Sullivan County Public Health Services and Sullivan BOCES have hosted a School Community Forum on Wednesday, Nov. 4 to provide answers to commonly asked COVID-19 related question.

Public Health staff explained what to expect if you test positive for COVID-19  or if your or a family member is exposed to someone who has tested positive. They explained contact tracing; the difference between isolation and quarantine, and where you can get tested.

If you would like to view the meeting, please click the link below.

Sullivan County Public Health Services clarifies when to quarantine, or isolate as COVID-19 cases rise

The Disease Control (Epidemiology) team at Sullivan County Public Health Services, is urging local residents who have come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19 to quarantine for the recommended 14 days. The renewed urgency comes as cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus have spiked sharply both locally and statewide in recent weeks. Today, 25 new positive cases were reported, up from 100 active cases on Friday, Nov. 13, and up from 35 active cases just over a month ago. “This is indicative of an increase in community-wide transmission,” indicated Nancy McGraw, Public Health Director. “The best tools we have to contain additional outbreaks is prevention: consistent mask-wearing, hand-washing or hand sanitizer use, limiting time in groups, and that people understand the importance of quarantine and isolation.”

When Should I Quarantine?

Health Department staff remind residents that quarantine is used to keep someone who has been exposed to the virus (and who might be contagious even without symptoms), from spreading it to others.

Quarantine is for people who been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 and requires staying at home for at least 14 days while monitoring symptoms. During this time period an individual could develop active infection and become contagious. The average incubation period is 5 to 7 days, but it could take up to the 14^th day.

A “close contact” means that you were within six feet of a COVID-19 positive patient for more than 15 minutes, provided care to someone with COVID-19, had direct physical contact, shared utensils or cups, or were directly sneezed or coughed on by someone diagnosed with COVID-19.

If you become symptomatic and get tested you should be on quarantine until those results come back. That includes if you have had a rapid COVID-19 test and a PCR.  Individuals must wait for BOTH results to come back prior to resuming normal activities. A negative rapid test does not mean you are cleared, both tests must come back negative.

When Should I Isolate?

Isolation is for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and requires people to stay in their homes for at least 10 days while monitoring symptoms.

“People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, and monitor their health," said Nancy McGraw, Public Health Director.  "Please note that if you get tested during quarantine, you will still need to complete the full period even with a negative COVID test result.”

Antibody tests – are to determine a past infection

There are two types of tests for COVID-19. Viral tests tell you if you have a current infection, and antibody tests tell you if you've been previously infected.

Antibody tests should not be used to diagnose a current COVID-19 infection. An antibody test may not show if you have a current COVID-19 infection because it can take 1–3 weeks after infection for your body to make antibodies. It is a “snapshot” in time and will not give you lasting immunity to COVID-19 either, which many people falsely believe is true.  

We do not know how much protection (immunity) antibodies to the virus might provide against getting infected again. Confirmed and suspected cases of reinfection have been reported, although not common.

In general, these tests aren't reliable enough for individuals to act based on the results.

“An analysis of publicly available data on infections from the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes the respiratory illness COVID-19 yielded an estimate of 5.1 days for the median disease incubation period, according to a new study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This median time from exposure to onset of symptoms suggests that the 14-day quarantine period used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for individuals with likely exposure to the coronavirus continues to the most predictable.” (Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2020, March 10).

Source: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2020, March 10). New study on COVID-19 estimates 5.1 days for incubation period: Median time from exposure to symptoms affirms earlier estimates and supports CDC's current 14-day quarantine period. Science Daily. Retrieved November 16, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200310164744.htm

November 2, 2020

Dear Parents,

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has developed a Parent Dashboard to increase transparency and make information about school performance and other school-level data easier for parents and the public to access. The Parent Dashboard is part of New York’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, which emphasizes equity in education for all students and expands measures of school accountability and student success.  This new dashboard will provide parents with information about their child’s school. The Parent Dashboard is now available in addition to the New York State School Report Card on NYSED’s public data site (please click NYSED icon below). The Parent Dashboard offers information on all public schools including charter schools.

