COVID-19 Updates
WELCOME TO OUR COVID-19 RESPONSE PAGE
Below you’ll find all the critical information about how Jamaica Children's School, P.S. 312Q is changing the way we operate to reduce the risk of COVID infection. We are doing everything we can to make sure staff, students, and families are safe. Please check back regularly, as we will update the information here as conditions change.
Daily Health Screening
Complete the Health Screening each morning before dropping your child off for in-person learning.
2021/2022 NYCDOE GUIDELINES
UPDATED COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIES AS OF MARCH 7TH
In order to maintain the safety of all staff and students, the NYCDOE will continue to maintain increased ventilation, the daily health screening form, and COVID-19 home test kit distribution. Here is what’s changing effective March 7 and what will remain the same:
NEW: Effective March 7, face coverings will become optional, indoors and outdoors, on NYC public school grounds and on school buses, for all K-12 students and staff with a few exceptions. Please note that while wearing a face covering will no longer be required, anyone who chooses to wear a mask may continue to do so; face coverings will continue to be available through the school’s custodian engineer. Face coverings are still required or recommended in the following scenarios:
Face coverings are required:
- Face coverings after return from 5-day isolation: Anyone returning on Day 6 after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis or after having COVID-19 symptoms without testing is still required to wear a well-fitting mask at all times on school property through Day 10.
- Face coverings for Early Childhood programs: The indoor mask mandate is still active for LYFE, EarlyLearn (Infants & Toddlers), 3-K, Pre-K, and 4410 classrooms. Children two years old and older, and all staff in these classrooms, must continue to follow the same face covering requirements whether they are in a district school, CBO, or home-based program. Since children under the age of five are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, face coverings remain our strongest defense against COVID-19 for early childhood populations.
- Face coverings in medical rooms/nurses’ offices: Wearing a face covering is still required in medical rooms/nurses’ offices, as well as in School Based Health Centers. Nurses will have masks on hand for anyone entering who needs one.
- Face coverings following exposure: It is strongly recommended that face coverings be worn when an individual has been exposed or potentially exposed to COVID-19 (in the same room for 15 minutes or longer with a person who tested positive for COVID-19). This face covering should be well-fitting and should be worn for 10 days after the known exposure.
Social Distancing
NEW: There are no requirements for social distancing in public spaces, including classrooms, cafeterias and auditoriums, unless the person is returning from isolation. As per NYS guidance, those that are required to still wear face coverings due to returning from isolation should distance when they have to remove their mask for eating.
Visitor Policy
NEW: A face covering is now optional for visitors. All visitors wishing to enter DOE school buildings must continue to show proof of having at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, show identification, and complete the daily health screening form.
Student Vaccine Requirements
High-risk extracurricular activities will still require participants to be fully vaccinated. High-risk sports include football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, lacrosse (boys), stunt, and rugby. High-risk extra-curricular activities include chorus, musical theater, dance/dance team, band/orchestra, marching band, and cheerleading/step teams/flag team.
Any student attending a dance or prom must be fully vaccinated.
UPDATED COVID-19 HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIES AS OF JANUARY 31, 2022
Printable Decision Charts
We recognize that families need clear information to help them make decisions. For a visual guide to the policies explained in detail below, visit schools.nyc.gov/2021health for two charts that outline the steps you should take if your child feels sick, was exposed to COVID-19, or tested positive for COVID-19:
- COVID-19 Chart for Early Childhood Families (LYFE, 3-K, Pre-K, or EarlyLearn)
- COVID-19 Chart for Kindergarten–12 students
BUILDING SAFETY POLICY
We have put safety procedures in place to keep our students and staff healthy.
- Health Screening: To ensure that staff and students do not report to school if they have or potentially may have COVID-19 or are feeling ill, a health screening must be completed, ideally at home, by all students, staff, and visitors before entering NYCDOE school facilities.
