2020-2021 Updates

Dear Syosset Community,

I hope your summer is off to a great start. As I communicated last week, the District is engaged in planning scenarios for the safe reopening of schools in the fall while we await State guidance that was originally expected in early June. 

Today, Governor Cuomo announced the guidance will be released on July 13. We will narrow our scenarios based on what is permissible, and will solicit feedback from the community. The resulting plans will be due to the state by July 31. The governor indicated that no decision on the reopening of schools will be made until the first week of August. 

While the reopening work takes priority, the ongoing work of the school district continues in earnest as well. I’d like to provide you with some updates related to discussions that took place at the Board of Education meeting last night, and District operations and facilities. 

Inclusivity and Diversity Initiatives
At the June Board meeting, I provided an overview of the work the District has been engaged in over the last few years to build on our cultural diversity and inclusivity, and last night I updated the Board on a meeting with high school student-leaders representing cultural clubs and student government. Students candidly shared both positive and challenging experiences about growing up in a diverse community, as well as their thoughts on the District’s successes and opportunities for growth. I have been proud of the tangible efforts Syosset has made to embrace our diversity, and the students’ perspectives provide important context and detail which will further inform and enhance this ongoing work.

Potential Amazon Warehouse
The District recently sent two letters related to the potential Amazon warehouse development on the former Cerro Wire property. One was to the Nassau County IDA expressing the opinion that Amazon shouldn’t be afforded tax incentives at the expense of Syosset taxpayers. The second was to the Town of Oyster Bay reiterating the Board’s position that if there were to be development on the property, there should be independent environmental testing first. The Nassau IDA has not yet replied, but the District did receive a response from the Town, which can be found here. 

District-wide School Safety Plan 
At the July Board of Education meeting last night, a hearing was held on the District-wide School Safety Plan. As required by law, the plan will be available on our website for public comment for 30 days before being adopted at the August BOE meeting. The plan can be found here. Comments can be shared with security@syossetschools.org. 

Lead in Water Results
New York State Laws and regulations require all public school districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to test drinking water for lead contamination. If any fixture exceeds the lead action level (15 micrograms per liter), it must be immediately taken out of service until actions are taken to mitigate the lead levels. The District completed testing for lead in water in March 2020. None of the District’s 53 filtered “hydration stations” that are students’ and staff’s main sources of drinking water exceeded the limits. Full results can be found here.

Tennis Courts
Over the summer, some paving work will take place around the tennis court and track and field areas, which may require the closure of the courts and track briefly to the public. We will keep you updated on the timing of this project. I would also like to remind everyone that, as per Board policy, the courts and track are for recreational use only and there are no organized activities permitted, including private lessons. 

I hope you are all healthy and safe, and I look forward to sharing additional information next week on the options for reopening of schools in September. 

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

This afternoon, the State Education Department released guidance to school districts on the reopening of schools for the fall of 2020. Their guidance builds on health and safety guidance issued by the Governor and New York State Department of Health released earlier this week. Together, these documents outline what will be required of school districts to safeguard the health of our learning community. 

We are reviewing these documents in light of the work performed by our Reopening Task Force. Tomorrow, we will be releasing a parent survey based on the guidance to further inform our decision-making moving forward. Please keep an eye out for the survey and complete it as soon as possible, and I thank you in advance for providing us with your feedback.  

The State is requiring us to prepare 3 plans:

• A plan to maximize the number of students who return to school;
• A “hybrid” plan where students alternate between remote learning and attending school; and
• A plan for all students to continue learning from home (or for students who are unwilling or unable to return to school).

All of these plans will require compromises and involve significant limitations in order to increase social distance, reduce risk and preserve as much educational progress as possible. While the health and safety of our learning community is at the forefront of our planning, we are committed to delivering a high-quality instructional program (whether in-person or remote) and nurturing the social-emotional and mental wellness of our students.

These plans are required to be completed by July 31. Governor Cuomo has indicated that he will then make a decision on whether schools reopen based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in each region of the state. That decision will be made during the first week of August.

One thing that is clear from all of the guidance is how interdependent we all are to stay safe. Staff who are unwell must remain home; children should not be sent to school ill, even if their fever symptoms are managed with aspirin or tylenol. 

I’d also like to note that today, the NYS Public High School Athletic Association announced the official start date of the Fall 2020 sports season has been delayed to September 21. In addition, Fall Regional and State Championship events have been cancelled. More information can be found here. 

Bright Spots:

• Samantha Smith, a rising junior at SHS, has been collecting graduation caps and gowns to help those less fortunate in an initiative she launched and named “Share A Moment.” Once collected, the gowns will be washed and shipped to school districts, which will distribute the graduation garb to those in need. 
• Sally Biondo, a 6th grader, helped organize a drive-in movie with County Legislator Josh Lafazan to benefit Peoples Pantry in Oyster Bay. Over $1,300 was raised for the pantry that serves 200 people every Friday. 

Please remember to look for the email to come tomorrow with a link to the parent survey regarding our reopening planning. We sincerely value and appreciate your feedback.

I hope you are all healthy and safe and enjoying the summer.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to respond to the Fall 2020 Reopening survey. Governor Cuomo has required all school districts to develop 3 reopening plans - one in-person; one virtual; and one a hybrid of the two. Your feedback on the types of plans under consideration helps inform our effort to refine the models to maximize health and safety, deliver a high-quality instructional program, and support the mental well-being of students. 

The survey will remain open until noon on Wednesday, July 22. If you have not already responded, please access the survey by clicking the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewWAMHQkMe2D5kazoCFkRxH-5hMxI7VxJQPkT6ngLbcnQXAw/viewform

Reopening Plan Process
To evaluate the plans under consideration, evaluate community feedback and keep the public informed, the Board has scheduled additional meetings and feedback opportunities to specifically focus on the fall reopening planning process.

Board Workshop (Thursday, July 24): The Board and administration will be conducting a workshop meeting which the public may observe via livestream. At this meeting, the Board will review the District’s preliminary reopening plans as well as the survey data collected (presentations to the Board will also be posted to the website). A link to access the livestream will be posted to the District website and Facebook page.

ThoughtExchange (Friday July 25): The District has already received over 1,200 public comments through the survey. Once the preliminary plans have been made public, we will be using an online tool called ThoughtExchange (previously used for our investigation into the high school start time) to collect feedback and reaction for the Board to consider. Please monitor your email for more information, which will be provided later this week. 

Special Board of Education Meeting (Wednesday, July 29): Based on the Board’s workshop and the ThoughtExchange feedback, the District will develop final reopening plans to be reviewed by the Board prior to submission to the State on July 31.  A link to access the livestream will be posted to the District website and Facebook page.

Paving Work
Please be aware that paving work will begin tomorrow in a portion of the parking lot at South Woods Middle School and behind the track and field bleachers. During this time, staff and community members will be unable to park in the small lot to the west of the track. Access to the track will remain open at the northwest gate (which is located by the shot put area). The main SWMS parking lot and the SHS student lot will remain open.

Additional paving work to repair sidewalks by the tennis courts and expand the parking lot outside the pool will begin shortly. Tennis courts will remain open during this work, though access to the courts will be through the rear gates (facing the track). As a reminder, per Board policy, the courts and track are for recreational use only and no organized activities are permitted, including private lessons. 

Bright Spots

• While caring for an ailing grandparent during the pandemic, rising SHS junior Nina Rashid fulfilled a dream by founding an interfaith coalition named “Changemaker Interfaith Group”. The mission is to unite members of all faiths to work together to relieve pandemic concerns. Nina and her peers from other high schools raised $1,000 for the Domestic Harmony Foundation. She was recently recognized by Nassau County Office of Asian Affairs. We are so very proud of Nina and this important work.

I’d like to close by reminding everyone of the importance of continuing to take proper precautions to safeguard the health of our community. Please engage in social distancing whenever possible, and wear a mask when unable to maintain appropriate distance from others outside your immediate family/household. Working together as a community is essential, now more than ever. 

I hope you are all staying cool, healthy and safe. #syostrong
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Today, the District submitted its plan to the State for the reopening of our schools for the 2020-21 school year. 

Our Reopening Plan was created with input from parents, teachers, district-wide staff, architects, safety consultants, and council from regional authorities and agencies, led by a 97-member Reopening and Recovery Task Force. We would like to thank our learning community for engaging with us in this process and providing thoughtful and constructive feedback. 

Please click here to access the 2020-2021 Reopening Plan.

As you may know, the decision to return to in-person learning will be made by Governor Cuomo some time during the first week of August. If the direction from the governor’s office is that students may return to school, we will adopt a Full In-Person learning model for Grades K-8 and a Hybrid model for grades 9-12, given the space limitations of the high school building. The details of this plan are outlined in the Reopening Plan. 

Our plan is focused on the health and safety of our community, first and foremost. While all risk cannot be eliminated completely, with small class sizes, adherence to extensive health and safety protocols, and modifications to our facilities, we feel confident that we can provide a safe environment for our staff and children. 

If the circumstances or NYSED guidance changes, we may need to adopt a Hybrid learning model for additional grade levels or a Remote learning model for all or some grade levels district-wide. Specific details regarding these learning structures, as well as the established protocols and procedures, are outlined in the Plan.

As we look ahead to a new way of operating that provides the safest learning environment possible, we are committed to delivering a high-quality instructional program (whether in-person or remote), nurturing the social-emotional and mental wellness of our students, and minimizing risk that cannot be eliminated.

In the near future, we will be creating a companion document that addresses some of the frequently asked questions that appeared in our survey of parents and staff, and we’ll periodically update it as new questions arise. 

What this process has made clear is that whether we reopen virtually or in person, a successful start to school will require the entire learning community -- staff, students, and families -- to pull together and support one another. There will be challenges and strains, and despite our best planning, we will likely need to make refinements once we see those plans in action. The new year will be a “new normal” -- an effort to maintain our momentum in the face of a generational crisis. I know Syosset is a community strong enough to confront any challenge and together, we will. 

#syostrong
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

I hope you are all well and safe after the storm that hit earlier this week. I know there are many in our community without power. Please remember that the District is providing meals for students at no charge during the summer. Meals will be available tomorrow morning for pick up at the high school, 70 South Woods Road, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. for anyone in need. 

The Governor has not yet made an announcement regarding the reopening of schools in September. He originally indicated he would make that announcement sometime between August 1st and 7th, so we are anticipating it to come tomorrow. Once the announcement is made, we will provide additional information to the community. In the meantime, I wanted to provide a few quick updates. 

We have received several questions from the community regarding our reopening plans. In response, we have put together a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, which will be sent out once we have additional information from the Governor (hopefully tomorrow). The document contains more detailed information on the instructional models as well as health and safety protocols. 

We recognize that many parents need additional information before making a decision on whether to opt in to the fully virtual learning model, and many have been without internet access this week. Therefore, we will be extending the deadline to August 12 to opt in to the fully virtual model.  

Bright Spots:

• Asmita Mittal, a rising junior at SHS, recently founded a youth organization named Teens Teach Technology, with the goal of teaching the basics of technology, such as social media, daily applications, and entertainment, to the older adult population. With a team of approx. 20 members across multiple states, the organization has established partnerships with local libraries and is looking to grow even more. I’m so proud of the way these teens are using their skills to help people cope with the challenges of moving our lives on-line during the pandemic.
• Kimberly Saltsberg, an incoming SHS 9th grader, has been named the New York Islanders Community Star of the Week in recognition of her fundraising efforts on behalf of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Although Kimberly had to improvise to raise money during a pandemic, her creative efforts resulted in $11,000 raised for the charity. 

Again, I hope your family fared well in the storm this week. This has been a year with a succession of storms that have tested our resilience. Whatever the Governor decides tomorrow, the fall will be another big challenge. But I’m confident that together, we will be equal to whatever lies ahead.

#Syostrong

Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Governor Cuomo announced today that all New York schools can open for the 2020-21 school year. His decision was based on the seven-day rolling infection rate in the state’s 10 regions, which is hovering near 1% -- well below the 5% threshold the Governor set. However, should that rate increase to above 9% in any region, the schools in that region will be required to close, and all students will engage in a virtual learning model.

The NYS Department of Health is currently reviewing individual school districts’ reopening plans. Syosset submitted its reopening plan to the state on July 31, 2020. This plan is posted on the District website.

In addition, with his announcement, the Governor stated school districts are required to:

• Post their remote learning plans and testing/tracing plans online.
• Syosset included information on the remote learning instructional model in the Reopening Plan posted to the District website on July 31, 2020. 
• Additional details have been posted today on both the learning plans and our testing and tracing protocols and can be found in our new FAQ document.
• Schedule at least three discussion sessions with parents and community members prior to August 21.
• We will be providing details on these community engagements shortly.
• Have at least one separate discussion with teachers to fully review the reopening plans.
• We will provide our teachers with information on this engagement shortly. 

The Governor also noted that students are required to wear a mask when social distancing is impossible, as with all spaces outside the home, and every student should always have a mask with them at school. The District will provide one if a student or staff member comes to school without one. 

The Governor has stressed the importance of communication with our learning community. Syosset is committed to providing frequent, comprehensive information on our reopening plans and any modifications as necessary. To date, the Board of Education has held two public meetings to review the reopening plans, and the District has conducted both a parent and staff survey, an online engagement open to the entire community, distributed our Reopening Plan to the community and posted it online, and created a section of the website dedicated to providing up-to-date information on reopening our schools. 

To respond to inquiries raised by our community, we have created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. It has been posted to our website and will be continually updated as new information becomes available and/or modifications to plans are necessary. This document provides detailed information on health and safety protocols as well as the instructional models and what school will look like for students when they return in September. 

I want to personally thank the many people who helped put these plans together, those who are working on upgrades to our facilities, our partners in government whose continued support we’ll need, and to the Board of Education for their support of the extraordinary efforts and investments needed to minimize risk to the greatest extent possible, while maximizing the instructional program for students despite the circumstances. 

Reopening schools will take an extraordinary commitment from the entire Syosset learning community - from our teachers and leaders in each of the buildings who will be with our young people every day, to our families whose will make decisions that protect the entire community, to our students who will have to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. To do this successfully, it will literally need each of us to be our most patient, thoughtful and cautious selves daily. 

At his press conference today, the Governor said, “If anyone can open schools, we can open schools.” To which I would add: if there’s any place that can do it, it’s Syosset. 

Stay healthy, stay safe, stay strong. #Syostrong

Tom Rogers

PS - As a reminder, we have extended the deadline for parents/guardians to request an all-virtual learning experience until the end of the day on August 12 by clicking this link: https://www.familyid.com/programs/student-accommodations-for-virtual-learning 

Also, if you do not intend to have your child ride the bus, please submit this form by August 12 (please submit one form per child): https://www.familyid.com/syosset-central-school-district/transportation-information-please-review

Dear Syosset Community,

The weeks before school starts in the fall are always a buzz of activity and excitement here at the District, but never has there been so much activity. This summer, teachers, administrators, Board members and District staff have been working tirelessly to provide the best possible experience for our students when they return to school, whether here in-person or virtually. We are really excited to see kids back in the buildings. 

This will be a year like no other. Classrooms will be different, instruction will be different, lunch, transportation, and recess will all be unlike anything we’ve done before. We’re not returning to school as we know it, but rather school as it must be - at least for this year. We know the limitations imposed by these circumstances may impede our teachers’ and principals’ from delivering the very high standard for which they’re known, but they cannot diminish our commitment to doing whatever it takes to provide an educational experience in which our students nevertheless thrive. 

First Week of School 
Information was sent out earlier today regarding the schedule for the reopening of the elementary and middle schools. In order to allow our students to gain a solid understanding of the new health and safety protocols, and familiarize themselves with the new setup of the buildings, we will be bringing students at these levels back to school in a graduated fashion with select grades attending on days one and two. 

A smaller group of students in the buildings on the first two days will allow for more individualized attention to our young learners as they return to school under these most unique circumstances and prioritizes the social-emotional, health and safety, and intellectual needs of our students. It will also allow us to observe how busing, parent drop off, and the temperature-taking protocols all work with a limited number of students at first.

Travel Advisory Information 
I’d like to be sure everyone is aware of the travel advisory issued by the NYSDOH for states that have a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19. If you have traveled from within one of the designated states with significant community spread, you must quarantine when you enter New York for 14 days from the last travel within such designated state (even if the state is later removed from the list). This current list of states can be found at the following link: 
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory  

Additional details are posted on the District website. Please be aware this is an Executive Order. Violations will be enforced pursuant to Article 21 of the public health law, and non-compliance may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000. We must all take personal responsibility for complying with the advisory in the interest of protecting the health and safety of our whole learning community.

Athletics 
As you may have seen in recent news reports, Section VIII, the governing body for interscholastic athletics in Nassau County, has made the decision to delay the start of sports in Nassau County in favor of an alternative plan to play all three seasons in a truncated schedule beginning early next year. The Section VIII Board later issued a statement indicating they may reconsider this decision. 

Syosset had been working towards the resumption of interscholastic athletics in earnest since the Governor’s announcement that most sports could resume on September 21, and Section VIII’s decision was a surprise. I have been actively working with our coaches and Athletic Director to understand the safety protocols they had been putting into place (should Section VIII reconsider) and asked them to develop back-up plans to provide our student athletes with alternative opportunities (should the decision remain unchanged). I will closely follow future developments with Section VIII and keep the community updated on their efforts and on ours.

Transportation 
Bus routing information was mailed out today. As I’ve previously mentioned, there will be several new transportation protocols in place this year as we implement new, low-density routes and other protocols to allow for appropriate social distancing and other health and safety measures. Information is posted on the District website. I’d like to call your attention to the following important new protocols:

• Students will not be permitted to board any bus that they have not been assigned to by the District. Drivers will need to verify bus attendance and to record ridership levels. For example, we cannot accommodate students going home with a friend at this time (whether for a play date or child care). We will review this protocol at a later date to determine if there can be more flexibility later in the year.
• Students cannot be released from school to the parents/guardians of other students.
• Except for emergency situations, students should maintain the same mode of transportation for the month of September as schools cannot accommodate modifications to transportation.  

Specific arrival and dismissal information will be provided soon by the building principals. This process will require extraordinary amounts of flexibility and patience from the public. We have been performing calculations on the number of cars likely to arrive at every campus and the inability to accommodate everyone within our physical locations.

Lunch 
As with Transportation, school lunch will also look different this year. We will start the year with limited menus choices, and all food will be prepackaged. Lunch will be delivered directly to classrooms in the elementary and middle schools, and will be available in a grab-and-go style in multiple locations at the high school. Please be aware no outside delivery of meals or meal drop off by parents will be permitted. Additional information about the school lunch program can be found in the Food Services section of the District website. 