In 2019, NYSED gathered feedback from parents and stakeholders to guide the work of developing the Parent Dashboard. The data elements that parents ranked highest on the survey are available on the Parent Dashboard.

NYSED is now gathering additional feedback from parents and stakeholders to guide further enhancements to the Parent Dashboard. We invite parents and other stakeholders to explore the Parent Dashboard and then provide feedback via an online feedback survey available in 17 languages. NYSED will use this feedback to identify the data that is most useful to parents and the public and to make improvements to the website.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please visit the Parent Dashboard, which includes frequently asked questions and contact information.

Thank you for your feedback and for your continued commitment to your child’s education.

Sincerely,

Traci Ferreira, JSHS Principal            Scott Krebs, Mackenzie Elementary Principal


John C. Morgano Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Clarification on Wednesday's Academic Schedule

Dear Parents,

In case there may have been some dialogue amongst the community about modifying Wednesday’s schedule. I wanted to let you know after some further discussions on the modification of Wednesdays, this will be on hold until further review with the planning in greater detail. If the change does occur, a logical time to begin any structural changes is at the beginning of the second quarter, November 16th. 

We have a meeting tomorrow, however I wanted to make sure that the parents are not confused. Changing Wednesday’s schedule will impact child care, specials and learning to read and parents will need time to plan should we modify how we educate children. Presently, we are not changing our current plan.
Sincerely, John C. Morgano, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

October 23, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Yesterday we closed school buildings due to a confirmed case of COVID at the elementary school. The initial information suggested that there was likely a contact at the Junior/Senior High School. In addition, we needed to contact trace all of the students and driver on the bus. We also had to contact trace all of the students in this student’s grade and beyond, including “specials” which may take place with students from other classes.  The potential therefore existed for a wide area of contacts. This is one of the reasons we are not transporting to other schools today. Transportation should resume to out of district placements on Monday.

Since the potential for contact is high at the elementary school, we are following the health department’s quarantine time line and that is to quarantine for 14 days. Therefore, it is anticipated the elementary school will reopen for students Group “B”, on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. Until then, students at the elementary school will all be virtual and there should be no loss of instruction.

The Junior/Senior High School will reopen for in person learning for Group “A” on Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

Some parents have expressed their displeasure at not receiving a Messenger phone call from my office. I sincerely apologize for this oversight.  We will utilize our Website, Facebook and options of Messenger including a phone call like you receive for a snow day, whenever we have an emergency closing.

Every situation is unique and we have a team effort during such an event. 

October 22, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians;

As you are aware, we needed to close our school buildings today due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 at the elementary school.  We also closed the high school out of an abundance of caution and until the contact tracing could occur.

Tomorrow, I will be working with the county health department and deciding on a plan to reopen. Out of district transportation will likely resume on Monday however that depends on the contact tracing.

I will update you tomorrow and thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

John C. Morgano Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

October 22, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We were informed by the Health Department and the student’s doctor that one of our elementary students tested positive for COVID-19.

In an abundance of caution, the student has a sibling at the JSHS, so we are also placing all of the JSHS students on virtual learning tomorrow and Monday. I am closing the elementary school and the JSHS for tomorrow and Monday. Monday we will reassess what needs to occur in conjunction with the Health Department and the school physician.

Teachers will be teaching from home tomorrow so your child should be online as they would on any virtual day.

We will be dismissing the JSHS at 11:00 am and Mackenzie will be dismissing at 11:30 am today.

Sincerely,
John C. Morgano Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

State Mandated Assurances in order to open in September 2020

Department of Health Safety Plan-August 10, 2020

PLANNING FOR RE-OPENING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT INFORMATION

Please click below
Planning For Re-Opening Information Page

PRIOR SUPERINTENDENT LETTERS REGARDING CORONAVIRUS

Please click below
Prior Superintendent Letters to Parents/Guardians

The Section IX Athletic Council has made the decision to postpone fall sports. Our return to play is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 30th with the Winter Season.

Our Fall Season will now be played from March to April and the Spring Season will be during May and June.

NYSPHAA Letter - September 9, 2020

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact JJ Gass at 845-456-1100 ext.5020.

