• COVID-19 Vaccinations: All MPH Employees are included in New York State’s 1B Phase of vaccination distribution. We are pleased to announce that over 50 percent of our employees have already received, or are scheduled to receive, the first dose of vaccine. We will continue to encourage employees to register as dates become available. Families should be aware that vaccinated employees will need a second dose of the vaccine in approximately four weeks from their first dose. We appreciate your partnership and patience as we attend to this important public health undertaking.

• Additional Positive Cases: As we have previously reported, last Friday’s school-wide testing day revealed one positive case, and we learned subsequently of a second positive test result for a student who had been tested off-campus. In neither instance had the positive individual been in close contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) with anyone else from the MPH community in the preceding 14 days. We have since learned of additional cases – siblings within one family – who have tested positive. These students have not been on campus since before the winter break, were tested off-campus, and have not had any close contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) in the 14 days preceding their positive test results. One adult who has not been on campus since December 8, has tested positive at an off-campus testing site. In each of these cases, no contact tracing within the MPH community has been necessary.

• Updated question on the Daily Health Assessment (DHA): Please note a change (in bold) to the following question on the DHA: “Within the past 14 days, has your child had close contact (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) with a person exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or with a confirmed case of COVID-19?” In Phase 2 we require parents /guardians to indicate if their child has been in close contact with anyone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, and even further, if their child has been in close contact with anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID 19. If so, the parent /guardian must keep their child at home and contact the School Nurse to discuss the circumstances further. Our daily screening process is a vital part of safeguarding the health of our students, employees, and overall community. The DHA must be completed by parents / guardians, not by students, AND by 7:15 each morning. We rely upon the accurate information you provide in these screenings to help us safeguard the health of our professionals and students and to ensure that your children continue to grow and learn with minimal disruption to their education.