District Calendar
The printed District calendar should arrive in the next two weeks. The calendar includes an abridged version of events, as the status of many of the school events typically planned throughout the year is uncertain at this time. Please refer to the calendar on the District website for the most up-to-date information on events.

Bright Spots
The high school Robotics team Syosset ELITE continues to impress me and serve our community. The team recently launched a new project named CADemy, through which they are providing programming lessons to students. So far the team has engaged in over 500 hours of teaching lessons in 3D CAD, Scratch, and Scratch-Junior.

I hope you are all enjoying the remaining days of summer, and taking time to recharge before we reopen schools and hopefully see one another again. 

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers
#syostrong

Dear Syosset Community,

As the final weekend of summer approaches, we are still very much in high gear getting ready for the opening of school on Tuesday. From the building staff to the administrators and teachers, we’ve worked harder than ever before to make schools as safe as possible for the return of students and staff. Please click here for a video message welcoming you back and outlining our reopening efforts.

As you know, there have been a number of changes this year, and we’ve received some questions from parents that I’m sure are of interest to the whole community. As you finalize your own preparations for the start of school, I hope you find the following helpful. 

Masks – As we mentioned earlier, we are following the latest guidance on mask use. Surgical masks are usually the best option, and we’ll have plenty of extras on hand should anyone need one. We’ll also permit multi-layer cloth masks. Disposable masks should be changed daily; cloth masks should be laundered daily. Masks, gaiters, or bandanas made of stretchy materials (like swimsuit cloth or loose cotton) don’t provide enough protection. Similarly, masks with valves do not provide adequate protection.

Lunch – We are not permitting the drop-off of lunches at schools, to avoid the need to have multiple people handling the bags, or having students moving through the hallway unnecessarily to retrieve them. I realize there will be occasions when a lunch is forgotten and we can make exceptions, but regular dropoff will not be possible to do safely.

At the high school, we know there are some students who take 9 classes per day, leaving themselves no time for lunch. Since it will not be permissible to eat in classrooms, those students will have to go to designated spaces for eating during passing time. We’ve spoke with a number of families who have decided to adopt a less demanding schedule, understanding that this will be a very challenging year already. 

Carpooling – We know parents are anxious to return to work, and that the pandemic has been hard on families and employers. It’s for that reason that we worked so hard to develop a 5-day per week plan for grades K-8 and SCOPE after-school care. We also realize that many families may have planned transportation arrangements with neighbors to avoid busing. However, arrival and dismissal will present schools with unprecedented logistical challenges and safety concerns. It is our hope to be able to eventually facilitate carpooling arrangements, but they increase the risk of a child leaving with the wrong adult, or getting lost at dismissal. As soon as we feel we can confidently manage these safety risks, we will make this option available to parents. 

COVID Symptoms and Return to School – This year, based on guidance from the NYS Department of Health, students exhibiting a symptom of COVID-19 (like a cough or a fever) will have to see a doctor and present a negative COVID test in order to return to school (see page 3 of the NYSDOH guidance). We recognize this will present a significant hardship to families, and we understand that the NYSDOH has been asked to review this guidance. Until and unless this guidance is revised, we will have to follow it (please don’t blame our nurses). The District has identified several local testing sites to facilitate return-to-school. If the State guidance changes, we will revise our procedures accordingly.

We understand there may still be some unanswered questions. We will be updating the Reopening section of the District website frequently with the most up to date information and will continue to communicate with you regularly. 

------- 
There will still be a great deal of facilities work continuing over the weekend. I’d ask everyone to be mindful that our campuses will be construction projects right up until the first day of school. I’m hoping that everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend and we’re looking forward to seeing you soon!

Tom Rogers
#syostrong

Dear Syosset Community,

The events of the last 2 days at South Woods Middle School were the first test of the extensive safety planning that was put into place this summer. They were also a reminder that while we are in Phase 4 and the positivity rate in our Region remains low, the virus is still present, and we must remain vigilant with the steps we are taking to keep everyone safe.

In our communications with the Nassau County Department of Health over the last 2 days, they were complimentary of the extensive and conservative protocols we have designed. Of course, that design relies on fidelity in implementation, so I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of its most important aspects.

Social distancing, wearing masks, and positioning students behind clear barriers are key components in our plan to keep our community safe, and all played important roles in minimizing those identified as “close contacts” of a confirmed COVID-19 case. It is essential we prioritize continued adherence to these procedures. We’ve had some questions from parents recently regarding masks, so we’ve outlined our mask protocols in the attached one-page document, which is also posted to the reopening section of the District website.

We know this year will be a test of our patience as we deal with conditions that are less than ideal for the daily activities of a school community. As that test of patience evolves into a test of stamina, I’m encouraged by the incredible perseverance of Nelson Mandela who said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

I’m proud of how our whole learning community is handling the transition back to school, adjusting to our new environment and supporting each other. I’m certain that our best success is yet to come, and confident that our perseverance will prove equal to any challenges ahead.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers 

File attachments:
Mask Protocols.pdf

Dear Syosset Community,

I hope you are all healthy and well and enjoying an absolutely perfect fall season.

It’s been a month since we reopened our schools under extraordinary conditions, in the midst of a global pandemic that has impacted our lives in ways we could have never envisioned. I am pleased with how well our reopening plan held up to the many unknowns we encountered in these first few weeks, and want to again voice my appreciation for the thoughtful work of our task force. 

Of course, the first few weeks have been a learning experience, and we iterated several times over the course of these weeks to streamline arrival and dismissal, improve teachers’ tools for virtual instruction, and develop classroom materials that translate well to both the online and in-person environments. An important goal of our reopening plans was to be able to make a “seamless” transition from live to virtual, if needed, and I was so pleased to see how well South Woods Middle School pivoted instruction during its brief closure 3 weeks ago. 

Many things are different this year from what we are accustomed to; but our Syosset spirit, our Syosset PRIDE, and our sense of community have never been stronger. Syosset has proven to be smart, resilient, resourceful, and dedicated. 

As we move through our second month of school, I wanted to reflect a little on what we’ve learned so far, some of the changes we’ve made, and what we anticipate ahead. 

Our primary focus was, of course, the health and safety of our students and staff, but we didn’t want that safety to come at the expense of a wonderful year of teaching, learning and growing. I am so proud of how our students and teachers have adapted to this environment and its challenges, I’ve received so many emails from parents commending our teachers - both live and virtual - for their creativity, innovation, and dedication under these new conditions. They’re wonderful to read! Keep them coming!

I’m also very proud of the level of personal responsibility our learning community has taken to keep one another safe. We’ve had extraordinary cooperation and candor from parents and staff as we’ve worked through a series of potential exposures this last month. Our ability to give timely, accurate information to the Health Department has been instrumental in moving through the contact tracing process quickly. 

As was inevitable, we’ve had a few positive COVID-19 cases within our learning community. Working with the Department of Health during the contact tracing investigations, we have been fortunate that so few people have had to quarantine as a result of potential exposure. The reason for this has been simple: our health and safety protocols -- wearing a mask, using desktop barriers, and maintaining appropriate social distancing -- has kept other people from being deemed “close contacts.”

I know we are fatigued from these measures. We promised that at the end of September we’d reevaluate them. What we’ve learned is how highly the Health Department values these protocols which, along with vigorous cleaning and sanitizing of our buildings, have played a key role in mitigating exposure to others. We’ve thus avoided the need to quarantine large groups or have lengthy school closures. I’m more convinced than ever that these key steps remain essential to keep our learning community safe and avoid dramatic interventions. 

However, I can’t emphasize enough that these measures are only as good as our compliance, and I appreciate your support in reinforcing their importance with your children. My fear is that success will breed complacency, and all we’ve accomplished could be quickly undone. We must calibrate our stamina for a marathon pace, and not abandon the very steps that have gotten us this far.

In the same vein, we need your partnership just as much outside the school day. It won’t matter how much effort we put into making schools safe, if unnecessary risks taken outside the school walls walk back into the classroom the next morning. Please remember to remind children to wash their hands frequently, avoid large gatherings, maintain social distance, and wear a mask when in company of others outside your household. I know we all long for a return to normalcy (me too!), but as New York’s numbers creep up, we are reminded that we cannot let our guard (or our mask) down. 

That doesn’t mean we can’t take some smart “baby steps”. Last week, we began some after-school sports and wellness activities at the high school - carefully designed for safety - to give students a social and physical health outlet. It has been so wonderful to see our kids on the fields and in the new fitness center after a long 6 months away.

We’ll shortly be announcing the procedures for returning to in-person learning at the end of the trimester (elementary) or quarter (secondary) for those who wish. We’ve seen an increase in virtual learners since the start of the year, so there is some space available, but it is limited and unevenly distributed.

As the fall season and cooler weather is upon us, we’re inevitably entering cold and flu season. Please consider a flu shot for yourself and your family if you haven’t already done so (I’m getting mine Tuesday), and I’d like to remind everyone to complete the Daily Health Screening form prior to your child arriving at the school or boarding the bus.

Bright Spots:

• In March, SHS sophomore Sabrina Guo founded a COVID relief and charitable student-run organization named Long Island Against COVID-19 (LILAC). Working with SHS peers Eric Wang, Azam Lalani and Marla Hakim, and over 40 dedicated members, the organization have raised more than $90,000 with a GoFundMe campaign, donated 140,000+ PPE items to more than 30 facilities in LI/NYC and beyond, and served tens of thousands of frontline and essential workers, high-risk groups, and financially disadvantaged areas in south shore and Queens communities. 
• HBT student Matthew Kusnetz combined the findings of a research project he completed in seventh grade with a community service project and donated over 10 pounds of vegetables to local food pantries. He was recognized by Legislator Lafazan for his accomplishment. 
• SHS junior Prisha Arora began teaching young students how to paint over the summer. After seeing the positive reaction, she continued her work by creating painting tutorials on a YouTube channel, providing a creative outlet and stress reliever for children during these uncertain times.

 
As we head into the long weekend, please remember that the NYSDOH has issued a travel advisory for anyone returning from states that have a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19. The current list of states can be found at the following link: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory 

I wish you all a wonderful long weekend.

Stay safe. Stay vigilant. Stay strong. #syostrong
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

This Wednesday was Unity Day, a special day during National Bullying Prevention Month to focus on kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to take a stand against bullying. I really enjoyed observing some activities that took place in our school buildings this month, such as the “Kindness in Chalk” event at Walt Whitman. The insightful, kind, and positive messages written by our young students on sidewalks around the campus were so inspiring and fun to read. From the youngest students in the elementary schools to our mature students at the Anti-Defamation League-designated “No Place for Hate” secondary schools, I’m so proud of all the work our students have done to foster inclusive and supportive environments. 

October is also National Principal’s Month, and I hope you’re as appreciative as I am of the job they have each done to develop safe building reopening plans, manage incredible logistical challenges, and keep the learning going whether in person or virtually here in Syosset! My thanks to all!

As we head into the weekend, I’d like to provide you with some updates from the District. 

Facilities Update: At the Monthly Board of Education meeting this week, I provided an update on the many projects recently completed to modernize our instructional spaces, enhance security, improve traffic flow around our buildings and perform much needed building repairs and updates. It is so gratifying to see students taking advantage of the new spaces and hearing the positive feedback from the community, and I can’t even imagine what we’d be doing now if we hadn’t started the traffic projects 2 years ago! Once again, I’d like to thank the community for supporting this important work so that our facilities can further enhance the exceptional experience of a Syosset education. 

Request for In-Person Instruction: As we are already nearing the end of the first marking quarter at the secondary schools, we sent out a brief survey to parents and guardians of students enrolled in the fully virtual instructional model to gauge the level of interest in requesting placement in the in-person instructional model. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond. Next week, information will be sent out to parents and guardians of students enrolled in the virtual model at the secondary level for how to make a formal request for an in-person placement. Information for the elementary level will be provided later in November. We are working diligently to maximize the number of students we can accommodate in our school buildings, though the need to remain in compliance with NYS social distancing guidelines may limit the number of requests that can be granted at the elementary and middle schools.

Reporting of a Confirmed Case of COVID-19: It is very important that we coordinate quickly with the Department of Health. In order to streamline the process for parents, guardians and staff, and position ourselves to react as swiftly as possible, we have created an email address, monitored after-hours, to directly report a COVID-postive case to the District. If you or your child has tested positive for COVID-19, please email reportcovid@syossetschools.org as soon as possible. Please include your contact information, and your child’s building and grade level. 

SCSD COVID-19 Report Card: The New York State Department of Health maintains a “COVID-19 Report Card” to track COVID cases among students and staff at New York schools. To further keep our community updated, we have created a Syosset Central School District COVID-19 Report Card, which details positive cases by school that are current, and those that have cleared the isolation period. You can find the SCSD COVID Report Card, which is updated daily, in the Reopening section of the District website. 

A Safe and Healthy Halloween: Recently, Governor Cuomo issued guidance on engaging in safe and healthy activities to celebrate Halloween this year. Our kids certainly deserve to have some fun this Halloween, and this document has some creative ideas to celebrate in a manner that will keep them, and our community, safe. As we head into cold and flu season, and a period of increased vigilance for another wave of COVID infections, we all must continue to do our part in safeguarding our community’s health and well-being.

I wish you all a wonderful, healthy and safe weekend.

Sincerely,
Dr. Tom Rogers, Superintendent
#staysafe #staystrong #syostrong

Dear Syosset Community,

Lately we’ve been hearing about “COVID fatigue”, where people weary of following health and safety precautions may let their guard down. I get it, it’s been 8 long months and I sometimes feel a little worn out too. But, as I walk around our buildings, I see all of the faces -- both young and, well, young at heart -- and I’m reenergized to do my part to keep them safe!

I am confident: COVID fatigue is no match for SyoStrong!

This once-in-a-generation situation will be a test of stamina. One that requires us to be consistently proactive to protect the health of our community and our families.

We have worked hard to make our schools the toughest place around for the virus to spread. Our facilities have been revamped, our teachers have transformed how they approach instruction, and our students have adapted amazingly well to this new learning environment. So far, we have been able to avoid lengthy school closures and keep in-person instruction going after our students missed out for so long.

But no safeguard in school is strong enough to protect our students once they leave. Our early successes shouldn’t signal we can afford to begin taking risks; quite the opposite - it’s an indication our plan with your partnership is working as hoped. Please stay vigilant about following the CDC guidance: practice social distancing, wear a mask, avoid large gatherings, and wash your hands frequently. Our community’s health and continued schooling depends on it.

This Halloween may not be the best of “treats”, and I understand that kids want to socialize and return to their normal pre-pandemic lives. I want that for them too. The “trick” is knowing that the quickest way to move forward is to avoid going backwards. Let’s demonstrate the importance of a community working together, so when our young people face some future challenge in their adult lives, they’ll be inspired by our example. Let’s stay #SyoStrong to #StoptheSpread.

I hope all our students have a fun and safe Halloween weekend. In case you missed it, here are some tips for a safe Halloween from the NYSDOH.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers, Superintendent
#SyoStrong>CovidFatigue

Dear Syosset Community,

In what seems like a blink of the eye, we have made it to November and the third month of this most unique school year. In a month when we often reflect on what we are thankful for, I’d like you to know how grateful I am to be part of this special community and for everyone who is doing their part to keep one another safe.
  
I’m grateful that the reopening plans we created have held up under some significant recent strains, but I’m reminded of the words of Winston Churchill: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” The experts have warned that the next few months will be more challenging than the last. We have been watching closely as case counts in Nassau have started to rise. Challenges ahead are inevitable, but their outcome is not. We are determined to work as hard as we can to avoid a pause in in-person instruction. Our actions can directly mitigate the severity and breadth of any local outbreak if we can just hang on and hang tough.   

Here are a few important updates from the District:

January Regents Examinations: Earlier this week, the NYS Education Department announced that the NYS High School Regents Examinations scheduled to take place in January have been cancelled due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There has currently been no decision made regarding the June and August 2021 examinations nor regarding the spring Math and English tests in 3rd through 8th grade. This FAQ document from the State provides additional details. 

Nassau County Reassessment: The Nassau County Legislature recently voted to certify the 2020-21 tax roll, the first to be calculated under the new countywide reassessment. The newly implemented reassessment plan changed several factors in how homeowner’s taxes are calculated. This new method of assessment may have redistributed the amount of school tax allocated among properties, however, the total school district levy for this year has not changed since the budget was approved in the spring. The District’s tax levy increase this year was 1.7% over the prior year, which is well below the allowable tax cap of 3.23%. More information is available on the county’s website and the Nassau County Department of Assessment can be reached at 516-571-1500.

Veteran’s Day: As a reminder, the District will be closed in observance of Veteran’s Day on Wednesday, November 11 as we pause to honor the men and women who have so bravely and selflessly served our country. Earlier this year, the school board and I had the honor of recognizing one of those veterans, Gus Scutari, when he passed just after his 99th birthday. To all the veterans in our community and beyond, you have my gratitude, respect, and hope that you are rewarded with the same long, rich life as Gus.

Bright Spot:

• South Woods Middle School 6th grade student Anouska Jhaveri recently donated $972 from her fundraising efforts to support the education of underprivileged girls in India. Anoushka started her own small business to raise funds by creating and selling bracelets. She is continuing to contribute her proceeds to the non-profit organization Nanhi Kali to help provide opportunities to girls in need. 

So how do we “hang on and hang tough”? Please remember to remain vigilant in safeguarding the health of our community. Avoid large gatherings, wear a mask, and maintain social distance from those outside your household. Remember, there are lots of ways to stay close while keeping our distance. 

I’d also recommend getting outside and soaking up some vitamin D during this beautiful September-like weather, which I hope to do myself! 

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers, Superintendent
Hang on. Hang tough. Stay Strong. #syostrong

Hi Everyone,

It’s been a busy week here in the District. Students learned about the sacrifices veterans have made for our country and honored them for their service, food drives are taking place to benefit local food pantries, and today we cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate the new SHS Fitness Center, already being used as physical education instructional space and for athletes’ off-season training (in a limited capacity to allow for social distancing). Unfortunately, we also had some additional positive cases of COVID identified, more than we’ve had any week prior.

I have some good news reflections to share regarding our fight against the pandemic, but we need to have a “family conversation” about some of the challenges I’m observing as well.

Although we have had 23 cases of COVID among students or staff this fall, of the 14 cases that are more than 2 weeks old, everyone has recovered, and no transmission through the school environment was subsequently identified. (Our thoughts are with the current 9 individuals who have more recently tested positive, hoping that their cases are mild and they too resolve quickly.)

