Updated September 24, 2021
Dear Bluehawk Families,
The Hudson City School District is committed to providing a wide range of athletic opportunities to our students in as safe a manner as possible. In accordance with current CDC and NYS Education Department guidance on transmission levels, and at the recommendation of the Columbia County Department of Health, all public schools in Columbia County are requiring the following mitigation measures to be in place for the start of winter sports due to the increasing prevalence of the highly contagious Delta variant. To protect in-person learning and avoid the potential cancellation of winter sports, HCSD will join other county school districts in the following mitigation measures:
- To participate in indoor “high-risk” winter sports (basketball, volleyball, cheer), student-athletes who are eligible for the vaccine (12 and older) must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In order to be fully vaccinated by the time the season begins, prospective student-athletes should begin the vaccination process as soon as possible and must receive their second dose no later than November 1, 2021 for Varsity/JV or November 8, 2021 for modified sports.
- If prospective student-athletes are not yet eligible to be vaccinated (under 12 years of age), they must submit to weekly screening testing to participate in “high-risk” winter sports. Parental consent is required for the testing of student-athletes. Screening testing for approved participants who are unvaccinated will begin on the first day of scheduled practice.
- All student-athletes must wear face masks during contests and practices indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Families of students interested in “high-risk” winter sports are required to confirm proof of vaccination (if eligible) with the school nurse by November 1, 2021 (or November 8th for modified sports).
HCSD is committed to providing the safest learning environment possible for our students and staff during the pandemic, as well as the safest athletics environment for our student-athletes. Getting vaccinated is a critical step in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, minimizing any disruption to learning, and keeping our teams in action. While we understand this is a difficult decision for some families, it is an essential step that we must take in partnership with the County to allow our schools to continue safely offering “high-risk” sports during the ongoing pandemic. We will update the Athletics section of our 2021-22 school operating plan with the information contained in this letter.
Columbia County vaccination information is available at: http://www.columbiacountynyhealth.com/news/new-covid-19-vaccine-information/
To schedule an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov
Thank you for your continued support and your commitment to working with us to provide a safe environment for in-person learning and indoor winter sports.
Sincerely,
Dr. Maria Lagana Suttmeier, Ed.D.
Superintendent