December 3, 2020
Dear Families,
We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. We appreciate your ongoing flexibility as we work to reopen school buildings safely. As we reopen it is important to note that given our limited space and staffing resources CWS will not be able to offer 5 day a week in- person learning to our students.
As Chancellor Richard Carranza announced on November 29, all blended learning students in 3-K, Pre-K and K through 5 will return to in-person instruction beginning Monday, December 7. If you opted for in-person learning, below you will find additional information about providing consent for in-school COVID-19 testing by the first day your child returns to the school building. This consent form is required in order for your child to be able to participate in in-person learning.
What do I need to do to return to my school building?
In order for your child (in grades 1 and higher) to return to in-person learning, you must submit the consent form for in-school COVID-19 testing by the first day your child returns to their school building. Testing will happen weekly for a random selection of staff and students in your child’s school. Given the ongoing fight against a citywide resurgence of COVID-19, this mandatory weekly testing for COVID-19 is a crucial part of our plan to keep all schools safe. Any student in grade 1 or higher returning to school buildings must submit a consent form for COVID-19 testing in school by their first day back.
How do I submit consent?
Submitting consent to have your child tested for COVID-19 in school is quick and easy. Even if you have already submitted consent, we ask you to do so again to ensure your student has the latest consent form on file. There are two easy ways to submit:
1) Fill out the form online using a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) at mystudent.nyc.
2) Print and sign the form and bring it to your child’s school on the first day they are back in the school building. A printable PDF file is available in ten languages at schools.nyc.gov/covidtesting.
Can my child receive an exemption from weekly random testing?
Exemptions will only be granted in certain limited cases:
What happens if I don’t submit consent?
You must submit consent by the day that your child returns to your school building; that is the due date, and we need all students to participate.
What happens if my child does not attend school for their in-person learning days?
We expect your child to be present in the building during their scheduled in-person days. If a blended learning student does not attend school during their first week of scheduled in-person classes, we will reach out to you to confirm if you still want your in-person seat. While we will maintain flexibility for families who have legitimate reasons for not being able to attend in-person, we cannot continue to hold spots for students who aren’t attending because teachers, resources, and classrooms would not be used to their full capacity. If your child does not attend consistently and without a legitimate reason, we will move your child into fully remote learning.
We know that you opted into blended learning because you are eager to have your child attend school in-person, which we are excited about as well. We understand that circumstances may change and if you would now prefer to keep your child fully remote, please resubmit the learning preference survey or contact our Parent Coordinator, Dorothy Cantwell a Dcantwell2@schools.nyc.gov or call us at 212 844-4915 x209
Will this be a challenging transition for my child?
We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulting changes to our typical school routines, have had a significant impact on each of us. Increased stress and anxiety are common responses to the experience of uncertainty and/or constant change. We understand that transitioning in and out schools can be traumatic to young people and we are committed to supporting your child’s social-emotional wellness as well their academic achievement.
We thank you for your partnership in service to our students and value the critical role that you play in your child’s success.
Sincerely,
Maria Velez Clarke
Principal, CWS