North Colonie Central School District Illness Protocol
Revised: 9-8-22
North Colonie Central School District has issued guidance for parents/guardians related to illness protocols for the 2022-2023 school year.
Students with Symptoms of COVID | Pre-Existing Conditions | How to Report a Student Absence | Masks | Outside/Extracurricular Activities | Notification of Positive Cases | Rapid Test Kits | NYS Guidance for Schools for 2022-23
Students with Symptoms of COVID
Students will be sent home from school if they exhibit one or more of the following COVID-like symptoms:
- Respiratory Infection
- Gastrointestinal Infection
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Diarrhea
- Fever of 100 degrees or higher and or chills
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
Once sent home, students will be able to return to school the following day, provided they receive a negative test result on a rapid COVID test and symptoms are resolving. Students with a fever must be fever-free for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Important: Please notify the health office with the COVID test results via emails of by phone call before sending your student back to school.
If the student does not test, they must remain out of school for five (5) calendar days from the date of symptom onset. Symptoms onset being day zero (0).
If the student tests positive on a rapid COVID test, they must remain out of school for five (5) calendar days. Day one is the first full day after symptoms onset. Testing is not required to return after the five (5) day period. Symptoms must be resolving in order to return. If, after the five day period, the symptoms are not improving or get worse, students should remain out of school and seek the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Pre-Existing Conditions
For students with pre-existing conditions, (i.e. seasonal allergies) they must have an updated present school year note from their doctor on file, indicating the condition and the related symptoms. If the student exhibits these symptoms, they will not be sent home. However, it is recommended that they take a rapid COVID test to ensure the symptoms are not COVID-related.
How to Report a Student Absence
All students who are absent from school, regardless of the reason, must complete the Google Absence Form daily. This form is to report an absence. Parents/Guardians should indicate “COVID-like” symptoms on the form, if applicable.
If your child will be late or picked up early, please contact the main office of your school building.
Masks
It is highly recommended that students who exhibit symptoms, even if they test negative, wear a well-fitting mask while in the classroom. Additionally, it is recommended that students who test positive for COVID should wear a mask from day six (6) through day (10) while at school. Health office staff will ask students to wear a mask while awaiting parent/guardian pickup per CDC guidance but not require it.
Outside/Extracurricular Activities
Those students who exhibit COVID-like symptoms and test negative will be allowed to participate in all outside/extracurricular activities the next day. Those who test positive may participate in these activities, starting on day six (6).
Notification of Positive Cases
Parents/guardians of elementary students will be notified via School messaging system or the District’s communicable illness notification sheet, when there is a diagnosed positive case in their child’s classroom. The District will not be quarantining or contact tracing students.
For further assistance or guidance, please contact your school’s nurse or the District’s COVID Coordinator Michael Michela. Thank you for your cooperation with our ongoing efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 and well as other illnesses.
Rapid Test Kits
Rapid test kits are available for pick-up at all district buildings.
New York State Guidance for Schools for 2022-23
A 2022-23 School Year FAQ document based on the CDC’s COVID-19 Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools to Support Safe In-Person Learning is now available on the NYSDOH COVID-19 Schools and Youth webpage at https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/schools-youth