While these early observations illustrate that we have yet to identify any transmission occurring via the school environment, they are by no means a reason to let down our guard, or an invitation to begin taking risks. Six new cases have appeared in Syosset schools in the last week alone, and numbers in our community are starting to rise quickly. I was proud of how your caution helped Syosset keep its positivity rate below Nassau County as a whole, but this trend has begun to reverse in the last few weeks.

Obviously, our ability to safely continue in-person learning is directly dependent on keeping the positivity rate low among students and staff, in turn by keeping the rate low in the community. Syosset has the ability to turn this around, but it will take focused effort from all of us.

I’d like to invite the community to join me virtually, along with Dr. Theresa Curry, the administrator taking the lead in the contact tracing investigations, the District physician, and the District’s lead nurse on Wednesday, November 18th at 7 p.m. We’ll discuss the state of the pandemic specific to our community, answer some questions we’ve received, and share important information regarding protocols for positive cases in our community. A link will be posted on the District website homepage to view the meeting. I hope you’ll join us for this important conversation, and we’ll even have a little treat for you at the end.

Until then, stay #SyoStrong by making good choices and being careful.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Thank you to everyone who joined us virtually Wednesday night for a frank “family conversation” about the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the escalating challenges, and the opportunities we have as a community to make choices that keep schools open for our children. I appreciate that so many community members took the time to join us. I’d also like to thank our District physician, Dr. Marino, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Theresa Curry, and our District Lead Nurse, Ms. Gonzalez, for providing expert guidance on the contact tracing process and other helpful information.

During the meeting, we discussed our early success with the health and safety protocols in place in our buildings. Thankfully, of the 17 confirmed positive cases we’ve had in our learning community that are more than 14-days old, we have not identified any transmission occurring within the school environment. Unfortunately, transmission is occurring outside the schools as a result of activity such as team sports, travel and social gatherings. I know we all long for a sense of normalcy for our kids, but we are now at a turning point and the choices we make next will literally determine our future.

To follow is a quick recap of the information we shared with the community Wednesday evening. I do encourage everyone to view the recording of the meeting. We packed in a lot of new information and answered questions we’ve received from the community, and I’m sure you’ll learn something new.

NYS Micro-Cluster Strategy
Our ability to safely continue in-person learning is directly dependent on keeping the positivity rate low among students and staff. During our family conversation, we reviewed the State’s micro-cluster strategy, which uses data to pinpoint and then target epicenters of viral outbreaks in a defined geographic area.

• Nassau County has had several metrics that appear above the Yellow Zone limits.
• If a school is in an area deemed a Yellow Zone, it must test 20% of students and staff every 2 weeks in order to stay open.
• If a school is in an Orange or Red zone, it must close and cannot reopen until 100% of students and staff are tested.

Areas elsewhere that have been designated as hotspots have been able to turn it around. So I know we can too, and if we intervene before the state does, we can control our own destiny. (Our metrics can be found here)

Mount Sinai South Nassau COVID-19 Satellite Test Location
We talked in further detail about the plan for Mt. Sinai South Nassau to offer drive-up COVID-19 rapid testing to members of the Syosset learning community (staff, students and their immediate family members). I’ve heard from many of you that you’ve experienced difficulties getting an appointment for a test and long wait times, so my hope is that this satellite location will be a convenience. In addition, the rapid test being offered is much more accurate than many on the market, which will increase confidence in the results. Tests will be administered by a nurse under the direction of Mt. Sinai South Nassau and will take place in a drive-up format alongside a tent outside Syosset High School.

• Students will not be tested without parental consent.
• The cost of the test will be underwritten by family health insurance, not the District.
• Health data will be collected and maintained by Mt. Sinai, not the District.
• The site will not operate as an urgent care facility. Anyone experiencing fever or serious symptoms should immediately seek medical attention.

More information will be coming out about how to take advantage of this center in the coming days.

Out-of-State Travel
The CDC has released guidance discouraging Thanksgiving travel and offering suggestions for how to celebrate the holiday more safely, and New York State has changed its out-of-state travel restrictions: Anyone traveling to a non-contiguous state must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in NY. Travelers may be able to shorten this quarantine, provided they follow these procedures:

• Travelers must take a COVID test within three days of departure for NY, and again on the 4th day of their quarantine in NY.
• If both tests come back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test.
• Travelers who do not get tested will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
• Those testing positive will be issued isolation orders.

Contact Tracing and Isolation/Quarantine
During the meeting we also reviewed the contact tracing process in detail, as well as the quarantine and isolation requirements and timelines. A recording of our family conversation is available on our District website, and the presentation is posted in the Reopening section of the website.

Bright Spot:
What do ...
Avery Aaronson, Emma Birnbaum, Madison Birnbaum, Victoria Costa, Benji Falkove, Harris Goldstein, Raia Honig, Sally Jamieson, Molly Lebolt, Katelyn Lee, Brody Levine, Sammy Schoenfeld, Lizzy Shyer, Cooper Steinberger, Evan Strominger, Paige Weinstein, and Claire Wilensky
… all have in common? They are all team captains raising funds and awareness for the Gold Ribbon Riders, a non-profit organization that partners with Cycle for Survival to end rare cancers by funding pediatric cancer research.

Recruited and led by SHS students Max Falkove, Mollie Falkove and Aaron Hafkin who created The Gold Ribbon Riders Teen Initiative, the team captains recruited over 179 participants! These passionate and enthusiastic students have raised an astounding amount, over $105,000 already, and they are still going strong! The friendly competition to raise funds will continue until January 5th, and I encourage anyone interested to support the efforts of these amazing students. I’d like to commend Max, Mollie and Aaron, and all the team captains.

Remember:
Some of the smartest scientists in the world are working on defeating this disease. Perhaps we can’t directly help invent a vaccine, but what we CAN do is buy them time. I truly believe that if we return to a more cautious posture, we can slow or even stop our rate of growth. Those short-term sacrifices can preserve our in-person education, our own health, and speed the resumption of the life we long to return to.

I know this is a daunting challenge, and we have been asked to make significant sacrifices for a long period of time. But, as our insightful students reminded us during our family conversation, this is only for now, and as my “Mr. Rogers” character observed, “the things I thought were keeping us apart are actually what’s allowing us to stay together.” We will overcome this and return to our normal lives. What I’ve learned in my 6+ years in Syosset is that this community can accomplish anything when we work together.

I sincerely wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. My hope is that you connect with family and friends in a safe manner, reflect on all there is to be grateful for, and find time to relax and recharge.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers
Stay positive. Stay Strong. We got this. #syostrong

P.S. I hope those who joined us live on Wednesday enjoyed the surprise performance of Mr. & Dr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. We are currently trying to obtain licenses to include that video with the recording of the presentation posted online. While we secured permission from the copyright holders for the one-time broadcast, we currently may not host the video on our website.

Dear Syosset Community,

I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving holiday. This incredibly challenging year has helped me far more appreciate the many seemingly ordinary things I once took for granted. In turn, I’ve found my own perception of gratitude has been heightened as I’ve witnessed the reaction of this community to the significant challenges we’ve faced this year.

I met with a group of high school student leaders today and asked them what they were grateful for this fall. They repeatedly praised their teachers - for figuring out online learning, for helping them stay organized, for responding to email, for making this a great year despite the challenges. I can’t tell you how grateful I felt in that moment - proud of our teachers for the dedication they bring, proud of our students for recognizing their teachers’ effort and sacrifice, proud to be a part of such an amazing learning community.

As December begins, there’s been a lot of talk about entering some tough months in our fight against the virus. We will have to take those cautions very seriously. But, I have confidence that if we keep working together, keep following all of the guidance, keep making choices that protect one another, we will meet the challenge ahead, #SyoStrong style.

Syosset COVID Testing Site
As we announced at the November Board of Education meeting, we have partnered with Mt. Sinai South Nassau Hospital to provide COVID rapid testing for members of our learning community. The satellite test location has been set up on the Syosset High School campus, and tests will be available by appointment starting early next week. Additional information on the site will be coming shortly.

Ventilation and Air Filtration
Over the summer, the District performed a number of capital improvements to make schools safer, from touchless fixtures in new bathrooms to emergency ventilation upgrades in classrooms. The District is now embarking on a substantial construction project to improve ventilation in classrooms in the middle and high schools (the ventilation improvements are almost complete at the elementary schools). That construction is extensive and will likely take all winter, so we will be placing portable HEPA air filtration units in any room lacking mechanical ventilation. We will still supplement that filtration with fresh air, but the filters will allow the window openings to be much narrower, hopefully improving comfort in the classrooms.

Yellow Zones and Micro-clusters
On October 21, Governor Cuomo announced a new strategy to fight the spread of COVID-19 in New York. This “micro-cluster” strategy targets individual “hot spots” with amplified restrictions on in-person gatherings, businesses, and schools.

Schools in designated “yellow”, “orange” or “red” zones must test 20-30% of the school population in order to remain open for in-person instruction. The State will make the designation based on multiple data points, and we have been watching available data closely. Syosset is not yet in a Yellow Zone, and while the surge in cases after Halloween was starting to subside, there is a second spike after Thanksgiving.

Of the 62 people we’ve placed into quarantine over the past 2 weeks, 44 were because of close contact to a friend or relative in a home. Our ability to preserve in-person education for this community’s children depends on slowing the rate of virus transmission. If we all work together, we can keep the infection rate low, avoiding a “micro-cluster” designation and the additional restrictions.

Should we be required to begin testing our school population, we will be communicating a strategy to the community. Having a COVID-19 Rapid Testing site on location will be an asset if we have to react swiftly to such new requirements.

Quarantine Guidelines
As you have most likely heard, the CDC recently revised their quarantine guidelines for people who may have been exposed to the virus, shortening the length of the required quarantine to 10 days if individuals do not develop symptoms; 7 days if they test negative. School Districts in New York must follow the guidance of the NYS Department of Health, which has not yet adopted these new quarantine rules. Should this change, we will update the community.

Bright Spot
No one likes being put on hold. But that may all change in Syosset. Our latest “hold music” has been provided by none other than our own Syosset High School Wind Ensemble playing Sleigh Ride - part of their traditional Winter Concert repertoire. With concerts out and social distancing, hybrid learning, and digital wizardry in, Director Paul Caputo and the Ensemble pulled it off 2020-style. To hear this extraordinary performance, you can watch the video of how the song was produced, or you can just call the District and ask to please be placed on hold.

Please enjoy the weekend while staying safe, and take care during the inclement weather forecasted for tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

My hope for this most unusual of holiday seasons is that our community will find ways to honor and celebrate with the joy the holidays inspire and the safety the times demand. Although those celebrations may look very different than in years past, may they be no less special and meaningful, and may you perhaps discover new and unique ways to celebrate with loved ones.

With less than two weeks to go before we break for the Winter Recess, we are reaching a critical point in our fight against COVID-19. Our collective actions in the next few days will literally impact what the next few weeks and months look like for our schools, our local businesses, and our community.

Positivity Rates on the Rise
We have been keeping very close track of the COVID-19 positivity rates in our community. As the state and county update their data sites, we post charts on our website detailing the positivity rate of Nassau County vs. Syosset, as well as the 7-Day Rolling average of new daily cases per hundred thousand. The charts illustrate that during the summer and continuing into the fall, our positivity rate remained low, but have increased significantly since November began.

In the early fall, low positivity rates were perhaps a forgiving environment when risks were taken. But that is clearly no longer the case. We cannot view that early success as an invitation to greater risk taking, and we cannot ignore that the environment has changed dramatically in just the past 2 weeks.

We are entering new territory.

Fortunately, the fight doesn’t need a new strategy so much as a renewed vigilance to do the things that work - even when they’re inconsistent with what we love about this time of year. It is so important to continue to follow the guidance of social distancing, wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and avoiding gatherings. We know these precautions drove numbers down last Spring. And in our school buildings, where these precautions are followed closely, we haven’t seen any evidence of virus transmission. But we can’t control what happens outside the school walls, so we need your help. Please ensure your families are following all the guidance to remain healthy and safe.

NYS Micro-Cluster Strategy
You have probably read about the State’s Micro-Cluster Strategy, which is aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 by assigning areas with increased viral spread to a color-coded zone (Yellow, Orange, or Red). Each zone will have escalating requirements and restrictions applied. Some areas of Nassau County have already been designated as Yellow Zones, and according to the way the data is tracking, our community may not be far behind.

Should we be given a Yellow Zone designation, we will be required to begin a COVID-19 testing program within the schools in order to remain open for in-person instruction. We would be required to test 20% of the combined in-person staff and student population.

We remain committed to keeping our school buildings open as long as we can safely do so, as we know this is best for many of our students and families, and in fact, schools are probably one of the safest places to be. So we are working hard to prepare for this possibility. Parents and guardians would be given advance notice before any testing begins, and no students will be tested without parental consent. We will be sending out more detailed information to the community shortly.

Bright Spot
H.B. Thompson student Henry Berkowitz recognizes the importance of mental health resources, especially during the pandemic, and therefore decided to raise money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for his Bar Mitzvah project. By selling tie-dyed bandanas he made himself, he quickly tripled his goal of raising $1,000 and was able to donate over $3,000 to the organization. We are so proud of his efforts on behalf of this very important cause.

Have a wonderful weekend, safe and happy holidays.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers
#staystrong #syostrong

Dear Syosset Community,

With two weeks left in this extraordinary year, my thoughts are understandably reflective. I’ve seen a lot of the memes that can’t wait to relegate 2020 to the rear view, and to be sure, it’s been the most difficult year of my lifetime. But I don’t want to dismiss 2020 altogether, because from each challenge was born a remarkable response -- the heroism of our health care workers and first responders; the young people finding a myriad of ways to join the cause; wholesale reinvention of the learning process in both virtual and physical space by our amazing instructional staff; students focused on social issues; a community pulling together to face a generational crisis. No, I don’t want to forget 2020 altogether, because I’d deny myself the memory of the amazing good that came from the bad.

I have so much gratitude and pride in how we all worked together to accomplish these extraordinary things. We’ve been through a lot this year, but I believe we are stronger, smarter, and more united than ever. I appreciate this learning community, and all its members, more than I can express.

As a community, we’ve started adapting to the fact that there’s much more virus in circulation by making safer choices. I know, because we’ve been tracking the daily COVID-19 positivity metrics, which we post on the website, and I’m encouraged to see the curve tracking the positive cases in our community finally bending in the right direction, even as the County numbers continue to climb. Our collective choices will keep us out of the Yellow Zone and allow us to return to our in-person learning environment when we return from the break.

I know we’re all exhausted from doing all of the things the CDC recommends, and frustrated by avoiding all the things we miss, especially now during the holidays. But I also know how strong and committed this community is. We’re perhaps halfway through this marathon, but I know we’ll get our second wind over the break.

COVID Notifications over Winter Recess
Over the Winter Recess, it remains very important for the District to continue to keep track of isolation and quarantine return dates due to testing positive for COVID-19 or coming in close contact with a COVID-19 case. If you or your child has tested positive or been identified as a close contact, please remember to notify us by completing the Report COVID hotline form as soon as possible. If your child does develop COVID while in quarantine, please notify us of that immediately as well.

We will not be sending notifications out to the community on December 24th, 25th, 31st or January 1st. Since students will be engaged in virtual instruction next week, students will not be identified as close contacts by way of the school over the break. We will continue to inform the community of positive cases on all other days of the Winter Recess.

Mount Sinai South Nassau Satellite Test Location
We are so pleased that our partnership with Mount Sinai South Nassau (MSSN) has provided a convenient location for COVID-19 rapid tests for our community. Our partnership is trailblazing, and we are learning as we go - the demand has far outpaced capacity, but working with MSSN, we are making some improvements to the appointment process that will be communicated shortly. Please note the testing site will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, but will be open the remaining weekdays of the Winter Recess.

On to 2021!
Following the three days of virtual instruction next week and the Winter Recess, we fully intend to reopen our schools for in-person instruction on January 4. We are ready to start 2021 off #syostrong! Over the break, please continue to wear a mask, avoid social gatherings, and maintain social distance so we can be as healthy as possible when we return to school and finally kick-off a new year. Should you plan on traveling, please be sure to review the latest NYS travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.

Bright Spot
In Syosset, we love setting lofty goals and then crushing them as a result of passion, hard work and determination. And that’s exactly what Rheya Shah, a fifth grader at Baylis, did when she decided to organize a toy drive. Rheya aimed to collect 75 toys for children in a Long Island homeless shelter run by the Family Service League. With the support of her family and friends, Rheya more than doubled her goal and delivered 160 toys, and a lot of holiday cheer, to the deserving children. Way to go Rheya!

With the cold temperature outside and snow still on the ground, it’s a perfect night to settle in and watch the Syosset High School ACT’s production of One Stoplight Town tonight at 7 p.m. You can get your tickets here for the one-night-only livestream event. I have my popcorn ready.

I hope you all have a wonderful Winter Recess filled with family time and perhaps the start of some new family traditions that let you remain close to loved ones while maintaining your distance.

Stay safe, stay well, stay #syostrong!
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones are all safe and healthy, well rested after a much needed break, and ready to return. Although the virus may have dampened the celebratory mood, I know it sharpened my sense of possibility and appreciation for the new year. 

As we prepare to return to school, I hope to offer some reminders and update you on some developments:

1. School will operate on our normal in-person schedule on Monday, January 4th. Students in grades K-8 will resume 5-days a week. Syosset High School will continue its hybrid plan, with Cohort A in the building following a W-Day schedule. All-virtual students will continue with their normal schedules.
   
