HOMECOMING '21
10/8/21
Greetings,
We hope all had a great time and were able to participate. Looking forward to the rest of the year with our Warrior scholars.
Have a wonderful long weekend!
Paul
Principal
Country & Warrior
Senior Class Color
Participation was on fire!
Cheese puff head!
Seniors taking home the Spirit Stick!
Staff pulling for a win...maybe.
Marching Band News
School Picture Make-up Day
Collecting Remote Learning Books
Thank you!
COVID-19 Reporting
Notes from our Nurse's Office
CLARIFICATION OF COVID-19 TESTING AND RESULTS
Many of our local urgent care centers and healthcare provider (HCP) offices have the ability to conduct rapid COVID-19 testing . These new developments have allowed individuals to receive results within an hour. A negative result may permit students to return to school more quickly. A positive result allows contact tracing to occur more quickly, thus protecting our school community. The rapid tests have, however, created some confusion about which test is acceptable for students to return to school.
There are 2 types of rapid tests: rapid PCRs and rapid Antigens.
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests are molecular tests which detect the genetic material inside the virus. Most PCR testing is done in a lab setting and takes 1 to 5 days to receive results. The rapid PCR test uses the same detection method, but is done at the healthcare office. This allows for same-day results.
Antigen tests detect viral proteins instead of the genetic material inside the virus. Rapid antigen tests are relatively inexpensive, may be done at the healthcare office and results are usually available within 15 minutes.
Antigen tests are less sensitive than PCR tests. Although antigen tests are reliable when an individual has a high viral load, they are far more prone to false-negative results if an individual has low amounts of the virus in their body. Per the Monroe County Department of Public Health (MCDPH), symptomatic individuals should be tested using a PCR test, whether it be rapid or one that is sent to a lab by a HCP. Rapid antigen tests are strongly discouraged for symptomatic individuals, especially if symptoms have just started. Negative rapid antigen test results on symptomatic individuals should be followed up with a PCR test. Schools may NOT accept negative home testing kit results. Positive home testing kit results should be reported to the MCDPH on their COVID-19 Positive Home Test Reporting form.
Per the MCDPH, a negative PCR test is the recommended and preferred RAPID test for symptomatic students to return to school. Symptoms known to be associated with COVID-19 are the following:
Fever (>100℉) or Chills • Loss of Taste or Smell • Cough • Sore Throat
Shortness of Breath • Muscle or Body Aches • Fatigue • Headaches
Nasal Congestion, Runny Nose • Nausea, Vomiting or Diarrhea
If students experience any of the above symptoms (that are not new, unusual or worsening for the student), they need to stay home from school, be evaluated by a HCP, and have COVID-19 testing unless the HCP provides an acceptable alternate diagnosis as a reason for the symptoms. All symptomatic students need to be cleared by the school nurse before returning to school. If students return to school before being cleared, they will be isolated in school until the necessary documentation is received or they are picked up by parents.
NYSDOH Guidance on Rapid ANTIGEN Tests
● Negative rapid antigen test results are NOT recommended for symptomatic students to return to school and should be followed up with a PCR.
○ Students should not return to school until the negative PCR result is received.
○ If PCR follow-up is refused, students could be excluded from school by the MCDPH.
● Positive rapid antigen test results are acceptable and do not require follow up with a PCR.
● While negative rapid antigen test results are acceptable for individuals who have not been experiencing symptoms, this does not release them from mandatory quarantine if they meet criteria for being a Close Contact.
Please contact your school nurse if you have any questions. She is your expert school resource for navigating the MCDPH requirements for return to school.
Guidelines for Student Return to School After Illness
Confused as to whether or not your child may return to school after they’ve been out for an illness? The district follows the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the Monroe County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) as outlined below.
The following are symptoms associated with COVID-19: fever greater than 100℉ or chills, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nasal congestion/runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, headaches, and muscle or body aches. If your child is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, are they new, unusual, or worsening for your child?
If the answer is NO (these are normal symptoms experienced by my child for a chronic health condition), then your child may return to school when feeling better, as long as the symptoms remain consistent with what your child normally experiences for this condition. Before returning to school, please consult with the school nurse to make sure she has the necessary medical documentation concerning this chronic condition. Children who remain fever-free and exhibit significant improvement of these symptoms may then return to school. If the symptoms worsen or your child develops symptoms normally not experienced with this condition, your child should be assessed by a healthcare provider. If this happens, follow the directions below.
If the answer is YES (my child is experiencing new, unusual, or worsening symptoms), then your child, whether experiencing these symptoms at home or in school, needs to be evaluated by a healthcare provider and tested for COVID-19 unless the healthcare provider determines testing is not warranted. Please call your child’s healthcare provider and share the symptoms you have described. Children who remain fever-free (<100℉) for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and exhibit significant improvement of symptoms may return to school when cleared by the school nurse.
Please provide the school nurse with the appropriate written medical clearance prior to your child returning to school as follows:
- If the healthcare provider determines these symptoms are due to an alternate diagnosis and COVID-19 is not suspected, provide the nurse with a note signed by the healthcare provider explaining the alternate diagnosis.
○ This can be a known chronic condition such as asthma or seasonal allergies, or a confirmed infection such as strep throat.
○ Unconfirmed viral or bacterial diagnoses such as respiratory infection, stomach bug, or the common cold are not acceptable alternate diagnoses and COVID-19 testing should be done.
2. If the healthcare provider recommends COVID-19 testing, a PCR test should be completed. Your child needs to remain home from school until the test result is back. If the test result is negative, provide the nurse with a copy of the negative lab report or a note from the healthcare provider indicating the test was negative. Negative results from home testing kits will not be accepted.
If your child exhibits symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and you choose not to have your child evaluated by a healthcare provider or if you refuse COVID-19 testing recommended by the healthcare provider, your child will remain home from school for 10 days from the onset of symptoms. Your child also needs to be fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and have significant improvement of symptoms.
If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please notify the school nurse immediately. Your child's return to school will be directed by MCDPH. Please report positive home test results to the MCDPH on their COVID-19 Positive Home Test Reporting form. Students are not permitted to return to school or afterschool activities until the school nurse receives appropriate documentation and clears the student to return.
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. Evaluation at an urgent care center is also acceptable.