Please visit our Pocantico COVID-19 Resources & School Reopening page for an update from the Westchester County Department of Health on quarantine guidelines and proximate contact guidelines.
Below you will find a link to a video where Principal Brown demonstrates how to use the nasal self-collection kit using the cotton swab:
https://www.loom.com/share/11ece9ec21aa4ed8a9cb241b414cc45b
POCANTICO HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
In the event that we are forced to close or delay the opening of the district or school you will receive a notification explaining the situation and providing specific guidance.
School/District Delays and Closures:
In general, emergency notifications are categorized into two main areas: delays and closures.
Delays:
When a school is delayed this will impact both the start of school and associated transportation times. For example, if there is a 2-hour delay, school will start 2 hours later than normal. Additionally, for students that receive transportation services either to Pocantico or other schools, your pick-up time will be impacted by 2 hours. Students who would normally be picked up at 7:00am would now be picked up at 9:00am, etc.
Closures:
When the Pocantico Hills Central School DISTRICT is closed, all activities, including all transportation services are cancelled.
If there is an event that is localized, such as a power outage on our campus, school will be closed, but transportation services to partner schools might still occur. When this happens, you will receive specific information regarding pick-up and drop-off times directly from Pocantico.
Partner schools will communicate directly with impacted families if they are delayed or closed.
How Will You Receive The Message?
When an emergency occurs, you will be notified of the situation through a variety of communication channels. You will receive an automated call, as well as an e-mail, directly from the school, and the information will be posted on our website. Additionally, if you have opted to receive text messages and/or if you have the Pocantico Hills app, you will receive the notification through those channels as well. District specific weather-related closing information is also shared with News 12 Westchester, WABC-tv7, the Patch, WHUD 100.7. and Instagram: “superintendent.calkins” forgive the shameless promotionJ.
When Will Closing Information Be Disseminated?
This information will be communicated to families in as timely a fashion as possible. Sometimes it may be feasible to notify you the night before the event takes place. Other times you will receive notifications in the morning. We will try to communicate this information to you between 5:30am and 6:00am.
Other Emergency Situations:
We will also utilize the aforementioned communication methodologies to communicate other emergency information to you. A good example of this would be if we were forced to close school and send our students home early.
January 14, 2021- Updates From Superintendent Calkins - Revised DOH Guidelines & Positive Case (English/Spanish)
January 1, 2021 - Important Message From Superintendent Calkins & Principal Brown - Next Week & Pool Testing (English/Spanish)
December 4, 2020 - Important Update From Superintendent Calkins - School Re-opening on 12/07/20 (English/Spanish)
December 3, 2020 - Important Message From Superintendent Calkins - School Closure due to COVID-19 case (English/Spanish)
November 28, 2020 - Re-opening on Monday & Safety Reminders (English/Spanish)
November 23, 2020 - Visit our cafeteria page for a message from Chef Kassie and a list of local food pantries. (English/Spanish)
November 22, 2020 - Message From Superintendent Calkins & Principal Brown on School Closure due to COVID-19 case (English/Spanish)
November 20, 2020 - Important Update From Superintendent Calkins on Zones (English/Spanish)
November 14, 2020 - Update From Superintendent Calkins - Zones & Micro-Clusters (English/Spanish)
September 3, 2020 - A Message From Superintendent Calkins (English/Spanish)
August 24, 2020 FINAL Summer Food Service Program Meal Delivery
August 16, 2020 - Attention ES & MS Parents - Please complete this very important form due Wed. 8/19 - School Attendance & Transportation Form
August 8, 2020 - A Letter From Superintendent Calkins regarding the return to school - Return to School Letter - Parent English Spanish.pdf
August 7, 2020 - Pocantico Hills School District Reopening Plan - Click here to view
August 7, 2020 - Please click on this link for a summary infographic of our plan to return for the 2020-2021 school year.
Por favor haga cliq aqui para una resumen infografico de nuestro plan de regreso a la escuela 2020-2021.
