October 29, 2021

Dear Teaneck Parents & Guardians, Students & Staff,

Navigating through this pandemic continues to have some challenges, and I want to thank you for your patience and cooperation. I know we are not yet “back to normal” but we are doing our best to get there.  The good news is that our Township and State currently have lower numbers of positive COVID cases. Unfortunately, unlike last year, many of these cases include small children.

As we plan ahead for the November through January timeframe - recognizing the State’s expectation of another rise in COVID cases over the holidays, coupled with “flu season” - please be advised that we are taking the following steps to help us mitigate illness and/or need to quarantine, while doing our very best to keep our children within their respective in-person educational environments:
1.)    Offer and promote opportunities for all families to get their flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine (including those for children 5 - 18 - more information coming soon!), through our partners at Holy Name Medical Center.  You can book your COVID-19 appointment, including Pfizer Booster shot (if eligible), by going here: Holy Name COVID-19 Vaccine . For the flu vaccine - PharmaCare is Holy Name’s retail pharmacy which is open to the public, and flu vaccines are available during their operating hours. They offer all adult vaccines and can provide flu vaccines for children 12 and older without a prescription, (and younger children with a physician’s prescription). For more information and to book an appointment, visit:  Holy Name PharmaCare Flu Shots
NOTE: Most retail pharmacies and many other locations are easily accessible for the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine, or booster shots for Pfizer and Moderna. Many even offer walk-in opportunities.  
2.)    Encourage all non-instructional gatherings to take place virtually - including Faculty meetings, PTO/PTA meetings, and parent-teacher conferences.  This excludes athletics and SACC.
3.)    Request that all parents upload their child’s COVID-19 Vaccination Card (if already vaccinated) to have this information with your school nurse in case of any need to quarantine. Vaccination Card Upload.
4.)    Provide weekly COVID testing for all children, parents and staff regardless of vaccination status. We are looking into options to have a designated location return as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are many other testing locations available via pharmacies and designated COVID testing sites:Covid-19-testing Locations in NJ

Next week is the NJEA Convention and our schools will be closed November 4 & 5.  If you plan to travel during this time, please stay safe by following the CDC’s recommendations: CDC Travel Guidance .

Remember, we asked everyone to sign a Wellness Attestation Form when we began the school year, and you receive a daily email reminder to not come to school, or send your children to school, if you/they are not feeling well.
 
Thank you for your understanding and continued cooperation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Christopher Irving, Superintendent of Schools