Update 9.13.22 Updated Protocol
As promised, our updated protocol is here for you to download. Thank you for your cooperation.
COVID2022-2023
Update 9.7.22 We are working on updated COVID policies; as you may have heard, guidance has recently changed. Preschool and school age are now aligned. More soon to come.
Updates 7/11/22
Changes to procedures regarding COVID symptoms and exposures are effective as of today July 11, 2022.
Below please find a new chart (second page of the attachment) indicating required procedures. Changes to previous procedures include:
-
- Any individual demonstrating symptoms of COVID is required to have received a negative result on a COVID test. Only one test is now required. This can be an over-the-counter test. Crossroads has kits available if you would like one. Of course, the Illness Policy should also be followed.
- NYS OCFS has informed us that preschool age students and staff do not qualify for the same policies as our school age students, allowing unvaccinated and exposed students to attend school with required testing. Thus, any student/staff in our preschool program who is not fully vaccinated must quarantine for 5 days if they are exposed. We understand the frustration and difficulty with the policy and have expressed concerns however, have been told that there are no exceptions to this policy.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————-
4.21.22 Hybrid Model Update
When we began the hybrid model for school-age back in February, it was a difficult decision but one that was necessary due to staffing shortages.
Since we started that on Feb 7, we have 16 new staff that have joined our team (and more coming!). It’s time to bring all of our students back 5 days/week.
These two years have been hard on everyone, but we have continued to work as a team and have each others’ backs. That will be more important than ever. We need to be able to count on each other and our students and families need to be able to count on us.
Beginning 5/2, we will be excited to welcome our students back to 5 days/week in-person.
3.24.2022 Hybrid Plan (for School-age) Update
As you may remember, when we moved to a hybrid learning model for school age classrooms, the plan was through the end of March.
We have made the decision today to extend the hybrid learning model for another two weeks, bringing us to April vacation. At this point, we have hired several new staff members and we are hoping that this will give time to get everyone started, trained, and comfortable, allowing us to return to in-person learning 5 days/week after break. That return date will be assessed again over the next several weeks.
We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause.
3.1.22 Changes to COVID protocols.
Beginning tomorrow (3/2/22), masks are no longer required at the school for adults or children. It continues to an option, however. If parents request that their child continue to wear a mask, it will certainly be honored, and staff who wish to wear masks are still able to. Nobody should be made to feel uncomfortable about that decision.
Clinic, staff are still required to wear masks awhile working with clients. Students receiving Clinic services must continue, to the extent possible, to wear a mask throughout the session. This follows the healthcare model, as those services are funded through health insurance.
Additionally, quarantine procedures will be changing. We will no longer be doing extensive contact tracing for a positive COVID case. As with all communicable diseases, we will notify staff and parents if you/students may have been exposed. Exposed individuals who are asymptomatic will be provided with test kits and must test before school for 3 consecutive days after exposure. As long as test results are negative, you/the child may attend school. If you are fully vaccinated or have tested positive in the previous 90 days, you are exempt from this testing.
Any staff or child demonstrating COVID symptoms must continue to follow our protocols and be tested prior to returning to school. This has not changed.
As always, this update is subject to change. We will continue to keep you posted here.
1.24.22 More Changes
After being informed that school districts are no longer contact tracing and quarantining students/staff after an exposure, Kelly Young, Executive Director spoke directly with Schenectady County Public Health this week.
They confirmed that is the case for most school districts; however, it is the decision of each individual school. These schools are notifying parents and staff via a letter indicating that there is an individual who tested positive in their child’s class. Parents are then responsible for making the decision for when to send their child to school.
Our internal Health Care Team has reviewed this new option and is not at this point comfortable forgoing all contact tracing and quarantines, primarily because most of our students do not wear masks consistently.
Anyone with symptoms, staff or students, will continue to follow previous COVID protocols.
We are however making a change to our quarantine period protocol. As we have previously allowed staff to return after a 5-day quarantine, we are now going to allow the same for students. This would be for unvaccinated students who were exposed here at school and who are asymptomatic. A 10 day period of quarantine will continue for students who test positive and are placed in isolation.
