Hello and Happy New Year to ALPS and Waretown Center students.

I hope you all had a safe and relaxing winter break. As you might be aware, the COVID case rates have been extremely high over the past couple of weeks. As we return to school on Monday I wanted to share some reminders with you.

Since December 25th If you or anyone in your household tested positive for COVID or you were identified as a close contact to someone who tested positive for COVID, or are currently experiencing COVID-like symptoms you are required to quarantine and cannot return to school until 10 days since either symptom onset, 10 days since positive test date (if asymptomatic), or if you are a close contact and have tested negative between days 5 and 7 since exposure you can return on the eighth day. These steps are important to help minimize the spread of COVID within our school.

For students who are close contacts or have a covid case in their house I want to clarify that if you are fully vaccinated ( 2 doses of Moderna or Pfizer, or 1 dose of J and J at least 2 weeks ago) or have tested positive for COVID within the past 90 days you can return to school as long as you are not showing any covid symptoms. A booster is not required at this time to be considered fully vaccinated. If you have symptoms or tested positive for covid over the break you will need to stay home and please call the nurse for further guidance. Thank you.

If you meet one of the criteria for exclusion listed above a parent must contact our school nurse, Mrs. Nosti ( dnosti@mail.ocvts.org or call 732.286.5660) so that we can properly document this and also ensure if you have to be excluded from school that your teachers will know and provide you with a remote learning link.

Additionally, I cannot stress enough the need to continue with proper mask wearing while in the building and the bus and maintaining social distancing as much as possible.

If you or your parents have any questions please feel free to contact me as well. jbiscardi@ocvts.org or jbiscardi@mail.ocvts.org or call the main office.

See you Monday!

Mr. Biscardi