Dear Families,

As we continue to see positive COVID-19 cases on the rise in our region and across the state, we would like to provide you with an update as of today, Dec. 31, 2020.

Wynantskill UFSD is currently not in either a Yellow, Orange or Red Zone. As a reminder, the criteria for each micro-cluster zone is as follows:

•  A Yellow Zone is a geographic area (zip code, census tract, etc.) with a 3% positivity rate over the past 10 days AND the cluster is in the top 10% for hospital admissions per capita over the past week and week-over-week growth in daily admissions.
•  An Orange Zone is a geographic area (zip code, census tract, etc.) with 4% positivity rate over the past 10 days AND 85% hospital capacity OR the Department of Health determines unacceptably high rate of hospital admissions.
•  A Red Zone is a geographic area (zip code, census tract, etc.) that is 21 days from 90% hospital capacity.

As of today, Dec. 31, 2020, the 7-day average positivity rate for Rensselaer County is 9.4%.

While our positivity rates are high enough for our region to be labeled as a micro-cluster zone, the Governor has not yet determined that our region is a micro-cluster zone. 

Though we are not currently in a micro-cluster zone, it is likely on its way. We are closely following this data and working with the county to be ready if any part of our community is labeled, as there will be restrictions for schools set forth by the state including testing of 20% to 30% of the in-person students and staff over a two-to-four-week period. 

We ask that you please fill out and return the testing consent form as soon as possible so that we can be ready to start testing ensuring our school can remain open should we be labeled as a micro-cluster zone. You can fill out the form and scan it back to our health office in an email to tgibbs@wynantskillufsd.org. Although the form does not have a box to check off “no testing,” please just write “no” somewhere on the form and send it back to us so we can keep our lists updated and confirmed. 

Please note that the BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Test that we will be performing in school is not the deep-sinus nasopharyngeal swab performed in medical facilities. The school tests are a non-invasive swab in the lowermost portion of the nostril. Tests will be administered only by School Nurse Tricia Gibbs. The Gardner-Dickinson School is a satellite testing site of Questar III BOCES. Questar III is an approved Limited Service Lab (LSL), and Questar III has provided test-administration training to Ms. Gibbs. For more information on testing, please refer to our COVID-19 On-Site Testing FAQ.

I would like to personally thank our students, parents and staff for their diligence throughout the pandemic. I am proud of our school community and its ability to pull together when times get tough. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to me directly.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mary Yodis
Wynantskill UFSD Superintendent

December 30, 2020

Dear Families,

The Wynantskill UFSD was informed today that a student in the elementary school has tested positive for COVID-19. The student has not been physically present in the building since Dec. 11.

As a result of the student’s extended absence, the Rensselaer County Department of Health has determined no contact tracing is required. No action is necessary by any students or staff members. Gardner-Dickinson will remain open as normal on Jan. 4, 2021.

Due to privacy laws, we cannot divulge any further information about the positive individual, and we ask that our families respect the positive individual’s privacy.

We ask that our school community continue to practice social distancing, properly wear face coverings, practice proper hand hygiene and avoid travel and large gatherings.

Please monitor your child(ren) for any symptoms of COVID-19 and report any absences and positive COVID-19 test results.

The health, safety and well-being of our students and staff are the foremost concern of the Wynantskill UFSD. We thank each of our families for your constant support, understanding and efforts to keep the Gardner-Dickinson School a safe learning environment for all.

If you have any questions or need to report any COVID-related issues before we return to school on Jan. 4, 2021, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at myodis@wynantskillufsd.org.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mary Yodis
Wynantskill UFSD Superintendent

Our current terms for all our PTA officers will expire at the end of June 2021. Therefore, opportunities exist to fill the positions of President (or Co-Presidents), Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. The Officer positions are a two-year term and will be effective July 2021 – June 2023.

If you are interested in becoming a WPTA Officer, it is a great time to explore and learn more about our wonderful Wynantskill PTA. Some may be curious as to what the PTA entails and you can learn for yourself by attending any of our public meetings (currently via Zoom). Attendees are always welcome. To learn more about the WPTA, review nomination information here.

As 2020 comes to a close, Superintendent Dr. Mary Yodis reflects on the year and wishes Wynantskill families a happy holiday season in her 2020 holiday card.

The winter edition of the Social, Emotional and Mental Health Newsletter is here. Find cozy resources for all ages with this winter warm up!

Access the winter edition of the Social, Emotional and Mental Health Newsletter here.

New York State has implemented a micro-cluster strategy to designate areas with high COVID-19 infection rates as Yellow, Orange, or Red Zones, based on positivity rates and daily new cases. If a zip code, census tract or region is placed in one of those Zones, there will be restrictions for schools.

Please review our Yellow, Orange and Red Micro-Cluster Zone letter if you have not already done so.

Testing a portion of our school’s population for COVID-19 is a requirement set forth by the state if we enter a Yellow, Orange or Red Zone in order to keep our school open. Just as we have asked for your continued assistance with following the new COVID-19 protocols, we would need your permission to administer tests to your children. The Wynantskill UFSD testing consent form is available here. This applies only to in-person students. Students who are learning in a full virtual setting are not required to be tested.

Please note the test will not be the deep-sinus nasopharyngeal swab. The test will be a non-invasive nasal swab, just inside the lowermost portion of the nostril. Please view this test demonstration video.

The testing consent form will be sent home with students tomorrow, December 15. Please fill out and return the consent form.

We would like to thank each and every member of our school community for your uninterrupted support and understanding. We are GD Strong, and we will get through this difficult time together.