   Our priority is to preserve in-person school whenever feasible. Learning and socialization are facilitated by the in-person environment, and we understand the important childcare function schools perform. Syosset implemented a very conservative reopening plan with multiple redundant protections in place. As of 12/28, over 110 members of our learning community have tested positive for COVID-19, though we have not seen any additional transmission through school. This is consistent with what Nassau County reported to Newsday: that they have not identified any cases that have been spread through schools since reopening began. https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/education-and-coronavirus-1.50093153
   
   We continue to monitor case counts and positivity rates closely, but the safety of schools appears to be more closely related to strict adherence to our protocols than to the rate of incidence in the surrounding community.  Obviously, when those rates are higher, the margin for error is reduced, so we should all take this opportunity to make New Year’s resolutions to “re-double” the 3 W’s: Wash your hands, Watch your distance, and most importantly, Wear your mask. 
2. Remember to fill out the daily COVID screening form – we will be following up with staff and families who do not complete it. It is important to remember that the form asks you to certify that you are in compliance with NYS’s travel rules and to identify even minor symptoms that could signal the onset of something more serious. Again, as case counts rise, adherence becomes even more crucial.
3. We continue to monitor the New York State micro-cluster (Yellow Zone) strategy. We have seen Yellow Zone schools on Long Island and elsewhere safely remain open, and we’re fortunate not to be in a Yellow Zone at this point, but we remain prepared to react should that change. 
4. Lastly, I want to update you on a change to the way appointments will be accepted at the Mount Sinai South Nassau COVID testing satellite location. As case counts have risen, it has become important to use this capacity to support our learning environment – allowing us to react more quickly with contact tracing when there is a suspected, but unconfirmed, case of COVID in the learning community. So those “for cause” cases will be prioritized, but we will also keep a waiting list in the event additional appointments become available. There is a new telephone number to call to make an appointment: (516) 364-5799 Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Appointments can only be made for the day of your call or the following business day.) Just as demand for testing has surged at urgent care centers, we’ve similarly experienced demand that far exceeds our capacity, necessitating prioritization that helps preserve our in-person learning environment.

Before signing off, I want to take a minute to thank the contact tracing team – even though school was closed, the team worked every single day during the break, weekends and holidays alike. Their dedication is truly remarkable.

Hoping for health and happiness in the new year. 

Welcome back!
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Like most Americans, I watched the events unfolding in the nation’s Capitol earlier this week with horror as they threatened the citadel, and thus the very roots, of our democracy. Some 30 years ago, I received a graduate fellowship to work in the Legislature, and from my cubicle in the State Capitol building, I would daily watch the debate, compromise, and occasional peaceful protest that comprise the free speech and democratic process which make our governmental institutions from the majestic to the municipal an example for the world. In the past few days, I’ve read many stories and opinions on how Wednesday’s events were a deep stain on that tradition, and that will undoubtedly be one aspect we remember. But I will also remember that the democracy I once watched from a front row seat was stronger than this test, though at a terrible price.

There are many lessons for our students in these events now and in days to come. While this test affirmed our democracy is not fragile, that can’t mean we may take it for granted or fail to protect it. Implicit in every dispiriting event of 2020 is the hope that we will turn a corner to a brighter future for ourselves and especially our next generation.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King wrote, "Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” For our students to build the brighter future we wish for them and this country, we teach them to respect each other’s differences, be good citizens, embrace kindness and value democracy. New York’s native son President Teddy Roosevelt put it well: “By far, the best gift that life has to offer is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing.” Educating our next generation with “intelligence plus character” is truly “work worth doing” now more than ever.

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I’m sure you have noticed the uptick in COVID-19 positive cases we have been reporting to the community recently. While this increase was predicted by health officials and is reflective of what is taking place in the larger community, it does not represent a surge in cases taking place in the schools. We have not yet seen transmission within the school buildings, and many of the cases we reported over the last few weeks are individuals who have not been present in the school buildings recently.

Updated Micro-Cluster Strategy
On Monday, Governor Cuomo made remarks that implied new metrics may guide school closures in areas of elevated COVID-19 positivity rates. Although formal guidance has not been shared with districts yet, schools in areas with positivity rates above 9% may be required to test a portion of the in-person student and staff population. If the percent testing positive for COVID-19 in school is lower than in the community, schools may continue in-person instruction.

For the last several weeks, we have been preparing to launch a testing program in our schools should the State require us to do so. While we await official guidance on the details, parents and guardians should anticipate being asked to provide consent for their child(ren) to be tested so that we can act quickly once those rules are issued. Please be assured parents and guardians will be given advance notice before any test is administered, getting tested by a personal health care provider will remain an option, and no students will be tested without parental consent.

As I’ve said previously, we are working hard to preserve in-person instruction as we feel that is how we can best serve our community at this time. It is important to note that there are two scenarios that may result in a school closure; the first is if the positivity rate among the in-person school population is higher than in the community, as announced by the Governor and outlined above, and the second is if we are unable to run the buildings safely due to a high number of staff being required to quarantine.

We must all continue to work together and maintain vigilance in adherence to the recommended protocols: Wear a mask; Wash your hands; Watch your distance. And please remember to notify us immediately by completing this form if you or your child has tested positive or are a close contact of someone who has tested positive.

Quarantine Duration Changes
The NYS Department of Health recently adopted the revised CDC guidelines on the length of time an individual with a COVID-19 exposure must quarantine. The new guidelines shorten the COVID-19-related quarantine period to 10 days (from 14), provided no symptoms are present. Accordingly, the District has implemented this quarantine duration for close contacts of COVID-19 cases, both students and staff. (Note: The CDC guidelines about shortening this period to 7 days through testing were not adopted.) Those testing positive for COVID-19 must still isolate for at least 10 days after illness onset and may not return until at least 3 days after recovery from all symptoms.

COVID Testing
As mentioned in my last update, we recently implemented some changes to the way appointments are scheduled at the Mount Sinai South Nassau satellite testing center at the high school. Demand for tests is quite high and we have a limited number of appointments available each day. Another option for receiving a test is the State-run test site at Jones Beach, where PCR diagnostic tests are offered at no charge. Tests are administered by appointment in a drive-thru format. The number to schedule an appointment is 1-888-364-3065 and more information can be found at https://covid19screening.health.ny.gov. An additional testing option to address some of this demand will be considered by the Board of Education at its Monday meeting.

COVID Vaccinations
This week, Nassau County began making vaccinations available for certain school personnel, such as school nurses and therapists, who may be in close contact with students. The District would like to thank the County for recognizing the important role our staff plays and acting swiftly in distributing vaccinations to help keep everyone healthy and safe. Schools are already safe places, and with each additional person vaccinated, become that much safer.

Bright Spot
The student-run COVID relief organization Long Island Against COVID-19 (LILAC), founded by Syosset High School sophomore Sabrina Guo, made the news again. The organization donated 20,000 pieces of PPE, $2,000 worth of meals, and student-created inspirational artwork to Mount Sinai South Nassau on December 29. The amazing efforts of all the students involved in this organization seem utterly indefatigable, and I couldn’t be more proud of Sabrina and the students she works with so diligently to support the front line workers.

With this first message of January, I want to wish you a very happy new year, with health, safety and brighter days ahead.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

This week the Central Administration held our “holiday luncheon” where we all chip in to buy lunch to thank Syosset’s behind-the-scenes team. In true 2020 fashion, it had to be postponed because it was originally scheduled on last month’s snow day. It’s never a fancy affair, and this year was reduced further still to boxed lunches over Zoom. Trying to find some way to nevertheless make the event special, we hosted a “dream-themed” trivia contest and the winners earned scratch-off tickets. And despite the modesty of the event, a funny thing happened... it was surprisingly fun.

The pandemic has magnified my appreciation (and nostalgia) for what once seemed insignificant or ordinary. We have reinvented so many familiar traditions out of necessity -- from our very intimate commencement exercises at the high school; to car parades and birthday parties; or streamed school plays and, yes, Zoom holiday parties. Why, I’ve seen my own far-flung family more on our bi-weekly family Zooms than I ever did back when I felt comfortable getting on airplanes.

In having to reimagine our cherished traditions, we have ironically learned to appreciate that the “next best thing” is often surprisingly special in its own right.

Earlier this week, the Governor announced that education workers were now eligible to be vaccinated. That’s an important first step in getting schools “back to normal”, but not the only step, nor one that will be completed quickly. We won’t be able to relax our precautions for some time to come, and the more immediate task is to drive down the infection rate that spiked over the holidays. We know what to do to stay safe -- and the longer we keep enjoying “the next best things”, the sooner we’ll get to the place where they become a choice, not a necessity. Who knows … I hope I keep Zooming with my nephews and nieces long after my mask is gone.

Speaking of extraordinary “next best things” ... So many of our advanced research students had their original projects disrupted by the pandemic, with access to research labs and institutions greatly curtailed. So it’s all the more remarkable that even as our students were forced to pivot, every one of our senior research students still submitted competition-worthy projects to the Regeneron Science Talent Search and that 5 of our students were named to the top 300 in the country. I’m proud of every one of our students who found a way to persevere and proceed despite the pandemic’s challenges, and of course, we all celebrate the success of our winners.

……

At Mondays’ Board of Education meeting, several important initiatives occurred.

• The Board approved a second COVID rapid-testing partner to help with the overwhelming demand for testing. The new test site will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is located at the old Woodbury School building on the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Woodbury Road. This is a busy intersection, so to manage the traffic flow and keep everyone safe, those visiting the test site must enter heading north on Woodbury Road, and must exit by making a right on Jericho Turnpike. We are also working to make additional hours and appointments available at our existing testing site at Syosset High School.
• We reviewed the District’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)/Culture of Care to support the various needs of our students with a focus on mental well being.
• Regarding the proposed Amazon warehouse project on Robbins Lane, we reviewed the District’s comments filed with the Town of Oyster Bay in advance of the Planning Advisory Board’s next meeting and with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation during the public comment period on the remediation planned for the site.
• The Board approved live streaming services for upcoming athletic events so families can watch students compete, since in-person spectators will not be allowed. Information regarding accessing the live streams will be provided shortly.

Bright Spot

• Inspired by her work with the Witness Project, whose mission is to explore the spiritual, ethical, and intellectual responses of Holocaust survivors and victims, Syosset High School Senior Laci Janus was so moved that she started a program at the high school to foster a deeper understanding of the Holocaust. The group, named the Holocaust Remembrance Program, now has over 60 student and teacher members. Over the next few months, they will hear from survivors and engage in conversation to gain first-hand accounts of this period of history. I’m so proud of Laci and her important work to preserve the stories of the survivors and help educate this and future generations.

As a reminder, the District is closed Monday, January 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As we head into the long weekend, please remain mindful of the NYS travel restrictions in place.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

I really enjoy watching our student athletes compete here in Syosset. Win or lose, their hard work and passion, our coaches’ dedication, and the character our teams are known for have been sources of pride and satisfaction. Like the students themselves, I’ve missed sports. This week, a milestone occurred: the winter Athletics season began for low-risk sports and Tuesday, I watched the middle school boys swim against Plainview, the first interscholastic athletic event since the shutdown in March. It felt wonderful and surreal all at the same time. It’s really good to be there, but also still very different from the norm we all long to return to.

I observed the swimmers as they maintained social distance and donned their masks immediately upon exiting the pool. There were no spectators, and the coaches’ smiles were obscured by their masks. It was not exactly the atmosphere I remember, but a pretty darn good “next best thing”.

Speaking of sports, today, New York State announced that high-risk sports may resume on February 1, pending local health department approval. It’s too soon to know what this portends, but we’ll continue to communicate with athletes and the community.

So if last week’s theme was the “next best thing”, this week’s is “little by little”. As we start to add back sports and other activities, and we think about the possibilities afforded by a vaccine, it’s tempting to want to rush back to “normal”. But it’s still too soon and these winter months will remain our toughest. What we’ve learned so far is that we can safely do in-person education, we can cautiously reintroduce some athletics, and “next best things” can be pretty special. Each one of these steps has been painstaking and modest, but little by little we are finding what we can safely manage - and outbreaks have reminded us what we’re not ready for yet. Although there are signs that we are headed in the right direction, getting ahead of ourselves will only set us back.

We will get there. We must build back smart and we can’t let our guard (or our mask) down yet, but I have every confidence that little by little we’ll get back to normal.
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Live Streaming Athletic Events:
I know parents and community members love to watch our student athletes compete as much as I do. So I’m happy to report that we are now live streaming winter athletic events on YouTube. Links to the live stream will be posted on our website the day of the event. We’ll even have recordings of the events available for anyone who isn’t able to catch it live. This evening, the Varsity Boys Swimming and Diving meet was live streamed, during which the team earned its 50th consecutive win, a streak that began 6 years ago. Congratulations to the students and coaches on this incredible achievement.

COVID-19 Rapid Test Locations:
With the intention of easing the burden of attaining COVID-19 rapid tests for our community, we have two test sites currently operating on our campuses. The two sites operate independently, and appointments are not transferable between the locations. Please be aware of the following updates related to the two rapid test sites:

• The Mount Sinai South Nassau satellite location on the Syosset High School campus will operate with expanded hours beginning Monday, January 25. The new hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday. The site will be closed on federal holidays. To make an appointment at this test site, please call (516) 364-5799.
• The Advanced Cardiovascular Testing location at the old Woodbury School, which operates from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., has a new URL to book appointments. Please visit the following page to access a link to the booking calendar for this site: https://www.cardiovasculartesting.com/syosset

Please be sure to enter the Woodbury School driveway heading north on Woodbury road, and please do not turn around in front of the entrance to Walt Whitman.

Bright Spot:
This evening, I stopped in to watch the Syosset Gymnastics team compete virtually against Oceanside and it struck me how this new way of competing is a perfect metaphor for the themes of the “next best thing” and making progress “little by little.” With our students and a judge on our campus, and Oceanside students and a judge on theirs, students were able to remain safe (the “next best thing”) while still being able to get back to competing (“little by little”). To all our students who continue to not only persevere, but thrive, in the face of all the challenges and shifts to normal routines, you have my admiration, and you are the bright spots that inspire me to keep moving forward, little by little.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers
#staysafe #staystrong #syostrong

Dear Syosset Community,

This week I had a lot of fun being interviewed by Kyle Dapice for a new feature in the high school newspaper, “The Pulse”. Spoiler alert: I off-handedly synopsized my job description for Kyle in 6 words. “Keep ‘em safe; make ‘em smart.” This year has put obstacles in front of both imperatives, but as we cross off Day 89 (essentially the halfway point) of the school year, I’m in a reflective mood and proud of how this community has faced the challenges of both staying safe and making this year count academically. (To read the rest of Kyle’s interview, you’ll have to wait for the paper which will be posted to the high school website.)

High-Risk Athletics
As I mentioned last week, NYS announced that high-risk sports may resume on February 1. Both Suffolk and Nassau County issued guidance to school districts following that announcement. As we have done from the onset of this crisis, we approach each new challenge from the perspective of maximizing safety, not merely meeting minimums. Consequently, we have pulled best practices from both Counties’ guidance:

• COVID Testing for Athletes: Suffolk County is mandating weekly COVID-19 testing for student-athletes in “high-risk” sports. Like many other Nassau districts, we concluded that decision to be prudent as it helps mitigate the elevated risks these sports present. We are currently evaluating options for administering tests and the appropriate frequency with which testing would be done.
• Spectators: Nassau and Suffolk Counties differ with respect to allowing spectators. In keeping with our “little by little” strategy of not introducing too many new risks at once, we will continue only to livestream and record events for the winter season and reevaluate that decision when positivity rates come down further. I’ve heard wonderful feedback from parents about the livestreams already, and I think of it as one of those “next best things” we may decide to retain even after the pandemic is under control.
• Sports: For the high school, the winter season will include basketball, wrestling, kickline and cheerleading. For the middle schools, we will offer “intramural” volleyball and basketball programs where both boys and girls will have the opportunity to play. Additional information is forthcoming.

I do feel it's important to mention two things. Just because high-risk sports are now permitted does not mean they stopped being risky. A successful season will require a successful partnership: the school district will do our best to mitigate risks, while athletes and their parents must accept both the risks and the responsibility for not exacerbating them through social activities. Our experience in Syosset has shown that there are 10 times as many “close contacts” identified through social gatherings as through school exposures, and … so far ... only the social exposures have resulted in disease transmission.

COVID-19 Rapid Test Sites
I’m happy to see that the community is taking advantage of the two COVID-19 rapid test locations operating on our campuses. To date, over 1,000 tests have been administered between the two sites. We are happy to facilitate this convenience and we have expanded eligibility to include our valued senior citizens who helped build this wonderful community.

As a reminder, the Mount Sinai South Nassau satellite location, operating outside of Syosset High School, has expanded hours and is now operating from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday. Please be advised that this testing site will be closed on Monday and Tuesday in anticipation of the inclement weather predicted. Those with appointments have been contacted to reschedule.

Microcluster (Yellow Zone) Update
Governor Cuomo this week lifted the remaining Yellow Zones on Long Island, and most of those upstate. But we can’t become complacent. Things are trending in the right direction, but as of this writing, Nassau County’s average positivity rate is still just over 6% with 83 new daily cases for every 100,000 residents. It does appear that the expansion of Yellow Zone mandatory testing is becoming less likely, however.

We wanted to control our destiny, and by keeping our daily cases below the county average, the Syosset-Woodbury community has managed to do just that. Keep making smart choices because the quicker we drive those numbers down, the sooner we get back to some semblance of normal.

Continuing Education
I’m proud of the robust Continuing Education program we offer to our community here in Syosset, which has shifted to a virtual format to safeguard everyone’s health. The Spring brochure was just published, and I’m sure you’ll find something interesting. And now you don’t even need to leave home to take advantage of the program.

Kindergarten Registration
I always look forward to welcoming new students and families to the District, they are about to discover our magic! Next week, kindergarten registration will open for the 2021-2022 school year. Information regarding our online registration process can be found on our website. Please feel free to share this information with neighboring families who may not yet be on our mailing list.

Bright Spot
When the pandemic hit in March and Syosset High School student Caroline Zhu found herself with some extra time on her hands, she decided to use that time to help struggling small business owners. She immediately got to work and started a GoFundMe campaign named “COVID-19 Relief for Small Businesses NYC/LI” and then founded a group called “Students Combat Corona,” to help with fundraising efforts and nominating businesses in need. The group has grown to 150 student members and they’ve raised over $3,800 so far. Small businesses are the lifeblood of local communities and I’m so proud of Caroline helping ours stay healthy!

Please be safe should we receive any snow, and stay warm in these frigid temperatures.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers
#staysafe #staystrong #syostrong

Dear Syosset Community,

I hope everyone stayed safe in the winter storm earlier this week and enjoyed some good old-fashioned snow day fun on Monday. On Tuesday, while the storm lingered, we successfully shifted to virtual learning for all students, the “next best thing” that allows us to preserve our instructional days while keeping everyone safe. I’d like to thank the Town of Oyster Bay workers and our District facilities workers, who had the daunting task of clearing a tremendous amount of snow so that we could return to in-person instruction on Wednesday.

Today we announced that Joshua Langman was named the Class of 2021 Valedictorian and both Maiya Raghu and Jacob Rosenberg were named Salutatorians. It’s been over 10 years that we’ve had 2 salutatorians, the result of a tie in G.P.As, and it’s fitting that we are able to extend the honor this year. These students have worked so hard and persevered through an evolving educational environment, and being named to the top of this most impressive group of students is quite an accomplishment.