Staff will continue, for now, with the 5-day quarantine if you are exposed at school and are not fully vaccinated. Isolation period for staff members testing positive remains 5 days with the understanding that a mask is worn at all times for the next 5 days.
1.21.2022 Hybrid Plan for School-age
It has become evident that we need to make some difficult decisions that will impact the families at Crossroads. Our program has been experiencing a staffing shortage since September despite significant recruitment efforts. COVID quarantines and isolation periods have compounded the impact of these shortages.
As a result, we have made a difficult decision that will impact our school-age classrooms. Starting 2/7, we will implement a hybrid learning plan for the school-age students. Each classroom will receive instruction remotely one day per week. Parents of our school-age students have been in correspondence and are aware of what they can expect from the virtual learning days, an are encouraged to reach out with questions and concerns.
1.7.2022 Updated COVID Guidance
Changes have been confusing and constant, and while much has been announced on the news, there has not been actual clear updated guidance for us until this week. We have been in communications on an individual basis with parents and staff members, and think this is a good time to update this blog.
Here is a message from Kelly Young, Executive Director:
As I suspected, there continues to be new/changing information coming in regarding testing, quarantines, and isolation.
I received this yesterday from Schenectady County Public Health…
New Guidance *Please note: These recommendations are subject to change as soon as NYSDoH releases school specific guidance. Effective immediately K-12 schools are permitted to adopt the 5-day isolation and quarantine guidance by NYSDoH. Please direct your staff and school communities to our website for information on isolation, quarantine, and how to report a positive at-home test. https://www.schenectadycounty.com/COVID19 On the website you will find helpful flow charts that can be followed to decide who will be considered a contact, and when people can be released from isolation and quarantine. Important points to note are: The 5-day isolation does not apply to those that are moderately to severely immunocompromised, they must isolate for 10 days The 5-day quarantine does not apply to anyone that is symptomatic or develops symptoms during their quarantine period. For those staff who are 18 and older and have their primary vaccines please make special note that if they are eligible for their booster and are not boosted, they will now have to quarantine. If you have staff or students who are looking for a booster for their primary series, you can direct them here to sign up. The 5-day isolation and quarantine protocol requires the use of a well-fitted mask for an additional 5 days after isolation or quarantine have ended. Please continue to encourage and enforce proper mask usage in your school community, which you have been doing this whole year. Test to stay is permitted with the reduced 5-day quarantine period mentioned above if your district elects to adopt it. You will find the updated TTS guidance attached with an updated recommended testing schedule. *Again, these recommendations are subject to change as soon as NYSDoH releases school-specific guidance.
So, if you have been quarantined or ordered to isolate due to a positive test result, you are now released after 5 days (was 10 days). Please note, though, the 4th bullet point that requires the use of a mask for 5 days after release. Staff members are already wearing masks all day, every day (although they should not be eating lunch or removing their mask around others for the 5 days following your release), so this will be largely nonproblematic. Students, however, who can not tolerate appropriate mask wearing all day, should not return until they have completed the full 10-day quarantine/isolation period.
Also, of note is the change in who is required to quarantine. As reviewed in a recent staff meeting, those are fully vaccinated but have not yet received a booster shot, will now be required to quarantine if exposed.
Test to Stay (TTS) for students does not apply to our setting.
Test out of Quarantine (TOQ) is allowed. In this case, if a student is quarantined but asymptomatic, they may be eligible for Release from Quarantine after Day 7. ** Day 0 is the last day of contact. Day 1 is the following day. ***In this circumstance, The student would need a test on Day 5 or later. If the test is negative, the student can be released after Day 7. This can be a PCR test, a lab Rapid Test, or 2 Over-The-Counter (OTC) rapid tests timed 36 hours apart (the first Test on Day 5; the second Test 36 hrs later). We will work with individual families to help them with this guidance.
Rapid Tests are now also allowed for individuals who have COVID symptoms if they are 1) Fully vaccinated or 2) Not fully vaccinated AND have no known exposure. If the Rapid Test is performed in a lab/doctor’s office, only one test is required. If it is an OTC Rapid Test, two tests must be taken 36 hours apart and parents must sign an Attestation Form. Individuals must be well enough to participate in school, not have runny nose or cough severe enough to make mask-wearing difficult, and be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Please ask if you have questions. We will be sending this info out to families also but will work with them to be sure they understand each scenario. As you see, it can be very confusing. Please do not tell parents isolation/quarantine end dates unless you confirm with me.
Thanks for your patience as this is obviously confusing!
Kelly Young, MS Ed
Executive Director
Crossroads Center for Children
1136 North Westcott Rd. Schenectady, NY 12306
A video message from Kelly:
Many thanks to the parents and family members who have reached out wanting to help and to express support. We are so very grateful that we have a community that can work together so nicely, even during the most challenging of times.
9.3.21 Updated Reopening Plan for Fall 2021-22
First, we want to extend our deep thanks to every parent and staff member who took the time to respond to Kelly’s survey to gather input in order to determine what our policies would be regarding wearing masks this school year. Your input was valuable and helpful for planning and for understanding your thoughts and feelings. At the time of the survey, our direction was clear that we could make our own policy plan with your input.
Sadly, we’ve learned this week that we no longer have the ability to choose our own path forward in this regard. All NYS schools have received mandates for mask-wearing, including ours.
Here is our new Opening Plan. Of course, this is subject to change as we hear additional/new guidance from the State.
This will also be going home with all students next week and shared via social media/website. Please reach out with any questions.
Crossroads Opening Plan for 2021
7.9.21 Masks are no longer required for students or for vaccinated adults.
-
We have received some new guidance regarding summer school programs. Department of Health shared that “Given current low rates of COVID-19 transmission, schools/district may decide to implement revised masking policies consistent with those available in the archived INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR CHILD CARE, DAY CAMP, AND OVERNIGHT CAMP PROGRAMS DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY”. To this point, masks are no longer required indoors for fully vaccinated individuals. From the Interim Guidance, “Unvaccinated staff must wear a face covering at all times while indoors…Fully vaccinated staff are encouraged to model wearing a face covering when with children/campers at times when children/campers must wear face coverings.” To be clear, face masks are encouraged for everyone, but unvaccinated staff are mandated to wear a face mask while indoors. Regardless of vaccination status, masks are not required when outside. Staff may continue to wear masks whenever they prefer. Parents may continue to request that their child wear a mask. Crossroads will continue to provide masks for those that may need one. Face shields are also available. All other protocols and procedures remain in place until further guidance is received.
6.8.21 Masks are no longer required OUTDOORS.
As of this morning, we are no longer required to wear masks when outside, although masks continue to be required inside the building. Please read this excerpt from Kelly Young’s email to all staff today, shared with her permission.
Hi everyone! As I indicated earlier this week, we were awaiting official guidance from the State regarding the use of face masks. With respect to face masks, the new guidance states: “Effective June 7, 2021, face masks are not required to be worn outdoors on school grounds, including during outdoor school sports. However, Responsible Parties may choose to require face masks outdoors on school grounds, subject to the parameters of this guidance. No student, teacher, staff member, or visitor may be prevented from wearing an acceptable face mask voluntarily on school grounds.” Therefore, effective immediately (today 6/8/21), students and staff at Crossroads are NOT required to wear masks outside. No student, teacher, staff member, or visitor will be prevented from wearing an acceptable face mask voluntarily on school grounds. If you choose to wear a mask outside, that is your choice. Parents should continue to have the choice if they want their child to wear a mask outside. At this time all requirements for indoor mask use remain the same. I know there was confusion after Friday’s news release; however, NYS has concurred with CDC that no changes will be made right now to the requirement for indoor use of masks. Anyone over the age of 2 years old is required to wear face masks inside school buildings. No masks are required outside for any reason, no matter what distance. It’s one more step forward and a return to normal! If you have any questions, please reach out. Kelly Young, MS Ed Executive Director Crossroads Center for Children
5.7.2021 Parent Meetings for Updates!
There are just a few updates to our “Reopening Plan” and we want to make sure parents are in the know! There are two meetings scheduled with Kelly Young, E.D. They are both the same content, you don’t need to attend twice. The zoom links will be sent via ProCare and Class Dojo.
