The following message was sent to families in our Heavy Equipment program at Durham:
We were notified today that a student in our Heavy Equipment Program at Durham tested positive for COVID-19. The student was last on campus on April 16th.
At this time, we have identified and contacted all staff and families whose children came in close contact with the positive case. If you have not already been contacted by Questar III, there is no further action needed on your part.
Our morning and afternoon programs will pivot to remote instruction through April 26th, returning to in-person instruction on April 27th. We have already mapped out our instructional plan for this period of remote instruction. Students should log into Google Meet tomorrow and should contact myself (denise.pallozzi@quest.org) or Mr. Taibi (anthony.taibi@questar.org) if they need to arrange for the pick-up of a digital device. Although this interruption of in-person instruction can be disconcerting, we are deeply committed to your child’s continued success in our program.
While we understand that you may want additional details, privacy laws restrict us from disclosing or confirming any personal identifiable information. We appreciate your understanding.
All students or staff directed to isolate due to a positive COVID-19 test must provide proof of release by their local health department before they can return to school. Any individual that was identified to quarantine due to a close contact to a positive case may return to school following confirmation by the local health department.
We are working in close partnership with our public health partners and will continue to follow state and local guidance regarding our response to the ongoing pandemic. Please be reminded that we must all work together to help stop the spread of COVID-19. You can assist our efforts by wearing masks, social distancing, washing your hands, practicing good respiratory etiquette, limiting your exposure from others outside your household including avoiding group gatherings, and staying home if you or your child are sick or awaiting results of a COVID-19 test.
Please continue to monitor yourself or your child/children for any symptoms of COVID-19 and report any absences and positive test results to our office immediately. Symptoms vary, and some people may not experience any symptoms. Contact your healthcare provider (or a local urgent care or the county health department if you do not have one) to be assessed if you or your child have one or more of these new or worsening symptoms:
- a temperature greater or equal to 100.0° F
- feel feverish or have chills
- cough
- loss of taste or smell
- fatigue
- sore throat
- shortness of breath
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- muscle pain or body aches
- headaches or nasal congestion/running nose
Please visit https://youtu.be/agaNaQyG1Qs for a question-and-answer video about COVID-19 protocols, testing and vaccination.
Thank you all for your ongoing efforts to keep our school safe and healthy. Please contact me directly with any questions or concerns.
Dr. Denise Fernandez-Pallozzi
Director or Career & Technical Education (CTE)
Questar III BOCES
