9/24/2021 10:26 AM

Attention PS7 Academy Families

Dear P.S. 007 Louis F. Simeone at 76-05 51 AVENUE Community:

The health and safety of our students and staff, and everyone in the DOE family across the city, is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring you have the information you need on COVID- 19 as we continue to navigate this public health emergency together.

Today we are writing to inform you, out of an abundance of caution, that on 9/24/2021 10:21 AM a member of our school community was sent home with COVID-19 symptoms.

We are handling this situation with the utmost seriousness. At this time there are no plans for classroom or school closure, and students should continue to attend school as regularly scheduled unless they are feeling ill. If, and only if, the individual tests positive, you will receive another update informing you and framing the next steps.

Please be assured that we are taking every precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our school community, including ensuring that anyone who feels sick in the school building can isolate. Our school has designated an isolation room where a student with symptoms associated with COVID-19 can be safely isolated and evaluated by a healthcare professional until they are picked up by a guardian.

If the individual tests positive for COVID-19, they cannot return to the school until they have been isolated for 10 days and been fever-free for 24 hours without use of medication and their overall symptoms are improving.

It’s up to all of us to help keep our school community safe and healthy. Please remember to follow these important “Core Four” actions to prevent COVID-19 transmission:

• Stay home if sick: Monitor your and your child’s health and stay home if you are sick or keep them home if they are sick, except for getting essential medical care (including COVID-19 testing) and other essential needs.
• Physical distancing: Stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not members of your household.
• Wear a face covering: Protect those around you. Wearing a face covering helps reduce the spread of COVID-19, especially if you are sick and don’t have symptoms. For more information about face coverings, visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus and look for “FAQ About Face Coverings.”
• Practice healthy hand hygiene: Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available; clean frequently touched surfaces regularly; avoid touching your face with unwashed hands; and cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hands.

All New Yorkers age 12 and older are eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19. If someone is fully vaccinated, they do not have to miss school, sports, or work if there is a case in their classroom. People who are between 12 and 17 years old are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine only; all older ages are eligible for all three vaccines. Find a vaccine site today at https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/. There is no cost to be vaccinated.

We will continue to closely follow directions from public health experts and proactively update you on any measures we are taking. To ensure we can reach you via text and email, please set up a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) as soon as possible by visiting schools.nyc.gov/nycsa.

For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311. Thank you for your cooperation. Health and safety will always come first in New York City

public schools, no matter what.

Sincerely,

Robert Aiello

Attention P.S. 7 Academy families:

9/23/2021 3:31 PM

Dear P.S. 007 Louis F. Simeone at 76-05 51 AVENUE Community:

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the NYC Test + Trace Corps (T2) have determined that a member of our school community has tested positive for COVID-19 and may have exposed others while at school.

Below you will find guidance on next steps that will help keep you, your child, and our school community healthy and safe. The information below reflects the expertise of DOHMH, T2, and the New York City Department of Education (DOE).

What Happens Now?

• All students and staff in the affected room(s) with the individual who tested positive are considered “close contacts,” and have been notified of the need to quarantine for 10 days from their last contact with the person who tested positive. These students and staff will transition to fully remote teaching and learning for this period.
• T2 and DOHMH will complete their investigation to identify and notify any other close contacts in the building, who will also need to quarantine for 10 days.
• Any staff or students who are fully vaccinated OR were recently (within the past three months) diagnosed with COVID-19 and finished isolation in the past 90 days will NOT need to quarantine as long as they have no COVID-19 symptoms. People who are fully vaccinated have received both shots of a two shot regimen or one shot of a single shot regimen and 14 days or more have elapsed since their last shot.
• Unvaccinated middle and high school students who are considered close contacts may test out of quarantine in order to return to their classrooms after the seventh day. In order to do so, students should take a COVID-19 test on their fifth day of quarantine in order to re-enter class after the seventh day. Students must submit proof of a negative test through the DOE’s COVID-19 Vaccination Portal.
• Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test will not return to the school until they are no longer infectious.
• All areas visited by the person with COVID-19 will be deep cleaned, disinfected, and reopened.
• If your child is feeling sick, keep them at home.

How do we stay healthy?

All New Yorkers age 12 or older are eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19. If someone is fully vaccinated, they do not have to miss school, sports or work if there is a case in their classroom. People who are between 12 and 17 years old are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine only; all older ages are eligible for all three vaccines. Find a vaccine site today at https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov/. There is no cost to be vaccinated.

Please remember to follow these important “Core Four” actions to prevent COVID-19 transmission:  

1. Stay home if sick (except to get essential medical care, including COVID-19 testing).
2. Practice social distancing: Stay at least 6 feet away from people who are not members of your household.
3. Wear a face covering to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
4. Practice healthy hand hygiene: Wash your hands often or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; avoid touching your face; and cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hands.

