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Archives for 2020

Archives for 2020

Applying to High School…In a Pandemic!

October 6, 2020 By Jeannine Cintron

Every year in our October issue, we publish a comprehensive how-to guide for parents and students applying to high school for the upcoming academic year. It’s usually complicated enough, when you consider all the various programs, options and deadlines. But this year there’s a new wrench thrown into the process. You guessed it — Covid-19.

Want more info like this? Get our newsletters packed with ideas, events, and information for parents in Staten Island.

Realistically, the global pandemic shouldn’t affect the high school application process too much. Some open house events and information sessions will be held virtually. The screening process will be different – and more complicated — since there are no state test scores from last year to consider and attendance/grades may be skewed due to quarantine. Elements of the application process are subject to change without notice, which is something you’ve probably grown used throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The first thing you will need to do as you begin your journey is download the 2021 NYC High School and Specialized High Schools Admissions Guide, which you can find at schools.nyc.gov/high. Your child’s middle school should also have copies of the guide available.

Later this fall, you will receive a personalized Welcome Letter, which includes a unique code to access your MySchools account. The DOE will let you know when letters are on the way. This letter will also include information on how to use MySchools to apply to high school as well as register to take the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) and to audition for LaGuardia High School.

To begin exploring your options, log into your MySchools account and go to myschools.nyc/en/schools/high-school to search for schools by location, size, courses offered, extracurricular activities and more. Keep a list of the schools that interest you. There are over 700 programs in over 400 high schools available to New York City public school students. When it comes time to apply, you will need to narrow your list down to no more than 12 schools.

If you are thinking of applying to one of New York City’s nine Specialized High Schools, you will need to apply separately. Go to schools.nyc.gov/SHS to learn more about these schools and how to apply for them. All of the links previously mentioned can be found at siparent-com.go-vip.net/highschool.

The 5 W’s (and more) of High School Applications

Who can apply?

Any child who is a current eighth grader and a resident of New York City is eligible to apply for acceptance at a NYC public high school for the 20-20-2021 school year.

When can you apply?

The high school application is not yet open, and no longer closes on December 4, 2020. You will have additional time to apply.

Specialized High Schools registration is not yet open, and no longer closes on October 21, 2020. You will have additional time to register.

Dates and locations for the high school fairs, the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT), and LaGuardia High School auditions—as listed in the 2021 NYC High School and Specialized High Schools Admissions Guide—will also change.

What are your options?

Where can you apply? Here in Staten Island, there are 10 district high schools with over 50 programs available, plus one Specialized High School program. There are over 4,000 seats available to 9th graders on the Island, but you can apply anywhere within the five boroughs.

New York City public school students have more school options available than anywhere else in the country! Some programs cater to specific interests and skills while others are more beneficial to students who are new to the country. There are programs that focus on creating specific learning environments.

Attending open houses is a MUST. Visiting a school, even if just virtually, is the best way to explore whether it’s the right fit for you. You can contact schools directly to find out if they have special events or student-guided tours, but plan to attend as many open houses with your child as you can. Show up prepared with a list of questions – about everything from courses offered to daily schedules and extracurricular activities, as well as Covid-19 safety measures and guidelines – and be ready to write down the answers. And here’s a tip: Write your contact information very clearly on sign-in sheets, as schools often notice which prospective students have attended their events.

How do you apply?

This part is tricky, but not quite rocket science. And if you do it right the first time, you have a 97% chance of getting an offer the first time around. By do it right, we mean if you list 12 programs on your application, in your true order of preference. The higher you rank a school on your list, the higher the chance will be that you receive an offer.

You should estimate your child’s likelihood of being offered a seat in the schools of interest to him. Some schools extend offers based mostly on zoning, while others screen applicants (2019-2020 attendance and punctuality will not impact applications to high schools for students entering in fall 2021). Be sure to research your preferred school’s admission’s methods before applying. You should also take note of the number of applicants per seat. For example, 10 applicants per seat indicate the school is in high demand whereas 3-4 applicants per seat indicate a lower demand.

Some schools offer priority to applicants based on diversity. High schools that are participating in the diversity initiative will give a certain percentage of applicants in the incoming ninth and tenth grades an admissions priority if they qualify as economically disadvantaged. You can learn more about it here.

When the application opens, access your personalized high school application and submit it online with MySchools. If you need help, visit a Family Welcome Center. Staten Island’s Family Welcome Center is located at 715 Ocean Terrace, Building A.

Read Next | Catholic Schools Week

What other options are there?