October 6, 2020

It is my pleasure to inform you of the re-opening of our Fitness Center. We will be placing a computer in the Fitness Center so that patrons can complete the health department questionnaire.  Completion of a normal temperature reading (a handheld thermometer will be made available) and questionnaire (a computer will be available along with instructions for questionnaire) is mandatory upon entering.

Fitness center hours are:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:30am-12:30pm and 5:30pm until 8:00pm for community use.

This revised schedule will permit our students to utilize the Fitness Center for classes from 7:30am-10:18am and 12:45pm-2:05pm and after school 2:15pm-4:00pm.

The following must occur:

1. Masks MUST be worn AT ALL TIMES. Patrons not using their own will have one provided. Failure or refusal to wear the mask is grounds for dismissal from school district grounds.
2. Mandatory temperature and questionnaire form to be filled out.
3. Patrons must wipe down all equipment used.
4. Every other machine will be covered and NOT used until we receive and install the Lexan dividers.
5. District cleaners will disinfect the machines and weights several times during the day.
6. Please bring your own wipes for use after you use a machine. This is better than using a rag.
7. Capacity limit of twelve (12) people.

Questions and or concerns should be directed to the Superintendent of Schools. 

Re-Opening 2020-2021 – FAQ
Please click above

Deputy Sean Grady - SRO

Dakota Finck
Josh Glantz
Sue Glantz
Paige Spradling 

ACTS OF KINDNESS(AOK) INITIATIVE BEGINS AT ELDRED SCHOOLS

As I have said many times in the past, the Eldred community is full of nice, kind kids with good parents.

We are not reminded of that fact often enough.

Our schools have a number of programs that stress the positive actions of our students. (Please see the list below).

I would like to take that a bit further. We are going to begin a couple of initiatives. Please find the button on our webpage where students, teachers, staff and parents can be "acknowledged" for doing something good for someone else and/or the community. It doesn't have to be something extraordinary - just an action that makes someone's day just a little easier. It can be anonymous or you can give your name.

We will be sharing this information with everyone at our monthly BOE meeting. (Those individuals identified as “AOK” will be acknowledged at a BOE meeting, of course, we will check with the person who was "made known on AOK" to be sure they want to be publicly acknowledged. Some people like to keep their good deeds quiet.)

We will call this button the  Acts of Kindness "AOK" button (please click).

In the same vein, we will have boxes at each school where this information can be dropped into the box.

We are all on this journey together. It's important we support each other. You may click on the icon below.

Sincerely,
Dr. John C. Morgano
Superintendent

_______________________________________

In an effort to provide you with factual information regarding our efforts to make our schools the positive learning environment we all want for our children, I present the following initiatives that are occurring in our elementary and JSHS school.

A course is being offered for teachers to design an elementary addendum to the Code of Conduct that will be more aligned with the needs of elementary school students and reduce the frequency of problematic behaviors.

       GRM initiatives:

• Walk and talks
• Brief individual counseling
• Brief small group counseling
• Conflict resolution/peer mediation
• Anger management
• Emotion identification
• Social skills training
• Worry warriors/coping strategies for the anxious
• Coping strategies for grief/loss
• Teacher and parent consults
• Resources and referral
• Grounding techniques, breathing sets, mindfulness, visualization
• Heavy work/sensory breaks
• Think sheets
• Behavior contracts
• Positive reinforcement plans
• Token economies/group contingencies
• Model: ignoring, effective commands, acknowledging expectations and verbal reinforcement, attention grabbing signals
• SEL lessons – small group or whole class by invitation
• Post positive potty papers
• Provided Principal with wall clings with positive affirmations

Have done in past

• Restorative circles
• Restorative justice
• Yoga4classrooms
• Bibliotherapy/writing to address trauma

All Grade Levels K-6

• Social-emotional learning lessons on Mondays
• PATHS curriculums
• Choose LOVE (it introduces courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion)
• Peer mediation
• Role play during counseling sessions
• Model positive behavior and social skills
• School Resource Officers (SROs)
• DARE Program
• “Too Good For” program (10 week program providing 1^st grade resources to address social emotional learning experiences.

PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) Mackenzie

• PBIS follows Mackenzie Manners: Be safe, Be respectful, and Be responsible
• Big BEE and Little BEE awards monthly for 2 students that show Mackenzie Manners throughout the month.  Golden trophy awards are presented to the 2 classes that exemplify the best teamwork during PE classes for the month.
• Quarterly Caring Classmate awards are presented to students in the primary grades exemplifying kindness and empathy to their peers.
• Individual classroom teachers employ their own reward systems.  Some examples include prize boxes, happy cards, high fives, and tickets.
• Logical Consequences are being created and will hopefully be implemented in September.  These will be created by the teachers under the guidance of Dr. Morgano.
• Socktober sock drive
• December PJ drive
• "Soup"er Bowl donations
• Koala and Kangaroo collection for Australia

_______________________________________

      JSHS initiatives:

• Counselors are visible and available during lunches
• Coping skills
• Meet with counselors individually
• Work on calming and de-escalating skills
• Teaching positive self-talk and positive self-image
• Teach respect rights and responsibility
• Try to breakdown social situations to assist in building social skills
• School Resource Officers (SROs)

PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) JSHS

• Welcome Back ice cream social at the beginning of the school year and an end of the year ice cream social.
• Winter Welcome back with donuts and coffee coming back from winter break.

Activities to build kindness, empathy, and compassion run by PBIS:

• Homecoming Week/Spirit Week where the classes dress up to show unity.
• Pep rally - students learn about all of the clubs/sports that are available to students. Classes merge together, play games to show cooperation. 
• Color Wars (spring) classes work together to compete against other classes. 
• "Soup"er Bowl  donations
• Student of the Week
• PBIS is working on "What to do" videos modeling the positive behaviors of the PBIS matrix once completed will be posted in a Google Drive for all teachers to be able to incorporate with their lessons throughout the year 

PBIS have done in past

• Peer mentoring program which we match 7th graders with upperclassmen to mentor them through their first year at the high school.

_______________________________________

            District initiatives:

• Character building/Anti-bullying Speaker
• DASA Training – 6 hour course for all staff
• DASA Training Program for community members
• Suicide Prevention training for staff
• Suicide Awareness implementation
• Speaking with students to educate them on bullying
• Open door policy for students to speak with Superintendent, Principals, Counselors on topics such as bullying of self or others
• “A O K” (Acts Of Kindness) button on the District webpage seeks to focus on and increase positive behaviors

The Eldred Central School District takes emergency preparedness very seriously. We have a comprehensive safety plan that assists our staff and Emergency Responders to respond swiftly should an emergency occur. We provide ongoing crisis management training to school administrators and other key staff members throughout the school.

Emergency response plans are in place at the school. An Emergency Response Team oversees the plan, and team members have assigned roles and responsibilities should an emergency occur. The team meets regularly to review procedures and conduct annual training and drills so that students and staff are aware of the most effective and safe emergency response.

Click for school emergency and student release information

Report An Incident

Eldred Central School District is committed to providing a safe, supportive environment free from harassment, bullying and discrimination for all students. The District encourages the involvement of staff, students, parents and community members in the implementation and reinforcement of the Dignity for All Students Act (“DASA”).
If you believe you, or someone else, has been the target of harassment, bullying, cyber-bullying, and/or discrimination, please use this form to report all allegations.
School/district personnel witnessing an incident or receiving a report of an incident must complete and submit this written report within two (2) school days. NOTE: School/district personnel must also orally notify the principal, superintendent or their designee no later than one school day after witnessing or receiving a report of an incident. In order to qualify under DASA, the offense must be in violation of one or more of the protected classes that are: race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender and sex. The law applies whether an individual actually belongs or is perceived by others to be part of a protected class.
All complaints will be treated in a confidential manner. Anonymous reports may limit the district’s ability to respond to the complaint. A prompt and thorough investigation will be conducted for all incident reports.
Please complete this form and return it to a school administrator or Dignity Act Coordinator.

Every student should look forward to coming to school and see school as a safe place.

 Eldred CSD- DASA Incident Reporting Form (Click)

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