COVID-19 Updates and Information

The Rensselaer County Health Department is hosting Pfizer Vaccine Clinics on Wednesday, May 12 (1-8 p.m.) and Thursday, May 13 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) in the McDonough Sports Complex at Hudson Valley Community College for individuals ages 16+. No appointment is required. Walk-ins are welcome! Please bring photo ID and insurance cards to the vaccine clinic.

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Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

In order to be in compliance with the CDC and NYSDOH guidelines regarding COVID-19, Columbia High School has made some changes to the daily arrival and dismissal procedures for this year. Upon arrival to school, all students who ride the bus will be directed to the entrance that corresponds with their last name. As students enter the building, staff will complete a temperature screening.

All students who drive or are dropped off should arrive at 7:10 a.m. Parents driving students should use the bus loop and can drop students off at the designated entrance as listed below. Students who drive are asked to arrive on campus at 7:10 a.m., park and use the designated entrance to access the building, where temperatures will be checked.

Student Entrances

  • A Days:
    • Last names beginning with A – C:  West Lobby Auditorium Entrance
    • Last names beginning with D – G:  Main Entrance
    • Last names beginning with H – Z:  Distance Learning Entrance (first door when entering the bus loop)
  • B Days:
    • Last names beginning with A – L:  West Lobby Auditorium Entrance
    • Last names beginning with M – R:  Main Entrance
    • Last names beginning with S – Z:  Distance Learning Entrance (first door when entering the bus loop)

Map of CHS entrances

For afternoon dismissal, we ask that parents plan to arrive after 2:10 p.m. and pick up students in the lower parking lot. All buses and student drivers will be dismissed beginning at 2:00 p.m. to avoid congestion in the lower lot.

Face Coverings/Masks

All students, staff and visitors on school property, including schools, parking lots, fields and buses, must wear a face covering (cloth mask or surgical mask that covers the mouth and nose). Bandanas and neck gaiters will not be permitted. The only times that masks will not be required is for eating/drinking and during designated mask breaks at the discretion of the teacher and within the parameters established by the school.

Schools/buses will have disposable face masks for any student who does not have a mask.

Only those with medically documented reasons for not wearing face coverings would be exempt from this mandate. 

Daily Health Screenings/Temperature Checks

Temperature checks and submitting the Health Screening Form are required of parents daily before students leave for school. Please check your children for the following COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

School staff will also perform temperature checks of students when they arrive at school. These checks will remain outside as students enter the building through multiple exits. Students cannot be permitted to enter a building without a temperature check and submitting the Daily Health Screening Form.

If a student has a fever (100 degrees or higher), they will be sent to the designated isolation room to be evaluated by a school nurse. Parents will be contacted immediately and asked to come pick up their child.