Dear Families,
This letter contains important information from our district and has:
New information =
Upcoming Important Dates: information regarding the early dismissal day for RCS on 2/3/22
New Online Form to Report Negative COVID Test Result Affirmations
Employment Opportunities
NYSPHSAA Releases COVID-19 Update for Large-Scale Athletic Events
2021-2022 Yearbook Purchasing Information Now Available
Updates =
COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Protocol
Take-Home COVID-19 Tests
Reminders =
COVID-19 Lab Testing at RCS
Important Transportation Safety Reminders
District Celebrations & Stories
Emergency Closing, Delay, and Dismissal Information Reminders
Local COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing Sites
All the information in this letter, from past letters and more, can be found on our website.
New information
Upcoming Important Dates (Click here to access the RCS calendar):
Thursday, February 3: Staff Development Day, Early Dismissal Pre-K through grade 12. NEW:
Elementary Schools: Buses depart at 12:30 PM, please note the following for this date:
PM Pre-K students will not be coming to school that day and AM Pre-K students will be dismissed with all other students.
Students will eat lunch prior to dismissal.
Parent pick-up will begin at 12:05 PM.
Students who take the bus will be dismissed starting at 12:15 PM.
Afterschool childcare programs will be held.
Parents/guardians should be prepared for their students to be home 3 hours earlier.
Middle and High Schools: Students will dismiss at 11:07 AM, there will be no PM CTE this day. Students will receive lunch prior to dismissal.
Monday, February 21 - Friday, February 25: February Recess, no school PK-12
Friday, March 4: End of the second trimester (PK-5)
Friday, March 11: End of third five-week interim period (MS/HS)
Wednesday, March 16 and Thursday, March 17: Parent Conference Day, early dismissal PK-8 only.
New Online Form to Report Negative COVID Test Result Affirmations: RCS is now providing a new online google form, available here, for families and staff to submit negative COVID-19 lab and take-home test result affirmations in order to return to school or work. This is for negative results only. If the individual tests positive, please follow these protocols. Once this form has been submitted, students and staff may return to school as long as they are symptom-free or their symptoms are improving. Their nurse or supervisor will reach out with any questions.
As an alternative, families, and staff can still submit a copy of the results via email (lab tests) or a paper copy of the affirmation (take-home test) to their nurse/supervisor. The paper affirmation form for take-home tests can be printed off our website or is available for pick up in the vestibule of any RCS school.
Employment Opportunities: We’re hiring!!! If you or someone you know is interested in working for the school, we are currently hiring bus drivers, building aides, teaching assistants, and substitutes for all of these positions and more. Applicants can send their cover letter and resume to the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk CSD, P.O. Box 100, Ravena, NY 12143, attention Sue Starr or email them to sstarr@rcscsd.org.
NYSPHSAA Releases COVID-19 Update for Large-Scale Athletic Events: This new guidance is for statewide championships only, the events this affects are: the Wrestling Individual Championships, the Boys Basketball Championships, the NYSPHSAA Indoor Track State Championships, and the NYSPHSAA Competitive Cheerleading Championships. These events are not held at RCS. You can find more information about the requirements here.
2021-2022 Yearbook Purchasing Information Now Available: Yearbooks for the 2021-2022 school year are now available for purchase for each RCS school building! Visit our 21-22 RCS Yearbook Information page for the links to purchase yearbooks and contact information for questions.
Updates
Updates to COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Protocol: Last week we shared updated guidance with families and staff, you can access it here. This provided updates on contact tracing, case notifications, and protocols when allowing students to return to school if they have symptoms of COVID-19, test positive for COVID-19, or are considered exposed to an individual with COVID-19. Update: The New York Department of Health has provided a chart and FAQ to provide some additional insight into this new guidance.
Please remember that if a student or staff member is sick, they should not come to school/work that day.
Take-Home COVID-19 Tests: In early January we shared a notification with families regarding the state-provided at-home COVID test kits. Families who want an at-home test kit can pick up one per student from the main office of any school building during school hours. Tests can be picked up from one school if you have students in different schools. Families who do not have the means to pick up a test can contact their student’s Principal to make arrangements. These tests were still available as of 1/28/22. Take-home rapid tests and over-the-counter (OTC) tests are accepted as proof of a negative result when students/staff are ill. Two negative Over-the-Counter (i.e., at-home or take-home) antigen tests need to be taken 36 hours apart and an affirmation from a parent/guardian/staff member must be provided to the school nurse in order to return to school. Update: This affirmation can either be submitted using a paper copy or, now, an online google form.
Reminders
COVID-19 Lab Testing at RCS: RCS offers diagnostic symptomatic testing at RCS so that students and staff can return to school quicker after exhibiting COVID-like symptoms. This testing is now available to students and staff who are not symptomatic. We offer lab tests, not rapid (antigen) or NAAT tests, and they take 24-36 hours to return. Contact your student’s nurse to make an appointment. Due to the new guidance cutting quarantine to 5 days, we will no longer be utilizing the test to out of quarantine program. You can find instructions for registering for COVID-19 testing through RCS here.
Important Transportation Safety Reminders: Recently we shared a letter with families and the community asking them to review our Bus Safety Guidelines and urging motorists to please be careful and cautious around our school buses. You can find that letter here.
District Celebrations & Stories: We highlight different items that are happening around our community on our website and Facebook page. Here are some of the recent stories we have shared:
Website: ‘Feature-A-Teacher’ continues with AWB Special Education Teacher Ms. Nicole Kirk
Facebook Page: AWB classes learn about coding by using robots
Website: RCS UHS English class delving deep into historical literature
Facebook Page: PBC students built birdhouses after spending time on research and design techniques in STEAM
Website: Important Information about the 22-23 Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Program at RCS
Emergency Closing, Delay, and Dismissal Information Reminders: As the weather grows colder we are more likely to need to close for the day or open late for weather-related reasons. We will be having snow days this year. Students and staff will not be required to report to school/work virtually or otherwise when we close for a weather-related emergency unless noted differently in their contract. Click here to access weather-related emergency closing, delays, and dismissal information.
Local COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing Sites: Visit the NY Find a Test Site Near You page to find a complete list of testing sites available. Vaccination continues to be one of the most effective measures we have to keep our schools safe places for learning. To find a vaccination site, visit CDC’s Vaccines.gov or www.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov to make an appointment at a state-run vaccination site.
If you have any questions about anything covered in the letter, please reach out to your student’s building for clarification. Thank you and have a great weekend,
Brian Bailey, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools