Dear Families,
This letter contains important information from our district and has:
New Information =
Take-Home COVID Test Expiration Date Extended for CareStart Tests
District Launches Fundraising Webpage
Updates =
RCS COVID-19 Lab Testing
District Celebrations & Stories
Upcoming Important Dates
Reminders =
COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Protocol
Take-Home COVID-19 Tests
New Online Form to Report Negative COVID Test Result Affirmations
Employment Opportunities
2021-2022 Yearbook Purchasing Information Now Available
NYSPHSAA Releases COVID-19 Update for Large-Scale Athletic Events
Local COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing Sites
Direct Links
All the information in this letter, from past letters and more, can be found on our website.
New Information
Take-Home COVID Test Expiration Date Extended: If you received a CareStart take-home antigen test from RCS, the expiration date has been extended by three months per the FDA. For example, tests labeled with an expiration date of January 2022 are now good through April 30, 2022.
District Launches Fundraising Webpage: Today, we launched our District Fundraising page on our website, you can access it here. This will be a central location for our school community to view current fundraisers and details about each. There is also a google form for organizations to submit their pre-approved fundraisers to be listed on the webpage. Click here to see a list of the current fundraisers!
Updates
COVID-19 Lab Testing at RCS: As you know, 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 also available to students and staff who are asymptomatic. We offer lab tests, not rapid (antigen) or NAAT tests, and they take 24-36 hours to return. Update: Due to the decrease in requests for lab COVID testing through RCS, we will now be offering lab testing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. Contact your student’s nurse to make an appointment. You can find instructions for registering for COVID-19 testing through RCS 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: Alumni Series Returns with Olympic Athlete Nina Cutro-Kelly
Facebook Page: AWB Students, Staff and Families help out at Regional Food Bank
Facebook Page: Thank you for a very successful PBC Mittens & Hats Donation Drive
Website: Middle School Physical Education Students of the Month - December 2021
Upcoming Important Dates (Click here to access the RCS calendar):
Wednesday, February 16: Next Board of Education Meeting. Approximate public meeting start time, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, February 21 - Friday, February 25: February Recess, no school PK-12.
Monday, February 21: All RCS schools and the District Office will be closed for President’s Day.
Wednesday, March 2: Board of Education Meeting. Approximate public meeting start time, 6:30 p.m.
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.
Reminders
Updates to COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Protocol: Recently 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. 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 them up from the main office of any school building during school hours. These tests were still available as of 2/3/22. More information about these tests can be found here.
New Online Form to Report Negative COVID Test Result Affirmations: Shared last week, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Direct Links:
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