Introduction

Introduction
   On Monday, July 13, 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that school districts in New York can follow plans to reopen for in-person schooling in September if COVID-19 infection rates stay at 5% or lower in a given region.  
Determinations will be made by regions about opening and closing schools as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. If a region is in Phase 4 and has a daily infection rate of 5% or lower over a 14-day average, schools in that region could hold in-person instruction. If daily infection rates exceed 9% over a seven-day average, however, schools in that region would not reopen. Similarly, should a region see such an average after reopening, schools in that region would also be directed to close.
While schools have been instructed to prioritize efforts to return all students to in-person instruction, the school is also planning for remote/distance learning, as well as  for a hybrid model that combines in-person instruction and remote learning. Parents will always have the choice to remain in the remote learning model. Following a virtual parent forum, which will be held next week, a survey will be sent to families in grades K-6 to indicate which model they would like their child/children to begin school in.  Currently, students in PreK do not have the option of distance learning.  If this directive changes, we will pass that information along to families.  Families will have 1 week to complete so that teachers can continue to prepare for the opening of school.  

   The plan outlined here is for the reopening of Sacred Heart School for the 2020-21 school year, following the building closure related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The health and safety of our students, our staff and their families is our top priority. We want students and employees to feel comfortable and safe returning to the school campus. Our reopening plan incorporates recommendations and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), New York State Reopening Guidance for Religious and Independent Schools, the Religious Services Guidelines on the New York Forward website and the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

   It is possible that we may need to alternate between in-person and remote learning throughout the year due to recommendations and guidance from our partnering agencies and stay-at-home orders from the Governor. The level of infection, the spread of the virus and response to the disease in our community will be at the forefront of our decision making as we move to open our school. 

   Mrs. Goyer will serve as the school’s COVID-19 Coordinator. Mrs. Goyer will work closely with our local health department and will be responsible for providing any necessary information to the health department, Father Yanas, the CSO, and to the school community at large.  She will serve as a central contact for stakeholders, families, staff and other school community members and will ensure the school is in compliance and following the best practices per state and federal guidelines. You can contact Mrs. Goyer at 518-274-3655 or agoyer.shs@gmail.com .