Wednesday 5/12 11 am
Thursday 5/13 5 pm
Crossroads Opening Plan for 2021
Our July 2020 COVID-19 re-opening plan has been updated to reflect current guidelines. While the impact on Crossroads is minimal, we want to share changes. Hear from Kelly Young, E.D. in this video and read the plan in full by clicking the link above.
See the 7/31/2020 post and first version below.
2.12.2021 Update on our new system described in the post from 1.15. Our clinic staff has launched successfully, and it’s time to roll out to our parents of students who ride the bus to school.
Parents of bus riders, please look for an email from Support@Crossroadscenter.app. This MIGHT be in your junk mail, so once you move it to your inbox and open it, make sure to set your preferences to receive future emails.
Click here to bring up the QR Code Flyer or go straight to the COVID_Screening_System. Then save the QR code on your phone to access your account at any time.
We’re super excited to be able to offer this system, thanks to the expertise of Matt Ramotar, who set it all up for us on a volunteer basis!
1.15.2021 We are happy to announce that we are about to launch a new way to sign in to school for our bus riders and our clinic staff. If this is YOU, please click to bring up the description flyer QR Code Flyer or click here to go straight to the COVID_Screening_System.
An email will come to those who will be using it from Support@Crossroadcenter.org to get you started.
- Please note that if you are using ProCare or TimeSwipe this will not pertain to you!
11.16.2020 Thank you and encouragement.
Thanks to our Crossroads family for all working together. Thankfully, we were able to get through last week with minimal disruption to our students and families. Please click to read Kelly Young’s letter of thanks and encouragement: COVID encouragement
11.9.2020 Update.
Thank you for your patience as we navigate this new challenge. While there have been no additional positive cases confirmed, we have made the decision to switch to a remote learning model for tomorrow, Tuesday 11/10. Given that school was closed on Wednesday for the Veteran’s Day Holiday already, it seemed to make sense to all return to in person on Thursday 11/12.
Teachers and therapists have already been reaching out to parents about tomorrow’s schedules. Please watch for communication from them. As every plan is during times of COVID, this is subject to change. If it does, we will notify you as quickly as possible.
We do believe at this point that it will be safe for staff and students to return on Thursday.
Any students who were in close contact and required to quarantine have already been notified.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Kelly Young, MS Ed, Executive Director
Crossroads Center for Children
Doing What Works. Seizing Every Opportunity. Working Together.
11.8.2020 School will be closed tomorrow, 11.9.2020 out of an abundance of caution. Please click to download the attachment to learn more.
COVID letter 11.8.2020
10.5.2020 New guidelines for attendance.
As we enter October and have successfully reopened for three months, we are thankful to the entire Crossroads family for the patience and understanding you’ve shown as we’ve moved through these challenging times.
Last week, N.Y.S. Dept of Health issued new guidelines to be used in determining if students and staff can be at school. Please find the attached charts for decision-making. These were emailed to parents as well.
Mrs. Kelly, E.D. cautions, “Please note that symptoms should not be new or worsening. While we are thankful for this flexibility now, it is still imperative that symptoms continue to be monitored. We still do not want children or staff attending school if they are sick.”
Please understand that we have to maintain a safe environment and appreciate your support with this, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Student Return Chart Student Attendance Chart
8.13.2020 Parent Survey for fall session:
Hello parents! Please take a minute and return this quick, 1 question survey. We need your responses ASAP. Thank you!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9X2DF5H
7.31.2020 OUR REOPENING PLAN
After many weeks of careful planning, we’re proud to present our completed Reopening Plan here. Click below to download the document, which is being submitted today. Crossroads is thankful to the support of our entire community during this process.
