Middle school students will return for FTIP on April 19 and PMHS students will shift to a more robust hybrid model on April 26.
Full-Time In-Person Planning
Overview
On Wednesday, March 10, the District announced plans to return elementary students back for in-person instruction five days a week beginning April 12 and shared a process for phasing in as many middle and high school students as possible before the end of the year. These plans were developed by the District administration with feedback from the Reopening Advisory Task Force composed of medical professionals, teachers, administrators and parents.
While many details are still being finalized, an overview of the plans is available below. Additionally, families are encouraged to review the videos from the March 10 Board of Education meeting, and/or the morning and afternoon informational sessions held on Thursday, March 11
Quick Links
NYS School COVID Dashboards
- Pelham Public Schools
- Colonial School
- Hutchinson School
- Prospect Hill School
- Siwanoy School
- Pelham Middle School
- Pelham Memorial High School
NYS Data and Case Tracking Dashboards
Overview of FTIP/In-Person Plans
State/Federal Guidance
FTIP/In-Person Plans Resources/Meeting Videos
Articles and Other Info
- March 10, 2021 In-Person Instruction Presentation Slides
- Pelham’s Current Hybrid Model
- NBC CDC Data
- Association of the Timing of School Closings and Behavioral Changes With the Evolution of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in the US - JAMA Pediatrics
-
Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Derek K Chu, Elie A Akl, Stephanie Duda, Karla Solo, Sally Yaacoub, Holger J Schünemann, on behalf of the COVID-19 Systematic Urgent Review Group Effort (SURGE) study authors
-
COVID-19 in Children and the Dynamics of Infection in Families - Klara M. Posfay-Barbe, MD, Noemie Wagner, MD, Magali Gauthey, MD, Dehlia Moussaoui, MD, Natasha Loevy, MD, Alessandro Diana, MD, Arnaud G. L’Huillier, MD
- The role of children in the transmission of SARS-CoV2: updated rapid review - Li X, Xu W, Dozier M, He Y, Kirolos A, Lang Z, Song P, Theodoratou E
-
Effectiveness of three versus six feet of physical distancing for controlling spread of COVID-19 among primary and secondary students and staff: A retrospective, state-wide cohort study - Polly van den Berg, MD, Elissa M Schechter-Perkins, MD, MPH, Rebecca S Jack, MPP, Isabella Epshtein, MPP, Richard Nelson, PhD, Emily Oster, PhD, Westyn Branch-Elliman, MD, MMSc
Reopening Task Force Meeting Minutes/Reports
After clicking on a link, click the image that pops up to view the full document.
District Updates
Members of the Reopening Advisory Task Force presented recommendations to the Board of Education on March 24.
April 7 will be a Cohort A in-person instructional day. Cohort B will learn remotely.
Elementary Schools will begin Full-Time In-Person instruction on April 12 while plans to phase in the MS/HS will begin next month.
Reopening Advisory Task Force Committee Members
Co-facilitators
Dr. Cheryl H. Champ, Superintendent of Schools, Kristen Burke, Town Council, Colonial Parent
Mission Statement
Pelham Union Free School District’s (“Pelham Schools”) policies and protocols for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic are rooted in continuing the Pelham Schools’ vital mission of providing an education in a safe environment for our students, teachers and staff, as well as the entire Pelham community who interacts with students, teachers and staff.
Pelham’s Reopening Advisory Task Force (the “Task Force”) was created to solicit the widest array of feedback from Pelham’s community, so as to provide input and feedback to the District and Board of Education on plan(s) for bringing Pelham children back to school in an environment that is safe, and which mirrors, as much as possible, the educational and co-curricular environment that existed for students prior to the advent of COVID-19. The Task Force will strive to advise the District in efforts to meet the educational and social/emotional needs of our children and protect the safety and wellbeing of the staff, while recognizing the need to adhere to appropriate laws, regulations, orders, and guidelines relating to COVID-19 to the greatest extent possible.
Our knowledge and understanding of the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, and our policies and plans will be updated, as appropriate, as more information becomes available or as relevant guidelines, laws, ordinances are updated. Any updates to these recommendations will supersede all prior versions.
Administration/Staff
Dr. Steven Garcia, Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel
Jim Hricay, Asst. Superintendent for business
Julia Chung, Asst. Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
John Condon, Director of Facilities
Mark Berkowitz, PMHS Principal
Lynn Sabia, PMS Principal
Susan Gilbert, Colonial School Principal
Trisha Fitzgerald, Hutchinson Principal
Jeannine Carr, Prospect Hill Principal
Farid Johnson, Siwanoy Principal
Dr. Maria Thompson, Director of Humanities
Dr. Tom Callahan, Director of Math & Science
John Sebalos, Director of Technology
Alex Wolff, Public Information Officer
Teachers
Mark Finegan, PMHS, Pelham Teachers Association President
Gail Sider, Hutchinson School, Pelham Teachers Association Vice President
Scott Brown, MS School Counselor, Pelham Teachers Association Grievance Chair
Christina Viggiano, Hutchinson School
Laura Hendrie, Colonial School
Janet Hoynes, Prospect Hill
Lisa Arbelaez, Siwanoy School
Rachel Pixley, Pelham Middle School
Jessica Waters, PMHS
Medical Professionals
Dr. Kusum Matthews
Dr. Jason D’Amore
Dr. Tracy Breen
Dr. Tiffany Hebert
Parents
Erin Ginsburg - Colonial
Stephanie Otero - Hutchinson
Cheri Pitamber - Hutchinson
Jessyka Calzolaio - Prospect Hill
Theresa Pignone - Prospect Hill
Kevin Ritchie - Siwanoy
Tara Weishaupl - Siwanoy
Jackie DeAngelis - PMS
Alexandra Drinkwine - PMHS
Laura Caruso - PMHS