At Valley Central our primary commitment is to the students and families we serve. Our priority is providing a robust education while keeping students, staff and families safe and healthy. Open communication between the home and school is paramount to a successful year. Connie Griffin (constance.griffin@vcsdny.org) our District Nurse Coordinator and oversees the health protocol for our district. The Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction is the District’s COVID – 19 Coordinator. Please reach out to Central Office, or to your child’s building administration, if you have any questions or concerns throughout the year.
Communication / Family and Community Engagement
Valley Central’s Communication Goal
- To provide regular updates about health and safety, scheduling, and all other information faculty, staff and families should be aware of.
- To provide information to families through a wide array of platforms including email, telephone calls, text messaging, social media and website postings.
2023/2024 COVID-19 Information
Valley Central School District is following the guidance of the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
CDC Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-childcare-guidance.html
Prevention
Valley Central will continue to encourage layered prevention strategies which will help to prevent the spread of many infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and norovirus, and support healthy learning environments for all.
- Staying Up-to- Date on Vaccination (Public Health Law 2164)
- Staying Home When Sick
- Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette
- Cleaning Protocol
COVID-19 Testing
Valley Central School District recommends students and/or staff who are experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 to stay home, get tested for COVID-19, and/ or follow the guidance of their health care provider.
Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are not limited to:
- Fever or chills (Valley Central School Nurses will send any student home with a fever of 100 ° F or above)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Management of Cases and Exposures to COVID-19
Students and staff who come to school with symptoms or develop symptoms of COVID-19 or any illness will be sent home and encouraged to get tested and/or to call / see their health care provider.
Regardless of vaccination status, students and staff should isolate from others when they are diagnosed with COVID-19.
Students and staff must stay home for 5 days with Day 0 being the day of a positive test or day of symptoms, whichever is earlier. They may return to school on Day 6 if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.
Once isolation has ended, it is recommended, for people to wear a well-fitting mask through Day 10.
Quarantine is no longer recommended for people who are exposed to COVID-19 in schools. In schools, people who were exposed to COVID-19 should follow recommendations to wear a well-fitting mask for 10 full days and get tested should they develop any symptoms.
Instruction for Students Isolating due to COVID-19
Students who are home sick with COVID-19 will receive their work in the same manner as students with other illnesses. For grades 3-12, assignments will be posted on the Google Classroom.
Work will be available for students in K-2 as it has been done in the past. Please call your child’s elementary school by noon to request homework.
COVID-19 Community Levels
Valley Central will review and revise all mitigation strategies based upon guidance from the NYS Education Department, Orange County Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.