Some parents would rather their children not attend traditional public school. If you fall into this category, you might be interested in charter schools, one of the specialized high schools, a career/technical school or private schools.

Charter Schools

Charter schools are independent public schools founded by not-for-profit Boards of Trustees. They operate under a contract (or “charter”) of up to five years. Charter schools are New York City public schools and they are open to all New York City students. Many charter schools have unique educational approaches that may include longer school days, a longer school year, or themed programs. Charter schools have a different enrollment process. For information about a specific charter school and its enrollment deadline, contact the school directly.

Specialized High Schools

The nine specialized high schools offer support to students who excel academically and/or artistically. They are:

  • The Bronx High School of Science
  • The Brooklyn Latin School
  • Brooklyn Technical High School
  • HS for Mathematics, Science & Engineering at City College of NY
  • High School of American Studies at Lehman College
  • Queens High School for the Sciences at York College
  • Staten Island Technical High School
  • Stuyvesant High School
  • Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art

Catholic School

If you are considering a Catholic high school for your child, there are a variety of coeducational and single-sex schools, many of which offer partnerships with local Catholic colleges and universities. On Staten Island, there are six Catholic High Schools – two are all boys, two are all girls, and two are co-ed. To apply to a Catholic High school, eighth grade students must take an admissions exam called TACHS (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools). The deadline to register is October 23, 2019. Learn more at tachsinfo.com.

Career & Technical Schools

These schools integrate academic study with workforce skills in specific career pathways. They offer students the opportunity to graduate high school with industry-specific competencies, skills, training, and even credentials that can lead to college or entry into the workforce. Through these programs, students have the opportunity to earn Advanced Regents diplomas.

Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities may apply to all programs and are subject to the same admissions requirements as their peers. They may take the SHSAT and apply for all audition programs. Testing accommodations will be provided during the SHSAT administration as outlined in the student’s IEP.

Find more more information on the following here:

  • Enrollment for Students with Disabilities
  • Enrollment for Students with Accessibility Needs
  • Enrollment for Students Learning English
  • Students in Temporary Housing
  • Enrollment for LGBTQ and Gender Nonconforming Students
  • Students with Children.

It might seem like a lot to take in all at once, but you got this! And if you need even more help? If you would like to discuss the admission process, speak to your child’s guidance counselor directly. You can never have too much information!

Want more info like this? Get our newsletters packed with ideas, events, and information for parents in Staten Island.

pediatrician with child
Read Next | Health and Wellness Resources for Your Staten Island Child

Filed Under: Featured Articles, School, Camp and Education

This Is How to Prevent Your Kid From Catching Colds

October 5, 2020 By Michelle Yannaco

The stuffy nose, aches and pains that often accompany the common cold can leave sufferers feeling miserable for a week or more. It can be particularly worrying these days since some cold symptoms can be confused with COVID-19 symptoms. Cold season seems to kick into high gear when the temperatures drop, but this can be the year you don’t come down with a case of the sniffles. The following cold prevention tips can increase your chances of making it to spring without losing any days or sleep to the common cold.

  • Keep kids clean. School-aged kids tend to carry home lots of germs, so when kids get home after a long day at school, make sure they wash their hands thoroughly and change into fresh outfits. Such precautionary measures can keep colds and other illnesses from running rampant through your house.
  • Go outdoors and get some fresh air. It’s a myth that cold air will bring on a cold. In reality, being outside instead of congregating indoors with other sick people may decrease your risk of getting a cold. Don’t be afraid to go outside when the temperatures drop for fear of getting sick. Fresh air and exercise can be good for you.
  • Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping your body hydrated will help flush toxins out of your body, strengthening your immune system and making it more capable of fending off colds.
  • Keep your distance. Did you know the cold virus can be shot up to three feet away when someone sneezes? The virus travels on the small droplets of saliva and mucus that get propelled from the nose and mouth of a sick individual. If you know someone is sick, stay as far away as possible and wash your hands frequently, paying special attention to your fingertips.

