delay the opening of school to THURSDAY morning, 27 Tishrei, October 15.
Anyone who is not feeling well after Yomtov, should not return to school. Anyone who feels unwell (runny nose, sore throat, fever, aches, etc.) at any time, should not come to school. Forthcoming there is a Daily Health Record that every household will need to complete. We need your help to keep the school open, which will only be possible with full disclosure and full cooperation from all parents. We applaud those families who have come forward when they had exposure, despite the inconvenience it may have caused.
As a reminder, every adult and child must wear a mask to school. She must wear her mask if she boards the bus. Regular hand sanitizing is an absolute must. We will continue to be extremely vigilant with daily temperature checks. We are reorganizing recess breaks and lunch service to satisfy social distancing requirements and protect the overall health of our entire school population.
Ultimately, if we fail to meet these basic expectations, there is a very real possibility that school could be closed. By delaying our opening and adhering to basic guidelines we are optimistic that we will succeed and keep our doors open.
Please note that High School students who are returning to the dorm, need to have a Covid Test (not a rapid test) on Monday or Tuesday, can travel on Wednesday and be back in school on Thursday if the results are clear.
Any local student who may have traveled out of state for Sukkos, needs to be in Crown Heights to allow the 2 day incubation period as discussed above. Anyone who was in a “hot spot state” must follow the rules posted on the NYS travel advisory.
Although this may be disappointing for those who are eager to return to school, it certainly is the medically recommended course of action, and Iy”H will yield successful results.
With best wishes for a Happy and Healthy Year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Samuels
Mrs. Wolf
Mrs. Kosofsky
Mrs. Hildeshaim
Mrs. Slae
Mrs. Werner
Mrs. Karnowsky
Rabbi Gurary
Rabbi Simpson
Shouldn’t we be grasping at any day, any time that we ARE able to learn? Who knows when we will be shut down again – and not by our choice!
The govt requires out of towners to quarantine for 14 days!!!!! Not two!
How are you telling families that they can be back in school on Thursday if they’ve been out of town and take a test on tues?
Of course their test will show up negative! It take FOURTEEN days to show up
It depends where they r coming from
The law of Quarantine is only by hot spots and out of the country
By who?!?!??
Proud of you!
Sitting on shpilkes waiting to hear if the other schools are opening on time this week. Would love to hear a statement from them.