Dear Syracuse Academy staff, parents, and guardians,
The Onondaga County Department of Health has revised its guidance regarding quarantine and isolation of teachers, staff, and students as of Jan 11, 2022. Please see full guidance here under Special Populations/ K-12 Schools: http://www.ongov.net/health/documents/IsolationQuarantineGuidance.pdf
The new guidance allows fully vaccinated students, teachers, and staff who have been in close contact with an individual with COVID-19 to continue to attend work at school regardless of booster status. Fully vaccinated K-12 students, teachers, and staff who are eligible for but have not yet received a booster may attend school and ride the bus (no extracurricular or after-school activities) and remain in quarantine outside of school.
Therefore, teachers and staff that were asked to get their booster shot by February 1st, 2022 will not need to fulfill this request. However, it is highly encouraged by the CDC and the NYSDOH to do so. It has been found that fully vaccinated and boosted (if eligible) people suffer far less serious disease and symptoms than those that are not fully vaccinated.
Please know that we thank you for all of your continued patience and support as we work through the ever-changing guidelines and various challenges associated with COVID-19.
Sincerely,
The Syracuse Academy Administration
Dear Syracuse Academy of Science Families and Staff,
Yesterday, January 6, 2022, The Onondaga County Health Department along with the New York State Department of Health, updated their COVID-19 guidance for isolation and quarantine. As a result of these changes, the Syracuse Academy of Science will now be adhering to the new guidelines set forth. Effective immediately those persons that need to be in isolation or quarantine will only need to do so for five days if they exhibit no symptoms or their symptoms are resolving. This includes no fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and no lingering cough. Please note that loss of taste and or smell can last weeks and does not need to be resolved before returning.
Updated guidance: http://www.ongov.net/health/documents/IsolationQuarantineGuidance.pdf
The five-day period for isolation and quarantine begins the day you first began to have symptoms. If you exhibit no symptoms at all, it begins the day you took your test. Keep in mind that if you still have symptoms after day five it is recommended that you continue to isolate until your symptoms have resolved.
- Students and staff that are NOT vaccinated must quarantine for five full days when they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. A NEGATIVE TEST (RAPID OR PCR) DURING THEIR QUARANTINE DOES NOT GET THEM OUT OF THEIR QUARANTINE.
- Students and staff who are fully vaccinated and are eligible for their booster shot (5 months after second Pfizer vaccine or 6 months after second Moderna vaccine, or 2 months after Johnson and Johnson vaccine) AND HAVE RECEIVED THEIR BOOSTER, do not need to be quarantined. If they develop symptoms after exposure, they will need a negative test to return.
- Students and staff who are fully vaccinated and not yet eligible for their booster shot (see eligibility in the above paragraph), will also not need to quarantine
If a person is in isolation or quarantine, please fill out the legal self-attestation forms for Onondaga County for self-release. Fill out the form and turn it in to the school when your child is ready to return. The forms can be found here: https://covid19.ongov.net/isolation-quarantine/
When a person returns to school after isolation and quarantine, please make sure they are wearing a well-fitted surgical face mask that fits closely to their face.
We also want to remind parents to keep their children home if they exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19 (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html). The Onondaga County Department of Health says that If your child is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 they will need to be tested for covid-19 or receive an alternate diagnosis from their doctor before returning to school. Symptoms of COVID-19, the common cold, the flu, and many other viruses look the same, therefore almost impossible to tell apart without testing. Onondaga County has set up a testing site just for students and school employees. Here you can get a PCR test and have results usually within 24 hours. Information on this testing site can be found here: https://covid19.ongov.net/appointments/
Your support and patience during these confusing times are always greatly appreciated. Our student's health and safety are of utmost importance to us. Please reach out to your student school for any concerns or questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Syracuse Academy of Science Administration
Dear parents and guardians,
Last week Governor Kathy Hochul announced a statewide goal of providing students the opportunity to be tested for COVID as school resumes after the Holiday break. There is no requirement that families test their children, but New York State is encouraging testing of students in order to keep students and school communities as safe as possible.
