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Dear RIH Families and Faculty:
As a school district, we prioritize the safety and well-being of all in our learning community and we value the importance of in-person learning. The District will continue to make every effort to remain open as we navigate the fluid nature of the pandemic. While we have seen an increase in the number of COVID cases and quarantines for students and staff, we are not experiencing any impact that would require our schools to consider a shift to a remote/virtual schedule at this time.
We have made efforts to ensure that we maintain adequate staffing to safely and effectively operate our schools, including but not limited to adequate supervision, nursing services, food services, and custodial services.
In the event that we are unable to provide adequate supervision, the school would then be forced to consider alternative options such as remote/virtual learning. Substantial COVID-19 spread linked directly to the instructional environment may be another reason to consider a shift to remote / virtual learning. At this time, we are not experiencing any impact that would cause disruption with a necessity to shift to remote instruction.
We recognize the concern from members of our community around the evolving nature of the increased transmission of COVID. We also understand that some members of our learning community may have questions about current guidelines and procedures as information continues to change regularly. We have provided updates below that will be helpful in providing additional insight.
We continue to work as a district team to explore all options and to evaluate the current conditions of our schools and instructional plans for a safe and effective operation of our schools. As recently as January 2nd, the Department of Education clarified that in-person instruction is the expected learning format to meet student needs unless there is a school confirmed outbreak of cases and/or issues with staff coverages. Guidance from the State is fluid and ever-changing. The District will continue to provide relevant updates to the community as new information becomes available.
Thank you for your support and cooperation as we continue to work collectively to meet the needs of our students while providing the safest environment for our school community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rui Dionisio
Superintendent of Schools
Virtual/Remote Learning
The State guidelines provide for in-person learning unless there is a declared health emergency by the Governor or health department. At this time, the State is not allowing a virtual option, which has been previously defined as a hybrid instructional experience where a classroom teacher shares time between the at-home students and the in-person students, as a choice during this school year. Remote, where a Zoom link provided for a student to view the class, can only be used for students who have tested positive for COVID or for those who have been placed on quarantine due to being identified as close contact by the school and/or by the direction of a qualified physician. It is important to note that students always have access to Schoology where teachers post classwork and assignments on a regular basis.
Staffing shortages that impact the safe and effective operation of our schools or a COVID outbreak directly connected to our schools may be other reasons for allowing virtual instruction. At this time, we are not experiencing any of these issues. Any districts that have altered their schedule may be doing so as a result of a specific impact to their district that RIH is not experiencing at this time.
Zoom Link for Remote Option Access
Remote learning can only be used for students who have tested positive for COVID or for those who have been placed on quarantine due to being identified as close contact by the school and/or by the direction of a qualified physician.
Student cases for COVID positive or quarantine eligibility will be reviewed by the school as results are reported. School personnel will process and determine quarantine length with notification to staff from the administration for Zoom link access distributed to students. Please allow for up to 24 hours of notification and processing before Zoom access is initiated. It is important to note that students always have access to Schoology where teachers post classwork and assignments on a regular basis. Approved access to Zoom links provides access for students to observe the daily lesson taking place in the classroom.
Athletics & Extracurriculars
The NJSIAA policy with regard to participation in interscholastic sports states that "participation continues to be a local decision, to be made by schools in consultation with their local health officials. Neither the Governor nor state health officials have asked the NJSIAA to change their current policy." At this time, athletics will continue as the District has been operating this season.
Test to Stay (TTS)
Test to Stay (TTS) combines contact tracing and serial testing to allow asymptomatic school-associated close contacts who are not fully vaccinated and do not test positive for SARS-CoV-2 to continue in-person learning.
On January 1st, the NJ Department of Health (NJDOH) recently provided guidance on TTS eligibility requirements for school districts. At this time, the District is reviewing the eligibility requirements and will follow up accordingly as new guidance will require time to implement.
Testing
The district acknowledges that “at-home rapid tests” serve as a useful tool towards identifying positive coronavirus individuals, especially as we brace ourselves for a predicted surge in Omicron variant cases. Please be mindful that the Food and Drug Administration recently announced that some antigen tests may not be as sensitive to the Omicron variant - "Early data suggests that antigen tests do detect the Omicron variant but may have reduced sensitivity."
At home Covid-19 tests sacrifice some accuracy for speedy results, but they can be an aid for making decisions and knowing when to seek guidance from your healthcare provider on testing, treatment, isolation, quarantine, and school exclusion.
The most accurate tests available continue to be the polymerase chain reaction tests, or PCR tests, which detect tiny snippets of the virus’s genetic material. Rapid tests, on the other hand, detect molecules that are found on the virus’s surface, called antigen and are most accurate when a person has symptoms. Most experts agree that people get positive antigen results when they’re most contagious.
The Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District will accept positive test results from an “at home test” (a photo submission is recommended) and/or a COVID-19 diagnosis from a qualified physician for communicable disease reporting purposes, but in order to ensure that our school district is utilizing the reduced quarantine with testing option under the most stringent testing guidelines, the PCR “gold standard” test will be the only test result accepted for readmittance to school.
Current Quarantine & Isolation Timelines Reminders
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Quarantine completion can only occur after day 7 (return on day 8) if the above testing requirement is met and a copy of the negative diagnostic specimen test is provided to the school nurse
- When testing is not an option or available, quarantine can end after Day 10 if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring.
Notification of COVID Positive Student
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Individuals who test positive must stay home until at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset and/or testing positive whichever comes first, and at least 24 hours have passed after resolution of fever without fever-reducing medications and improvement in symptoms
- The school nurse should be contacted and provided with a copy of your child's positive test results (Vaccination status can be voluntarily submitted)
- Once confirmation of a positive test is received, the school will initiate a request for remote instruction
- In order to return to school after the 10 day period ends, the school nurse will need written clearance from a qualified physician stating your child is free of a communicable disease
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Form required for readmittance Post COVID-19 Clearance Form for Students
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