November 4, 2021
Dear LREI Community,
I hope that this letter finds you well. It has been terrific to catch up with many of you at the grade level potlucks. For so many of us, we have not seen each other for over a year and for some, this fall’s gatherings are their first chance to participate in a community activity since coming to LREI. See you soon, 5th, 6th, and 12th grades!
A few items for this week, all Covid-19 related. First a few reminders for all followed by thoughts on the coming decision regarding vaccinations for five – 11 year olds.
Coughs, Colds and Illness
A reminder that the NYC Department of Health still requires a negative molecular COVID test (PCR, Rapid PCR, Rapid Molecular) for unvaccinated students to return to school if the student has any of the following symptoms (effective Monday 11/8/2021 vaccinated students may submit a provider-performed rapid antigen test, but molecular is preferred):
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Fever (100 F)
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New cough or congestion
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Sore throat
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Loss of taste or smell
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Vomiting or Diarrhea
Some symptoms can allow for a monitoring period before testing. If the following symptoms occur and do not resolve within 24 hours, unvaccinated students must take a molecular COVID test (PCR, Rapid PCR, Rapid Molecular), and vaccinated students must take a provider-performed rapid antigen or molecular PCR test:
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Headache
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Fatigue
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Muscle aches
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Abdominal pain
After experiencing symptoms and obtaining a negative test, students may return to school when they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and have symptom improvement. They must be feeling well enough to succeed in their school day, and they must be able to tolerate masking without frequent breaks for nose blowing or coughing.
Reminders for Thanksgiving Week, November 22-26
Schedule
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Lower school and middle school families will have conferences on Monday and Tuesday, November 22 – 23.
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High School students will have online classes on Monday, November 22 and conferences on Tuesday, November 23. The principals will send information about online classes.
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Conference sign up information will be sent home soon by the principals.
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No School – Wednesday, 11/24 – Friday 11/26
In School Testing
We will be testing 100% of the LREI population (vaccinated and unvaccinated) in the weeks after both Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break. If your student tests positive, they will be required to isolate for 10-days, and any unvaccinated contacts will be required to quarantine for a minimum of 7-days.
To be tested in school, your child must be registered with Enzo Labs. If you have not already done so, you can register your child here.
Enzo Labs will bill your insurance for the testing. You can check to see if your insurance is accepted here. If you choose not to test your child in school, you must test independently on your child’s assigned day and submit a molecular test (PCR, rapid PCR, rapid molecular NAAT) to nurses@lrei.org. Please inform the nurses ASAP if you plan on being tested independently.
Travel
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If your child is vaccinated and you plan on traveling, please read the recommendations on the CDC site – wear a mask, wash your hands, stay home and test if you have symptoms.
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If unvaccinated, the CDC recommendations include a test before travel, precautions while at your destination, and a test 3-5 days after you return, and a 7-day self-quarantine.
A reminder that we are NOT requiring that you report travel plans to LREI and are NOT monitoring your adherence to the CDC guidelines. We ARE asking you to PLEASE consider the impact that your plans could have on the LREI community, among others. Please allow your unvaccinated child to have the 7-day quarantine and required test time prior to returning to school if you choose to travel. Do this knowing that we will NOT be offering remote school after the Thanksgiving or Winter breaks. Please make your plans accordingly, using the nine-day Thanksgiving break (this includes one day of Zoom school for high school students and a conference for all families) and the 16-day Winter Break as guides.
By “travel” we mean, any air or long-distance train travel or traveling by any means to a location with a Covid prevalence of over 35/100k. Unsure? Ask via email at nurses@lrei.org. For the latest stats, click here.
Covid-19 Vaccines for 5 – 11 Year Olds
As you have heard, the Food and Drug Administration has given emergency use authorization to a Covid-19 vaccine for 5-11 year olds and the Centers for Disease Control has endorsed this vaccine and is encouraging parents to have their children vaccinated. I will be in touch early next week with more specific recommendations from LREI.
There are many reasons for 5 – 11 year olds to be vaccinated:
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Vaccinated children will have a decreased likelihood of Covid-19 infection and will decrease the severity of their illness if they do contract the Covid-19 virus.
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In most circumstances, fully vaccinated students are not required to quarantine after an in-school COVID exposure, allowing the students to mix more freely, have a more typical academic program, and miss fewer days of school. Unvaccinated students who are exposed will continue to quarantine and will miss more school.
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Beginning in the New Year, we will offer activities for which we will require vaccination.
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I am hopeful that NY State will allow vaccinated students to remove their masks, this year or next.
There are many other reasons for students to be vaccinated, some having to do with the child’s health, or the health of their family, and others having to do with the health and well-being of both our immediate community and the wider community. For example, vaccinated children protect those who are unable to be vaccinated. Also, the more of us who are vaccinated the less likely we are to be challenged by new variants.
As you can imagine, we will have more to say about these vaccines when we communicate what our plans are, which should be within a week.
At this time, vaccines can be scheduled with many pediatricians, with the local pharmacies, and at the NYC vaccine sites. If we are able to arrange for vaccinations on campus, we will let you know.
Vaccination cards should be uploaded to the “Immunization” section in Magnus after both the first and second vaccine. Uploading to this section will not erase any student records.
We urge you to vaccinate your child/children ASAP, to protect them and to protect others. Please speak with your health care providers for answers to your specific questions.
Be well,