Read Next | This Is the NYC Public School Outdoor Recess Policy

  • Wipe down surfaces. The cold virus can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours. That means a sick person can easily transfer a virus by touching a computer keyboard or remote control he or she shares with others. Use disinfecting wipes or warm, soapy water to clean off doorknobs, telephones, light switches, cabinet handles, and anything that is frequently touched around a home or business.
  • Let it out gently. Blowing your nose forcefully or pinching your nose to hold back sneezes can irritate nasal passageways and make them more vulnerable to infection.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you are well, keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and eyes. Viruses are especially good at entering the body through the mucus membranes located in these areas of the body. A combination of frequent hand washing and avoiding touching your face can keep colds at bay.
  • Maintain your exercise routine. Regular exercise can boost the body’s immune system and help it to fend off foreign invaders, including the cold virus. A recent study found that taking vitamin C in addition to daily exercise can reduce your risk of cold and cut the duration of the cold should you get one. Before taking any supplements, speak with your doctor to make sure they won’t interact negatively with other medications.
  • Recognize that antibiotics are not the answer. Antibiotics are only effective at treating bacterial infections, not viruses, which means they are ineffective at fighting the cold virus.
  • If you do get sick, play it smart. Should you succumb to a cold in spite of your best efforts, steer clear of others so you are not spreading the virus. Rest and fuel your body with healthy foods and beverages. There’s no need to visit a doctor for a cold unless you have a fever after several days of being sick. Colds normally last between seven and 10 days. If your symptoms do not improve or if they seem to be worsening, visit your doctor.

pediatrician with child
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Filed Under: Health and Safety

Make Kids’ Eye Exams Part of Their Annual Physicals

October 5, 2020 By Michelle Yannaco

Evidence released by the American Optometric Association (AOA) now supports that children ages 6 to 18 years should receive a comprehensive eye exam before entering the first grade and annually thereafter. The comprehensive eye exam guideline has shifted from a two-year to a one-year frequency recommendation due to research showing the increased prevalence of eye and vision disorders and further understanding of the significant impact eye health has on a child’s development.

The AOA is urging all parents and caregivers to begin taking their children to a doctor of optometry for regular, in-person comprehensive eye exams at a young age to establish a lifelong prioritization of eye health. The AOA is concerned because many children only receive vision screenings offered at a school or pediatrician’s office, which fail to catch a wide variety of conditions that only a comprehensive eye exam can detect.

Good vision and overall eye health are essential in childhood development. Poor vision can affect a child’s ability to participate in class and cause them to fall behind in their education. It can also impact their performance in sports, among other activities. The AOA is educating parents about how comprehensive eye exams go beyond vision screenings commonly offered at school or a pediatrician’s office, which fail to catch a wide variety of conditions. A doctor of optometry can diagnose and treat any eye or vision conditions that may affect overall health, such as glaucoma, brain damage and head trauma.

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The AOA has compiled recommendations in line with the new guideline to ensure eye health and safety is a priority:

  • Preschool-age children should receive at least one in-person comprehensive eye and vision examination between the ages of 3 and 5 to prevent and/or diagnose and treat any eye or vision conditions that may affect visual development. One in five preschoolers has a vision problem.
  • School-age children should now receive an in-person comprehensive eye and vision examination annually to diagnose, treat and manage any eye or vision problems. Previous recommendations were for eye exams to occur once every two years.
  • Routine vision screenings offered at a school or pediatrician’s office are not enough. In their initial stages, many vision and eye health conditions lack obvious signs or symptoms. Routine vision screenings cannot be relied on to catch most vision problems. Even if problems are detected, 61 percent of those children with a problem will not receive appropriate follow-up. Evidence demonstrates that the best course of action is following an annual eye exam schedule.
  • Children who experience a concussion should visit their optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam in addition to an appointment with their health care provider. Studies have shown that there is a high prevalence of vision problems in children who experience a concussion, so comprehensive eye exams are essential in protecting their vision as well as determining if more care is needed.
  • Read Next | This Is How Students Can Combat Test-Taking Anxiety

  • Ocular trauma such as corneal scars, hemorrhages and folds are often linked to child abuse and neglect. Comprehensive eye exams play an important role in identifying signs of abuse when external signs may be limited or nonexistent.
  • Some additional updates to the guideline include information on myopia, eye injury/protection, the benefit outdoor exposure has on vision and the importance of ultraviolet radiation and blue light protection.

The AOA is committed to ensuring health and safety for all children. The new guideline is based on a three-year systematic review in which the AOA gleaned insights from doctors of optometry and other stakeholders in the pediatric health field, such as pediatricians, social workers and parents. The guideline provides best practices on eye exam procedures and management of conditions and diseases, among other clinical topics.

Provided by the American Optometric Association (AOA). For more information on the revised guidelines, visit www.aoa.org/childrenseyehealth.