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Upcoming Events
With the big game coming up this weekend, I’m sure many of us will be watching to see how the aging quarterback with a cool first name performs. This week, Nassau County’s average positivity rate finally dipped below 6% and we’ve gotten back to where we were in mid-December. Let’s not give up those painstaking gains by taking unnecessary risks. The sooner we can get back to where we were before Thanksgiving, the better it will be for athletics and other activities. We’re all hopeful we are in the home stretch in our battle against this virus. And as any of our student-athletes can tell you, it’s the home stretch that really counts.

Also coming up is the Lunar New Year holiday and Presidents Week recess. School will be closed from Friday, February 12 through Friday, February 19. As a reminder, the State travel advisory remains in effect. Out-of-state travel (with the exception of contiguous states) requires a quarantine of 10 days. That quarantine may be shortened with negative COVID tests prior to and following arrival back in New York. Please review the details of the travel advisory carefully should you have any travel plans.

COVID-19 Rapid Test Sites
Please be aware the COVID-19 rapid test site located at the high school will be closed on Lunar New Year, February 12th, and President’s Day, February 15th. The rapid test site located at the old Woodbury School will be closed on President’s Day only. Both will be open for the remainder of the recess. Demand for testing has recently increased, so please be sure you have an appointment before arriving at either location.

Bright Spot
The newly formed Syosset Relief Club at the high school, led by Co-Presidents Ethan Chiu and Brian Chou, is already making quite an impact. Formed just last school year, the club is an official American Red Cross Club with over 200 members. They’ve engaged in beach clean-ups, fundraising, and local food drive partnerships, and once COVID-19 hit, they raised almost $5,000 for the American Red Cross and donated 1,000 masks to the Nassau University Medical Center. The club now has formed a partnership with Luv Michael, a NYC-based non-profit that provides support and resources for adults with autism, including a granola bar business that provides a livelihood for these adults. If any students are looking for volunteer opportunities, Ethan and Brian have got you covered.

Have a great weekend and please stay safe!
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Earlier this week I attended the PTA Council meeting and our conversation turned to how much this community has been able to accomplish by working together and looking out for one another. Just a year ago what we have accomplished might have seemed unimaginable and every day I am grateful for everyone’s efforts to support the schools and to keep one another healthy and safe. We can be proud of our success to date, but we can’t celebrate yet. 
 
As you know, we follow COVID data trends closely as part of our decision-making processes, and we make some of that data available on our website. That data has been favorable when viewed in context: for nearly all of the pandemic, our local infection rates have been lower than the county as a whole, and while we too saw infection spikes after the fall and winter holiday breaks, they were not as pronounced as the County average. 

Recently, however, despite steadily improving COVID numbers for both Nassau and Suffolk counties, Syosset’s advantage appears to be slipping. The data can be volatile, but we’ve also noticed a recent uptick in cases and quarantines related to events outside of school. If these trends continue, it could place pressure on the activities we’ve worked so hard to restore, or even trigger a Yellow Zone designation.

We’ve walked halfway across the tightrope, now is no time to lose our balance. Please stay safe over the break, follow all recommended health and safety protocols, and celebrate the holidays safely. 

Quarantine Requirement for Fully Vaccinated People 
Today, the Governor announced that the state would follow new CDC guidance regarding quarantine after exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, “‘asymptomatic fully vaccinated individuals’, meaning those who have received both shots and at least two weeks have passed since the second shot, are no longer required to quarantine within 90 days after the second shot.” As more staff become vaccinated, this will hopefully mean fewer staffing shortages due to exposures. 

Please note the State did not announce any changes to its Travel Restrictions based on recent CDC guidance. Should this change, we’ll alert the community. 

February Monthly Board of Education Meeting

• The first Budget Information Meeting was held, during which Assistant Superintendent for Business Dr. Patricia Rufo reviewed the Capital and Administration Sections of the budget. The presentation is posted on the website. 
• A Public Hearing on the District-Wide School Safety Plan was held. The Plan is posted on the website for the community’s review.
• A recorded presentation was given by our 5(!) Regeneron Science Talent Scholars, highlighting their impressive award-winning projects.
• I provided an update on the Athletics program and the Proposed Amazon Warehouse Project.
• Following the resignation of Board Trustee Mr. Chris Ulrich due to his relocation, the Board decided to leave the seat vacant during the short period of time until the Annual District Election, to be held in May, when the community will have an opportunity to vote on a replacement.
• A recording of the February Monthly Meeting can be found here. 

COVID Notifications Over Presidents Week Recess
As with Winter Recess, the Contact Tracing Team will continue its work during the Presidents Week recess. It remains very important to notify us immediately if you or your child has tested positive or been identified as a close contact by completing the Report COVID Hotline form as soon as possible. If your child develops COVID while in quarantine, please notify us of that as soon as possible as well. 

To minimize emails sent during the break, community notifications regarding positive COVID-19 cases will only be sent on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of next week. Also please note that the COVID-19 rapid test sites at the old Woodbury Grade School and Syosset High School will both be closed on Monday, February 15, but will be open for the remainder of next week. 

Smart911
The Nassau County Police Department has asked us to share information on a free service named Smart911 that allows you to create a private and secure safety profile for your family, including any information you want 9-1-1 to have during an emergency. You can find more information here. 

Bright Spot:
Brothers Joseph and Jake Gagliano have long recognized the importance of community service, and this year they decided to expand their efforts and inspire others by creating a volunteer organization they named The 364. The name serves as a reminder that giving back to the community should be a year-round endeavor, not a once-a-year activity. Joseph, a sophomore at Syosset High School, and Jake, an 8th grade South Woods Middle School student, have already recruited a team that has distributed toiletries to Long Island shelters and plans to volunteer at a food pantry. Their organization’s website states, “By bringing together our peers, we can accomplish so much good through fundraising and donating our time,” and I couldn’t agree more. Keep up the great work!

I wish you all a restful and restorative break next week. Please be safe, keep one another safe, and, like Jake and Joseph, do something nice for someone you barely know. 

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers
#staysafe #staystrong #syostrong 

Dear Syosset Community,

This week, we reached a milestone when we crossed 100 days of school. Elementary level students celebrated being “100 days smarter” by reflecting on what they’ve learned over the last 100 days, showing off collections of 100 items, and creating bucket lists of things to accomplish once they reach 100 years old.

This celebratory milestone holds significant meaning for me this year. I read daily of the reopening challenges faced by schools elsewhere and I’m incredibly grateful for the efforts made by every member of this learning community - students who have adapted to new classrooms, teachers who have stunned us all with their creativity in this new environment, administrators leading confidently despite uncertainty, facilities staff asked to reinvent our building protocols from the inside out, parents who’ve cooperated with our efforts to go “above and beyond” to help keep everyone safe. Today’s accomplishments won’t guarantee tomorrow’s success, but with each day, we inch closer to our goal.

While I don’t know for sure what the next 100 days will look like, we are seeing positivity rates continue to fall nationally and regionally, which is good news as we look to continue our steady progress restoring activities we once took very much for granted. Despite all the distribution challenges, over 17% of Nassau County residents have now received their first vaccination, well above the state average of 13%, and the hope on the horizon appears that much closer.


Kids of Distinction Award Ceremony
Last night, I attended the virtual “Kids of Distinction” award ceremony hosted by Legislator Lafazan, where students across several districts were honored for their activities that benefit the community. I saw many of the students we’ve featured here as “Bright Spots” being honored publicly for their efforts. I was filled with pride for our students and their amazing accomplishments in spite of challenging circumstances. I’d like to thank Legislator Lafazan for his efforts to shine a light on deserving students working so hard to positively impact their communities, no matter their age and no matter the challenges.

Standardized Tests, Regents Exams
Earlier this week the U.S. Department of Education announced that states must administer federally mandated standardized tests for grades 3 through 8 this year, although they would be uncoupled from the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) accountability measures, and states would have flexibility in how the exams are administered. It was also announced that some Regents exams will take place, though they will not count as a graduation requirement. The NYS Education Department is expected to issue new regulatory amendments at their March Board of Regents meeting and we will keep you informed as we receive additional information.

Bright Spot
Syosset High School senior Aayush Turakhia, one of the students honored last night by Legislator Lafazan, co-founded “For the Students by the Students,” a charity that collects excess school supplies and provides them to children in need. Inspired by an opportunity to visit a classroom in an underprivileged community in India, Aayush aims to help students build a better future by providing them with the tools needed to succeed in the classroom. Great work Aayush!

Have a #syostrong weekend!

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Monday afternoon, I walked outside after the high school day had ended and students were starting their practices. It was a beautiful afternoon and the fields were covered with hundreds of JV and varsity boys and girls soccer players, football players, tennis players, cross country runners and more. As I saw our fields finally full of kids for the first time in almost a year, I choked up.

We’ve worked so hard to get back here and I am sure I’m not the only one emotional about restarting sports. Yesterday, we received additional clarification from the NYS Department of Health regarding spectators at athletic events. We will initially permit a limited number of spectators at outdoor games provided all guidelines are followed, and evaluate this approach as the season progresses and as we keep an eye on the data.

The NYSDOH guidelines state that no more than 2 spectators per player may be in attendance, spectators must wear masks (if they cannot maintain social distance), and family units must maintain social distance from each other. Fortunately, we believe we have ample room in the stadium and on the grass fields to accommodate home and visitor spectators – if everyone follows the rules.

The State guidelines also specify that if changing conditions result in our community receiving a micro-zone designation, our ability to host spectators would be negatively impacted. But I’m hopeful that won’t be the case.

Our success is dependent on everyone’s patience and cooperation, but given how we’ve pulled together every step of the way so far, I’m certain we can do this.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

March has begun and spring is in the forecast, if not yet the air. I feel like the sun has been following our approach this year -- cautiously adding a few minutes of light every day, just as we’ve been incrementally adding back activities. The sun’s progress is inevitable, but ours depends on conditions. We’ve avoided introducing new risks simultaneously to evaluate the impact of each step before adding more. This has allowed us to provide as many opportunities as possible to our students while maintaining agility for changing conditions.

Speaking of which, the steady improvement in COVID conditions we had seen since the new year appears to have plateaued. It’s too early to tell if this is the result of “risk balancing” (where improving conditions unfortunately invite greater risk-taking), or the more worrisome development of a variant of the COVID virus taking hold. However, we don’t need to know the cause to know what to do -- stay focused on our 3 W’s: wash your hands, watch your distance, wear your mask. The virus can’t infect someone it never reaches.

Next Fall and School Budget
We are well into our budgeting and planning for next year. Yet, it’s hard enough to predict what next month may be like, much less next fall. So as we did last spring, we are building plans to accommodate multiple scenarios, so that we can react to changing conditions and postpone some major decisions until things become clearer. Nevertheless, in contrast to last year, some encouraging news has emerged. The mid-year cuts in State fiscal support for school budgets that were threatened will not take place this year, the State Comptroller has announced that the State’s fiscal picture for the upcoming year is not as dire as earlier projected, and some federal stimulus funds appear to be earmarked for schools. We’re not out of the woods yet, but it’s a much more encouraging picture than the calamity we feared last year.

Graduation Ceremonies
With the announcement of the increase in the number of people permitted at venues and gatherings, I’m sure parents are wondering if similar updates are forthcoming regarding graduations and moving-up ceremonies. So far, State officials have not issued new rules on commencement ceremonies. Until they do, the guidance from last June still stands. I am hopeful that as the spring progresses, we’ll see improving conditions prompt loosened guidelines, and as soon as they’re announced, we’ll update the community on developments. We are actively planning for multiple scenarios and if last year taught me anything, it’s that there is no limit to this community’s creativity in finding ways to do special things for kids -- no matter the challenges.

Indoor Spectators
Earlier this week, I announced our plans to safely host spectators at outdoor athletic events based on guidance issued by the Nassau County Department of Health. Indoor spectators present a more difficult challenge. We have the advantage of a new ventilation system in the high school gym with a high-efficiency air filter, but each sport presents unique logistical challenges. It won’t be possible to accommodate spectators at swimming or badminton, but we have plans to incrementally add spectators to volleyball over the course of the season, evaluating as we go. We will continue to stream games so everyone can get in on the action, even if not in person.

Travel Quarantines
This week the Governor also announced that domestic travelers to New York State who have been fully vaccinated (2 weeks past the last dose) are no longer required to quarantine or test-out for the first 90 days after their full vaccination. We have updated our quarantine protocols to incorporate this new rule.

Bright Spot
Anjali Singh, an 8th grade student at HBT, spearheaded a book drive with the Student Activity Club to collect books for students in Africa. Over 700 books were collected and are currently on their way overseas. If education is the doorway to opportunity, Anjali just shipped 700 keys around the globe. Great work Anjali!

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

#SyoStrong #SyoProud,

Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

It has been a long year since the Friday exactly a year ago when we had our last day of in-person school before shutting down the following Monday. It has not been easy since. Over 2,000 residents of the Syosset-Woodbury community and 375 members of our learning community have become sick, and not all are fully recovered yet. Worst of all, members of our learning community have lost family members to the virus.

But times of crisis reveal community heroes: our healthcare workers and first responders who never stopped answering the call to serve – even when their own safety was most at risk; our educational innovators who never stopped iterating and improving our virtual classrooms and who courageously returned to school in the early days when no one knew if our safety precautions would be enough; and my personal bright spots, all of our young people whose extraordinary contributions showed that neither age nor social distance can limit kindness and service.

At the height of the pandemic, our schools provided childcare for essential workers, free meals for families in need, devices so all children could learn, car parades and moving up ceremonies reimagined for safety. We planned for an uncertain new year despite any clarity about the State budget and held our first virtual budget vote. And now, as we cross our 112th day of school, thanks to the hard work of so many, only 2 buildings have lost 2 days of in-person instruction to the virus, and we have not seen a single instance of COVID transmission via the classroom.

Even with their masks on, seeing our athletes and feeling the warmer weather makes it seem like we are emerging from a long hibernation that started last March and never ended. We all want it to be over and we see the end on the horizon. It’s natural to wonder if we can rush that progress.

We are now 12 months along what I’ve always suspected would be an 18-month crisis; one that won’t fully turn the corner until children and adults alike have access to a safe and effective vaccine. The news that a vaccine will be available to every willing adult by May is extraordinarily encouraging and one of the vaccines is already authorized for use with 16-year-olds, while others are in trials for younger children.

We have made remarkable progress, but like Spring crocuses poking through snow, these are green shoots in a harsh environment:

• The positivity rate stopped improving 4 weeks ago, stuck at 4 times what it was last October.
• Daily case counts have also plateaued at roughly 3 times the former “yellow zone” trigger, 5 times where they were last October.
• The Long Island region has the 2nd highest positivity rate in the state, and Nassau has now moved higher than Suffolk.
• In less than 2 weeks this month alone, over 100 members of our learning community have been quarantined for close contact, and more than 35 people were confirmed COVID-positive.

If we move to reopen too slowly, students lose out on important time together and treasured rites of passage. But, if we reopen too quickly, we potentially put people’s health and safety at risk with so much virus still in circulation. On the plus side, 26% of Nassau residents have now had at least one vaccine dose and we’re optimistic that increased vaccinations will restart the downward COVID trend. The best thing we can do to help the vaccines is to avoid taking new risks with the unvaccinated population - like children. We will continue to follow these metrics closely as well as guidance from state authorities for the remainder of this year.

We know that seniors are anxiously awaiting news on events like prom and commencement. We will want to maximize the flexibility of any regulations in place at the time, but the current restrictions unfortunately mirror last year. The high school administration has been working with student government and the PTA on plans they hope to announce shortly. We know too that parents would like to get seniors back together, even if only for a day, and we are exploring ways to do so safely with time that may be freed up by the likely cancellation of many Regents exams this year.

I remain optimistic about the near-term potential and am frankly amazed at how many Nassau residents are already vaccinated, given the challenges with the rollout. Mount Sinai South Nassau obtained a small number of vaccination slots for education workers and made them available for Syosset staff. We hope to have more such partnerships in the near future.

We can look back with pride in what we’ve accomplished over the last year, remember those we lost, and work to get back to more familiar schooling as soon as it’s safer. The best way forward is to avoid having to go backward, and as we’ve seen so many school closures across the County, we must carefully walk a fine line. But, I have every confidence that as a community, we can do it.


Updated Quarantine Guidance
This week, the NYS Department of Health issued updated quarantine guidance for those fully vaccinated (2 weeks or more following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine) or have recovered from a confirmed positive case of COVID-19.

• Close Contacts (individuals exposed to COVID-19) no longer need to quarantine provided they are asymptomatic and have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 during first 3 months after full vaccination, or have recovered from a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 and it is within 3 months of the date of symptom onset.
• As of April 1, domestic travelers to New York will no longer need to quarantine provided they are asymptomatic and have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 during the first 3 months after full vaccination, or have recovered from a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 and it is within 3 months of the date of symptom onset.

We have updated our quarantine protocols to incorporate this new guidance.

Mount Sinai South Nassau COVID-19 Test Site
Today is the last day the Mount Sinai South Nassau rapid test site will be operating on the Syosset High School campus. The Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics test site located at the old Woodbury School on the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Woodbury Road will continue to serve our learning community. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at Mount Sinai South Nassau for their dedication, hard work, and the important role they played in helping us to maintain a safe environment for our learning community. We sincerely appreciate their effort on our behalf.

Bright Spot
When South Woods student Maya Sharma was just 9 years old, she learned about Angel House, an organization that builds homes for orphans in India, and was inspired to help. Setting an ambitious goal of raising $20,000 to house 12 orphans, Maya got to work selling homemade jewelry and soliciting donations. Three years later she reached her goal, and 12 young boys are now living in the home she funded and are provided with education, food and a safe place to live. Greek astronomer and mathematician Archimedes once observed, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” Maya’s perseverance and commitment, and the impact of her efforts, have leveraged a world-changing opportunity for those dozen boys.

Enjoy this wonderful spring weekend. Play hard, be careful, stay safe.

#SyoProud
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

This week ends with a tangled mix of emotions from the week’s major events. I spoke with several leaders in Syosset’s Asian communities and while the horrible events in Georgia are miles away, they’ve had an unsettling impact closer to home.

Yesterday, our Task Force on Diversity and Inclusivity held a subcommittee meeting. After working through the agenda, the remarkable Rabbi Jay Weinstein, who leads Syosset’s interfaith council of clergy, asked to share a poem in support and solidarity with Asian parents and staff in attendance. As he finished, he said, “we are with you, we know what it means to be targeted.” He’s right, we are all with you.

