This page will be updated as information becomes available. Last updated March 1, 2021.

As we have throughout this crisis, our District will continue to follow the guidance and regulations set by state and local authorities that govern how we may safely deliver instruction.

Reopening of School 2020-21 Plan

CCSD is Currently in Phase II: Families have selected an option for hybrid instruction (combinations of in-person instruction and virtual instruction) or 100% remote instruction (5 days of virtual instruction).

Phase III: On hold for foreseeable future. Catskill Central Schools will return students to our traditional “bricks and mortar” model of in-person instruction. Remote instruction will continue for families who want to continue their learning virtually.

District & Building Level Presentations

CCSD Communications/Letters

Positive COVID-19 CES Student Case (March 1, 2021)

Positive COVID-19 Case (Feb. 25, 2021)

Staggered Reentry of CES Hybrid Students to 4 Days a Week of In-person Instruction (Feb. 19, 2021)

Department of Public Health Updated Requirements for High-risk Sports (Feb. 17, 2021)

In-Person Hybrid Instruction Resumes Feb. 22 (Feb. 19, 2021)

Important Information From Dr. Cook: All Schools Continue With Remote Learning Week of Feb. 8-12 (Feb. 4, 2021)

Positive COVID-19 Case (Feb. 2, 2021)

Positive COVID-19 Cases (Jan. 30, 2021)

Positive COVID-19 Cases – All Schools Shift to Virtual Instruction (Jan. 28, 2021)

Positive COVID-19 Cases – CHS Shifts to Virtual Instruction, Hybrid In-person Instruction Continues at CES & CMS (Jan. 27, 2021)

Positive COVID-19 Case (Jan. 27, 2021)

Update on High Risk Winter Sports (Jan. 27, 2021)

* For earlier communications, please visit our Coronavirus Communications Archive

Athletics

Winter 2020-21 Season

On January 22 the NYS Department of Health announced that high-risk winter sports (basketball, volleyball, and wrestling) may begin as soon as February 1, 2021 if approved by the local county departments of health. The Greene County Department of Public Health requires the positivity rate in Greene County to be at or below 4% in order for schools to participate in high-risk sports. More at Greene County Public Health Department update on high-risk winter sports

Updated Public Health Department Statement for High-risk Sports (Feb. 17, 2021)

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has canceled all 2021 Winter State Championships.

NYS cleared low/moderate risk sports (bowling) to play, the start date for which was December 14, 2020 for Section 2.

Fall Sports Season II

NYSPHSAA has moved football, girls volleyball, and cheerleading to a condensed “Fall Sports Season II” starting March 1, 2021. Read NYSPHAAA Statement.

Spring 2021 Season

As a result of the Fall Sports Season II, the start of traditional spring sports has been pushed back to late April, 2021. Read NYSPHAAA Statement.

Athletics Health & Safety Guidelines

NYSPHSAA

Return to Interscholastic Athletic Guide for the 2020-2021 School Year.

Patroon Conference

School-based COVID-19 Testing

Per NYS guidance, CCSD currently does not qualify to begin conducting surveillance testing in schools.

Remote Food Service

During the Hybrid Instruction Model, breakfast & lunch will be available for pick up on Mondays and Wednesdays, at the listed times and locations, free of charge to all Catskill School District students who provide name and/or student lunch pin. For questions or concerns, contact Food Service at 518-943-2300 ext 1413.

Distribution locations:

10:30 am – Mountain Turnpike & Caridi Drive
10:45 am – Cauterskill & Paul Saxe
11:00 am – B & B Lounge
11:20 am – Four Seasons Motel, Route 32
11:30 am – Rainbow Cabins, Route 32
11:45 am – Story’s Corners
12:00 pm – Maple Grove & Pennsylvania Ave

10:25 am – Grandview & Landon Ave
10:45 am – HopONose Apartments
11:00 am – Catskill Community Center
11:25 am – Starlight Motel, Route 9W
11:45 am – Greene Med Arts Pkg Lot
12:00 pm – Leeds Post Office

State Assessment Testing

The NYS Education Department has canceled the January 2021 administration of the High School Regents Examination Program due to the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic. This cancellation applies to all Regents Exams that had been scheduled for the January 2021 Regents Examination period. January Regents Cancelation FAQ.

No decisions have been made regarding the June and August 2021 administrations of Regents Examinations or any of the other State assessment programs.

Celebrating the Holidays Safely

The CDC has provided guidance on how to celebrate the holidays safely at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween

Travel Advisory in Effect

On October 31, 2020, Governor Cuomo revised the State’s position on out-of-state travel and quarantine. The updated requirements went into effect on November 4, 2020.

NYS has issued a Travel Advisory for all U.S. states, with the exception of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Any traveler spending more than 24 hours in any state included in the travel advisory must quarantine for 14 immediately upon their return to NYS. Travelers now have the option to test-out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine by following specific guidelines:

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory

COVID-19 Report Card

New York school districts are required to provide the Department of Health with daily data on the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in each school. The information is publicly available on a new online dashboard developed by DOH.

School COVID-19 Report Card

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotlines

New York State has established a Novel Coronavirus Hotline which can provide additional information. Call 1-888-364-3065 with questions or concerns about travel and symptoms.

Columbia Memorial Health has also established a Novel Coronavirus Hotline at 518-828-8249.

