Principal's Newsletter
10/23/2020
Greetings,
Be well,
Paul Benz
Principal
"Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt
Graduation for the Class of 2021 - Save the date(s)!!!
Almost ready!
Get ready for some softball...
Seniors
Daily Health Screening
Dear Parents/Guardians:
This is a friendly reminder that your child’s health screening needs to be submitted in Pikmykid on the days they have in-school instruction.
Please submit your child's health screening by 8:15am before they enter the building.
This is the NY State mandate.
Thanks in advance!
AP Exam Ordering Information!
**Updated Information from the Nurse's Office** - Parent Notification of Symptoms Associated with COVID-19
The School Nurse has determined that your child is showing symptoms of illness that could be caused by COVID-19. The Monroe County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) requires the district to isolate and send home anyone experiencing new, unusual or worsening symptoms that are associated with COVID-19. Contact your child’s primary healthcare provider (HCP), share the symptoms we have described and schedule an evaluation. This evaluation may be in-person or by video/telephone as determined by your child’s HCP.
In order to return to school, your child must be cleared by the nurse and meet all 3 of the following requirements:
1. Your child has been evaluated by a HCP within 48 hours.
2. Your child exhibits significant improvement of symptoms and has remained fever-free (<100℉) for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
3. The school nurse has received written medical clearance prior to returning to school as follows:
● If the HCP recommends COVID-19 testing, your child must remain isolated at home until the test result is back. For negative test results, provide the nurse with a copy of the negative lab report or a note from the healthcare provider attesting the test was negative. (Negative lab results without a prior HCP evaluation will not be accepted and the student will be referred to the MCDPH.)
● If the HCP determines these symptoms are due to an alternate diagnosis and COVID-19 is not suspected, provide the nurse with a note signed by the HCP explaining the alternate diagnosis.
○ Acceptable alternate diagnoses are:
■ Known chronic medical condition with unchanged baseline symptoms
■ Confirmed acute illness, such as lab-confirmed positive strep throat
○ Unacceptable alternate diagnoses* are:
■ Unconfirmed acute viral or bacterial illness, such as common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, ear infection or viral gastroenteritis (“stomach bug”)
■ “Well child” as a stand alone diagnosis. (In cases where symptoms have resolved, the diagnosis should describe the original presenting symptom as related to an acceptable alternate diagnosis.)
*If the HCP note is not acceptable per the MCDPH guidelines, the child will be required to have COVID-19 testing or will be referred to the MCDPH for clearance before being permitted to return to school.
If your child is not evaluated by a HCP within 48 hours or if COVID-19 testing is not completed despite being recommended by the HCP, the school must presume the student to be positive and refer your child and contact information to the MCDPH. Return to school will be directed by the MCDPH.
If the testing result is positive, please notify the building principal or nurse immediately. Children who test positive (or are presumed positive by the MCDPH) will be placed under mandatory isolation orders by the MCDPH. Other household members will be placed in quarantine. Students (and school-aged siblings) are not permitted to return to school until released from isolation or quarantine by the MCDPH. Release notes from a HCP will not suffice.
While sick, your child should stay home, get plenty of rest and stay hydrated. Your child should try to avoid being around other people to stop the spread of this infection in case they do have COVID-19. Continue to monitor your child’s symptoms and stay in communication with your child’s healthcare provider as directed. Refer to the CDC guidelines for “If You are Sick or Caring for Someone” at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/index.html.
Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. If, however, any of the following rare severe symptoms develop, call 911 for immediate assistance: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face.
Your primary HCP should always be your first point of contact regarding a medical evaluation and COVID-19 testing. Your school nurse can provide you with recommendations for Urgent Care centers that treat children and have shown a good understanding of the MCDPH guidelines for returning to school. You may also refer to “Find A Test Site Near You” at the NYSDOH website: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you. If you do not have a healthcare provider, please contact the Monroe County Medical Society at 585-473-7573 or mcms@mcms.org for a referral. You may also contact the Monroe County COVID-19 Hotline at 585-753-5555 or COVID19@monroecounty.gov.