At this time the Syracuse Academy of Science has received a shipment of these test kits. The state has provided us with one kit per student. Each kit contains two rapid tests with instructions on how to administer the test.
It is important to know that rapid tests are very accurate when used on a person that is showing symptoms of COVID-19, but unfortunately, they are not as accurate on someone showing no COVID-19 symptoms. Given this fact, we recommend that you save these rapid tests for when your child actually exhibits COVID-19 symptoms. However, it is entirely up to you when you use them.
Please note that the school district is simply a conduit for distribution. We will not be tracking or reporting test results for any reason. We ask that if you use the test kit on your child and they receive a positive test result that you report to the Onondaga County Health department using this link: https://covid19.ongov.net/at-home-covid-test-results-screen/.
Test kits will be distributed on Wednesday, January 5th, 2022. They will be sent home with each student at the end of the day. Parents are welcome to pick up a test kit for their child if he or she is absent.
Please feel free to contact your child’s school with any questions or concerns. As always, thank you for your continued support during these difficult and complicated times.
Syracuse Academy Administration and Health Services
Dear Science Academies of New York Community:
We are excited to share with you our reopening plan for the 2021-2022 school year. All of our schools will welcome the return of students for five days a week of in person instruction.
Throughout the pandemic Science Academies of New York (SANY) has pulled together to meet the needs of our students and school community. When schools were closed by state officials in March 2020, SANY quickly shifted gears to remote learning. Our teachers, teaching assistants, school counselors, psychologists, administrators, supervisors, and clerical staff worked tirelessly to meet the learning needs of our students.
We appreciate the support, trust, and cooperation of our students and families to operate schools safely during the pandemic. I certainly recognize that we have all given up a lot this past year, but as you read this reopening plan hopefully you will see that school activities are looking something closer to normal.
There are a few important safety precautions that we will need to take such as wearing a mask when inside the school building, washing our hands, practicing respiratory etiquette, and staying home when you are sick or have symptoms. The safety precautions outlined in this reopening plan were created by reviewing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics, guidance from the New York State Education Department , guidance from Onondaga County, along with guidance from state and local health officials.
We are grateful for the support of our community leaders, board of education, administrators and supervisors, school staff, public health officials, and school community during this challenging time.
We are hopeful that as conditions improve locally we will be able to revisit some of these safety precautions. We appreciate all that our students, families, and staff members have done and will continue to do to keep everyone safe as we move into the new school year.
Please be sure to review this updated Reopening Plan and contact your building dean with any specific questions or concerns regarding your child and the start of the school year.
Thank you again for your continued support of our students and staff.
Click here to read the Reopening Plan for 2021-22 school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tolga Hayali
Dear parent/guardian,
Please be advised that Monday, April 5th, 2021 is a remote learning day for all students. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to your child's school.
Syracuse Academy Administration
SANY in collaboration with Chartwells has developed a [contactless drive through] meal service that will allow students greater access to food while at home.
Please see below for pickup times and locations prior to Mid-Winter Recess.
Any questions about pick ups, please email
Who Qualifies
- All children 18 or younger are eligible to participate.
- Children do not need to be enrolled in SANY Schools to participate.
Pick-up Locations and times:
There will be no meal pick up during mid-winter recess!
On 2/9 meal pickup will be available at all schools and participants will receive three days worth of meals.
On 2/11 meal pickup will ONLY be available at SAS High School. Participants will receive SEVEN days of meals to cover the entire winter recess.
Please sign up in advance by emailing your school pick up location and number of children you are picking up meals for to:
- SAS Elementary: 2/9/2021 9am-11am
- SAS Middle: 2/9/2021 10am-12pm
- SAS High: 2/9/2021 and 2/11/2021 10am-12 pm
- SAS Citizenship: 2/9/2021 10am-12pm
Cost
Meals are free for all children up to 18 years old.
