Dear Exceed Lower Families,

It has been wonderful seeing some of our scholars back at school. We can't wait until we are in a position to welcome back ALL of our scholars.

Below you will find lots of information regarding reopening. If you have any questions, you can always reach out to your scholar's teacher, the Main Office, or our School Leadership Team. The first item is a recording of our most recent virtual meeting that includes the information detailed below.

Please note: Phase 3 of hybrid learning begins the first week of November.

• All scholars who attend school on Mondays will also attend on Tuesdays, beginning with Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10.

• All scholars who attend school on Thursdays will also attend on Fridays, beginning with Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6.

Weekly Structure:

• Mondays:

  • Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, and Howard (1st-3rd Grade 12:1:1) attend school in person.

  • 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, and NYU (4th-5th Grade 12:1:1) attend school remotely.

• Tuesdays: all scholars attend school remotely.

  • Starting November 10, any student that comes in person on Mondays will also attend on Tuesdays.

• Wednesdays: all scholars attend school remotely and do work independently.

  • Rising Circle for all grades from 8:00-8:25 a.m.

• Thursdays:

  • Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, and Howard (1st-3rd Grade 12:1:1) attend school remotely..

  • 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, and NYU (4th-5th Grade 12:1:1) attend school in person.

• Fridays: all scholars attend school remotely.

  • Starting November 6, any student that comes in person on Thursdays will also attend on Fridays.

• Masks are required to enter school.

  • We recommend cloth masks.

  • No masks with valves are permitted.

  • Please send 1-2 extra masks in your scholar's backpack.

  • Scholars are permitted to take mask breaks when appropriate.

• All scholars have assigned seats.

• Scholars must remain 6 feet apart at all times.

• To accommodate social distancing, we have reduced the capacity of our classrooms. The largest classroom can only hold 9 students.

• The custodial team cleans frequently throughout the day. At night, they use electrostatic sprayers in any occupied space.

• Our school has a functioning HVAC system for ventilation purposes. Every room is equipped with a CO2 sensor to monitor air quality.

• All rooms must have at least one window open at all times (regardless of weather).

• We have a school nurse that we share with PS 705. She will assess anyone showing COVID-19 symptoms and recommend next steps.

• We strongly recommend that you and your family get tested for COVID-19 each month. You can find a testing site by calling 311 or visiting nyc.gov/covidtest.

• Scholars must complete a health screening and pass a temperature check to enter the building. If scholars fail either, we will ask you take them home immediately. If they have arrived without an adult, we will isolate them until someone is able to come pick them up.

• If your scholar shows symptoms of COVID-19, please inform the Main Office.

  • If your scholar tests positive for COVID-19 OR does not get a COVID-19 test after showing symptoms, they must:

    • Isolate for 10 days and

    • Be fever-free for 24 hours without medicine in order to return to school.

  • If your scholar tests negative for COVID-19, they must:

    • Be fever-free for 24 hours without medicine in order to return to school.

• We have strict protocols for cleaning, quarantining, and communicating if there is a suspected or confirmed positive case.

You must complete this on your scholar's behalf any day that they come to the building. It is accessible at healthscreening.schools.nyc and the steps are below.

• Arrival is at 8:00 a.m. in the large playground (off Classon Ave.).

• You must stay with your scholar until they are cleared to enter the building.

• If you are running late, we recommend that you have your scholar participate remotely. All tardy arrivals should come to the gate on Classon Ave. and call the Main Office number posted there.

• Dismissal is from 2:35-2:45 p.m. in the large playground (off Classon Ave.).

• You must show an approved pick-up card and wear a mask to come into the gate.

• If you don't think that you'll be able to make dismissal on time, we recommend that you have your scholar participate remotely. We do not have the ability to keep late scholars in the building.

• Bussing during the times of COVID-19 is complicated. We have not yet been able to secure morning or afternoon bussing that meshes with our revised schedule.

• We will be in contact with any impacted families as soon as this changes.

• Monday, 10/26 - Friday, 11/6: K-1 Math Interim Assessment (virtual)

• Tuesday, 10/27 - Wednesday, 10/28: 2-5 Math Interim Assessment (virtual)

• Friday, 10/30: Book Character Day

• Monday, 11/2: Teacher In-Service Day (students work asynchronously)

• Tuesday, 11/3: Election Day (no class for students)

• Thursday, 11/5: Red, White, and Blue Day

ClassDojo Links by Class: