With masks now optional indoors at St. Aidan School, I would like to say thank you for your efforts to discuss this with your children. I felt it was a positive two days of school where all students and staff respected individual choice. We will continue to expect and monitor this. We have received additional information from The New York State Department of Health and The New York State Education Department regarding COVID-19. They are as follows:

• If a student/staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the following is required:

1. Must isolate for 5 days
2. Must be fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms must be improving
3. Must wear a well-fitted mask in school on days 6-10
4. Must submit a return to physical education letter from physician

• If a student/staff member is exposed to COVID-19 in a classroom, please note the following:

1. Quarantine is not necessary unless the individual is exhibiting symptoms
2. It is recommended to wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days following exposure
3. Regardless of vaccination status, individuals are required to test on Day 5 after exposure and submit test result from medical facility or picture of home test result
4. The only exception to testing is individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis within the past 3 months (unless they develop symptoms)
5. Failure to comply with testing, individual must stay home for 5 days after exposure

• If a student/staff member is symptomatic for COVID-19, please note the following:

1. It is required to show a negative test result in order to return to school
2. Home test results are acceptable however both tests in the test kit should be administered (second one 24-48 hours after the first)
3. A positive is a positive and no retesting will be accepted
4. Individuals who are symptomatic and NOT tested:
   • Must be excluded from school for at least 5 days following the onset of symptoms
   • Must be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms must be improving
   • Must wear a well-fitted mask for days 6-10

Thank you again for your support to keep our entire St. Aidan community healthy and safe. We will continue to keep windows opened, promote proper hand hygiene, social distancing and access to home testing kits. We will distribute another set of testing kits during parent-teacher conferences. If you need a testing kit before then, please contact Mrs. LaMagna or Mrs. Vitale and arrange to pick one up.

Please continue to report if your child is POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, using this form:

Positive Covid Test Reporting 

If your child is a CLOSE CONTACT OF A POSITIVE COVID-19 CASE, please complete this form:

Close Contact Reporting

PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT FEELING WELL AT HOME. Thank you!