Dear Syracuse Academy of Science parents and guardians,
We are writing to share an important announcement, our school will resume hybrid learning on Monday, January 25th, 2021.
We respect every family’s individual concerns and preferences. If you choose not to send your child to school on their designated hybrid days, and continue to do remote school work your child will not be counted as absent.
In an effort to effectively plan and collaborate fully with the Onondaga County Health Department, testing will be conducted on Monday, January 25th, 2021 at SAS Elementary School at 11:30am. Parents are more than welcome to accompany their children if they wish.
We ask that all families who choose to send their student(s) complete the health screening survey at https://www.sascs.org/healthscreening prior to sending the student(s) to schools. In addition, we ask that everyone follow safety guidelines to ensure our staff, students, and families well being.
Sincerely,
Syracuse Academy of Science Administration
Dear Syracuse Academy of Science parents and guardians,
As a district, we have closely monitored the percentage of COVID-19 cases in our geographic area. It is clear that the number of COVID-19 cases are still on the rise.
Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in our area, we will temporarily suspend in-person instruction and continue to hold remote learning. At this time, we will continue teaching all students remotely through Friday, January 22nd, 2021.
This decision was made as a safety precaution and is to ensure the wellbeing of our students and families during this difficult time. We are planning to resume in-person instruction on Monday, January 25th, 2021 as we continue to monitor the progression, and number of COVID-19 cases in our area.
Meal pickup this week will only be on Tuesday, January 19th at the Syracuse Academy of Science high school from 10AM-12PM. Meals will be provided for 5 days.
Please take this notice and our actions as a representation that we prioritize the health and safety of students, staff, and all members of our community to the fullest extent.
Sincerely,
Syracuse Academy of Science Administration
Dear Syracuse Academy of Science parents and guardians,
As a district, we have closely monitored the percentage of COVID-19 cases in our geographic area. It is clear that the number of COVID-19 cases are still on the rise.
With the holiday season ending and due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in our area, we will temporarily suspend in-person instruction and continue to hold remote learning. At this time, we will continue teaching all students remotely through Friday, January 15, 2021.
This decision was made as a safety precaution and is to ensure the wellbeing of our students and families during this difficult time. We are planning to resume in-person instruction on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 as we continue to monitor the progression, and number of COVID-19 cases in our area.
Meal pickup this week will only be on Tuesday, January 12th at the Syracuse Academy of Science high school from 10AM-12PM. Meals will be provided for 5 days.
Please take this notice and our actions as a representation that we prioritize the health and safety of students, staff, and all members of our community to the fullest extent.
Sincerely,
Syracuse Academy of Science Administration
Dear Syracuse Academy of Science parents and guardians,
As a district, we have closely monitored the percentage of COVID-19 cases in our geographic area. It is clear that the number of COVID-19 cases are still on the rise.
With the holiday season ending and due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in our area, we will temporarily suspend in-person instruction and continue to hold remote learning. At this time, we will continue teaching all students remotely through Friday, January 8, 2021.
This decision was made as a safety precaution and is to ensure the wellbeing of our students and families during this difficult time. We are planning to resume in-person instruction on Monday, January 11, 2021 as we continue to monitor the progression, and number of COVID-19 cases in our area.
Meal pickup this week will only be on Tuesday, January 5th at the SAS high school from 10AM-12PM. Meals will be provided for 5 days.
Please take this notice and our actions as a representation that we prioritize the health and safety of students, staff, and all members of our community to the fullest extent.
Sincerely,
Syracuse Academy of Science Administration
- Remote Learning during the week of December 21st
- Important Survey Regarding COVID Testing for Students and Staff
- Remote Meals Pick Up Announcement
- Hybrid Learning will resume on December 14th
- Remote Learning will continue until December 11th, 2020
- Remote Learning before and after Thanksgiving Break
- Important Survey Regarding COVID Testing for Students and Staff
- Flu cases are being diagnosed across NY
- First Day of School Announcement
- SASCS Fall Reopening Plan