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Read Next | Health and Wellness Resources for Your Staten Island Child

Filed Under: Health and Safety

21 Reasons Your Kids Should Take Dance Classes

October 2, 2020 By Christina Katz

When you think of dance, you probably think of diva ballerinas or overly meddlesome mothers. But dancers learn many helpful, practical skills that carry over naturally into everyday life. If you visit a few local studios in your area, you will likely find a vibe and set of values that are a good match with your child and family. Here is a list of the benefits of taking consistent dance classes:

  1. Listening better.
     In order to learn, dancers have to hear and absorb verbal instructions from their teachers, often on the fly. In the practice room, instruction is offered in many ways, which helps children learn to pay attention before, during, and after learning something new.
  2. Observing closely.
     Another way dancers learn is by watching demonstrations. Dancing is a multi-sensory skill, so there are many ways to learn and watching closely is an important part of the process, especially for more visual learners.
  3. Expanding social circles.
     Dancers can make new friends in dance class and expand their social circles beyond the neighborhood and the classroom. Friendships tend to deepen over time and kids who spend a lot of time working on new skills together are likely to form tighter friendships.
  4. Growing more fit.
     We often think of dancers as dainty and delicate but dancers are a lot stronger than you might think. Regular dancing increases cardiovascular health, builds muscles, and, over time, increases physical endurance.
  5. Gaining musicality and rhythm.
     If you want your child to become more musical, even without practicing an instrument, dance is a good choice. The measured movements kids learn in dance help them intuitively understand and adapt to other kinds of rhythms in life.
  6. Building strength. 
    In my daughter’s 5th grade classroom, a petite veteran competitive dancer routinely beats the football players at arm wrestling. Dancers must be strong no matter what their size because they need core strength as well as individual muscle strength to leap, turn and twist without injury.
  7. Becoming more flexible.
     Don’t worry if your child is not necessarily flexible or agile before beginning dance. Flexibility is something that is approached incrementally as a dancer learns and grows. After a few years of stretching and flexing, any dancer can become more limber.
  8. Focusing on following through.
     If your child has trouble concentrating for periods of time, dance might be a good way to build this skill. Because dance is kinesthetic as well as musical and rhythmic, children who have trouble sitting still in school can concentrate more easily by moving to learn a complete dance movement, which still takes considerable concentration, focus and practice.
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  10. Responding to feedback.
     Dancers receive ongoing feedback from instructors. The onus is on them to received feedback as graciously as they can and apply it to their routines so they can improve. This teaches responsiveness and collaboration instead of defensiveness and oversensitivity.
  11. Practicing poise.
     Even if your child often trips or bumps into things, dance can cure the curse of klutziness. Poise in the practice room will eventually translate into increased body awareness and better motor control outside the studio, as well.
  12. Aiding self-discipline.
     So many situations in life require us to be able to train ourselves to do things to the best of our ability. By teaching mastery of a routine through practice, dancers learn how to aim for a goal and reach it. Repeated over time, this ability to get things accomplished can be applied to any task or healthy habit.
  13. Finding opportunities for self-expression.
     Although dance is rarely verbal and routines are often choreographed, dancers express themselves artistically through movement, agility, showmanship, poise, and by letting their personalities shine through. Some dances offer a variety of roles and dancers may either be cast in a role or offered a solo based on ability and personality.
  14. Test-driving commitment.
     Dancers learn that earn dividends on what they invest. When your dancer invests consistently and fully, the payoff is great. Half-hearted or lax engagement typically yields poorer results.
  15. Increasing confidence.
     Confidence comes from doing. It’s one thing to watch a dance recital. It’s quite another to perform in one. Dance is multi-sensory, so don’t be surprised if it boosts your child’s confidence in ways you may not anticipate.
  16. Acquiring excellent posture.
     Body language experts have proven that by changing our posture, we can change our attitude and our feelings. Dancers practice excellent posture, which has both short and long-term benefits physiologically and emotionally.
  17. Improving body awareness. 
    Dancers’ bodies come in all shapes and sizes and dancers learn that an active, healthy body helps you accomplish your objectives with greater ease no matter what size you are. Dancers learn first-hand the benefits of eating healthy and fueling their bodies.
  18. Teaching teamwork.
     Dancers often literally depend on each other to lift each other up, to hold each other up, and to connect to make a whole. By working hard together and learning to trust each other, dancers learn to trust themselves in a group.
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  20. Emphasizing a positive attitude.
     When you smile, the whole world smiles with you, so the saying goes. Like posture, tests have shown that smiling makes you feel better whether you want to feel better or not. The dance studio is a place where your child is reminded to put a best face forward.
  21. Reducing stress.
     Life gets bumpy sometimes, even for kids. Dancers who are experiencing stress in life outside the studio, may find that the consistency, focus, and health benefits of dance counterbalance negative effects of any stress in their personal lives. Children experiencing stress typically benefit from expressive outlets for their considerable energy.
  22. Respecting instructors.
     Parents do not typically coach or volunteer in dance classes. Most instructors are trained and studios expect kids to be respectful towards their teachers. Dancers who treat instructors with admiration tend to get more out of the process than dancers who behave in a disrespectful manner or act out in class, just like in real life.
  23. Joining an extended community.
     Dancers are not just part of a class, they are part of an extended community. A studio is composed of the owner, the instructors, the students, and the parents and families of the students. Dancers learn that they can be a significant part of the whole and still shine as individuals. They can look to others for good examples and also set a good example. They learn, most importantly to work hard, do their best and still have fun.

