By Victoria Caruso
With last Friday marking the end of the first quarter of the school year, the Herricks Board of Education reflected on the schools’ progress in keeping students safe and hosting more in-person events since the start of the pandemic.
In August, the Herricks School Board adopted COVID-19 prevention protocols that included masks for all individuals as well as provisions for social distancing, transportation, and contact tracing.
“Because of our many health and safety protocols and everyone’s high levels of compliance with these requirements, we have remained healthy, safe, and successful as a school community,” said Superintendent Fino M. Celano at last Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting.
According to data released by the state’s COVID-19 Report Card System, the Herricks School District reported 23 positive cases among students, teachers, and faculty from Sept. 13 to Nov. 4. Celano highlighted that the Herricks School District continues to have some of the lowest numbers of positive COVID-19 cases among all school districts in Nassau County.
In light of these low case rates in the district, in-person after-school programs, extra-curricular clubs, events, and fundraisers have been able to resume.
“It’s certainly great to see our students back in live meetings, extracurricular activities, on our athletic fields, and in the gym,” Celano said. “I can see how thrilled and excited everyone is and we join them in that excitement.”
This past month, Herricks High School hosted a concert presented by Tri-M Music Honor Society members; It was the school’s first live in-person concert since early March of 2020. Other traditions, like the school’s annual pumpkin painting fundraiser, have also been able to continue.
“It was a huge success,” said a member of Herricks High School’s Student Government, adding that the event gave the students “a sense of normalcy.”
Celano also spoke about the CDC’s recent recommendation to have children ages five to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine.
“I would urge all parents to discuss the vaccine with their child’s pediatrician and strongly consider getting the vaccine for their child,” he said.
“The vaccine as we know is safe, effective, free, and the most effective protection from the Covid virus, so please consider that and have a conversation with your child’s doctor.”
The next Board of Education meeting will be hosted on November 18, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center.