How can I stay updated?

We will continue to closely follow directions from public health experts and proactively update you on any measures we are taking. To ensure we can reach you via text and email, please create a New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) as soon as possible by visiting schools.nyc.gov/nycsa.

To help New Yorkers quarantine, the NYC Test + Trace Corps partners with community-based organizations to connect individuals to resources like food, medicine, and health care.  To connect with resources, you can call 1-212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).

For additional information on COVID-19, visit schools.nyc.gov/coronavirus or call 311.  

Sincerely,

Robert Aiello

September 20, 2021 

Dear Families, 

It was so exciting to welcome students back in our classrooms last week, seeing the joy on their faces as they all could finally return to learn in-person with their teachers and classmates! This is a very special time, and we are doing everything possible to make sure everyone in our schools remains safe and healthy. 

I invite you to share the amazing experience of that first week of school with me through this video (vimeo.com/609642752/70f8506d67) capturing our homecoming experience across the city. 

In addition to the extensive health and safety measures summarized on our school year 2021-22 webpage (schools.nyc.gov/homecoming), we are making two important adjustments to COVID-19 protocols in our schools: 

• Weekly testing. Starting Monday, September 27, the DOE will increase random COVID-19 testing in all elementary, middle, and high schools for students in grades 1-12 from biweekly to weekly. We can only test students whose parents have provided an updated testing consent form to their school. You are encouraged to provide this consent for your child if you have not done so. If you have already submitted a testing consent form for the 2021-22 school year, that consent form remains in effect. If you have not yet submitted your consent, you can do so one of two ways: 
  • Fill out the form using your NYC Schools Account (NYCSA): schoolsaccount.nyc or 
  • Download the form online at schools.nyc.gov/covidtesting and bring the completed form to your child’s school. 

• Updated quarantine policy. Also starting Monday, September 27, in accordance with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we will no longer close an entire classroom when there is a positive case in the classroom. Unvaccinated students who are masked and at least three feet distanced from a student who tests positive are not considered close contacts under CDC guidelines and will not have to quarantine. This new policy applies to all students in any grade. 

Vaccination is the most important step that we can take to protect our families and our communities against COVID-19. To protect your children and school communities, we have mandated that all DOE school staff be vaccinated against COVID-19—by September 27, all employees will have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule a vaccination appointment for yourself or your eligible student aged 12 and older, please visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. 

We will continue to share everything we are doing to keep your children safe. Our school year back together again is already off to a fantastic start, and I look forward to seeing your students thrive and grow this year as they learn alongside their peers. 

In partnership, 

Meisha Porter 

New York City Schools Chancellor 

Dear Families,

We have received information from The Office of Pupil Transportation. In order to receive transportation, students will need to apply for a hazard exception.

Staff members will be available from 7:30-10:00 AM at The P.S. 7 Academy schoolyard to assist families with completing the form on the following dates:

• Wednesday September 22nd
• Thursday September 23rd 
• Friday September 24th  

In addition, links to the forms are below.  Please submit the completed forms to:   

BusingExceptions@schools.nyc.gov

Please let us know when you have submitted a form. Links to Hazard Exception Forms

Bussing will also be discussed at our 6PM Weekly Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, September 23rd. 

Our principal, Mr. Aiello, will be hosting our Weekly Town Hall on Thursday. Details below.

Topic: PS7 Weekly Town Hall

Date/Time: Thursday, September 23 at 6:00pm

Meeting ID: 814 3656 0741

Passcode: 123456

Our principal, Mr. Aiello, will be hosting our Weekly Town Hall on Thursday, September 9, 2021.

Topic: PS7 Weekly Town Hall

Date/Time: Starting September 9 (Thursday) at 6pm

Meeting ID: 883 6054 4702
Passcode: 123456

The first day of school will be Monday, September 13th. We will have a staggered arrival schedule to welcome our students back.

First Day Arrival Times for Grades PK – 3 (September 13th, 2021)

Students in grades PK to 3 should report to the Main Building (80-55 Cornish Avenue)

First Day Arrival Times for Grades 4 -5 (September 13th, 2021)

Students in grades 4 and 5 should report to the Academy (76-05 51st Avenue)

P.S. 7 Main Building Regular School Hours

• Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 2:20 PM
• Doors open at 7:40 AM

Dismissal is staggered to maintain social distancing:

• Pre-K Dismissal: 2:10 PM
• K & 1 Dismissal: 2:15 PM
• 2 & 3 Dismissal: 2:20 PM

P.S. 7 Academy Regular School Hours

• Monday – Friday: 7:50 AM – 2:10 PM
• Doors open at 7:30 AM
• Dismissal is at 2:10 PM