By Christina Katz, who believes in the power of the arts to improve and enrich the lives of children and families and has witnessed the transformational results first-hand.

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Filed Under: Stuff To Do

Teaching Teens about News Bias and How to Find Reliable News Sources

October 1, 2020 By Carolyn Jabs

How do you make a good decision or form a sound opinion? For most adults, the answer is obvious. Find the best information you can from sources that have proved themselves to be reliable in the past.

For young people, things may not be as clear. By age 18, it’s estimated that 88 percent get much of their news from what’s shared on Facebook and other social media. Unfortunately, many kids aren’t able to evaluate what they find according to a highly publicized study from researchers at Stanford University.

“Many assume that because young people are fluent in social media they are equally savvy about what they find there,” notes Professor Sam Wineburg, lead author of the report. “Our work shows the opposite.” Middle-schoolers didn’t understand the difference between reported news and “sponsored content.” High school students assumed that an unattributed photo proved the truth of a story. And college students couldn’t detect the bias in a tweet.

So what should parents do? Social media means that children—and adults—are becoming information sources for each other, so we need to take on some of the tasks that used to be done by editors. Start by talking to your children about what deserves to be shared online.

Point out that false and biased information comes from many sources—deceptive advertising, satirical websites or organizations with an agenda. And then there’s “click bait”—tidbits so astonishing, outrageous or implausible that people click and share without thinking. These so-called stories are created simply to generate revenue. The more clicks, the more revenue. Anyone who shares one of these items is essentially letting an unscrupulous person make money off them and their friends.

No one, including kids, likes to be duped by bad information. To help your child develop the savvy to evaluate what he or she finds online, talk regularly about how important it is to be skeptical and ask the following questions:

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Is it worth reading?

  According to a study at Columbia University, 59 percent of links shared on Twitter have never actually been clicked. Kids show respect for their friends by sharing only things that they were willing to read or watch. Fake news sites in particular count on mindless sharing to make more money.

Who stands behind it? 

Encourage kids to track stories back to the website where they originated. What’s the purpose of the website? How are they funded? How do they pay contributors or staff? Are they trying to sell a product or promote an agenda?  To answer these questions, kids may need to do a little detective work. Check the “About Us” page and scroll down the home page to find out who owns the copyright to the material. Look at the URL. Some fake news sites reel in the unsuspecting with addresses that are deceptively close to legitimate sites. Point out extensions—.gov is a government agency, .edu is colleges and universities and .ru is a site that originates in Russia. (A complete extension list is available at Webopedia, tinyurl.com/48t5r). Lists of sites that play fast and loose with the facts are available from Snopes, a website that has been debunking Internet hoaxes for a long time (tinyurl.com/zjzvuf2) and Melissa Zimdar, a media professor at Merrimack College (tinyurl.com/jtrnbz8). Another website, realorsatire.com allows you to plug in URL’s to find out whether an article comes from a fake or biased website.

What’s the source? 

Help children understand sources by talking about who they trust at school. Some kids are genuine authorities in different areas—they know the stats for the sports team or can tell you when assignments are due. Others have a reputation for spreading rumors or even telling lies. The same thing is true online. A story is worth sharing only if it comes from reliable sources. The sources should be named and, in most cases, there should be more than one. They should be people who are qualified to have an opinion because they’ve studied the topic, done research, or have relevant experience.

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Can the story be confirmed?

 Anyone can say anything online. Teach kids to Google stories and, for that matter, authors to find out whether anyone else finds them credible. A story that appears in one place or is based on a single tweet should be discounted. You can also point older kids to websites that help differentiate good information from bogus claims. Healthnewsreview.org evaluates stories about medical research. Politifact.com and Factcheck.org try to verify claims by politicians. Tineye.com helps users track down photographs to see if they’ve been manipulated.

