November 2020
Dear BCS Community,
The School Leadership Team is a body of administrators, staff, parents and students who guide important school policies. Important recent SLT decisions include approving our school’s application to the DOE Diversity in Admissions program for MS/HS admissions last year and approving our final school model for hybrid learning this year. We write to you today with another important decision as an SLT.
We propose making the first two weeks of January all-remote for all students and staff to provide a 14-day quarantine period for students and students returning from holiday gatherings/travel. There would be no blended learning days from Mon 1/4 – Fri 1/15. All classes would be in Zoom for all students.
Having the first two weeks of January all-remote provides the requisite 14 days of quarantine for any students/staff who may be newly exposed over the holidays with larger family/friend gatherings, including students/staff who may be traveling to locations that require quarantine (Source: NYS Travel Advisory). Having this all-remote period ensures that everyone (staff/students) returning to blended learning has had sufficient time to quarantine.
Like you, we have been mindful of the increasing COVID cases around the city. We follow the DOE’s Daily COVID Case Map which shows closed classrooms and school buildings due to COVID cases. We cannot imagine the extra stress and anxiety the students, families, and staff feel at these schools. We very much want BCS to stay off this map, which means forward thinking and taking extra precautions to ensure that after the busier holidays, everyone sufficiently quarantines in remote learning before returning to our school building for blended learning.
The decision to make the first two weeks of January all-remote for all students and staff would impact blended learning students for 10 days from Mon 1/4 – Fri 1/15. All classes would be in Zoom for all students. There would be no impact for all-remote students/staff.
As an equity-driven SLT, we endeavor to make decisions that prioritize the health, safety and educational experience of all our students. If you have any questions or concerns about this decision, we would love to hear from you. Please email us at SLT@bcs448.org.
Additionally, below we are also sharing new rules for COVID testing and quarantine if you travel back to NYS from another state, for your information. If you plan to travel, please read this carefully.
Sincerely,
The BCS School Leadership Team
NEW RULES FOR COVID TESTING AND QUARANTINE
| As you may be aware, the rules have changed again for COVID testing and quarantine. Starting November 3rd, there are new requirements for travel into NY from another state (except for New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts & Vermont).
Here’s the link from the NY State website as well as a summary of the information. We are sharing this as it will have implications for staff and students who travel around Thanksgiving and winter break.
|