-
Daily Health Screener
Starting Monday, January 31, the daily health screening form will be revised to reflect new health policies and options for those recently recovered from COVID-19. Please continue to help your child complete the health screener every day before coming to school. -
Student Pick Up: If a student fails a health screening or shows symptoms of COVID-19, the student will be assessed by the nurse on site. If it is confirmed that the student is showing symptoms of COVID-19, the guardian of the student will be immediately contacted and advised to pick up the child.
-
- Illness: Students and staff exhibiting signs of illness or having a fever of greater than 100°F must stay home and notify the school. If you or someone you know has COVID-19 (or shows symptoms of COVID-19 such as coughing or fever), it is required that you quarantine for a minimum of 5 days and notify the school.
- Directions for local COVID testing: Please visit the NYS Coronavirus Find a Test Site page to find a test site closest to you.
UPDATES AS OF JANUARY 31, 2022
- Shortened Isolation Period for COVID-19 Cases: Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New York State Department of Health (DOH) guidance, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) has shortened the isolation period for K-12 students with a positive COVID-19 test result from 10 days to 5 days. This means if your child tests positive for COVID-19 and is in kindergarten or higher, your child can return to school on Day 6 if they have no symptoms or their symptoms are improving, and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. Students returning from isolation on Day 6 must wear a well-fitting mask such as a KN95, KF94, or a cloth mask over a disposable surgical mask on Days 6–10. Please be aware that any child (in any grade) who has completed their isolation period is NOT required to show proof of a negative test result before being allowed to return to school.
- Shortened Quarantine for COVID-19 Exposure: The CDC and DOH also shortened the quarantine period for students exposed to COVID-19. Students in grades kindergarten or higher will continue to use home test kits to stay in school after an in-school exposure. If your child is NOT fully vaccinated and was exposed to COVID-19 outside of a school setting, your child must quarantine for at least 5 days; this is reduced from 10 days. If your child is fully vaccinated and was exposed outside of school, your child can continue to attend school so long as they do not have any symptoms. All students are required to wear masks while on school grounds, and students returning from isolation or quarantine on Day 6 must wear a well-fitting mask such as a KN95, KF94, or a cloth mask over a disposable surgical mask on Days 6–10.
- COVID-19 Home Test Kits: Children ages 2 and up who are exposed to COVD-19 at school will receive two tests. The test kits come with printed instructions that you should follow when administering the test. You can also watch videos in multiple languages on how to use your test kit at schools.nyc.gov/HomeRapidTestKits. Please note: if your child has recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days, they will not receive a test kit and may continue to attend school unless they develop COVID-like symptoms.
- Remote Instruction for Students Isolating Due to COVID-19: Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 and is isolating at home is entitled to asynchronous remote instruction and access to office hours with a teacher based on availability. Your school will provide details about how children in those circumstances can access remote instruction and office hours.
LIST OF PROVIDERS OFFERING FREE WI-FI OR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR 60 DAYS
New York City is offering "Free and Low-Cost Internet Options" through different programs for DOE students and families.
Comcast
Offering free public Wi-Fi for 60 Days to families who do not have a subscription already.
Call: 1-855-846-8376 for English Enrollment
Call: 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish Enrollment
Comcast Free Public Wi-Fi
Charter Communications/Spectrum
Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps.
Call: 1-844-488-8395
Charter Communications Free Wi-Fi Access
Altice USA
For households with K-12 and/or college students who may be displaced due to school closures and who do not a currently have home internet access, we are offering our Altice Advantage 30 Mbps broadband solution for free for 60 days to any new customer household within our footprint.
Call: 866 – 200 – 9522 to enroll in Optimum Region
Call: 888 – 633 – 0030 to enroll in Suddenlink Region
Altice USA Free Broadband Announcement
All Connect
With many schools utilizing a combination of physical and online resources for their classes, a reliable internet connection at home is very important. For many students, having internet access at home can make a huge difference in their academic success.
Our team created a guide that covers affordable internet plans and low-cost internet options. This up-to-date resource breaks down the different cost-effective internet options available, how to qualify and apply for assistance programs as well as the different costs and speeds available.
https://www.allconnect.com/internet/cheap