COVID-19 Response

Welcome to our COVID Response Page

Below you’ll find all the critical information about how PS108K is changing the way we operate to reduce the risk of COVID infection. We are doing everything we can to make sure staff, students, and families are safe. Please check back regularly, as we will update the information here as conditions change.

Health and Safety in Our Schools

March 7 Face Covering Update

We are pleased to announce that, face coverings will be optional on school grounds for students in kindergarten through grade 12 beginning Monday, March 7.

To maintain the safety of our staff and students, we will continue to practice strict COVID-19 protocols, including increased ventilation, a daily health screening, and test kit distribution. Mask-wearing will become optional indoors, outside, and on school buses. Anyone who chooses to wear a mask may continue to do so, and your child may request a mask from their school if they need one.

The indoor mask mandate is still active for LYFE, EarlyLearn (Infants & Toddlers), 3-K, Pre-K, and 4410 classrooms. Children two years old and older, and all staff in these classrooms, must continue to wear a face covering indoors. Since children under the age of five are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, face coverings remain our strongest defense against COVID-19 for our youngest learners.

In addition, any staff member or student in grades Kindergarten or higher returning on Day 6 following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis or after having COVID-like symptoms is still required to wear a well-fitting mask at all times on school property through Day 10.

Masks are strongly recommended for any staff member or student who knows they have been exposed to COVID-19 within the previous 10 days. Mask wearing is still required in medical rooms and nurses’ offices, as well as in School Based Health Centers. Nurses will have masks on hand for anyone entering who may need one.

COVID-19 Guidance Charts

We recognize that families need clear information to help them make decisions related to COVID-19. While you can read about our policies in detail below, you can also refer to the following flowcharts that outline the steps you should take if your child feels sick, was exposed to COVID-19, or tested positive for COVID-19.

Shortened Isolation and Quarantine Periods

We know how important it is to keep our schools and classrooms open for learning, and we have done everything we can to make sure our classrooms are equipped to be safe learning environments. In light of recent changes by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and New York State Department of Health, the Department of Education will implement shortened isolation and quarantine periods starting January 31.

Isolation Period

The isolation period for K-12 students with a positive COVID-19 test result has been shortened to five day from ten days. This means if your child tests positive for COVID-19 and is in kindergarten or higher, your child can return to school on Day 6.

Children can return from isolation on Day 6 if they have no symptoms or their symptoms are improving, and they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Students returning from isolation on Day 6 must wear a well-fitting mask such as a KN95, KF94, or a cloth mask over a disposable surgical mask on Days 6–10.

Children in Pre-K and under who test positive for COVID-19 still must isolate for 10 days.

Please be aware that any child (in any grade) who has completed their isolation period is NOT required to show proof of a negative test result before being allowed to return to school or work.

Shortened Quarantine for COVID-19 Exposure

The quarantine period for students exposed to COVID-19 has been shortened. Students in K-12 will continue to use home test kits to stay in school after an in-school exposure.

If your child is NOT fully vaccinated and was exposed to COVID-19 outside of a school setting, your child must quarantine for at least 5 days; this is reduced from 10 days.
If your child is fully vaccinated and was exposed outside of school, your child can continue to attend school so long as they do not have any symptoms.
All students are required to wear masks while on school grounds, and students who were exposed must wear a well-fitting mask such as a KN95, KF94, or a cloth mask over a disposable surgical mask on Days 6–10.

Children who are at least 2 years old in LYFE, 3-K, and Pre-K only need to quarantine for five days if they are symptom-free, have a negative test, and are able to wear a well-fitting mask through Day 10. This has been shortened from ten days.

These children must have a negative COVID-19 test from a health care provider on Day 5 OR two negative home test results from Day 4 and Day 5.

Children under 2 years old in LYFE must still quarantine for up to ten days. There is no change in this policy.

These children can return to school on Day 8 if they are symptom-free and have a negative COVID-19 test from a health care provider on Day 5 or later. Home tests are not considered valid for this age group unless administered at the direction of a health care provider.

Any child in a LYFE, 3-K, or Pre-K classroom that was exposed but does NOT get tested for COVID-19 can return after completing a 10-day quarantine.