Covid-19 FAQs

We will continue with a variety of responsible and reasonable actions to protect the health and safety of our students and staff while minimizing the disruption to students' education. A few examples include:

• School Attendance: As we have in the past, but now more than ever, we are directing parents to keep their child home when they are sick or not feeling well. If a student needs to quarantine after a diagnosis or exposure to Covid, they may notify the school to receive online instruction. Please notify our nurse of any positive Covid test results.
• Body Temperature: Parents should take their children's temperatures prior to sending them to school. A student or staff temperature registering 100 or higher requires the individual stay home until fever-free without medication for 48 hours. If consultation with your family doctor results in a suggested Covid test, a negative result should be submitted before returning. As recommended by medical personnel, all student and staff temperatures will be taken at the start of the school day before entering the building. 
• Personal Hygiene: Keeping hands clean and away from the face are important for maintaining good health. We will provide regular access to hand washing and sanitizer. Students will be directed to wash their hands prior to and after eating, as well as after recess and PE. Students are recommended to cough/sneeze into a tissue or their elbow and then wash or sanitize their hands.
• Physical Distancing: Classrooms will continue to be set up with at least 3 feet between student desks. We will continue to follow procedures to practice physical distancing when walking between classes and when gathering in large groups.
• Wearing Masks: ULCS will set policy regarding mask wearing based on the current situation.  Regardless of the current regulations, ULCS will foster a culture of acceptance about mask-wearing. Any student or staff who elects to wear a face mask more than is required will be allowed and encouraged to do so.
• Campus Cleaning: Regular cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch areas, classrooms and restrooms is part of the routine.
• Pods: Our elementary building and high school building will be considered separate pods and we will minimize interaction. Each classroom in the elementary building will be considered a pod, so that in the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in one classroom only that classroom will need to go virtual for a time.

If your child develops a fever or other symptoms of illness, COVID or otherwise, during the school day, they will be brought to an isolation room to protect others. ULCS will call the parent/guardian on record. We ask that parents have 3 emergency contact numbers in RenWeb and that you do your best to pick up within 30 minutes.

Remember, parents should take their children's temperatures prior to sending them to school. A student or staff temperature registering 100 or higher requires the individual stay home until fever-free without medication for 48 hours. Parents are responsible for contacting their family doctor for advice on Covid-19 testing. As recommended by medical personnel, all student and staff temperatures will be taken at the start of the school day before entering the building. 

ULCS will set policy regarding mask wearing based on the current situation.  Regardless of the current regulations, ULCS will foster a culture of acceptance about mask-wearing. Any student or staff who elects to wear a face mask more than is required will be allowed and encouraged to do so.

Masking requirements while on transportation provided by another school district are determined by that district. Please follow the rules established by your bussing provider.

Classrooms will continue to be set up with at least 3 feet between student desks. We will continue to follow procedures to practice physical distancing when walking between classes and when gathering in large groups.

Our student population is not large enough to require social distancing while outside.

We will offer athletics this year, and follow the requirements of the athletic groups we participate in regarding masking during games. Details will be shared with players by Mr. Barton as he learns about them for each sport. Please contact Mr. Barton with questions.

ULCS believes parents should make decisions for the health and well being of their children. We are praying that the COVID-19 vaccine will not be mandated in NYS as a vaccine that schools must require. At this time, it is not required of schools, and ULCS is not requiring of our students or staff. We may ask for voluntary data to determine our vaccination percentages, simply to inform our social distancing practices. The school nurse may ask for vaccination status to determine guidelines, but disclosure is optional and will only determine which set of guidelines from the CDC is suggested. (For example, vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine after known exposure, while unvaccinated individuals are.)

If your child must quarantine following a positive diagnosis or known exposure, please notify the school if you are interested in online participation. ULCS will provide a virtual classroom experience for the days of a quarantine.

Virtual school is NOT available for students who are traveling on vacation, didn't sleep well last night, or are experiencing traditional, brief illnesses. ULCS will not be providing a virtual classroom every day, and students will not be allowed to simply wake up and decide they aren't coming to school today.