Dear Putnam Valley Community:
With open arms and smiling faces, we welcomed students back into our buildings. The energy has been restored to our buildings and our classrooms are again filled with students eager to learn alongside their peers. Our staff members rejoice in the fact that their classrooms once again resemble the student-centered learning environments of years past and not rows of desks, reminiscent of the “industrial model” of classroom spaces. Collectively, we are looking forward to a school year filled with academic rigor, student wellbeing, and a safe and healthy return to in-person learning.
The health and safety of our students and staff remain our highest priority. As we greeted students returning to school today, we witnessed universal compliance regarding the masking mandate issued by the NYSDOH and thank all of our families for their continued support. We remain confident that universal masking along with the other health and safety protocols we have in place will allow us to keep our building open and our students learning in our classrooms.
Our reopenings plans were designed around this year’s atypical school calendar and provide students and staff with an opportunity to safely and efficiently transition back into school. Everyone is eager to return to a more normal school schedule.
Please continue to play your part in helping to keep our schools open. Although there will no longer be a requirement to complete a student screening each morning, it is more important than ever to keep your child home if they are not feeling well and see your pediatrician or another medical professional. If your child was exposed to an individual who tested positive, please follow the appropriate quarantine guidelines and have your child tested. (reopening information including quarantine details) Together, we should be able to keep our schools safe and our students in class.
Thank you,
Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools
