Covid-19 Guidance

The District will offer a full complement of Varsity, JV and modified athletics. The following health and safety protocols will be in place:

• Weekly COVID-19 testing will be implemented for unvaccinated students in high-risk sports and activities.

• Athletes must abide by physical distancing rules and not congregate.

• Coaches will reinforce physical distancing and PPE guidelines.

• Students who participate in athletics and extracurricular activities indoors will be required to wear a face covering, but face coverings are not required for outdoor athletics and activities.  Masks will be worn when not engaged in physical activity.  

The CDC and the Westchester County Department of Health have identified certain sports that present a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure due to close proximity and increased exhalation.  The CDC and WCDOH advise that students who participate in "high risk" sports including football, volleyball, cheerleading, wrestling provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.  The District requires students to provide proof of vaccination OR consent to COVID-19 testing in order to participate in these "high risk" sports.  CLICK HERE to provide proof of vaccination or consent to participate in COVID-19 testing.

To avoid quarantining or the requirement to participate in COVID-19 testing, the District strongly recommends all eligible students get the COVID-19 vaccine

Consistent with NYSED, CDC and AAP recommendations, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors will be required to wear an approved face mask while indoors on school property and on school buses even if fully vaccinated. Exceptions include when eating or drinking, or when a mask cannot be worn  because of a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).  Teachers will provide students with opportunities for mask breaks during the school day.   

Face masks are optional outdoors (i.e., recess, outdoor physical education classes, outdoor athletic events, etc.). The CDC recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people. Fully vaccinated people may choose to wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings if they or someone in their household is immunocompromised.

As of the 2021-22 school year, the District’s Code of Conduct requires students to comply with local, state or federal health and safety directives or regulations, including but not limited to wearing a face mask, social distancing, etc.

Mask wearing requirements will be reevaluated on an ongoing basis and revised based on updated guidance from the CDC, NYSDOH or NYSED. 

All school personnel must ensure a distance of at least six feet is maintained among individuals at all times, whether indoor or outdoor, unless safety or the core activity (e.g. practicing, playing) requires a shorter distance.

If a shorter distance is required, individuals must wear acceptable face coverings, unless players are unable to tolerate a face covering for the physical activity (e.g. practicing, playing) provided, however, that coaches, trainers and other individuals who are not directly engaged in physical activity are require to wear a face covering.

Coaches (All Sports):

• Coaches will communicate team protocols and guidelines in a clear manner to students and parents. 

• Workouts/practices will be conducted in “cohorts” of same students always training and rotating together in practice to limit exposure if someone develops an infection.

• Keep accurate records of those athletes and staff who attend each practice for the purpose of contract tracing

Students (All Sports): 

• Students are responsible for their own supplies. 
• Students should wear their own appropriate workout clothing (do not share clothing), and individual clothing/towels should be washed and cleaned after every workout immediately upon returning home. 
• Bring and use your own water bottle.

Student Athletes and Coaches:

• CDC no longer recommends daily screening questionnaires or temperature screenings to attend in-person instruction at school.  Parents are not required to fill out a daily screening questionnaire if your child does not have any COVID-19 symptoms.  However, If a student has one or more COVID-19 symptoms, parents must:

  • Keep their child home from school 

  • Notify the school nurse by completing the confidential COVID-19 Symptom Reporting Form on the district website, and consult with their doctor. 

Students may return to school when they are symptom free and they have either (1) a doctor’s note indicating they do not require a COVID-19 test or (2) a negative COVID-19 PCR test result.

Cleaning and Disinfection:  A daily, mandatory cleaning checklist will be maintained by each school’s custodial crew, which will include daily cleaning of gymnasiums, bathrooms, locker rooms and offices.  Cleaning and disinfecting will focus on high touch points such as tables, chairs, door knobs, light switches and any sport equipment used that day.  HCSD has purchased electrostatic disinfectant applicators that will be used on high touch points such as bleachers, lockers, benches, bathrooms and the fitness center. 

HCSD will provide and maintain hand hygiene stations on site, as follows:

• For handwashing: soap, running warm water, and disposable paper towels. 

