December 22, 2021

Dear York Suburban Families,

We hope you’re gearing up for the holidays! Before your thoughts turn entirely toward the break, here is some important information to consider.

Since Thanksgiving, our COVID-19 cases have taken a sharp turn upward, as illustrated by our COVID-19 dashboard. If this trend continues, we may have to consider a temporary transition to virtual instruction due to high case counts or staff shortages. We want to avoid these scenarios at all costs.

When we return to school on January 3, 2022, please help us mitigate COVID-19 in our schools by continuing to use the daily screening tool for students. When Yes is an answer for any screening questions, keep your child at home and contact a nurse or principal to determine the next steps.

Another great way to help ensure your family’s health is by practicing the following hygiene recommendations.

• Wash your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, covering your mouth during a cough, and when they get soiled. 
• Use hand sanitizer when hands are not visibly soiled.
• Use moisturizer to combat the drying effects of hand sanitizer and extra handwashing.
• Exercise and go outside during the daytime for at least 15 minutes per day to get enough Vitamin D.
• Eat plenty of fresh foods, root vegetables, and whole grains. They are rich in immunity-boosting properties and help keep colds, coughs, and other communicable diseases at bay.
• Bathe regularly, dry yourself with clean towels, and dress in clean clothes.
• Drink at least 64 ounces of water every day to stay hydrated.
• Ventilate rooms daily and allow sunshine and fresh air to enter.

Finally, the FDA has authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children 5-18 years of age. Below are three ways a parent or guardian can initiate the COVID-19 vaccination process for a child. It is also a good time to consider the flu vaccine; there has been an uptick in flu cases recently.

• Visit Minnich’s Pharmacy as a walk-in from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• Identify a nearby vaccination location and schedule an appointment using these sites.
  • https://www.vaccines.gov/
  • https://www.vaccinateyorkpa.org/.
• Contact your child’s primary care physician to schedule an appointment.

Thank you for helping us keep our students healthy and our schools open!