24 Hour Building Closure Effective 11/10/20

Dear AmPark Family,

Due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our AmPark Neighborhood School Community that coincides within a 7 day period of a confirmed case in our co-located campus school, PS/MS 95, our building is being closed as of tomorrow, November 10th.  Below please find the letters generated for our school community from the NYC DOE Situation Room posted below.  I will be in close contact with NYC's Test and Trace in the next 24 hours and communicate everything else we learn to you in that time. 

All instruction tomorrow, November 10th, will be remote only. 

Please stay tuned, take care of one another, and be well.

Sending my love to you all AmPark,
​
​Bonnie

11/9/2020 7:59 PM
 
Dear P.S. 95 - BRONX - X095 and AmPark Neighborhood School Families:

The health and safety of our students and staff and everyone in the DOE family across the city is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring you have the information you need on COVID-19 as we continue to navigate this public health emergency together.  
Today I am writing to inform you that two or more members of our school community have tested positive for COVID-19 within seven days of each other. We are quickly taking all appropriate action and following rigorous protocols developed by the NYC Test + Trace Corps, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health) and the New York City Department of Education (DOE).
​
Out of an abundance of caution, here is what will happen next to safeguard the health of our school community:
 

• Effective 11/10/2020, the school building will close for an initial 24 hours. All students will transition to fully remote learning for this period.

 

• During this time, the NYC Test + Trace Corps and NYC Health will complete their investigation and the school will undergo additional cleaning and disinfecting.

 

• No staff will be permitted into the building except for those conducting cleaning and disinfecting. All other staff will work remotely.

 
·      Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test will not return to the school and will be safely separated until they are no longer infectious. Please note that in order to protect the privacy of the individuals who have tested positive, we cannot share additional details about the case.
 

• All students and teachers present in classes with the individuals who tested positive are considered “close contacts,” and have been notified of the need to quarantine for 14 days since their last contact with the person who tested positive.

 

• The NYC Test + Trace Corps and NYC Health will identify any other close contacts of the individuals who tested positive, who will also be notified of the need to quarantine for 14 days.

 
Based on the status of the investigation, I will communicate with you by 6 p.m. each night about the status of opening the next morning for everyone who is not a close contact.
 
Additionally, we will share physical and mental health and wellness resources for you and your child. COVID-19 can be stressful for you and your loved ones. It is natural to feel overwhelmed, sad, anxious and afraid. We want to ensure you can access helpful resources for coping and reducing stress.
 
While New Yorkers have done an outstanding job fighting the virus, leading to extremely low infection rates citywide, COVID-19 is still active in our city, state and our country. There will be cases of COVID-19 this school year; we know this and all of our protocols have been in service of fighting this virus. Our job is to swiftly and effectively handle any cases that appear and be transparent every step of the way. That is what we are doing today.
 
We know a lot more than we did in March about how to protect each other from the virus, and it’s critical that we continue to act to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our schools. All of us must remember to follow these important “Core Four” actions to prevent COVID-19 transmission: 
 

• Stay home if sick: Monitor your and your child’s health and stay home if you are sick or keep them home if they are sick, except for getting essential medical care (including COVID-19 testing) and other essential needs.

 

• Physical distancing: Stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not members of your household.

 

• Wear a face covering: Protect those around you. Wearing a face covering helps reduce the spread of COVID-19, especially if you are sick and don’t have symptoms. For more information about face coverings, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus and look for "FAQ About Face Coverings."

 

• Practice healthy hand hygiene: Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available; clean frequently touched surfaces regularly; avoid touching your face with unwashed hands; and cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hands.

 
We will continue to closely follow directions from public health experts and proactively update you on any measures we are taking.
 
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions. For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311. Finally, to ensure we can rapidly reach you via text and email, please set up a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) as soon as possible by visiting schools.nyc.gov/nycsa.
Thank you for your cooperation. Health and safety will always come first in New York City public schools, no matter what.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Bonnie Durgin
Assistant Principal
AmPark Neighborhood School

​11/9/2020 7:59 PM
 
 
Dear Member of the P.S. 95 - BRONX - X095 and AmPark Neighborhood School Community: 
 
  
As always, the health and safety of our students and staff, and everyone in the DOE family across the city, is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring you have the information you need on COVID-19 as we continue to navigate this public health emergency together.   
 
You are receiving this letter because you are a staff member in our school who has stayed home for a COVID-19 related reason, or the parent of a student in our school who has stayed home for a COVID-19 related reason.
 
This letter will inform you when you or your child can return to the school building.


When Is It Safe to Return to the School Building? 
If you or your child tested positive for COVID-19, you or your child can return to school only after: 

• Isolating for 10 days AND   
• Being fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND  
• Overall symptoms are improving 

 
If you or your child showed symptoms but received a negative COVID-19 test, you or your child can return to school only after: 

• Being fever free 24 hours without the use of medication AND 
• Overall symptoms are improving  

 
If you or your child never received a COVID-19 test but showed symptoms, you or your child can return to school only after: 

• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms started AND  
• Being fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND  
• Overall symptoms are improving 

If you or your child is considered a close contact of a positive case, you or your child can return to school only after: 

• Quarantining for 14-days since their last exposure to that case, regardless of COVID-19 test results 
• Students in quarantine should participate in remote learning as possible.  

For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311.  
 
Thank you for your cooperation. Health and safety will always come first in New York City public schools, no matter what. We look forward to welcoming you or your student back to in-person teaching and learning.
 
Sincerely, 
 
Bonnie Durgin
Assistant Principal
AmPark Neighborhood School