Preliminary Health and Safety Guidance for 2021-22

Dear Parents:

As much as we had hoped to move on to a more carefree start to the school year we find ourselves back in familiar territory planning and implementing Covid-19 health and safety protocols. 

Ulster County is currently at the highest risk level for Covid-19 community transmission according to CDC metrics, with a 7 day rolling average at a 3.9% infection rate on August 14th. According to Ulster County Executive, Pat Ryan’s Covid Update of August 17th, this is a “wake up call.” 

Last Thursday the NYS Department of Education (NYSED) finally issued their Health and Safety Guidance for the 2021-22 school year. We are currently updating our Covid-19 protocols and although we will of course follow CDC/NYS guidelines, we will tailor our policies specifically to our school and pedagogy.
  
The MLWS Covid-19 task force will reconvene on Monday, August 23rd to finalise our plans, which we will share with you shortly after that date.

A few key points:
  • A negative PCR Covid Test result is required for all students and staff in order to return to school on Sept 1st. This includes vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Tests must be taken within 72 hours of the first day back, therefore PCR test needs to be taken on or after Sunday 29th August. Please book the test now while there is still availability.
  • All vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals aged 2 and up must wear a mask indoors
  • At this time, students do not need to wear masks out of doors; however, unvaccinated faculty/staff will need to wear masks outside.  
  • The vast majority of our faculty and staff is fully vaccinated. For the few individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated weekly testing will be required.
  • Desks will be spaced 3ft apart 
  • Instruction will be given out-of-doors as much as possible - hence, school opening earlier, as we did last year, in order to take advantage of the good weather.

Our families, students and staff, have faithfully and successfully followed our Health and Safety reopening plans last year, and we believe we can all rely on our muscle memory. For example, in order to minimize risk of community transmission as we welcome everyone back on campus, we strongly advise bringing back the pod concept and scaling down group get-togethers, extra-curricular activities, unnecessary travel and indoor dining starting today.

Your children were exemplary last year with mask wearing, even out of doors. Did you know that actually, wearing a mask can help your child learn?

Finally, we are called again to work in solidarity and care as a school community. Thinking back to what we achieved last year for our students, we are confident that we can trust on everyone’s collaboration again this school year.

Respectfully,
MLWS Administration