Dear MPH Community,
Yesterday Governor Cuomo announced changes in coronavirus zones for Onondaga County. Manlius Pebble Hill School’s location is now designated as being within an Orange Zone. Our current understanding is that K-12 schools located in an Orange Zone must switch from on-campus to distance learning for an initial period of time AND until certain testing requirements are met.
Effective Monday, November 30, MPH will switch from on-campus teaching and learning to distance learning through Friday, December 4. MPH is well prepared to pivot from on-campus to distance learning; our MPH Social Compact and Plan for the 2020-2021 School Year was designed to provide our students’ education – no matter the physical location – despite COVID-19 fluctuations. To ensure as smooth a transition to distance learning as possible, please review with your child(ren) the Readiness Checklists and Distance Learning Schedules on the MYMPH portal. Note: The schedules for distance-learning days differ from our accustomed on-campus schedules; students will be expected to log in at the appropriate time on Monday morning.
(Families of Pre-K students will receive a separate communication tomorrow with details about the Center for Early Learning.)
Your Consent for COVID-19 Testing is Needed: The Pandemic Response Team met with county officials this morning, and we are gathering information about the testing requirements. The county officials are still determining the specific criteria for testing, and we expect to be able to communicate more details in the coming days. As of today, all (100%) K-12 students and employees who will be on campus will need to be tested in order for MPH to return to on-campus teaching and learning. Onondaga County will provide the testing at the School on a date yet to be determined. In the meantime, the School must obtain consent from a parent or guardian for every K-12 student, as well as from every MPH employee, in order for testing to proceed.
Click here to complete this simple consent form as soon as possible. Note: A separate form is required for every individual. The children of those who choose not to provide consent to this school-based and state-required testing cannot be allowed on campus and will be expected to attend classes via simulcast access.
The Pandemic Response Team continues to monitor the evolving situation and will do so throughout the holiday and weekend. Circumstances surrounding COVID-19 are changing rapidly, and we ask that families and employees prioritize communications from MPH, as they will include important details including schedule changes and COVID-19 testing protocols. To help ensure consistent and accurate communication, please send your questions through this single point of contact: COVIDNurse@mphschool.org. This email address is monitored regularly by members of the Pandemic Response Team and Health Office personnel. We will send updates as necessary.
While not a surprise, this transition will likely be an inconvenience for many of us, and yet, we are well prepared to pivot to distance learning. Our MPH community remains very healthy, mainly because of our shared commitment to the priority of safeguarding the health and well-being of all. To that end, thank you for your continued discipline and adherence to simple and highly effective protocols: wearing face coverings, maintaining safe physical distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene.
Best wishes to your family for good health and a Happy Thanksgiving,
Dave McCusker
Head of School
