April 11, 2021
Dear Students, Families, Faculty, and Staff,
I am writing to let you know that an Upper School student tested positive this weekend for COVID-19. Unfortunately, case rates among young people remain an issue, and NYA is not immune to the impact of these cases. The student was last in school on Thursday, April 8. Because they developed symptoms within 48 hours of last attending school, we have been directed to notify families of students who had close contact with the individual, and they must quarantine their child. We are currently completing those calls and emails to contact families. If you do not receive a call and/or email then your child was not one who had close contact with this individual. However, there is a possibility that other staff or students came in contact with this person and may be exposed to the virus. As always, please monitor your child for signs and symptoms, and it is very important to keep your child home if they are feeling ill.
Students in quarantine (close contacts) will need to shift to remote learning through April 16, with a return to in-person instruction on Wednesday, April 21 (following the long weekend). We will be able to continue in-person instruction for those students who are not considered close contacts (in quarantine). This will not impact the Middle or Lower School. Mr. Austin will share additional information with remote students and notify teachers of students who will be appearing remotely. Additional important information and resources on COVID-19 are included below.
While there are positive trends in the fight against COVID, we all continue to be vulnerable to its impact. We understand how challenging this is for students and families, and we share in the disappointment for those students that need to shift to remote learning. We look forward to their return to school soon. We will continue to support students remotely and maximize in-person instruction for everyone. We will remain vigilant in our efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus and focus on the health and safety of all members of the NYA community.
We are very eager to move beyond the pandemic. Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we continue to navigate these difficult times. Stay safe.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Jackson
Head of School
If you have questions specific to this case at NYA, please contact Ashley Moody, NYA Health Services Coordinator.
For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695). You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, call a health care provider. More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
