A message from the Superintendent

Athletic Update #2

August 17, 2021

Good Afternoon HGHS Fall 2021 Sports Parents and Guardians,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to give you an update on our fall sports program, ahead of our parent webinars this Wednesday and Thursday. Please note that I have yet to receive written guidance from any official organization regarding COVID protocols related to fall sports. If guidance is received at some point in the future, we may make adjustments to our procedures outlined below. 

Therefore, in an effort to support the safe participation of our student-athletes, and as a result of recent guidance released from the NYS Education Department, and absent any additional guidance from Section 1, WCDOH or the NYSDOH, we are going to expand our practice of COVID-19 testing our athletes to all sports so long as the community transmission levels for Westchester County are either substantial or high. Students athletes who provide proof of vaccination, will be exempt from regular COVID testing. 

As a result, only high school student-athletes will be permitted to participate in fall sports, which are starting Monday, August 23rd, if they are (1) tested through the process described below (or produce COVID-19 testing results from a lab with a sample taken after 8am on Thursday), or (2) are fully vaccinated and submit the appropriate paperwork during the verification window outlined below.  

Students Who Are Vaccinated

Please come to HGHS to drop off your paperwork listed below on Wednesday 4:30-6:30pm, Thursday (8/19): 2-3:30pm, Friday (8/20): 10am-12pm, or Monday (8/23): 7:30am-9:30am.

  1. a photocopy of your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card 
  2. a completed CCSD EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES 

Students Who Are Unvaccinated

Please sign up for an appointment by 8pm on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 for a COVID test, using this COVID TEST APPOINTMENT FORM. 

Student-athlete COVID testing will take place on the Horace Greeley High School Campus on the following days and times:  

  • Thursday (8/19): 2-3:30pm
  • Friday (8/20): 10am-12pm
  • Monday (8/23): 7:30am-9:30am

After this initial testing period, unvaccinated student-athletes will be tested weekly. Links for future testing dates will be sent out on SportsYou and will also be available on the Athletic Website.

Unvaccinated student-athletes must follow the procedures outlined below:

PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL

  • FORM 1: PRINT & COMPLETE: CCSD EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES                                                                                               

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

  • Please print and bring COMPLETED FORMS 1 & 2 (from above).
  • You must be asymptomatic to be tested. DO NOT come on campus if you are exhibiting any COVID19 symptoms. Symptoms include, but are not limited to: fever, headache, congestion or runny nose, cough, loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting.
  • Please be on time for your testing appointment.
  • Please wear a mask at all times.

AFTER TESTING

  • Promptly leave the HG campus after testing is complete.
  • We will contact you immediately by phone if your child’s test result is positive.                                                                                             
  • If you would like a paper copy of your child’s negative test result for your records, please contact Geoff Curtis, Athletic Director.
  • Additional information about the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID Ag Card can be found here. 

All students who are cleared for practice will be given a document at the time of their vaccination verification or COVID-19 testing appointment to share with their coach on the first day of practice. Students who do not have this document will not be permitted to practice.

We thank you for your patience, support, and understanding as we work through this process for the first time this season.

Sincerely,

Christine Ackerman, PhD
Superintendent of Schools