Posted December 2, 2020

NSHS- Covid Cases

Dear North Shore Parents, Faculty and Community Members,

I am so sorry to interrupt your evenings. 

Unfortunately, we were notified today that three students and one member of the staff at North Shore High School have tested positive for COVID-19. Due to privacy laws, information regarding the identity of these individuals cannot be released. We have been in contact with the Nassau County Department of Health regarding all of the cases. Mr. Contreras, principal of NSHS and our nurse, Ms. Sophia Amorgianos have already been in contact with all of the students/families and staff who are considered close/direct contacts. We respectfully ask that you do not call the school or email us for additional details at this time. 

Today's cases bring the total number of new cases at North Shore High School since the break to 8 students and 2 staff members.  While many of these cases were symptomatic, tested, and quarantined over the Thanksgiving break, I am very concerned about any additional spread of the virus over the next few days in school. Unlike most of the other cases where there was no exposure at school, that is no longer the case.  Please do continue to let us know if you receive a positive test result so that we can continue to trace contacts.  

Please note that North Shore High School will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, December 3, 2020 for in-person instruction and all instruction will be conducted remotely using our established Friday schedule. A decision beyond tomorrow will be forthcoming once we have more information. Mr. Contreras has reached out to his faculty and both cohorts will participate together in live synchronous instruction both tomorrow and Friday. We thank you for your patience.
With the exception of North Shore High School, all other schools will follow their regular in-person schedule for tomorrow.

Following guidance issued by the New York State Education Department and the Nassau County Department of Health, as well as the District’s COVID-response protocol, the North Shore High School will be thoroughly disinfected and ventilated this evening.  We have been in contact with the Nassau County Department of Health and will follow all necessary protocols to mitigate any exposure to other students, faculty, or staff and assist with their contact tracing investigation. As always, the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our foremost priority.  As mentioned, the health and safety of our students and staff is our primary concern. 

We are closely monitoring this situation and will provide you with updates as we learn more. In the meantime, these confirmed cases provides an opportunity to reinforce the work that the District is doing to keep all staff and students healthy. As a reminder, we must remain vigilant now more than ever and commit to one another as a community that we will do all that we can to remain socially distant, practice healthy hand hygiene, and wear face coverings to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. 
Please be diligent and remember that we are all in this together. 

All the best,

Dr. Peter Giarrizzo
Superintendent of Schools