March 15, 2021
Dear Roslyn School Community,
This past weekend marked the one year anniversary of the state-wide closing of schools due to the global pandemic. Looking back, it’s difficult to process what an extraordinary time we’ve all just lived through. In every way, it was a year of unprecedented challenges and our hearts go out to those in our community who experienced the virus or lost loved ones.
Our goal all along has been to fully reopen our school buildings, and I’m so delighted that beginning tomorrow, our 6th and 12th grade students will be together for full-time instruction. Very shortly, we will communicate our plan to bring all middle and high school grades into our buildings for full-time in-person instruction.
While this is a time for celebration, it is also a time to be cautious. Vaccinations are expected to reduce the number of positive cases of COVID-19, but we have not yet reached the point for unguarded social behavior. Our upcoming spring break may well be the most critical moment of our school year, and the behavior of our school population is crucial to our success.
Should the district see an increase in positive cases following the break, our plans to fully return our middle and high school students will be reevaluated. Any uptick could also result in an alteration of our 6th and 12th grade return.
As per the new NYS guidelines, quarantine after domestic travel, while not required, is still advised. Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers.
The most recent NYS travel guidelines are as follows:
Regardless of quarantine status, all individuals exposed to COVID-19 or returning from travel must:
- Continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14;
- Continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14 (even if fully vaccinated);
- Must immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.
Any students who travel during the break should monitor symptoms and/or quarantine if necessary in order to prevent any cases from entering our buildings.
For the convenience of the Roslyn school community, testing is available weekends at Roslyn High School; the schedule is updated weekly on the homepage of the district website. Please note that an additional day of testing will be available Monday, April 5, 2021.
Please do your part to keep our community safe and our schools open. I wish you all a wonderful and safe recess. Happy Spring 2021!
Sincerely,
Allison Brown
Superintendent of Schools