July 18, 2020 - A Message From Superintendent Calkins regarding Update on Reopening / Una Actualizacion del Superintedente Calkins Acerca de la Apertura de la Escuela
July 13, 2020 - Parents, please click the following link to take the survey -Re-opening Parent Survey/Encuesta de Reapertura de la Escuela
July 9, 2020 - Pocantico "Happenings" - Update From Superintendent Calkins
July 9, 2020 - Visitors/Employees Summer 2020 Protocols Memo.pdf
June 9, 2020 - Summer Camp Update / Actualizacion del Campamento de Verano
June 4, 2020 - Camp and Pool Update / Actualizacion de la Piscina y Campamento
May 20, 2020 - Childhood Inflammatory Disease Letter/Carta de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Infantil
May 15, 2020 -Update on summer camp and the pool/Actualizacion acerca del campamento y la piscina
May 11, 2020 - Meal Deliveries for Week of Memorial Day/Entrega de Comida la Semana de Memorial Day
May 7, 2020 - Important Updates from Superintendent Calkins / Actualizaciones Importantes del Superintendente Calkins
April 22, 2020 - Poco Post - News From Day Camp / Poco Post - Noticias del Campamento
April 17, 2020 - Update From Supt. Calkins/Actualizacion del Supt. Calkins- Extended School Closure until 5.15.20 / Cierre escolar extendido hasta el 15/05/2020
April 14, 2020 - Food Pantry Items Available/Articulos Alimenticios Disponibles
April 10, 2020 - Important Changes
April 7, 2020 - Update From Superintendent Calkins/Actualizacion del Superintendente Calkins - Extended School Closure
April 4, 2020 - Message From Superintendent Calkins - Donations for Food Drive
April 1, 2020 - Letter From Superintendent Calkins - Extended School Closure & Spring Break (Carta En Espanol aqui)
March 27, 2020 - Message From Superintendent Calkins - Update on School Closure
March 25, 2020 - Letter From Superintendent Calkins - Update on School Closure
March 24, 2020 - Letter From Superintendent Calkins - Childcare For Essential Employees
March 23, 2020 - Update From Superintendent Calkins - Suspension of the NYS Elementary- and Intermediate-Level State Assessments
March 20, 2020 - Message From Student Services - Supports for Students During COVID-19 Related School Closure
March 19, 2020 - Message From Food Services - Emergency Meals UPDATE - Click Here For English (En Espanol aqui)
March 17, 2020 - Message From Superintendent Calkins - We Are Here to Help
March 16, 2020 - Update on School Closure
March 13, 2020 - Letter From Superintendent Calkins - School Closure (en español aqui)
March 13, 2020 - Board of Education letter to Assemblyman Thomas J. Abinanti
March 12, 2020 - Update From Superintendent Calkins - Click here
coronavirus Q&A (updated 3/12.20) - Click here
March 7, 2020 - Update From Superintendent Calkins - Click here
March 6, 2020 - Letter From Superintendent Calkins - Click here
February 27, 2020 - Letter From Superintendent Calkins - Click here
01.03.21 - Video instructions on how to use the COVID-19 nasal self-collection kit
11.20.20 - School Protocols for Attendance at Poco (English) Protocolos de para Assistir a la Escuela (Spanish)
9.4.20 - Pocantico Safety Steps
9.3.20 - Return to School Safely video
8.18.20 - Remote Learning Overview.pdf
8.18.20 - School Life Overview.pdf
8.18.20 Questions & Answers from 08 13 20 BOE Meeting & Online Form
Please do not hesitate to reach out to Richard Calkins at rcalkins@pocanticohills.org via email or phone. We are here to help!
Q. I believe it’s only UVC that is shown to kill micro-organisms. Please check which units are sold to you.
A. Great point! We believe that we are good in this regard, but we have not completed this purchase yet, and will double-check to ensure that we purchase the correct equipment. Thanks for the FYI.
Q. What about water testing to ensure there is no legionnaires or mold in the water?
A. Our water is tested weekly by Mount Pleasant. Additionally, we undergo bi-yearly lead testing.
Q. What about the faucets; they have not been used regularly since March?
A. All faucets, toilets, and drinking fountains are run nightly as part of the cleaning process. Classroom sinks have been run on a weekly basis.
Have any questions or concerns? Please email Superintendent Calkins at rcalkins@pocanticohills.org.
Informacion de cuando y como lavarse las manos / Video - Como lavarse las manos
Cómo ponerse y quitarse adecuadamente un respirador desechable
Como usar y quitarse las mascarillas / Video - Uso de cubrebocas para niños
Departamento de Educacion de Nueva York
Centro para el Control y la Prevencion de Enfermedades
Colorin Colorado - Para Familias Bilingues
VIDEOS:
Universidad de William & Mary - Apoyando a Nuestros Estudiantes en Casa
Instituto de la Mente Infantil - Enfrentar la crisis del coronavirus
Para ayuda en español sobre cualquier asunto por favor envia un e-mail a Carolina Reason - creason@pocanticohills.org
DIRECTORIO DE DISPENSAS DE ALIEMNTOS LOCALES - Haz cliq aqui
POCANTICO HILLS 5-DAY MEAL KITS - Please contact Chef Kassie (914)631-2440 ext. 116 or kkeehn@pocanticohills.org
POCANTICO HILLS CHILDCARE FOR ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES - Please send your request completing this form and a staff member will contact you for further assistance.
NYS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (NYSED) - COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
Information is available in most languages (Bengali, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, etc.) - Click here for website and select preferred language from the TRANSLATE dropdown box (as shown below).
OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH - MANAGING STRESS & ANXIETY PDF
Bengali / Chinese (Simplified)
NYS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR - UNEMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
Information is available in most languages (Bengali, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, etc.) - Click here for website and select preferred language from the TRANSLATE dropdown box (as shown below).