NYS Office of Mental Health has established a COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-888-863-9314 or https://omh.ny.gov/

Rensselaer County
Samaritan Hospital

Dutchess County

Northern Dutchess Memorial Hospital, Rhinebeck
Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie

NYSOH Health Insurance Special Enrollment Period

NY State of Health has opened a Special Enrollment Period for people who are uninsured, and has started an awareness campaign to let people know that NY State of Health is there as a safety net during the COVID-19 crisis. Many New Yorkers who are without health insurance are eligible should apply now through NY State of Health. If you lost employer coverage, you must apply within 60 days of losing that coverage. Because of a loss of income, New Yorkers may also be eligible for Medicaid, the Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, or subsidized Qualified Health Plan coverage. Visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov for help finding a health care plan that works for you. For questions, contact the Marketplace at 518-486-9102 or NYSOH@health.ny.gov.

Mental Health and Anxiety Resources/Information

NYS Office of Mental Health COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline 1-888-863-9314 https://omh.ny.gov/

NYS has partnered with Headspace to offer New Yorkers free meditation and mindfulness content at www.headspace.com/ny

Taking Care of your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty
5 Ways to Help Teens Manage Anxiety About the Coronavirus
www.gozen.com
www.calm.com
Mini Meditation
Down Dog App, which includes the apps Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout, is free until April 1st and has exercises you can do at home
Feeling Anxious Or Worried? Listen To These 8 Podcasts
Coronavirus Anxiety: 4 Ways to Cope with Fear
Help Kids Manage Anxiety around the Coronavirus (3 Expert Videos)
Care for your Coronavirus Anxiety
Expert Offers Practical Advice to Manage Your Coronavirus Anxiety
Helping Children and Teens Cope with Anxiety About COVID-19

How to Talk to your Children/Family about Coronavirus

Talking to Teens and Tweens About Coronavirus
How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
BrainPop cartoon video explaining Coronavirus
NPR Comic for Kids explaining Coronavirus
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
Help Your Family De-Stress During Coronavirus Uncertainty
Fear and Anxiety – An Age by Age Guide to Common Fears, The Reasons for Each and How to Manage Them
How to Talk About Coronavirus With Kids
The Yucky Bug – Julia Cook
So You’ve Got Questions about Coronavirus
Talking to Children about COVID-19 (Published by the National Association of School Psychologists)

For Parents

A Google Classroom tutorial
Google Classroom explained for parents
A Google Classroom FYI…. Did you know XBoxOne and Playstation 4 BOTH have Google
Classroom apps! You or your child can access Google Classroom on these game consoles as
well as through a laptop, smartphone, or Chromebook.

How You Can Help Others

How You Can Help
Purposity – finds those in need near you
United Way Capital Region Community COVID-19 Response Fund

Mental Health Therapists

The following is a list of therapists in our local area. This list is not meant to be a recommendation or
endorsement for a particular clinician.

Name	City	Phone
Lilly Casscles, PhD	Catskill, NY	518-755-2803
Suzanne Tolemao, LCSW	Leeds, NY	518-605-0016
Ken Russell, LCSW-R	Catskill, NY	518-943-0244
Mari Warfel, LCSW	Leeds, NY	518-618-8868
Craig Lennon, PhD	Catskill, NY	518-943-4360
Steven Abrahams, LCSW	Woodstock, NY	845-679-5511
Walter Kendall, PhD	Cairo, NY	518-719-8873
Marcie Pollit, LCSW	Saugerties, NY	845-247-4357
Julie Staber, LCSW	West Hurley, NY	845-679-7500
Richard, Madden, PhD	Catskill, NY	518-943-1000
Carole Sayle, LCSW, CASAC	Catskill, NY	518-943-5354
Tim Rodier, LCSW	Kingston, NY	845-705-9328
Pam Perkins, LCSW-R	Saugerties, NY	845-616-9087
Patricia O’Neil, LCSW-R	Chatham, NY	518-929-8511
Greene County Mental Health	Cairo, NY	518-622-9163
Columbia Memorial Psychotherapy Center	Catskill, NY	518-697-8010
Choices Counseling	Albany, NY	518-438-2222
Families Together Counseling	Catskill, NY	518-719-0123

Mobile Crisis Assessment Team

Is an emergency mental health service that can provide emergency mental health assessments. Their services are available 7 days a week from 8am—10pm by calling 518-943-5555.

About COVID-19

Background

2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that can lead to fever, coughing, trouble breathing and/or shortness of breath. While approximately 80% of cases lead to mild symptoms, there can be life-threatening cases, especially among older adults and those who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. The virus is likely spread from cough and sneeze droplets, close contact with an infected individual, or by touching a surface contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Symptoms

According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), symptoms of the virus most commonly include fever with dry cough, shortness of breath, and pneumonia. Other symptoms reported include tiredness, headache, runny nose, sore throat, loss of sense of smell or taste, diarrhea, and body aches. Some people may have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all but may still be contagious.

Prevention

There are currently no vaccines available to protect against this new virus. Federal, state, and local health departments recommend these simple steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19:

Stay home whenever possible.
Practice social distancing – stay at least six feet from others and avoid large groups.
If you must go out, wear a mask to cover your mouth and nose.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with anyone from outside your household
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, such as toys, door handles, cellphones, and countertops.

Additionally, if you or a family member begin showing symptoms of a respiratory illness and suspect it may be COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider before going there and inform them that a case of COVID-19 is suspected, then follow their advice.