7.13.21 Click here for Crossroads Reopening Plan for NYS 2020
Crossroads Reopening Plan for NYS 2020
Please scroll down to read other important news and updates related to Crossroads and how we are managing through COVID-19.
8.13.2020 Parent Survey for fall session:
Hello parents! Please take a minute and return this quick, 1 question survey. We need your responses ASAP. Thank you!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9X2DF5H
7.24.2020 Parent Meeting for Reopening Plan for Fall
First meeting:
Kelly Young is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Parent Meeting- Reopen Plan
Time: Jul 30, 2020 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85746399419?pwd=ZEJmWnd3Q05FNUVmaHpqUGxXTE5vZz09
Meeting ID: 857 4639 9419 Passcode: Crossroads
Second meeting: Kelly Young is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Parent Meeting-Reopen Plan
Time: Jul 31, 2020 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89085471257?pwd=RWovK3F0ZWpsR3R3a1dTMGpYOUdJQT09
Meeting ID: 890 8547 1257 Passcode: Crossroads
7.13.2020 We are reopened!
We’d like to thank every staff member for their dedication, every parent for their hard work and love, every volunteer and board member for their endless encouragement, and every contributor to our mission for their wonderful support. These past months have been trying, for sure, but as promised, we’ve remained determined towards our mission and are proud to be welcoming students back to school.
See this blog post, Back to School!
6.25.2020 Today marks the final day of our 2019-20 school year for students.
As we congratulate our students, staff and parents for their hard work and achievements during this very unusual school year, we are also working hard to prepare for our reopening in July. Please hear from Mrs. Kelly in this update video.
6.12.2020 Summer Services
As you know, on June 5, 2020, Governor Cuomo announced that special education instruction and related services may be provided in person for the summer term (Executive Order 202.37). Barring any unforeseen obstacles, we are developing plans to be open to provide these special education services in person for preschool and school age students with disabilities. There is much work to be done in the next month to prepare for a safe return for staff and students. Please be patient as we move forward in these preparations. If you have any questions about how our evolving decision impacts you or your child, please reach out to us.
6.5.2020 We are aware of the Governor’s Executive Order that was issued late this afternoon.
We are excited about this glimmer of hope, however caution our audience that we are not entirely sure if it applies to us, or how. We are in the process of seeking more clarification and will keep you updated here. We stress the caution aspect, as this E.O. might still exclude programs such as ours.
Fingers and toes crossed everyone.
6.3.2020 Letter of Request
We have written to Governor Cuomo respectfully asking him to reconsider his position on the reopening of summer program. Accompanying this letter, a large representation from the staff body signed a document in support.
When we think of FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) the A part of the current situation of education for students with disabilities is questionable. Although we have remarkable parents and team members who are using every morsel of strength and creativity in their veins to make this work, regression is on everyone’s minds.
We welcome those who are effected by this issue to share your views with us. Please email Vickir@crossroadcenter.org or Kellyy@crossroadcenter.org if you have ideas or resources that can help us move forward. Here’s our letter.
Letter to Governor Cuomo
5.29.2020
Here’s our most recent status update with a video below from Kelly Young, Executive Director.
Last week, Governor Cuomo announced that remote learning and teaching would continue through the summer, prohibiting in-person education for summer programs.
Back in mid-March, when the school closures began, we were hopeful. We energetically put out resources and activities for parents and families to keep skills and routines in practice as best able. Our parents, all along have responded with appreciation and most have taken up the challenges laid upon them, as they always do.
As time has gone on, however, we have become less optimistic. Even as more and more efforts have been made to provide direct instruction, our students are experiencing hardships and regression that will take years to overcome. Some families and students are finding better results out than others with at-home learning, for sure. In fact, we hope you will read some of the positive outcomes and stories shared by parents in our blog post to honor their hard work. But we’d be hard pressed to find any that feel that virtual learning is in their best interest. And data, which is our pride and joy, allowing us to demonstrate the real gains students have made, has no real way of being consistent and accurate across all families. Many students are unable to benefit from virtual instruction including telehealth services, due to lack of prerequisite skills required. To boot, as a nonprofit we struggle to keep pace with technology improvements in a normal year, let alone with the compounded demands that we are facing now; many of our families are similarly not able to provide for the increased expectations of learning online that are assumed to be common for everyone else.
