Posted February 07, 2021

Dear North Shore Parents, Faculty, Students, and Community Members,
I write to you on this snowy day thinking about a few things as I prepare for the week ahead.
I am excited to watch the Super Bowl later today and we are prepared to watch the game (and the commercials) with all kinds of snacks and fun foods that are generally best avoided on a regular basis. There are a couple of terrific stories regarding both teams and I'm anticipating a great game! I also have a teenage son who is not happy with me that the snow will preclude him from watching the game outdoors with a friend, and I have been in regular contact with our facilities staff, who are ensuring that our schools will be ready to receive students tomorrow. 
Super Bowl Activities

• This week, I listened to an interview with the NFL's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Allen Sills.  In anticipation of today's Super Bowl, he reflected upon how the NFL achieved a positive COVID-19 rate of less than 1% over the course of the season. While it is undeniable that the resources of the NFL cannot be matched, he talked about the three areas where athletes and team personnel were infected despite these investments. Dr. Sills noted that eating (because you can't do so without a mask), meeting (getting together to talk with or without masks in conjunction with a lack of social distancing), and greeting (social gatherings of really any size) were the primary causes of spread resulting from their contact tracing. I didn't necessarily learn anything new, but it was helpful to me to hear it framed in this way. Most transmissions in North Shore that we've seen thus far, have seemingly resulted from social and other types of gatherings, leading to many mandatory quarantines among students and staff.  While best to refrain from hosting or attending them, if you do either, please consider taking a few days to monitor yourselves and our students for the emergence of symptoms.  Please be reminded that people are most contagious 2-3 days before the onset of their symptoms. 

All Athletics Resume in North Shore

• Due to the authorizations by the Governor, Nassau County, and Section 8 Athletics, all High Risk sports have resumed this week. I'm grateful to Don Lang, Director of PE, Health, and Athletics, the entire Athletics Office, and all of our coaches and trainers for building upon and strengthening our existing protocols to make this as safe an experience as possible for our student athletes and coaches. They have waited a long time for this moment and we ask that our student athletes exercise diligence, caution, and refrain from "eating, meeting, or greeting" with anyone outside of their immediate families.  Frankly, and in my opinion, doing otherwise, is simply not worth risking what everyone has worked so hard to achieve.
• Yesterday, we tested approximately 130 athletes for COVID-19. 
• 100% tested negative for COVID-19 and thus, 100% of them can compete. 
• Consider that if only one athlete tests positive, 100% of that team will likely lose their ability to compete further. 

February Break Travel Guidance

• Next week, we'll close for the February Break. I have received questions about what to do if traveling. Please note that regardless of your vaccination status, Governor Cuomo's Executive Orders remain in effect and can be found at the following link and the only way to test out of the mandatory 10-day quarantine is as follows, and exceptions cannot be made for any reason:  

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

• For travelers who were out-of-state for more than 24 hours:
• Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure, prior to arrival in New York.
• The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days.
• On day 4 of their quarantine, the traveler must obtain another COVID test. If both tests comes back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test.
• For travelers who were out-of-state for less than 24 hours: 
• The traveler does not need a test prior to their departure from the other state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival in New York State.
• However, the traveler must fill out our traveler form upon entry into New York State, and take a COVID diagnostic test 4 days after their arrival in New York.

Regardless of your plans for today, I wish everyone a restful and safe day. Enjoy the snow and I hope that your ancillary clean up efforts are not too strenuous. Be well, stay healthy, notice the good, and I'll forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!

With best regards,

Dr. Peter Giarrizzo
Superintendent of Schools