• For hand sanitizing: an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for areas where handwashing facilities may not be available or practical for use by employees and patrons/players/spectators.

Bus transportation will be provided to and from away contests.   

School Bus Safety Protocols: Consistent with state-issued public school transportation and New York State Department of Health guidance, students and adults who ride school buses are required to wear masks. 

• Bus windows will be open for ventilation when possible. 

• High contact areas will be disinfected between morning and afternoon bus runs.  

• School buses will be cleaned and disinfected daily.  

Students: 

• All students on school buses will be required to wear a face mask at all times (e.g., entering, exiting, and while seated), unless a disability or medical condition prohibits wearing of a face covering.  If a student does not have a mask, one will be provided.  

• Eating and drinking is not allowed on school buses and will be strictly enforced. 

Drivers and Monitors: 

• School bus drivers will wear a face mask unless it inhibits their ability to drive.

• Drivers and monitors will be trained regarding the use of PPE, social distancing, and symptoms associated with COVID-19.  

• Drivers and monitors will complete daily COVID-19 symptom screening before beginning bus routes.  

• Masks and gloves will be provided to drivers and monitors; monitors will wear masks at all times, and gloves will be worn when direct contact with students. 

Locker Rooms

• Students are not to leave equipment and or clothes in the locker room.  They must bring it home to clean each day.  
• Social distancing of six feet and mask wearing is required in all areas.

Fitness Center

• 16 people will be the maximum number of students with one fitness instructor permitted to be working out.

• Clean and disinfect equipment before and after each use.

• Time slots will be created for students to sign up for in advance.

• All students must show their CrisisGo iPass to gain entry.

• If spotting is required, encourage family members to spot when possible.  If there is no family member available, spotters must wear a mask and return to their designated area as soon as the exercise is completed. 

• Exposed & Infected Individuals: For students and staff members who are exposed to, or infected with, COVID-19, HCSD will follow the standards for isolation, quarantine, and return to school dictated by the New York State Department of Health, in consultation with our school district physician.  Students and staff members will not be permitted to return to school until permitted according to NYSDOH standards.
   

• Contact Tracing: HCSD will comply with all requests from the New York State Department of Health for information to support contact tracing when a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 occurs, as permitted by applicable privacy laws.  
   

• Communication: In the event of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, HCSD will communicate with parents and staff to provide necessary information, as permitted under applicable privacy laws, to ensure their safety.  This information may include dates and locations of suspected or confirmed locations, measures HCSD is taking to contain the spread of the virus, recommended actions as advised by the NYSDOH, and interim alternative arrangements to ensure the continuity of learning. 

Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection: In the event a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, HCSD will follow cleaning and disinfection protocols recommended by the NYSDOH and CDC.  This may require closing or restricting access to parts of the school campus so that cleaning and disinfection can occur.  If it becomes necessary to clean/disinfect following a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, parents and staff members will be informed of the spaces affected, the timeline for completing the cleaning/disinfection, and alternative arrangements while this occurs.

On February 2, 2021, the Westchester County Department of Health (WCDOH) released guidelines that school districts must implement prior to starting any sport designated as “Higher Risk for COVID-19 Transmission”. In addition to the District's current safety protocols for participation in athletics that are currently in place, WCDOH requires student athletes and their parent/guardian to complete the following in order to participate in High Risk Sports. Please complete the following forms on Family ID in order to participate in High Risk Sports:

1. Code of Conduct Relating to Higher Risk School Sports  

2. COVID-19 Athletic Participation Waiver/Informed Consent 

3. HCSD Covid-19 Assessment & Clearance to Participate in Athletics (This form must be filled out if a student has tested positive for Covid-19).

Please review the WCDOH Health Risk Communication to the Parents and Students Within Westchester County.

Please contact the Athletic Office with any questions (914-630-3127).  Thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure your child’s health and safety. 

• Visitors to our schools will be limited to essential business (e.g., meetings, scheduled school event, picking up students during school hours, etc.).

• Visitors are required to wear a mask at all times while indoors on school property.

• Spectators will maintain 3 feet of physical distance and mask wearing will be required for spectators at indoor events. 

• Spectators will not be required to wear masks at outdoor events