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Juxtaposed against these sobering events is the hopeful news that the CDC has determined that schools may safely reduce social distancing recommendations from 6 feet to 3 feet. This obviously has profoundly positive implications for our Fall planning, but I’m sure the parents of high school students are more interested in what it means for the short term.

At Monday’s monthly Board of Education meeting, I outlined a series of factors we were watching to determine when it would be appropriate to begin returning students to full-time learning at Syosset High School. A critical factor was not wanting to get ahead of the CDC’s guidance. The next step is to see how (or if) New York State’s Department of Health changes its guidance to conform to the CDC’s recommendations.

We are in the process of analyzing the CDC guidance now. However hopeful the news, there are serious complications:

• Contact Tracing – “Close contacts” are defined as being closer than 6 feet for 10 minutes, even with masks. Other districts that have gone “all-in” have experienced extensive quarantines -- sometimes even whole grades -- resulting from students closer than 6 feet in every class of a 9-period day. To estimate a sense of magnitude here, we repeated the contact tracing for 29 COVID cases at SHS since January as though students were less than 6 feet apart. The results were stunning – 832 students altogether, or roughly 29 students quarantined on average for each positive case.
• COVID Metrics - The CDC recommends that “in areas of high community transmission, middle and high school students should be 6 feet apart if cohorting is not possible.” Our regular 9-period day is the opposite of cohorting and unfortunately, the Long Island region’s transmission rate is about 6 times the CDC’s standard of 7 daily cases per 100,000 people. Again, the DOH will have the last word.
• Lunchroom – The CDC guidance is unchanged for lunchrooms. We barely have enough space to feed half the students at 6 feet distance in the high school. We plan to take advantage of warmer weather, but this could become a significant hurdle, especially on inclement days.

Like the County, our case counts have also plateaued. We have been averaging about 10 cases per week at Syosset High School. If our simulation of 29 close contacts per case is accurate, that could still result in large numbers of quarantines. Undoubtedly, this is why the CDC ties case numbers to returning to school.

What does this mean going forward? We will spend the next several days scouring the CDC guidance, and awaiting updated guidance from New York State. In the near future, we will announce a more detailed plan to begin gradually returning high school students to full-time, in-person learning, starting with our 12th graders, the senior class.

However, I do not anticipate that date occurring until after the Spring Recess. We need to see if there is a spike like we experienced after the Thanksgiving and December breaks. By waiting, we will avoid quarantining large numbers of students that would result if there is a travel spike with classrooms less than 6 feet.

Two last notes: for now, the CDC guidance won’t produce major changes K-8. But this fall, we’re now solely focused on a 9-period day for the middle schools, and we’ll be able to accommodate all students in person at their home elementary school.

Stillwell Fields
Joining us at the Board meeting Monday evening, Legislator Lafazan and the District announced a proposal to transfer the cleared portion of Stillwell Park to the school district from Nassau County, and for the County and District to jointly fund an improvement project to develop the property into a better athletic facility for our students and an enhanced recreational asset for our community with added amenities and increased security.

A series of community engagement meetings will be held to provide more information, receive feedback, and answer questions. Dates will be announced shortly. We anticipate the community having the opportunity to vote on the proposal during the Annual Budget Vote in May.

Spring Recess/Quarantine Guidance
The Governor recently announced that New York State Travel Guidelines will be updated as of April 1, no longer requiring quarantine after domestic travel in the U.S. However, we still lack formal guidance from the NYS Department of Health on how to implement it. Even if no longer mandated, the NYS Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution, and mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers. Regardless of quarantine status, all those returning from out-of-state travel must fill out the Traveler Health Form upon entering New York, continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14 and must immediately self-isolate if any symptoms develop.

The percent of the Nassau County population that has had the first vaccination dose is now approximately 30%, which is great news. Although very encouraging, we have not yet reached the point where we can let our guard down, especially in social situations where our data shows nearly all of the exposure and spread.

Our upcoming Spring Recess is a critical moment of our school year, and the cooperation of our community in adhering to health and safety protocols is crucial at this time. Any students or staff members who travel during the break should monitor for symptoms and quarantine if necessary. The COVID-19 rapid test site at the old Woodbury School will be operating during the break and on Saturday, April 3.

Lastly, please enjoy this week’s bright spot below.

Stay safe, stay #syostrong.
Tom Rogers
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Bright Spot
Normally, we’d recognize the impressive accomplishments of our winter student-athletes in person at a Board of Education meeting. While they’ll miss that opportunity, I instead get to share my pride this way. These young people achieved incredible success under extraordinary circumstances. I’d like to commend each student-athlete who participated, and certainly their Coaches, for the effort and perseverance they put forth during the condensed winter season. I’d especially like to thank the Board and our Coaches for putting together an extraordinary off-season training and conditioning program for our athletes last fall, so that when sports finally returned, they were more than ready to play!

GYMNASTICS
All American:
Allie Jacobs, Jenna Kolberg, Rebecca Millevoi, Hallie Fleshel, Olivia Donach, Millie Woo, and Cami Platt

All State:
Allie Jacobs, Jenna Kolberg, and Rebecca Millevoi

All County:
Olivia Donach, Claire Hwang, Nicole McDermott, Cami Platt, Ilana Slade, Millie Woo, and Hallie Fleshel

Special Individual Award:
Olivia Donach received the Marilyn Schnaars Award and $100 Scholarship from the Nassau County Girls Gymnastics Coaches Association

SWIMMING
Section 8 Swimming & Diving Scholar Athlete of the Year:
Michael Lu

All County Awards:
Ethan Chen, Joseph Chen, Allan Chu, Austin Fei, Michael Lu, Ari Regev, Patrick Yan, Danny Zeng

GIRLS BASKETBALL
All County:
Lilah Grubman, Delli Mizrahi

All County Honorable Mention:
Victoria Costa, Olivia Mallor, Sam Mayer

All Conference:
Casey Ghamar, Carly Greenbaum, Melanie Lowe

Defensive Player of the Year:
Lilah Grubman

GIRLS BOWLING
All County, All State Qualifier, Team MVP:
Jenn Koestner

WRESTLING
All County:
Jake Brockey, Quinn Broggy, George Oroudjov (Undefeated All Long Island), Michael Rampanelli, Steve Silipo, Dan Terino (Undefeated), Keno Zachary

All Conference:
Will Bowie (Undefeated), Jon Castillo, Ben Marmor, Jon Munoz (Undefeated), Michael Ricciuto, Jack Shaw, Nick Silipo (Undefeated), Jack Schuster

BOYS BASKETBALL
All-League:
Matt Lindenman, Chris Pettinato, Cyriac Puthussery

FENCING
All Long Island, All County:
Anika Nayak, Tina Zhang

All County 1st Team:
Tyler Chan, Kyle Cheng, Lawrence Zeltser

All County 2nd Team:
Jalen Li, Terry Liu, Kevin Zhong, Richard Chen- Honorable Mention

Dear Syosset Community,

We have heard from many members of our community who shared their concerns about the rise in Anti-Asian American violence and intolerance and how it may impact our community. The Board and I released an important statement in response to these abhorrent acts. To be very clear, racism, bias, intolerance and hate have no place here in Syosset, and we are committed to our work of promoting an inclusive and supportive school environment for all. 

You’ve undoubtedly heard me talk of the important ongoing work of our Diversity and Inclusivity Task Force that began over a year ago, and my pride in the many efforts Syosset has made to celebrate our diverse community and respond to its specific needs. I look forward to reporting on the work in further detail at an upcoming monthly Board of Education meeting. 

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Niche Ranking
Although I’m not a huge fan of ranking websites, in the pandemic, I’ll take all the good news I can get. Niche.com just released this list: 2021 Places with the Best Public Schools in America - Niche. Woodbury was listed as #3 and Syosset as #5. Congratulations to the teachers, leaders, and community partners who all work so hard to make this a wonderful place to get an education. It’s as good a reason as any to be #Syoproud.

Stillwell Fields
At a special meeting earlier this week, the Board of Education placed propositions on the May ballot that would:

1. convey 35 acres of Stillwell Park to the Syosset School District, and 
2. undertake a capital improvement project supported with funds from both the District and Nassau County. 

The propositions work together, and one cannot be approved without the other. The community will have the opportunity to vote in May. The transfer of the property is also subject to approval by the County and State Legislatures.

We will be holding a series of community engagement meetings to provide further information on the propositions and gather feedback in the upcoming weeks. The meetings will be held at South Woods Middle School beginning at 7 p.m. on the following dates:

• Wednesday, April 14, 2021
• Tuesday, April 27, 2021
• Tuesday, May 4, 2021 

In order to allow for appropriate social distance at the meetings, the number of people in attendance will need to be limited. The meetings will be live streamed for anyone not able to attend in person. To register to attend one of the meetings in person, please click on a date above.   

Polling Hours
Also at the special meeting, the Board approved extending the polling hours for the Annual District Election and Budget Vote by one hour, until 10 p.m., so that members of our community observing Shavuot have ample opportunity to vote. Voting hours will be 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. on May 18, 2021. 

Spring Recess
As we head into the Spring Recess, I’d like to remind everyone of the importance of remaining vigilant in practicing all the recommended health and safety measures while enjoying the break. As I mentioned last week, future plans regarding hybrid learning are dependent on whether there is a surge in positive cases following the break, and we need your help to be successful.

The COVID-19 rapid test site operating at the old Woodbury School will be open during the break and on Saturday, April 3, for anyone needing a test. 

And please be aware that to minimize the number of emails sent over the break, we will be notifying the community of any positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, March 31 and Saturday, April 3. 

Quarantine Requirements
We’ve had several questions related to the Governor’s statement that the travel quarantine requirement will be lifted as of April 1. The official rules from the NYS Department of Health that we follow still do not reflect this announcement. Unfortunately, until we receive such guidance, we are operating under the current New York State Travel Advisory. We apologize for this unfortunate situation and hope the Department of Health will rectify the contradiction as soon as possible. We check daily and will update the community as soon as we receive any new information.  

We’ve also received some inquiries on how close contacts to a positive case of COVID-19 are determined and how the resulting precautionary quarantine is implemented. Each case is unique and investigated individually, but we follow all DOH and CDC guidance related to wearing masks, distance maintained, and time duration of the exposure in identifying close contacts. The school conducts its own investigations, and even if a pediatrician does not consider a child not to be a close contact, that does not mean the child has been cleared by the school. 

It is important to provide as much detail to the school as possible when discussing any contact your child may have had with a confirmed case. All interactions need to be investigated, especially car rides and both indoor and outdoor social gatherings. Also, if the school has not contacted you directly but you feel your child may have had some contact with a student who was diagnosed with COVID-19, please contact your school nurse to report the exposure and complete the Report COVID form. Also please note that only results of COVID-19 tests from healthcare providers are accepted. We cannot accept results of at-home COVID-19 tests. 

Bright Spot
I’m so proud of the students in the Work Based Learning Classes at Syosset High School. They spent months planning a fundraising campaign and their hard work resulted in over $1,500 raised for three charities, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The Humane Society, and the Wounded Warrior Project, by selling masks they made with their teacher, Ms. Fuchs. The students took orders from high school students and staff and walked around with a cash register on wheels to collect payment. It was an engaging learning experience for the students that culminated in a benefit to three deserving charities. What a credit to the students’ hard work and their teacher’s innovation. 

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I hope you all enjoy the Spring Recess, and I wish safe and happy celebrations to those observing holidays. 

#Syostrong
Tom Rogers

Hi Everyone,

The Friday update is arriving a little early this week. We appear to be entering a new phase in our fight against COVID and I wanted to provide some perspective and context.

Much of the news is good. Hospitalizations are down overall, deaths continue to decline, and over 40% of Nassau County residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine.

It’s tempting to see this news and assume we’re out of the woods. But that would be premature.

The drop in fatalities and hospitalizations appears more due to the high rate of vaccination among older persons than receding COVID transmission. Look beneath the headlines and find the rate of hospitalization of younger persons is climbing and despite growing numbers of vaccinated people, the drop in Nassau County’s positivity rate and daily cases has been stalled for over 5 weeks.

• In the last 14 days of February, Nassau County was averaging 611 cases/day with less than 8% of the population fully vaccinated.
• For the last 14 days, Nassau County has been averaging 621 cases/day, even though twice as much of the population is fully vaccinated and 40% is now partially vaccinated.

The obvious implication is that the transmission rate is rising among the shrinking pool of unvaccinated people (which includes students). This, in turn, may be driven by two highly transmissible variants (B.1.117 and B.1.526) that now appear to account for nearly 70% of cases in New York City.

While we have still not seen any evidence of transmission in a Syosset classroom, there has been a sharp increase in the number of positive cases among members of our learning community. I know Monday’s report of 26 cases was eye-opening, and we have had 2 January-like days since. A little context may be helpful: some of those cases were students already in quarantine for earlier close contact; others occurred during the break and we were simply notified after the holidays. Neither circumstance presents a risk of school-based transmission. Still, it’s a noticeable uptick and as a whole community we should react.

The transmission we’re seeing is occurring mostly through social events and travel. What’s new is that events that would have been unlikely to result in transmission last fall are now resulting in some transmission. It’s unclear whether that’s the result of the variants, or lax mask-wearing, distancing, hand-washing etc., but it is a new development that we’re taking seriously.

What is clear is that allowing a more transmissible variant any toe-hold in Syosset will set back all of our plans for a return to “normal”. Here’s where we must remain #Syostrong. Just like our track athletes who push hardest in the exhausting last leg of their race, we have to dig deep into our reserves of stamina and endurance a little longer. Early on, we speculated that this would be an 18-month crisis. Given the encouraging news about vaccinations for younger children, the tail end of that 18-month period may coincide with the availability of a vaccine for all age groups.

But we’re not there yet, so we can’t start letting our guard down after we’ve accomplished so much these last 13 months. Stay vigilant until COVID and its nasty siblings have literally run out of places to go.

Until then, let’s keep our chins up, our masks up, and our hopes up.

Bright Spot(s)
You may have just read in Newsday about Syosset High School students Evan Cheng and Michael Lan, who started a program in May 2019 named “Music Relief” to share their talent and offer music education to students who couldn’t afford professional lessons. Undeterred by the pandemic, they switched to virtual sessions, and even expanded their reach as far as California! They’ve recruited teachers who share their passion from Syosset and other local high schools, and their team of at least 18 have now served over 100 students nationwide. Donations received from parents have been used to provide food to the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.

They are just 2 of the amazing student artists who are a large part of the reason our District was just named a Best Community for Music Education for the 21st time! But according to Fine and Performing Arts coordinator Michael Salzman, this year’s recognition has been the most meaningful. To keep music alive in the pandemic, the District ensured students would not have to share wind instruments, obtained access to SmartMusic technology and a host of other computer applications such as electronic music textbooks. We hired a remarkable group of “Co-Pilots” so that all elementary music classes would continue to be taught by certified music educators. And while other districts turned them away, we took on the best student teachers to assist with individual instruction. Syosset pilot-tested the NYSSMA virtual festival platform that was ultimately used by 30,000 students across the State to keep competitions alive. Despite a year filled with scheduling and logistical headwinds, our music incredible educators sailed ahead!

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Stay safe, make good decisions, and stay #Syostrong just a little longer,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Following my email earlier in the week, I wanted to provide a few more updates as we head into the weekend.

Testing
Testing Commissioner Rosa and Chancellor Young issued a statement criticizing the Federal decision to require standardized testing and I concur with the points raised in their critique of that decision. Nevertheless we are required to offer the grades 3-8 tests and the Regents tests. However, neither must be administered to all-virtual students and recording the score of the Regents test on a transcript is optional.

Quarantines
The success of our contact tracing effort so far has been due to its conservatism. Some quarantined people ultimately develop COVID, but most do not. Quarantines are a success when they prevent any further transmission and to do so, it’s necessary to quarantine even low-risk contacts, just to be sure. We consult with the Nassau Department of Health in tricky situations, but their approach mirrors ours - if there is a borderline case, the safest thing to do is quarantine. Until there is a cure, avoidance is the highest priority.

Some COVID reminders…

• If you are sick, stay home. The number one thing to remember is that if you have a symptom of any kind, you should stay home. Even if you have a negative rapid test, you should not return to school until the symptoms have completely resolved for 48 hours.
• If you are awaiting PCR results, you must stay home. We require a negative test result to return to school after experiencing symptoms. However, if a physician administers both a rapid test and a PCR test, you must wait until both results are received before returning to school.
• A positive is a positive is a positive. Although no COVID test (rapid or PCR) is 100% accurate, DOH rules state there is no way to identify a “false positive” through subsequent testing to avoid quarantine. Any positive test, even if later contradicted by another test (like a PCR) is still considered to be a COVID infection.
• It is not possible to “test out” of close contact. Although most infections develop within 4-5 days of exposure, some have taken longer. Having a negative test on day 5 only means you’re not positive yet, not that you’re risk-free.
• Please let us know about exposure or positive test results ASAP. The contact tracing team has been working until late in the evening to ensure we clear all close contacts before opening the building the next day. Late information not only makes their day longer unnecessarily, it puts in-person learning at risk because they do eventually need to sleep. Help us do our best work, let us know immediately if you’ve learned you may have been exposed, or if you get a positive test.

I’m encouraged to learn that so many older folks and at-risk people have been able to access the vaccine for so many weeks now - it certainly means that relatives living at home are less at risk, but it does not mean that COVID’s sting is gone. Our pediatrician continues to advise that young people are at risk for cardio-myopathy and other systemic complications, which studies show can happen even when the COVID symptoms themselves are mild. We must continue to take COVID seriously.

Still, we are anxious to continue our progress on our way back to “normal” and I wanted to update you on the points I raised in my March 19 update:

• the Governor indicated that we should receive new guidance on the CDC’s analysis of social distance in schools sometime next week, and
• the Syosset-Woodbury community’s rate of COVID cases did spike after the break. For most of the pandemic, we have been comfortably below the County average and while we’re not yet dramatically above the rest of the county, we closed the gap quickly and don’t yet see a peak. But it also means that bending that curve is also within our power if we go back to doing what had been working all year.

Once we get that spike under control, we can begin the next steps.

End of Year Activities
We’re looking ahead to end of year activities and we have been working with Hofstra to see if the stadium seating rules the State announced for sporting events could apply to commencement exercises. If so, their stadium should be large enough to accommodate a single commencement ceremony, although the rules currently require negative tests (or vaccinations) for spectators. Nevertheless, we are excited to explore this opportunity. As we learn more, we’ll continue to share.

Stillwell Propositions
Speaking of sharing information, I want to thank everyone who registered to attend the community engagement meetings regarding the Stillwell propositions we announced in the March 26 community update, and let you know that there is still time to register for the first meeting taking place next Wednesday. The meetings will be held in person at South Woods Middle School and also live streamed. Information on attending the meetings, viewing the live stream, and submitting your questions and comments can be found here.

Bright Spot
We all know amazing things can happen when students come together united with a common cause, and Syosset High School students Maggie Liu and Abigail Wu certainly demonstrated the power students can have. Working with Caroline Zhu and the Students Combat Corona club, they recruited the help of many Syosset High School and other local high school clubs, and partnered with the Office of Legislator Lafazan and the Woodbury Jewish Center to host a Spring Drive for the homeless. The result of their efforts was 2 tons (yes, really!) of food, clothing, and supplies donated to the Mary Brennan Inn, Long Island Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, and the People Loving People food pantry. After the event Caroline commented “We want to show that every student here in Syosset has the opportunity and resources to create something amazing from nothing, as long as they have the motivation and drive to carry it through!” Sounds like a life lesson to me!
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Enjoy the weekend: chin up, mask up, thumbs up!

#Syostrong
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

We have been analyzing two important pieces of guidance from New York State received in the last week that will have significant implications for the remainder of the school year. They contain some hopeful news and some elements that I know some parents and students will find disappointing in the short term.

Commencements and Moving Up Ceremonies

Earlier this week, the State issued guidance on Commencement and other end of year activities like prom. The exciting news is that it appears that our plan to work with Hofstra to use their outdoor stadium may allow us to hold a single commencement ceremony for the entire graduating class. They are still seeking State approval for our plan, but it appears to fit within the guidelines in the new memo. As with any event at medium or large facilities, participants will have to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test. We’re beginning the planning for this logistical challenge now in the hopes of being ready by June.

The middle schools and elementary schools are still digesting this guidance but are aiming for outdoor ceremonies as well in order to maximize the number of participants possible. The new guidance limits attendance to 200 people without triggering the requirement for vaccination/testing. The guidance was unclear on whether the 200 applies solely to spectators or to all participants, so we’re seeking clarification. Anticipate more information directly from your building principal in the upcoming weeks.

Social Distancing Guidelines (3 ft. vs. 6 ft.)

We also received anticipated guidance from the State on its interpretation of the CDC rule change allowing for social distancing to be reduced to 3 feet in schools under certain conditions. Counterintuitively, the guidance is more restrictive in some cases than the rules it replaces. I’ll try to explain.

The CDC ranks areas by level of COVID transmission from best to worst as: Blue Zones, Yellow Zones, Orange Zones, and Red Zones. Currently, Nassau and Suffolk Counties are in the Red Zone with transmission rates in excess of 100 weekly cases per 100,000 population (about 14 daily cases). Syosset and Nassau are currently double this limit with about 30 daily cases per 100,000 population.

The new guidance contains new restrictions for secondary schools in a Red Zone. The good news is that no changes are required to our current middle or elementary school operations because they are able to accommodate students and remain at 6 feet of social distance.

However, the only way to reduce social distance to less than 6 feet in Syosset High School while the County remains in the Red Zone (high risk) is when students are “cohorting”:

“In counties with high risk of transmission, elementary schools can maintain physical distancing of at least three feet between students in classrooms and cohorting is recommended when possible. However, in middle and high schools three feet between students in classrooms is recommended only when schools can use cohorting. When schools cannot maintain cohorting, middle and high schools must maintain physical distancing of at least six feet between students in classrooms” (p.8, emphasis in original.)

“Cohorting” means having the same small group of students together all day, kept at least 6 feet apart from any other small group -- essentially like an elementary classroom where the same students are together all day, even for music and PE class.

Obviously, it is impossible to implement cohorting at the high school because students change class every period and our wide range of offerings means no 2 students have the same schedule. So, this new guidance does not permit Syosset to reduce social distance at the high school while the County remains in a Red Zone (and there is simply insufficient room to bring additional students, like seniors, back full time and remain at 6 feet).

Lastly, even in areas that are not in the Red Zone, the rules for “close contact” remain unchanged - anyone within 6 feet of an infected person for 10 minutes must quarantine for 10 days. Given the rapid proliferation of even more contagious variants in our region, relaxation of these rules seems unlikely.

We will continue to monitor COVID trends and CDC zone designations. Meanwhile, the guidance has some other requirements:

• Distance requirements for wind instruments and singing is reduced from 12 feet to 6 feet, regardless of CDC Zone.
• Physical barriers (plexiglas screens) are no longer recommended, but are not required to be removed.
• NYSDOH “strongly recommends” that when schools move to less than 6 feet of social distance, they implement random COVID screening testing.

COVID-19 Vaccinations
After several weeks at a plateau, Nassau is finally showing a downward trend in COVID cases over the last week and the post-spring-break spike here in Syosset appears to have crested. The downward trend is hopefully the result of increasing numbers of persons being vaccinated. Over 46% of Nassau County residents have now had a first dose, we have run a series of vaccination opportunities for staff, and now anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to receive a vaccination, so members of our student body are being vaccinated, making our schools that much safer. Better still, Newsday reported data by zip code showing that the rate of vaccination in the Syosset and Woodbury area is even higher than the County average.

Although vaccinations are the likely reason the downward trend has finally resumed, it’s not a time to let our guard down. A vaccine that is 90% effective should hopefully drive infections down dramatically across a large population. But no single individual will be 100% protected. The CDC recently released data on rare instances of positive COVID-19 cases among those fully vaccinated. Therefore, we must maintain vigilance and everyone must continue to follow health and safety guidelines until this epidemic finally burns itself out. Our best chance of preserving in-person instruction and end of year celebrations is to keep doing what has kept us safe all year.

COVID-19 Rapid Test Site
No, the circus didn’t come to town. With the warmer weather, please be aware that the bright blue bus offering COVID testing at the old Woodbury School COVID-19 test facility has been replaced by a big white tent. The facility will be operating in the same manner and will continue to serve our entire community. Should you need to schedule an appointment for a test, please click here.

Daily Health Attestation
We’ve recently updated the daily health screening questionnaire to reflect the new travel guidance. Please remember that this questionnaire must be completed prior to entering any of our buildings.

Budget
On Tuesday of next week, the third Budget Information Meeting will be held prior to the Monthly Board of Education meeting, taking place at South Woods Middle School at 8 p.m. A summary of the budget will be provided with a focus on the revenue component. And thank you to all who attended the first community engagement meeting for the Stillwell propositions held on Wednesday evening. We reviewed the propositions for the transfer of a portion of the Stillwell Fields property to the school district and the investment in improvements and added amenities. To view a recording of the meeting, please click here. Additional meetings will be held on April 27 and May 4.

Bright Spot
Every child deserves a birthday celebration, and Syosset students Georgia Martin, Noora Zakaria, and Michelle Yiu were featured in Newsday for volunteering their time and talents to provide children in homeless shelters and foster care with all the necessary supplies to make that happen. Working with the non-profit organization Birthday Wishes, the students donate items such as decorations, goodie bags and baked goods. Georgia, an H.B.T. student and only 11 years old, has been working with the organization for 3 years, and SHS juniors Noora and Michelle stepped up in the fall when they knew the organization could use some help with their efforts during the pandemic. The joy and cheer that they spread is like celebrating birthdays all year.

Have a great weekend!

#Syostrong
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

We are pleased to announce the selection of Ms. Sari Goldberg McKeown and Mr. Christopher Meyers as elementary principals for the Syosset Central School District. Ms. Goldberg McKeown will succeed Mr. Jeffrey Kasper as the principal of Village Elementary School and Mr. Meyers will succeed Ms. Thea Pallos as the principal of Robbins Lane beginning on July 1, 2021.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. Kasper and Ms. Pallos for their years of leadership and dedication to the Syosset community. They will be missed next year, and I wish them all the best in their retirements.

Ms. Goldberg McKeown is an experienced educator who currently serves as a Curriculum Associate and K-12 Remote Learning Principal in the Commack School District. Ms. Goldberg McKeown was a tenured reading teacher in the Locust Valley and Levittown School Districts. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at St. John’s University. It is evident that she is committed to academic excellence and life-long learning.

Mr. Meyers is a well-respected Earth Science teacher at South Woods Middle School and Varsity Track and Field Coach in Syosset. He has been the Syosset Summer School Principal for the past nine years. He has made a positive impact on the Syosset school community in various roles, such as mentoring Student Teachers and as the advisor to the Student Government Club. Mr. Meyers is a valued member of our faculty, and has developed strong connections with our students, staff, and the community.

I am confident in the leadership abilities of Ms. Goldberg McKeown and Mr. Meyers, and I know we will benefit from their extensive experience. They both look forward to championing extraordinary learning experiences for our youngest students in their new roles.

Please join me and the Board of Education in congratulating Mr. Meyers and welcoming Ms. Goldberg McKeown to Syosset!

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

In case you missed the announcement this morning, at a special Board of Education meeting last night, the Board approved the appointments of Ms. Sari Goldberg McKeown and Mr. Christopher Meyers as the principals of Village and Robbins Lane, respectively, beginning July 1. After a rigorous interview process, I’m confident they will make excellent additions to our leadership team and excited by the experience and talent they bring to their roles. I’d like to extend my gratitude to the hiring committee for their involvement in the selection process. And I’d like to, once again, wish all the best to Mr. Kasper and Ms. Pallos in their retirements.

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End of Year Events
At Tuesday’s monthly Board of Education meeting, we reviewed our plans to honor our students who are moving up and graduating, and to celebrate the end of the school year.

• Elementary moving up ceremonies will take place on June 14 and 15, with a rain date of June 16. The ceremonies will take place outdoors with a limit of 200, as per the current NYS guidance. Information regarding other end of year celebratory activities will come from the building principals.
• Middle School moving up ceremonies will take place at Syosset's new track and field outdoor stadium. South Woods will take place on Monday, June 21 and HB Thompson will take place on Tuesday, June 22, with a rain date to be determined. Multiple ceremonies will take place each day so that we can stay under the limit of 200.
• The high school commencement will take place at Hofstra’s outdoor stadium on June 23. The venue can accommodate at least 2,600 spectators. As we will have more than 200 in attendance, proof of a negative COVID test or proof of full vaccination will be required.
• The Prom will be held at the Heritage Club on June 17 in 2 sessions. Proof of a negative COVID test or proof of full vaccination will be required for this event.

In addition, I also shared that we will be announcing opportunities to reunite the senior class over the course of the rest of the year. First up will be a “Commitment Day” celebration on Monday, May 10. Since many colleges are delaying the traditional May 1 commitment day, we hope that by May 10 most of our seniors will know their fall plans and proudly come together to celebrate as a whole class.

Detailed information on this and other end of year activities and events will be provided by each of the building principals.

Budget
At the Budget Information Meeting that took place on Tuesday, after reviewing a presentation with a focus on the revenue component, the Board of Education adopted the proposed 2021-2022 budget. The Budget Hearing will be held on May 10, with the annual District Election and Budget Vote taking place on May 18. Detailed information on the proposed budget, including the budget newsletter to arrive in homes shortly, can be found here.

As a reminder, the next community engagement meeting regarding the Propositions to transfer a portion of the Stillwell property to the school district and invest in improvements and added amenities will be held on Tuesday, April 27. To register to attend the meeting in person, please click here. The meeting will also be live streamed (the link will be posted on the website). For more information on the Propositions, please visit www.syossetschools.org/stillwell.

Unused Snow Days
As no makeup days for inclement weather are required this year, all schools will be closed on Thursday May 13, Thursday May 27, and Friday May 28.

Daily Health Attestation
We are aware that many have recently been presented with a bothersome reCAPTCHA process following the Daily Health questionnaire, requiring the identification of images before the form can be submitted. This is a security measure designed to distinguish humans from machine input. We have asked the provider of the questionnaire to delete this feature and they are investigating the issue. We apologize for any inconvenience; it drives me crazy too.

Positive COVID-19 Notifications
I’m sure you are just as relieved as I am to see the numbers declining on our daily positive COVID-19 email notifications. And I’m sure you would appreciate a few less emails to attend to. Therefore, going forward we will send out the notifications of positive COVID cases 3 times per week - on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

COVID-19 Vaccination Opportunities
For anyone in need of a COVID-19 vaccination, Northwell Health has advised us they have appointments available.

Bright Spot
On Tuesday, April 27 at 4:30 p.m., the South Woods and H.B. Thompson Chamber Orchestras will combine for a special performance to raise awareness and stand up against racism and hate. The students will be performing music by the Asian American composer Soon Hee Newbold whose message to our students is “Rise above the ignorance, and let your actions do the shouting.” The performance can be viewed by livestream only: Syosset Concert 4:30 PM - YouTube. The students are raising money for CommUNITY Action Fund by Hate is a Virus through a GoFundMe campaign, and are already almost half-way to their goal. I hope you’ll join me in supporting our students’ important initiative.

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As the “Fall” athletics season comes to a close, I want to congratulate our teams for terrific seasons despite the challenges and wish good luck to those with playoff games tonight and over the weekend. Go Syo! We’ll have a comprehensive list of our students’ accomplishments in an upcoming update.

Still #Syostrong,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Next week is Teacher Appreciation week, and while we’ve always appreciated our amazing teachers, I think this year has given us an appreciation like never before for the importance of what they do and the complexity of doing it well.

In redesigned classrooms both literal and virtual, our teachers have reinvented education for social distance, whether the students were 6 feet or 6 miles apart. They made a massive surge forward in the use of technology, solving challenge after challenge created by the pandemic. What they have accomplished over the last year has been extraordinary and inspiring, and they have not only my appreciation, but my gratitude for their dedication to the young people of Syosset in this most extraordinary year.

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End of Year Celebrations
This week we announced our plan to bring all our seniors together on Monday for a Senior Commitment Day celebration. I’m so happy to hear how excited our seniors are for this well-deserved day to be together in the building and to celebrate each other’s post-graduation plans. I am really looking forward to seeing all our seniors on Monday, and I’d like to express my gratitude to the high school administration for their efforts to make this happen and to the students in grades 9 through 11 who will be learning remotely on Monday to make room for the seniors.

Also this week, the State issued updated (and encouraging) guidance on end of year celebrations. We are reviewing this updated guidance with Hofstra and we hope to finalize and share our plans for the high school commencement ceremony with everyone next week.

Budget
As a reminder, we are holding the third Community Engagement Meeting on the Stillwell Fields Propositions to be included with this year's budget vote on Tuesday, May 4 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held in-person at South Woods Middle School and also live streamed. Please click here for more information on the Stillwell Propositions, and click here if you would like to register to attend the meeting in-person on Tuesday.

Bright Spot
We all know the importance of communication in building connections, and we are so proud of South Woods student Grace Chenxin Liu for her efforts to promote an understanding of the Chinese language and culture through her award-winning journalism. Grace, in partnership with students from across the U.S., co-founded the student-led organization ABC Media, which showcases student-created multimedia works highlighting Chinese culture. The organization has a growing online audience, and warmly welcomes new members to join in their journey.

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Have a wonderful weekend, stay safe and #syostrong!

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

As heartened as I was several weeks ago to see our fields covered with student athletes at the end of the day, I was even more moved to be standing on the sidelines cheering our spring sports teams, knowing that these athletes lost their season last year and that it was literally 2 years since their last chance to play. Their joy at competing once again was unmistakable. Seeing our kids doing what they love is always the best part of the day; knowing how hard we’ve worked as a community to get back to this place is a source of pride.

That joy has been dampened by learning of a racial-bias incident in our District. The District is constrained from going into detail, but it is important for the community to know that, in no uncertain terms, we absolutely do not tolerate these actions and any such incidents are taken very seriously, with thorough investigations leading to appropriate consequences. More broadly, I’m proud of the students who bravely spoke up, and moments like these underscore the importance of the work being done by our Diversity and Inclusivity Task Force, which I’ll be outlining in an update to the Board of Education at their meeting Monday night.

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Stillwell Propositions
This week, we held the third community engagement meeting regarding the propositions to transfer the cleared portion of the Stillwell property from Nassau County to the school district, and invest in improving the property with $3 million in County funds, $2 million from reserves and $5.5 million from bonds. We appreciate all the community members who attended and provided comments and questions. Recordings of each of the meetings and the presentations given are available on the website. As a reminder, the Budget Hearing will be held on Monday at 7:45 p.m., just prior to the monthly Board of Education meeting, at South Woods Middle School.

I’m aware there is a lot of discussion in the community regarding these propositions, and I’m thankful for our engaged community. We’ve made a lot of information available on our website, and we’ve compiled this document addressing the most frequently asked questions from the community. Today or tomorrow, you should receive our budget newsletter with added pages outlining the Stillwell Propositions, which was mailed out to every resident in the district. (Note: Nassau County is under a Federal order to ensure that elections within its borders are conducted in both English and Spanish, which necessitated the translation of the Syosset Pride.)

The Show Must Go On
I’d like to take a moment to commend the high school’s Theatre Arts program on what they have been able to accomplish this year. They have persevered throughout this most unique school year and the result of the dedication and hard work of our talented students and faculty has been nothing short of extraordinary. They’ve managed to produce an evening of student directed One Acts, a New York Premiere of a contemporary play (One Stoplight Town), a Shakespeare production (Julius Caesar), and they are now finishing filming a full-length musical (High School Musical). And they’re not done! They still have a virtual evening of "Unexpected Songs" and three virtual student productions that will be going out before the end of the year. I encourage you to get your tickets to the performance of High School Musical which will be live-streamed May 26 – May 30 and show your support for these hard-working young people while also supporting the Syosset Scholarship Fund.

Bright Spot
We started this week with a day of celebration for our seniors, and it was one of the most uplifting days of the school year. For the first time in over a year, the senior class was reunited at Syosset High School and their joy was palpable. The seniors donned garb celebrating their post-graduation plans, and we shortened the academic day to allow for a celebration on the track and turf field. Seeing the excitement with which our students are looking towards their future was so inspiring, and knowing our faculty has prepared them well for the success written all over their shirts was rewarding for us all. Congratulations to all our seniors!

Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all the superhero moms in our community!

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Community,

I apologize for interrupting your Mother’s Day, but I felt it was important to update you on the investigation of the incident I alerted the community to on Friday.

That investigation is ongoing, including additional parental contacts over the weekend. At this point, we have interviewed more than 2 dozen individuals, and have been in contact with the families of every student alleged to have been involved, whether as a witness, a victim, or one of the accused. Because that investigation is ongoing, the District must refrain from characterizing events in a way that presumes we have reached a conclusion about what happened.

