February 22, 2021
Dear LREI Community,
A brief note this morning with a month to go before Spring Break. As the positivity rate in NYC continues to drop, as does the average rate in neighborhoods in which our community members live, we are seeing a steady increase in the number of students who are exposed to positive cases outside of school. I cannot encourage you strongly enough to stay vigilant in the coming weeks so that those who are attending in-person classes can be in school every possible day.
Reminders/Requests
Small group gatherings, including after school playdates, are the primary path for exposure and infection and are a sure way to negatively impact in-person schooling.
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Please limit gatherings to a small consistent group of children from within your pod, if you have them at all.
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Avoid parent exposures to children that are not your own. Parents should not be present for indoor playdates where they could be considered proximate contacts. This is another reason why outdoor gatherings are safer.
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Masks must be worn both in and out-of-doors. Re-examine your choice of masks. If you are wearing cloth masks, make sure that they are at least 2-ply. In some situations consider double masking.
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Children and adults must stay a minimum of six feet apart.
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You will be considered to be exposed to a person if you were proximate to another person for more than ten minutes, cumulatively.
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No sleepovers, please.
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Limit adult gatherings, following the same guidelines as listed above for your children. We have many students who are excluded from school due to exposure to adults who have tested positive.
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And for our older students – the same rules apply. No small group gatherings or parties.
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Traveling? Remember to review the travel protocols and clear your testing dates with the nurses in advance, nurses@lrei.org.
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Do you have symptoms? Do your children? Isolate and test ASAP. Do not send a child to school if a household member has any symptoms.
We know that the winter is feeling cold, snowy, and long because it has been cold, snowy, and long. On February 1, I sent home some suggestions of art and movement activities that you can do at home. A more modest suggestion today. Yesterday, February 21, was Nina Simone’s birthday. I was fortunate enough to catch a couple of hours of her music on WKCR’s Jazz Profiles – a ton of great music along with a number of interviews with this talented musician and civil rights activist. It was amazing. The station’s website doesn’t store earlier shows, but you can find a playlist and use it on a streaming service. WKCR will continue to feature Simone’s music at times during their broadcasts today and tomorrow. Tonight, when homework is all done, maybe with kids in their jammies, encourage them to curl up with a good book, a sketch pad, or a board game and listen to this incredible performer. Maybe start with this happening live version of “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free.”
Enjoy,
P.S. Please remember to order your child’s/children’s lunch(s). Menus are available up until Spring Break