Still, everyone has been coming together and working long and hard to minimize damage to progress made this year. And we will not stop. We’ll always do what is needed to help those we serve.
The bottom line is that our students need to come back to school. A continued remote learning summer would be unconscionable. That’s why we are writing to Governor Cuomo to request that he reconsider and allow students to return to program for the summer, even with some adjustments made to the program. As a supportive follower, we ask for your support in this stance, and that if you would like to share ideas or thoughts that you contact us.
Our planning continues for students and staff to come back together in person safely. We will get through this and be stronger, wiser and more effective than ever when this is all behind us.
Please watch this important video message!
5.21.2020 School Closure through Summer Program
It is with great sadness that we share with you, our readers, that today we learned that we will not be able to open the school to our students for summer program.
We’ll continue to provide instruction and programming remotely.
The kindness and understanding our community has been showing during this roller-coaster time has been quite wonderful. The compassion and caring of someone reaching out to help our school or members of it have been uplifting and inspiring. Donations, grants, phone calls and notes have often made the difference in a day between discouragement and hope. Team members being connected and unified has always been a strength of Crossroads, and one that has grown even stronger during this time of challenge.
Kelly Young, Executive Director says, “We are heartbroken to share that Governor Cuomo announced today that there can not be in-person summer school. We must continue through distance learning. A decision has not yet been made about fall. I miss you all and am sad for our staff, families, and students. But the Crossroads Community is strong. We will continue to rely on and support each other.”
Please especially continue to keep the students and their families of Crossroads in your thoughts and prayers, as this is more difficult for most than many might realize. While all of us are in this together, everyone’s situation is somewhat unique, and many of our parents are truly struggling and overwhelmed.
Please reach out with questions. Thank you for being part of this cause. And hang on. We look forward to the day we can open the doors and welcome our students back to their classrooms.
5.6.2020
Now that the closure of the building is extended through the end of the school year, we are in a new phase here at Crossroads. Everyone here is putting everything they’ve got into making this work as best as it possibly can for our students and families. Virtual learning, for many reasons, is not in the best interest of the students we work with, yet our teachers, teaching assistants, therapists and parents are working their bottoms off and coming together to minimize damage to the progress made this year. Some are making out better than others with the at-home learning, for sure.
Those of you who are reading right now are wonderful. For your support, for your well-wishes, for your donations, for your carrying our mission in your hearts and in your words. We are getting through this on the wings of many angels.
Now we move into a new phase of planning for coming back, and safely. There’s a lot we need to create a game plan for, and many pieces to put into the puzzle, but we’ll get there. We are so very hopeful for summer program. We are also trying to find a way to make our seemingly unique perspective known to the Governor.
In the mean time, here is an in-person video update from Mrs. Kelly Young, Crossroads Center for Children’s Executive Director.
5.1.2020 School Closure for the rest of the academic year.
It is with sad disappointment that we share this update. Today Governor Cuomo ordered that all schools remain closed for the rest of the academic school year. He will make a decision about summer school by the end of this month. At Crossroads we are extremely sad about this news and miss the students immensely. This is so hard for everyone and we recognize that there are many losses and setbacks. We are, however, committed to our promise to prepare our students for life success as best we can,. We will continue to work hard to provide the specialized instruction that they need remotely, and to keep you, our reader, informed to our best ability.
Please reach out with any questions.
4.30.2020 Crossroads Superstar Movie 2
We miss the kids and parents. We miss the bus drivers and volunteers. We miss the voices and the hustle of the day at school. And we miss working side by side. While we have to be apart, we are still connected. We’ve made a second movie to help our students know we all are working hard and appreciate all they are doing at home.
4.16.2020 Crossroads will now be closed until 5/15.
The mandatory school closures were extended today by Governor Cuomo. As of today, we will be closed until 5/15. We will continue to provide services remotely.
