WE MADE IT!!!!!

WOW!  What a reason to celebrate!!!  Happy Summer, Cozy Lake!!!!

This past year and a half was a challenge for everyone, but we made it!  Be proud of all you experienced and all you accomplished.  Look back and be proud, but also be grateful to all those who provided you with support, encouragement, directions, guidance, love and kindness!  

Now look ahead!  We are more resilient, accepting, aware, and humble because of what we all  went through in 2020 and 2021.  Lets take that with us as we plan for the summer and our exciting 2021-22 school year!  

Over the summer, remember you can reach me with any questions or concerns at jluisi@jefftwp.org.  

Congratulations, Cozy!  Enjoy your summer break!

YAY! WE ARE YELLOW!

     Our community is now in the YELLOW zone for COVID risk.  This means we have fallen from the high risk zone (red)  to the moderate risk zone (yellow)!

    Our COVID cases throughout the state and locally are trending down!  This is very exciting news! As you know, we are beginning to adopt changes in our hybrid and academic schedule that reflect some degree of normalcy.  The kids have all been back four days a week with hybrids a thing of the past here at Cozy.  To say it is going smoothly is an understatement.  The hardest part of the transition is the challenges the students are facing as they re-adjust to their daily school schedules.  

    That said, please continue to be vigilant about safety measures to ensure our community stays healthy and keep your child home if they exhibit any illness symptoms.   

    ***Moderate Risk Category changes our quarantine timeframe for the better.   If your child is a close contact to a positive COVID case, rather than 14 day quarantine, your child needs to quarantine for 10 days and if no symptoms can return on day 11.  If you chose to have them tested, a negative test between day 5-7 and they can return on day 8.   Although this is still a hardship for many, it is a big step in the right direction.  

    I hope you are all getting outdoors and enjoying this beautiful Spring weather.  I am feeling grateful and looking forward to all good things this Spring and in the coming months!

    As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext 5535 or jluisi@jefftwp.org. 

Allergy Season and COVID

 Hi Cozy Families, 

Allergy season is upon us!  We welcome the warmer weather, the sun and the blooming flowers, but the runny noses and itchy eyes...not so much!  

At this time, our community is still in the "high risk" zone for risk of transmission of COVID infection.  As a result, we are continuing to be very vigilant and closely follow the NJ Department of Health guidelines for schools.  The guidelines specify symptoms that would warrant your child's exclusion from school and the need for follow up with a doctor for further evaluation and covid testing.  

Since allergy symptoms and covid symptoms are very similar, this presents a bit of a challenge.    

Therefore, if  your child has congestion, runny nose and/or itchy eyes... those symptoms alone do NOT warrant them being sent home.  The problem arises when those symptoms are accompanied by coughing, fatigue, headache, or sore throat, etc...Unfortunately, when that occurs, we have to send your child home for further evaluation with their MD.  

Like many things, unfortunately, this is very different than how we would normally manage this time of year.  Normally we'd be fine with lots of tissues, face washing, and extra hydration.  That said, I sincerely appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we continue to journey through this pandemic.  

As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535. 

 

COVID UPDATE & REVIEW

Okay, soo, we have been at this for over a year now.  We are all forever changed by this past year and many are trying to think positively moving forward.  How can I help? 

The best I can do is provide you the most up-to-date information and answer your questions as needed.   Although much of this info was shared in previous posts, the following is  a quick review of the most important COVID information.

   

COVID Symptoms

COVID symptoms include the following:

• At least TWO of the following symptoms: fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, congestion/runny nose OR
• At least ONE of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or loss of smell. 

If your child exhibits the above COVID symptoms, please contact your doctor for further evaluation & a COVID test prior to return to school. 

If a family member has symptoms and/or had a COVID test, please keep all family members home from school while awaiting test results.  

Quarantine vs Isolation

Quarantine is what you do if you have been exposed to a positive COVID Case and/or have been  identified as a close contact of a positive case.  Incubation period for COVID infection is 2-14 days and, therefore, exposed individuals should quarantine for 14 days post exposure with day #1 being first day after exposure.  

14 days can be a significant hardship for many and, therefore, the CDC offers an acceptable alternative.  When Jefferson Township (Morris County) moves into the "yellow" or moderate risk category, we will accept the alternative quarantine option.  The alternative option, if 14 days is not feasible, is 10 days or 7 days with a negative test between day 5-7.  

