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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

Filed in Archive by on March 29, 2020

text: Covid-19 UpdatesThe mission of BCSD is to educate and prepare all students to reach their potential, discover their purpose and be engaged community members. The health and wellness of our staff and students are integral to delivering on that mission. With that in mind, the district is monitoring this evolving public health crisis very closely and will keep all stakeholders informed of any news or updates that could impact our schools.

Status

  • Expanded online instruction for students K-12 begins Monday, Mar. 30.
  • There are currently no reports from the Health Department of confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Bethlehem Central School District.
  • Schools are closed through April 15 by order of the Governor.
  • All playgrounds and playing fields are closed.
  • All buildings are closed as of Friday, Mar. 20 at 3 p.m. except the high school which will only be accessible to a limited number of staff.

School District Updates

Student Travel, Field Trips, Athletics & School Events

  • All upcoming NYSSMA festivals are postponed until further notice.
  • In-person CSE/CPSE meetings are postponed until further notice.
  • Ticket sales for Stage 700’s Chicago: High School Edition are postponed until further notice.
  • All athletics practices, contests are canceled until further notice.
  • All district events and activities are canceled until further notice.
  • All Continuing Education classes are suspended until further notice.
  • All international school trips have been canceled for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.
  • All other field trips are canceled through the April break, which ends April 17. At that time, the district will decide whether travel can resume. 

If you have a BC event that has been canceled or rescheduled and would like it to appear here, please email bcsdcommunications@bethlehemschools.org.

Testing Updates K-12

Food Available M-F for Children

Child Care for Capital Region Families

  • If you are a parent or caregiver who needs child care, please complete this parent need for child care survey. Based on the information you provide about your job, employer, number of children, and financial need, OCFS may be able to help you find the child program you need. It may be a challenge to find child care due to COVID-19 related program closures, however the staff at OCFS are trying their best to support families to find the high quality child care that they need. In addition, the OCFS website has several resources available https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/
  • Information from the Capital District YMCA about childcare for emergency and other essential workers
  • Beginning April 1, School’s Out, Inc. will be opening the Enrichment Center (located at 239 Delaware Ave.) for currently enrolled families. Priority will be given to essential service workers. The program will provide care for 40 children, maintaining groups of 10 or less, as recommended by the CDC. We also continue to follow guidance of health and government authorities. To register, please visit our website at www.schoolsoutinc.org and use the 2019-2020 registration form indicating which days care is needed (Wed-Fri of next week.) The cost will be $45 per day with a 10% sibling discount.
  • If you are looking for child care, the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCRR) is a great place to start. They will ask you about the kind of care you are looking for, the ages of your children, the hours of care you need and other specifics such as any special needs your child might have. Based on that information, they will be able to give you a list of providers that most closely meet your needs. Please contact:
    • Brightside Up (formally Capital District Child Care Coordinating Council, Inc.)
      Ms. Abbe Kovacik, Executive Director
      91 Broadway
      Menands, NY 12204
      Phone: (518) 426-7181, ext. 323
      Fax: (518) 426-9649
      Email: akovacik@cdcccc.org
      Website: http://www.cdcccc.org/
  • Learning Care Group offers childcare services for children of healthcare workers, law enforcement, EMTs, firefighters, and essential workers. Website: www.childtime.com

Academic Resources for Students, Families

Updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Updates from the NYS Dept. of Health

Call the NYSDOH hotline at 1-888-364-3065 for information about Coronavirus.

Updates from Albany County

Mental Health Resources

Fact Sheets/Posters

Coronavirus Resources for ENL Families

Fact sheets and information about coronavirus COVID-19 can be found in several languages at the links below

Talking to Children about the Coronavirus COVID-19