4.16.2020 Update from our Executive Director
Dear friends,
So much has transpired at Crossroads in the whirlwind of the pandemic. As a Crossroads supporter, it’s important that you hear how we are managing with the changes that have rocked our world lately.
While people all over the world have had to make major changes, it is my hope that you and those you care about are healthy and safe. Please reach out if we can help YOU in any way.
I am filled with deep gratitude for every single person who has asked how to help, and for those who have given help during this time. There are sayings that times of trouble bring out the best and the worst in people, and we are blessed to have seen the very, very best coming out every day. Thank you for your wonderful support, both in the past and now. Please keep your support, help and prayers coming.
What is happening for us:
It’s just a month since we were mandated to close, and in that time our entire service delivery has changed drastically. While school is closed, we’re working harder than ever to fulfill our promise to prepare children with and without developmental disabilities for life success. We’ve had to find, learn and implement entirely different methods to do this, but this week for the first time, I can honestly say we are starting to find a semblance of routine and structure, as an organization. You can be extremely proud, as I am, of the depth of compassion, perseverance, resilience and ingenuity of the employees of Crossroads. Indeed, our entire community – families, trustees, friends, grantors, business supporters and team members – have been coming together in ways like never before.
As for expenses, they continue, untouched by the virus. By now the CARES act is helping in many cases, and we’ve started to receive tuition payments from some of the districts we support. Sadly, we have had a small handful of furloughs. We have also lost substitutes and other perdiem staff. I am hopeful that these individuals will be back with us very soon. Thankfully, we have received wonderful support from people like you who care deeply about our program. Several responded right away to our initial cries for help, others have strongly supported our tee-shirt fundraiser, and this has helped greatly to uphold our abilities in a time when cash-flow was nil and the unknown was great.
What is happening for the students:
Last week, Governor Cuomo mandated that all NYS schools will remain closed through April 28th, with a new reopen date scheduled for the 29th. Today that date changed to May 15th. The recent situation has our students learning at home, parents taking the reins as therapists and teachers. In practice, this would be challenging for any parent, when we recognize that most do not have backgrounds or training as educators. For parents of children with special needs, though, attempting to implement the structures and processes of schooling at home, the word “challenging” is a vast under-statement.
Our student body consists largely of children with extraordinarily significant learning needs. Our organization, our entire reason for being, is to meet the needs that are unable to be met in home districts or in any other setting. A break over Christmas causes regression. An entire summer off would be disastrous. Breaks are needed, but are carefully planned for, with programs and communication in place to uphold skills. We worry that this unplanned extended COVID-19 break will be devastating to the progress they’ve worked so hard on all year, and the team at Crossroads is doing everything in our abilities to deliver instruction remotely.
This means that teachers, therapists and teaching assistants are not only creating highly individualized lessons and activities for each student, as they usually do, but also now teaching through platforms such as Zoom, ClassDojo, Skype, and others, to meet the resources of families, provide “group” instruction from a distance, and interact with parents and children on a one-to-one basis. Daily. One teacher recently said she is now working from 6 am to 10 pm to get everything done in a day.
What is happening with the employees:
We have been communicating daily and more. At first, employees were encouraged to work from home as able, and access the building only when necessary. This has changed more recently, and now the urgency to stay at home is stronger. Several administrators, myself included, are at the building on a regular basis but practice safety vigilantly. There is so much more to do for everyone.
You might know that many of our employees are parents themselves, putting them in the same situation of others who are working from home. The challenges of teaching and caring for your own children and family while teaching the children you work with are not lost on anyone here. Many of us are caring for elderly parents and in-laws, bringing them what they need and trying to ensure that THEY stay at home. Many are worried about adult children in other states, relatives who are front-line nurses or first-responders. One is desperate to see a spouse whose job has prohibited its employees from leaving until the shut-down ends. Several are alarmed when they talk to their loved one who is isolated in a nursing home, unable to leave the room, losing both memory and a sense of orientation day after day.
