School Year Reflections

Governor Cuomo announced that NYS will adopt the new CDC guidelines for Masks and Social Distance for fully vaccinated individuals.

Please Note: At this time, Schools are exempt from these new CDC guidelines so the Mask Policy and Social Distance Protocols remain in place for all schools.

Full information can be found at

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-new-york-state-adopt-new-cdc-guidance-mask-use-and-social-distancing

The winner of our Mother’s Day Raffle was Ava L – Grade 4.  Her mom won a Serenity Day Spa Ultimate Spa Package and a pair of Tom Ford sunglasses.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Nicholas B – Grade 2 the winner of our spring raffle.  He won a Lenovo Chromebook.  Thank to all our participants for supporting St. Helen Catholic Academy.

Domestic Travel-

• Travelers must immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing. Otherwise, there is no quarantine requirement

International Travel-

• International Travelers must comply with CDC requirements, which currently include proof of negative test or recent COVID recovery in order to board airplanes headed to the US. Travelers must complete the NYS Department of Health traveler health form. 
• Currently CDC does not require quarantine, work furlough, or testing requirements for asymptomatic international travelers.  New York follows that recommendation with the following exceptions:
  • Fully vaccinated individuals who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months are recommended to get tested 3-5 days after arrival in New York from international travel.    
  • All unvaccinated international travelers who have not recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months are recommended to get tested 3-5 days after arrival in New York, consider non-mandated self-quarantine (7 days if tested on day 3-5, otherwise 10 days), and avoid contact with people at higher risk for severe disease for 14 days, regardless of test result.

NYS COVID-19 Travel Advisory Effective April 1^st

Domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering New York from another U.S. State or U.S. Territory starting April 1st. Until that time, the NYS Travel Advisory is still in effect.

The Office of the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Brooklyn has expanded the International Travel Advisory to include all International Travel.

Full Information on the NYS COVID-19 Travel Advisory can be found at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

Please Note: As per the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) schools can implement safety and health protocols that go above the NYS DOHMH and NYC DOHMH required safety and health protocols.

Updated Quarantine Guidance:

https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-providers.page

Winter Recess Travel Guidelines 2021

Revised Definition of Classroom Close Contact

The NYC DOHMH is implementing a revised definition of General Classroom Close Contact, 10 or more minutes within 6 feet over 24 hours of an individual with COVID-19 during their infectious period, regardless of mask or face covering use or the presence of plexiglass or other barriers.  Riskier activities such as aerobic activities/singing as well as traveling via school bus will require additional precautions, more information to follow.

Confirm with the parent of the positive individual and the faculty and staff to identify any individual(s) who meets the criteria for a close contact.

This is only for the identified close contacts: We will now be required to send the individuals who have been identified as meeting the revised definition of a close contact to the NYC Health Department for Test and Trace to complete contact monitoring and provide support services.  

QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPOSURE TO COVID-19

Consistent with recent CDC guidance, quarantine for individuals exposed to COVID-19 can end after ten days without a testing requirement if no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period. 

Individuals must continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14; 

Individuals must be counseled to continue strict adherence to all recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including hand hygiene and the use of face coverings, through Day 14.

Individuals must be advised that if any symptoms develop, they should immediately self-isolate and contact the local public health authority or their healthcare provider to report this change in clinical status and determine if they should seek testing.

These quarantine requirements are also applicable to travelers who are not essential workers and/or who did not complete the testing requirements described in Executive Order 205.2.

St. Helen Catholic Academy School Re-Opening Plan

Continuity of Learning Plan December 10, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org

John Quaglione 
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org

BROOKLYN AND QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES TO CONTINUE IN-PERSON LEARNING

Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Brooklyn and Queens, has announced that all 69 schools and academies will remain open and continue to provide in-person learning, in spite of the decision made to close New York City public schools indefinitely starting tomorrow.

“I am frustrated that the Mayor’s announcement was made as Catholic schools and academies throughout Brooklyn and Queens were dismissing our students. I want to make it clear to parents, teachers, staff, and students that the Mayor’s announcement only pertains to New York City public schools, and our schools will be open tomorrow. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our school community remains safe for everyone, and we will continue to ensure strict compliance with all health and safety protocols,” said Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Catholic Schools ~ Office of Support Services.

Catholic schools in the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens have provided safe, five days a week in-person learning since beginning this school year, as scheduled, on September 9. The Superintendent, along with the Superintendent of the Archdiocese of New York, has received confirmation from the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Non-Public Schools that they will maintain entitled services for Catholic school students, including school nurses, transportation, and food.

         Catholic Academies and Parish Schools within the Diocese of Brooklyn have successfully operated for more than two months due to the strict adherence to the important “Core Four” actions to prevent COVID-19 transmission, including maintaining physical distance, wearing a face covering, practicing healthy hand hygiene, and staying home if sick. The schools and academies of the Diocese of Brooklyn continue to work with New York State and City Department of Health officials on a regular basis to maintain the safety of all of our students, faculty, and staff.

         For a listing and more information about Catholic Schools in Brooklyn and Queens, please visit catholicschoolsbq.org.

Dear Families,

We have just heard the recent announcement of the Mayor to close public schools as of Thursday, November 19, 2020.

The schools of the Diocese of Brooklyn plan on remaining open in partnership with the Archdiocese of New York.

St. Helen Catholic Academy will remain open.

This decision will only change if the Governor declares New York City an “Orange” Zone.

We will continue to update you.

Christine Zerillo

Principal