John Jay High School

September 1, 2021

Dear John Jay, High School Community,

I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the last weeks of summer. It has been a long road, but we are ready to finally return all our students to John Jay High School on Thursday, September 9!

Everyone is anxious and excited to receive our students.  John Jay High School will continue engaging them with great learning opportunities while caring for them in a warm and welcoming environment.

At the August 19 Board of Education meeting, the Superintendent provided the community a comprehensive presentation outlining KLSD’s plans for safely returning students to school. It can be accessed in its entirety at KLSD Return to School Plans 21-22.pdf. This letter will echo most the information provided at that presentation to better facilitate our students’ return to JJHS.

First, student schedules are available for viewing on Infinite Campus Parent Portal as of Wednesday, August 25 at 4 p.m. Our guidance counselors returned to the building yesterday, August 25^th to begin serving students and families. Please make an appointment with your counselor if you have any concerns regarding your school schedule.

Please be advised:

• SCHOOL HOURS: 8:00 a.m. - 2:38 p.m.
• MAIN OFFICE HOURS: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• MAIN OFFICE PHONE: 914-763-7201
• Remote learning will not be a standard yearlong option in KLSD. If any student is medically fragile, families may reach out to the building principal to engage a discussion if they believe their child may be unable to attend school.
• First period at JJHS will begin at 8 a.m. and ninth period ends at 2:38 p.m. However, if the first few weeks (or sooner) show regular ridership on buses has returned, accompanied by a noticeable easing of morning traffic, we will return to an 8:10 a.m. first period start with the end of ninth period at 2:48, last used in the 2019-20 school year.
• All extra-curricular activities are in person, with its attendant health and safety requirements as indicated below.

Reporting absences from school:

• Please email our attendance office at jjhsattendance@klschools.org or contact Mrs. Cignarella directly at 914-763-7218.

Visitors:

• Consistent with CDC guidance, KLSD will limit non-essential visitors inside our buildings when the year begins.  In general, parents should assume they will not be entering our buildings. We will be making limited exceptions, however, as we recognize there are times when individuals or small groups of visitors can be essential.  We will also look to accommodate visitors outdoors, when possible.  Our visitor guidance may evolve through the year and particularly if/when conditions change. 

Health and safety requirements at the high school include:

• It is most important that you keep your child(ren) home if they are sick.  The district will be sending regular reminders about the symptoms and reasons that would cause a child to stay home.  In addition, please contact us immediately in the event that you learn your child is COVID positive by calling our school’s nurses at 914-763-7205 or emailing them at cmallon@klschools.org or jfitzgerald@klschools.org. This information can also be found at https://www.klschools.org/groups/82254/healthandsafety/what_to_do.
• While riding the bus, masks must be properly worn, but students are not required to socially distance. All students who have regularly accessed bus transportation are encouraged to do so.
• All students and staff will be required to wear properly fitted masks while indoors, while masks remain optional outdoors.  Students will be permitted to remove masks while eating in the cafeteria. Students will be spread out in the cafeteria and into the adjacent hallway, as well encouraged to use available seating outside. With parental permission, Sophomores will now have the privilege of leaving campus for lunch along with Seniors and Juniors. However, students may not leave grounds for lunch in their cars, unless their day has ended. Parents of Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors may register their permission by accessing the form at the following link ( https://tinyurl.com/JJHS-OpenCampus) and either bring in a signed hard copy to the main office or email a signed copy to Linda Binns at lbinns@klschools.org.
• Cafeteria seating will remain expanded as it was done last year, with ample seating in the main cafeteria, in the cafeteria hallway, and students may choose to also eat outside.
• Upon entering the building, students are to report to their first period classes and refrain from congregating in the hallway. KLSD will no longer require the health screening app.
• While in the building, students will be expected to always observe a 3 ft distance from each other and to wash their hands often throughout the day.
• Under CDC guidance, in the k-12 indoor classroom setting, close contact excludes within 3-6 feet of an infected student if both the infected student and exposed student (s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time. This should greatly reduce the need to quarantine students this year in the event of a positive case of COVID in the high school.
• Seating charts will be utilized in classrooms and the buses for potential contact-tracing purposes. Students in the cafeteria will again be required to sign in at their tables using the QR code provided.

I hope this information is helpful and helps your child understand the building’s expectations as the new school year begins. Of course, we will consistently monitor plans and will adjust as conditions warrant.

We hope for a wonderful school year filled with learning, relationships, and lasting positive memories. If we can be of any assistance, please reach out to us and school personnel will respond to you promptly.

Wishing you all a relaxing end of summer and looking forward to reconnecting with our students.

Sincerely,

Steven T. Siciliano, Ed.D.