What’s the tone?

 Many online stories are designed to trigger strong feelings such as fear, anger or even hatred. Encourage your child to pay attention to words that manipulate or inflame emotions. Point out that people should be especially careful about sharing stories of this kind. The question should always be: Will sharing this make the world a better place?

Obviously, much of what’s shared on social media isn’t serious, and kids don’t need to apply this level of scrutiny to animal videos or other playful posts. At the same time, children—and adults—should be aware that they and others are using the information they get through social media to make decisions about social, political and health issues. As the Stanford researchers put it, “Never have we had so much information at our fingertips. Whether this bounty will make us smarter and better informed or more ignorant and narrow-minded will depend on our awareness of this problem and our educational response to it.”

Carolyn Jabs, M.A., has been writing Growing Up Online for fifteen years. She is also the author of Cooperative Wisdom: Bringing People Together When Things Fall Apart, a book that describes a highly effective way to address conflict in families, schools and communities.  Visit cooperativewisdom.org for more information.   @ Copyright, 2017, Carolyn Jabs.  All rights reserved.

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Filed Under: Positive Parenting

DOE Calls For Covid Testing in Schools and Parents Aren’t Having It

October 1, 2020 By Jeannine Cintron

The New York City Department of Education has announced a controversial plan to initiate random monthly Covid-19 testing on students in public schools, including those in Staten Island, and they’re asking parents to cooperate.

“Our testing partners will test a randomly selected group of staff and students in schools once per month. The number of children and staff to be tested each month will depend on the size of the school population” the DOE said this week in a letter addressed  to New York City families. “In addition to the random monthly testing, we are also working hard to offer in-school testing later this year for students who are showing symptoms of Covid-19, or are a confirmed close contact of someone in the school who has tested positive.”

The letter was signed by the commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the executive director of NYC Test & Trace Corps, and NYC DOE Chancellor Richard Carranza.

Testing will not be performed on students without written parental consent. Although they haven’t officially labeled consent mandatory, the DOE says students who do not have consent forms on file may be required to learn remotely if not enough forms have been received by the school.

They also insist the test is not like the more invasive one used in regular testing. “Instead of the ‘long swab’ that goes in the back of the nose, this test is a short, small swab (like a Q-Tip) that goes just in the front of the nose. Later this school year, it is possible that tests will be administered by collecting a small amount of saliva (spit).”

Research has shown that otherwise healthy school-aged children are not at a very high risk for Covid-19 complications, and that the majority of young Covid-19 patients recover quickly.

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The DOE argues that children can be carriers of the virus, and in schools it can spread quickly. “Keeping school buildings open depends on helping us stay aware of and take immediate action to address Covid-19 concerns in our buildings,” they said.

Still, the seemingly overwhelming majority of parents in Staten Island and surrounding boroughs remain furious over the testing. We reached out to our readers via Facebook to get their take on the hotly debated plan.

“If they want to test my children, they should let me come up and hold their hands. I have no problem having them tested if they are symptomatic but a parent should be there. We don’t drop our children off at the dr’s office and let them get tests or examined without a parent.” –Facebook User Jennifer LoDolce Mingoia

“This is one of the reasons I decided to home school this year. There wasn’t any way I was going to put my kids through that every time they get the sniffles.” –Facebook User Erin Riley-Caputo

However, some parents are onboard with the testing, citing the need to control the spread in schools.

“It doesn’t bother me as much as everyone else. I guess because I don’t think my son will be bothered by a nasal swab. I just want the kids in school as safety as possible. Testing / tracing is important.” –Facebook User Alexis Leary

How do you feel about Covid-19 testing in schools? Do you agree it’s necessary to help stop the spread of coronavirus? Or, like many other parents in Staten Island, do you view it as a violation of your child’s rights? Join the conversation on Facebook to share your thoughts!

Wondering if Covid-19 is in your child’s school? Use this tool to find out if there have been any confirmed cases. You can search by public school, charter schools, private schools and colleges.


Want more info like this? Get our newsletters packed with ideas, events, and information for parents in Staten Island.

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Staten Island Parent helps parents make better decisions. We have the latest activities and local events that matter to you. Plus many informative articles and important directories including schools, afterschool programs, camps, special needs, birthday parties, health and wellness. Our contests and clubs are fun for the whole family!

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