Isolation is what you do if you have COVID symptoms or test positive.  Isolation is 10 days from start of symptoms or test date (whichever comes first).  Day #1 being test date/symptom start date. 

Who Needs to Quarantine?

Individuals who test positive, school nurses and the local health department staff work together to identify "close contacts" to positive cases.  Close contacts are notified and quarantined accordingly.  Individuals who are fully vaccinated (received final dose 2 weeks prior and within last 3 months) or individuals who tested positive in last 90 days do NOT need to quarantine.

What does "Close Contact" mean?

Close contacts are individuals who were within 6 feet of a positive case for 15 min or more within a 24 hour period during the positive cases "infectious period".   A positive COVID case is considered infectious 2 days prior to start of symptoms or test date (whichever comes first) until 10 days post test date/symptom start date.  

Mask use or desk barriers do NOT affect the determination of close contacts. Close contacts of close contacts (ie. family members of close contacts) are not at risk for infection unless the close contact exhibits symptoms or tests positive. 

Why Do Some People Need to Quarantine for 24 days or more?  

If a family member (parent) tests positive for COVID and can not isolate from their children, the children must quarantine during their parents isolation period (10 days).  The 10th day is the childrens' last day of exposure and, therefore, they need to quarantine an additional 14 days post exposure, hence a total of 24 days :(

If you have any COVID related questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535 or jluisi@jefftwp.org

Friday, February 26th: Exercise!

Today our theme is the importance of exercise.  Please reinforce the following with your children at home....

Kids exercise all the time without even thinking of it.  They run around outside, play kickball at school, play sports, dance...even walking the dog is considered exercise!

When we exercise and stay active, we make our bodies stronger. It feels good to have strong, flexible bodies that can do all the things we enjoy. 

Exercising can also put you in a better mood.  When we exercise, our brains release chemicals that make you feel happier.  It's just another reason why exercise is a good idea. 

Most importantly, when we exercise, we make our heart happy.  Your heart is a muscle.  It works hard pumping blood every day.  When you exercise, your heart has to work even harder.  This gives the heart a workout and your heart gets stronger. 

These are just some of the many reasons why it is important to exercise every day.  We should all aim to get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day. 

Thank you for participating in our Wellness Week Activities.  If your child did the Wellness Challenge, be sure to send the completed form in to their teacher for a chance to win a jump rope!

As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535.

Thursday, February 25: Be Yourself, Be Comfy with Who You Are!

Today's kids are growing up with continuous influence from social media, movies, TV, video games, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snap chat, and more.  There is a strong tendency for kids these days to compare themselves to the images projected and glorified on social media.  Now more than ever before, it is important for us to frequently remind our kids that they have unique skills and talents that make them important, special, wonderful and loved.

Today, during Wellness Week, we celebrate "being yourself", "being confident" and "being comfortable with who you are".  This is a lesson we all  need to remember and a daily basis, no matter how old or young we are.

The Kindness Pledge helps to encourage our kids to refocus and start the day on the right path.  Please consider learning and reciting the following with your kids;

"I pledge to myself on this day, 
To try to be kind in every way, 
To every person big and small, 
I will help them if they fall. 
When I love myself and others too, 
that is the best that I can do. 
Today the choice is mine!"

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext 5535.

Wednesday, February 24th: STAY HYDRATED

Wednesday, during Wellness Week, we focus on the importance of staying hydrated.

We tend not to drink as much water in the Winter.  We don't sweat as much and don't get as thirsty, but it is very important that we continue to drink between 5-8 glasses of water each day to stay hydrated.   Please review and reinforce the following with your children....

Kids, it seems like we're always hearing about how important it is to drink a lot of water.  Our bodies need water to preform the many jobs our bodies do every day.  Our bodies constantly lose water-when we breathe, sweat, and go to the bathroom-so we need to replace it.  When it's warm out, when you're exercising, or when you're sick, it's important to drink extra water. 

Some of the fluid we need comes from food other than water.  So the liquid we consume does not have to be water, but WATER IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO DRINK. For one thing, water contains no calories or sugar.  Orange and other 100% fruit juices can be a good source of vitamin C, but they also contain calories and sugar that you may not need.  It is very important to avoid drinks like Coke, Sprite, Mountain Dew, Gatorade and Sports Drinks.  They contain excess sugar and even added caffeine. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535.