It is important to have as much information as possible about the event itself and also any actions leading up to it. If you have not been contacted by the District, it means your child was not named by any other participants. If you believe your child may have first-hand knowledge to share, please notify the principal, Ms. Burget, so your child can be interviewed later today by phone, or in school on Monday.

In addition, we have been in contact with the Nassau County Office of Asian-American Affairs and have sought their guidance and support as we continue this investigation and work with the school community later this week.

I want to answer some questions that I know are on all parents’ minds.

Is the District taking this seriously?
Yes, absolutely. Allegations of bias-related incidents are very serious. They cause hurt and pain not just to the immediate victims, but to our entire learning community. They must be investigated thoroughly, even if that takes time.

How are these investigations conducted?
Per our DASA policy and state law, investigations of this nature are conducted at the building level. Any time the District investigates a serious incident, we consult with school attorneys to ensure that our investigation is comprehensive and complies with the law.

When the investigation concludes, what information will be shared with the public?
By Federal law known as FERPA, all parties involved have the right to privacy, including the accused. As a result, the law prevents the District from releasing the findings of any investigation, the names of any students involved, or the conclusions and consequences.

Will the investigation be shared with the authorities?
At the conclusion of a serious investigation, the District takes direction from our school attorneys to ensure that we report our findings to any appropriate authorities.  

I know there are students and families who have been deeply upset by this situation. This week, our counselors, psychologists, and social workers will be available to speak with any student who needs support. I too have been deeply upset by this situation, knowing that is has brought so much anguish to the surface for so many families, and saddened that it is not reflective of the inclusive community we hope to continue to build.

The District launched it’s Diversity and Inclusivity Task Force more than a year ago – not to celebrate our progress – but to recognize that much work remains to be done.

Tomorrow, South Woods had a pre-existing plan for an 8^th grade assembly with the child of a Holocaust survivor that will emphasize the universality of words, racism, prejudice, discrimination, ignorance and fear. That assembly will be the first of a series of events at South Woods over the course of the week to emphasize the values we must reinforce for every member of our learning community.

Dr. Thomas Rogers
Superintendent
Syosset Central School District

Dear Syosset Community,

I know our community has been anxious for an update on the status of our investigation of the incident that occurred last week at South Woods Middle School and we have been working daily to ensure the investigation is meticulous and thorough.

Overview

Last week, biased statements, hateful statements and physical aggression were alleged to have occurred involving students at South Woods Middle School. Throughout the course of our investigation, we consulted with our school attorneys and we have been in contact with authorities including the Nassau County Police Department, the Nassau County District Attorney’s office, the Nassau County Office of Asian-American Affairs, the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR) and the New York State Troopers assigned to support DHR.

On May 11, News 12 reported the Nassau County Police Department stated: "This is an internal school investigation and none of the allegations are criminal in nature. The parents also do not wish to press any charges at this time."

Current Status

Privacy laws prevent us from providing specific information to the public, but at this point in our investigation, we have substantiated statements of bias made by children of varying ethnicities directed at children whose ethnicities differed from their own. We also substantiated an instance of limited physical contact and of misogynistic language. For every circumstance we could substantiate, we have consulted with our school attorneys and imposed age-appropriate consequences consistent with our findings thus far.

There are also more serious allegations of hateful speech and physical aggression that we have been investigating. Over the course of the last week, the District has interviewed and, in many cases, re-interviewed dozens of students, their parents, and staff and has extensively reviewed surveillance video from the day. We have consulted with our attorneys on this aspect of the investigation as well and they have advised that our findings to date are not yet sufficient to substantiate these allegations. As we indicated on Sunday, we will pursue any additional first-hand information that comes to light.

To Be Clear

There is no place in school and no place in society for words that do harm. Words of hate are particularly offensive because they are attacks on peoples’ very identities – their ethnicity, their gender, their sexual orientation, their disability status -- and because they harm not only those to whom they are directed, but every person who shares the identity under attack. They should, and do, anger us. And this is why the District has made extensive efforts to promote inclusivity, celebrate diversity, and reexamine our work District-wide.

There is no place in school for physical aggression, or for biased or hateful speech. Every student, in every situation, should feel that school is the safest place they can possibly be.

I know that comparisons to the vandalism incident in 2017 have raised the question of whether our commitment to fighting hate remains undiminished or is conditioned on the identity of the victims. To be clear: acts of hate against any group based on their ethnicity, country of origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability status are all abhorrent. Period.

Moving Forward

This incident has caused anger and frustration not just among Asian-American members of our community, and concern that the District take such allegations and acts very seriously. This incident should not redefine the inclusive Syosset community our leaders have been striving to build, but it underscores the need to build confidence in our processes and how to access them. It serves as a reminder of how urgent that effort is, and why we can never stop.

To that end, this Monday evening at 7:00 pm, we will be hosting a forum at Syosset High School with Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, and the Nassau County District Attorney’s office represented by Caryn Stepner, the head of the Hate Crimes unit we worked with in 2017 and the current head of the Hate Crime Unit, Joseb Gim. Mindful of the current context, we will discuss how the public can work in partnership with law enforcement to keep our communities free of hate and bias. We invite the community to join that discussion in person or observe via livestream (a link will be posted on the District website).

Shortly thereafter, we will be convening a group of community leaders, as we did in 2017, to take stock of the District’s efforts to fight hate and promote inclusivity, and to focus on specific efforts the District can make to fight the anti-Asian hate that has risen so sharply in our country in recent months.

To jumpstart that work, we have already identified partner organizations through the Chinese American Association of Syosset, the Asian-American Bar Association of New York, and Partners in Inclusivity, Inc. Together we will: accelerate our planned incorporation of the contributions of Asians and Asian-Americans in our curriculum, supplement our anti-hate and anti-bias programming, ensure children know where and how to ask for help, and facilitate a restorative process to help our community heal.

The conversation at the Board of Education meeting yielded a number of constructive ideas from the public as well suggestions for where we can improve. At every level, from our Board to the Administration and staff, to our Diversity and Inclusivity Task Force, we remain committed to that ongoing effort.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Thank you to everyone who came out to cast your vote for the annual school budget, which was approved for the 2021-2022 school year. On behalf of the Board of Education and the District, I would like to thank the community for your continued support of our educational program here in Syosset. We are all looking towards the next school year with much anticipation and enthusiasm.

Additionally, our community appeared evenly divided on the Stillwell Fields proposal. Proposition 2 to authorize the transfer of a portion of the Stillwell property to the school district was narrowly approved, while Proposition 3 to authorize an investment to improve the property narrowly failed. But, since both propositions needed approval for the project to advance, we will not be pursuing the next steps at the County and State level.

Lastly, we welcome Shany Park, who immediately assumed the vacant seat on the Board of Education, as well as Lisa Coscia and Brian Grieco, whose terms as Trustees will begin on July 1, 2021.
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Community Forum
On Monday evening, we hosted a forum and open discussion about working as a community and with our partners in law enforcement to combat hate and promote an inclusive and supportive environment. I would like to thank Nassau Police Commissioner Ryder, Chief Lack, Inspector Labate and our POP officers for all taking time to attend, and extend appreciation to Joseb Gim and Caryn Stepner from the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office for their attendance and support. A recording for the forum is available on our YouTube channel. I thank everyone who attended for sharing their thoughts and suggestions, which are being carefully considered, and I look forward to sharing more detail about the additional plans we announced last week separately.

New Mask Guidance
As you’re likely aware, the governor announced that New York State will adopt the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance which indicates that people who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask in most public places. It is important to note that the new guidance does not currently apply to schools, and therefore all students, staff and parents are required to continue wearing masks on school property.

PCR and Antigen (Rapid) Tests
NYS Department of Health has issued new guidance which states that asymptomatic individuals who test positive on a rapid screening test must enter precautionary quarantine. But if they subsequently test negative with a PCR test, they may exit quarantine. We have updated our quarantine protocols to reflect this new guidance.

Senior Days
I recently remarked on the success of bringing our seniors back together into the building for a Senior Commitment Day celebration, and I’m happy to report we scheduled an additional three days for our seniors to come together in the building again prior to graduation, the first taking place this week. I’m glad we are able to provide these additional opportunities for our seniors to come together as a class before they move on to their next chapters.

No School Thursday and Friday
Just a reminder that next week, all schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday. I hope you all enjoy the extended weekend.

Bright Spots
On Sunday, a long-planned rally for Peace, Unity, and Action was held at the Syosset LIRR station. I’m so proud of Sabrina Guo and siblings Alan and Elizabeth Huang (Class of ‘20), student leaders of the event, and the many student and community organizations that contributed to the event. I spoke, along with a number of elected officials and community leaders, to show support for the Asian-American members of our community.

Although tremendous progress has been made against the pandemic locally, we remain very much aware of the critical situation elsewhere in the world, and I’m so proud of HBT student Misbah Iqbal for her efforts to send aid to those struggling with the outbreak in India. Earlier this month, along with fellow HBT student Bella Chvasta, she organized a fundraiser selling refreshments and reached out to family and friends for donations. As a result, approximately $2,000 was raised to ship oxygen concentrators and other much needed supplies directly to India.

These young people show that Syosset students can make positive change both close to home and halfway around the globe. I find their kindness and desire to promote unity inspirational. Great job Alan, Bella, Elizabeth, Misbah, and Sabrina for leading the way!
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Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

There’s good news to share this week regarding the state of the pandemic and our gradual return to normalcy. Earlier this week, the Governor announced the State’s 7-Day average positivity rate has declined for 50 consecutive days and Newsday reported on vaccination rates by ZIP code. Nassau County’s vaccination rate is higher than the State average, and the Syosset-Woodbury community is higher than the County. And here in the school district, we’ve had just 9 positive cases this month (and only 3 in the last 2 weeks), a dramatic decline from the 128 we had in April.

Desktop Barriers
In light of this decline and recent NYS guidance regarding the new preferred indoor COVID transmission mitigation strategy, we have been evaluating the continuation of Plexiglas barriers used in classrooms. The State guidance indicates: “The CDC no longer recommends physical barriers for mitigation where physical distancing cannot be maintained. A preferred approach is enhanced ventilation and air filtration...”

The District will not be reducing physical distancing. In addition, the District has employed both ventilation and filtration strategies during the year and is completing additional fresh air ventilation projects in all 3 secondary schools. Districts that have removed the barriers have not observed evidence of increased disease transmission, and we have confirmed that removal of the barriers will not impact the contact tracing protocol, as the only factors for consideration in identifying close contacts are distance (less than 6 feet) and time (more than 10 minutes of exposure).

Given the above, and the dramatic decline in the local COVID incidence rate, we will be removing barriers from desktops over the long weekend. The classroom at all levels will be a more inviting environment for students and a visible step closer to the end of the pandemic we have all been long awaiting. As comfort levels may vary, a small number of Plexiglas barriers will remain in each classroom for those students who wish to continue using them.

Governor’s Announcement Regarding Fall 2021
On Monday, Governor Cuomo announced that, should current trends continue, all New York schools will be open for full time in-person instruction in September. While the announcement is welcome news, we are still awaiting official guidance to be issued so we can finalize our own plans for the fall, and answer the many questions we know parents have.

COVID-19 Rapid Test Site
For anyone needing a COVID test or post-vaccine antibody test, the rapid test site located at the old Woodbury School be open this weekend and will operate until 3 p.m. on Monday (Memorial Day).

Bright Spot

Syosset High School siblings Avery and Chase Aaronson started participating in walk-a-thons to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation when they were small enough to be pushed in a stroller, and their dedication has not waned. In addition to their walk-a-thon participation, they’ve contributed to the annual phone-a-thon at Syosset High School and a pin-up campaign with their synagogue, and during the pandemic have worked to reinvent their fundraising efforts with a virtual Great Strides walk. Avery and Chase were recently recognized by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation during Volunteer Appreciation Week for their long-term support of the organization, and I’d like to add my appreciation for their efforts as well.

And don’t forget to get your tickets to the Syosset High School Theatre Arts production of Disney’s High School Musical on Stage!, which is streaming this weekend. The students worked so hard under extraordinary circumstances on this production, and even a few of our high school faculty members got in on the act! The end result is a fabulous, uplifting performance that you won’t want to miss.

I hope you all enjoy the long weekend as we pause and take some time to honor our country’s fallen heroes who deserve our unending gratitude. The annual Memorial Day parade through Syosset that has been such an important tradition has been postponed for another year, but our appreciation for our veterans and their sacrifice remains undimmed.

Sincerely,
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

As we start the last month of the school year, we find ourselves almost 15 months into a crisis we anticipated might last a year and a half, and we continue to see hopeful signs with each passing day. Over the last 14 days, there have been 570 COVID cases in Nassau County, but just 2 of those cases were in the Syosset-Woodbury community, and only one of those was related to the schools.

Despite many unknowns, we reopened schools under extraordinary circumstances through the hard work, sacrifice and cooperation of the whole learning community, and, little by little we restore activities, like elementary Field Days, that bring us closer to normal. End-of-year celebrations, Moving Up ceremonies at the middle schools, and commencement for the full SHS Class of 2021 will look different, but more familiar this year too. I’m grateful for the community’s support, proud of our students’ resilience, unbelievably appreciative of our faculty and staff, and like everyone, excited for the hope this good news portends.

New Mask Guidance
Late this afternoon, the NYS Health Commissioner issued a letter to the CDC informing them of the State’s intention to issue new guidance that will no longer require students or staff to wear masks outdoors or indoors in schools (though masks would still be strongly encouraged), and asking the CDC to react to the State’s proposal. We now await both the CDC’s response and any changes it may cause to the State’s plans. Please note in the absence of any new guidance -- which has not been made public or issued to schools -- the existing guidance remains in effect.

Moving Up/Graduation Events
By now, you should have received information from the building principals on the plans to honor our students moving up from the middle schools and graduating from the high school. Information on the 5th grade moving up ceremonies will be coming out shortly. Please pay close attention to the information included in the emails, as there are important protocols that will need to be followed to ensure fun and safe events.

Bright Spot
This week, the PTA Council held their final meeting of the school year during which they took some time to acknowledge members of our learning community who have given so much of themselves for the betterment of our schools and educational program. One of the awards was presented to the entire District Facilities and Operations team, led by Mr. Greg Hamilton, who noted that because they typically work behind the scenes, it was particularly gratifying for his team’s extraordinary efforts to be recognized in such a meaningful way. Like many this school year, they have truly gone above and beyond to keep our buildings safe and to help us pull through these last 15 months. I’m so grateful to the PTA for acknowledging their hard work and dedication.

Stay safe this weekend!
Tom Rogers

Dear Syosset Community,

Over the past 2 weeks, I’ve attended so many of our moving up events and, of course, the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021. It’s impossible not to reflect on this past year, what we’ve experienced, and what we’ve accomplished.

In one of my early community updates, I predicted that if we could “pull together” we would “pull through.” And indeed, we have done both.

I’m extraordinarily proud of how everyone in the Syosset learning community -- parents, educators, facilities staff, and importantly our students -- responded to a global crisis that demanded us to abandon our normal way of life and make extraordinary sacrifices.

I’m astonished by the achievements of our students despite the added stamina, patience and agility that was required of them as the educational environment constantly shifted and evolved. Their resilience this year has been nothing short of amazing.

And maybe most of all, I’m grateful. Grateful for health care workers’ and first responders’ heroism, for essential workers’ courage, and for all those who selflessly served their community; grateful for the Syosset faculty and staff who rose to the challenge of this year’s extraordinary demands; and grateful for how the community supported the school district and our efforts throughout the school year.

Our mission is to prepare students to thrive in both the future we imagine -- and one which may surprise us, as this year certainly did. Our students have proven to be stronger and more resilient than anyone could have ever imagined, and against all odds, they have thrived. Their accomplishments this year, particularly this year, are astounding. I couldn’t possibly list them all in a single email, but I’d like to mention just a few.

• 5 Syosset Students Named 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Scholars
• 38 National Merit Commended Students, and 32 National Merit Finalists
• 3 high school students named 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates
• College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award granted to SHS
• Anti-Defamation League “No Place for Hate” designation earned by both middle schools
• A record number of students qualified for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
• 115 recipients of the NYS Seal of Biliteracy
• 2 SHS students recognized as College Board National Recognition Program scholars through the Hispanic Recognition Program
• 61 Syosset students’ artwork selected for the Nassau All-County Art Exhibit
• Syosset named a 2021 Best Community for Music Education for the 20th time
• 34 Syosset students won an overall 117 awards in the 2021 Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards Regional Competition
• 3 Syosset middle school students named as finalists in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO) of New York’s Concerto and Vocal Competition
• 29 SHS students selected as 2020 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State musicians
• Athletics: 6 County Championships, 7 Conference Championships, a Long Island Championship, and numerous individual awards including All-County, All-Long Island, All-Conference, All-American and Newsday Player of the Year.
• SHS Association of Creative Thespians managed to produce an evening of student directed One Acts, a New York premiere of a contemporary play, a Shakespeare production, a full-length musical, and several virtual productions this school year.
• New York State Championship for the Forensics team
• 120 medals for the DECA club at the 2021 State Career Conference
• Syosset Central School District named 4th Best School District in NY, 13th Best School District in America, 8th Best Place to Teach in NY by Niche.com.

And as I stated at the High School Commencement on Wednesday evening, our students have proved that a global lockdown needn’t be a barrier to altruism. As proud as I am of the above-listed accomplishments, I have a special place in my heart for our students’ efforts to contribute to the greater good. Throughout the pandemic, Syosset students not only continued their altruistic efforts, but became our community’s Bright Spots just when things seemed their darkest. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about them as much as I have enjoyed sharing them.

I’ve attached a Bright Spot retrospective with some updates. I’m sure there are many more students quietly doing their part to make our community a better place. Please know that I appreciate those efforts just as much.


I know there are many unanswered questions about what school will look like in the fall. As we anxiously await guidance from the State on masks, virtual learning, social distancing, busing and more, we have been planning for multiple scenarios, just as we did last summer. But our hope is to return as closely as possible to the pre-pandemic education we miss.

I will continue to communicate over the summer, though a little less frequently to give your inboxes a much-needed rest. But as soon as there is important information to share, we will reach out to keep you updated and informed.

I hope you all have some fun and relaxing summer plans with loved ones, and I continue to wish good health and safety to you all. Think back on this year and know you truly are:

#Syostrong
Tom Rogers

Attachments:
messages/attachments/fe0cf8cfc0d6c0dd0c2797a130b439a7/2021_Bright_Spots.pdf (182.9 KB)