Every day there is someone here in distress, who feels they can’t manage one more day living like this. And yet, every day these people get up, shower, dress for work, and get back on the horse, because they care deeply about the children and families they serve. They reach out to someone else who is is where they were yesterday, and offer to help. They thank each-other for their hard work. They encourage each-other to be resilient, to do the best they can, to stay healthy in body, mind and spirit, and to laugh a bit too.
From the bottom of my heart.
Thank you. I can’t express enough how very grateful I am for your support through this time, and always. Again, please reach out if there’s anything you need, and just to let me know how you are fairing in this strange new world.
Together in spirit,
Kelly
4.6.2020 Crossroads will now be closed until 4/28.
4.1.2020 CROSSROADS SUPERSTAR MOVIE
On this day when we were supposed to resume school, but can’t, we have a video to share with our students and families. Not every team member is in it, but many are, and if they are missing for now, they send their love and encouragement nonetheless.
3.30.2020
Focusing on what we can control can help us through tough times such as these.
A little reminder found online and shared by Mrs. Kelly, our Executive Director.
3.27.2020 Crossroads will be closed for 2 more weeks.
Governor Cuomo announce today that schools in New York State must remain closed for at least another 2 weeks. At this time, our scheduled date of return is 4/20. Please remember that this date is subject to change if the Governor extends that timeline.
We all miss the students, families and coworkers of Crossroads. We will do all we can to provide resources that will help our families through this quarantine time.
Please continue to find new activities for learning at home by visiting the Parent Resources page and the many blog spots on this website.
Please keep sharing pictures using the tag #LookCrossroads. (See below for more information.)
3.22.2020 #LookCrossroads
While we are closed, teachers and therapists are closely working with families to get needed resources for at home learning, into their homes via email, mail, and other online modalities. In addition, please look to this website for resources. Our therapists and teachers are not only creating their own resources, but also scouring the internet and their own bookshelves for materials, activities and ideas that will help the families we serve get through this difficult time. As these are shared to this channel, each will be posted in 2 places – first, on a blog spot where the post content is aligned with the resource being shared, and second on the Parent Resources Page, in one list, adding each to the top of the list as they are shared by the teacher or therapist.
We are asking parents and team members and other friends of our community to join in the #LookCrossroads movement! By tagging your posts on Facebook and Instagram with #LookCrossroads, you do not need to try to send them to us or share them to our page, where we will have to add steps to share them! All you have to do is remember to put that tag in the part of the post that you write when you post your pictures. This way, all of us can look in our search bars for that tag – just type it into the search bars of your own Instagram or Facebook pages – and when your results come up, add your reactions and give a comment to encourage each other.
Thank you for helping our community to stay, as Mrs. Kelly our Executive Director, worded it, “socially distanced but spiritually connected.”
3.19.2020 School will be closed until 4/1 due to COVID-19.
After much consultation with several stakeholders, Crossroads will now be closed until 4/1, per Governor Cuomo’s order.
We have many districts and many ages at Crossroads Center for Children, and there have been many aspects that had to be clarified before making this determination. We will continue to offer resources for at-home work with our students and ask that everyone be patient and kind and watch out for each other as much as possible.
3.15.2020
Today a decision has been made for the upcoming week that Crossroads Center for Children will be closed for the week of 3.16 – 3.20.2020. Please understand that this decision was not made lightly but being especially cautious for our students, staff, families and community at large.
Staff members should report at 8:30 am Monday, 3.16 for a meeting. Please stay home if you are sick.
3.13.2020
Regarding COVID-19, as most are aware, most schools and organizations are cancelling large events and trying to limit everyone’s potential exposure to the virus. We are committed to keeping our students safe and in school. This means making some difficult decisions about visitors, volunteers, and other people coming into our building.
With this in mind, for the time being, Crossroads will be cancelling all parent trainings, visitors/tours, volunteers, and trainings until further notice. Teachers will be in touch with parents to try and schedule parent trainings via phone, skype, or web-meeting. Parents will be contacted for any changes as well.
Thank you for respecting these decisions in support of our children.
