Far Rock charter school
shutters for three days
St. John’s University moves all academic instruction
to online learning in response to coronavirus outbreak
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.4 COM | MARCH 13-MARCH 19, 2020
Challenge Charter Schools’ Enrichment Center at 15-26 Central Ave. in Far
Rockaway.
BY BILL PARRY
St. John’s University in
Jamaica, out of an abundance
of caution, is responding to
the escalating coronavirus
situation by moving all academic
instruction to online
learning effective Thursday,
March 12.
The university is taking
the preemptive step of suspending
all face-to-face instruction
at all of St. John’s
University’s New York campuses.
There are no known cases
of coronavirus at this time on
any of the St. John’s University
campuses or locations,
according to school officials,
who stressed that “the safety
and well-being of our students
and the entire community
are of primary importance.”
There will not be classes of
any kind on Tuesday, March
10, and Wednesday, March 11.
SJU will move to online
instruction effective Thursday,
March 12, that will continue
through Friday, March
27. The university will provide
future updates of how
academic instruction will be
delivered and communicate
any changes as early as circumstances
permit to ensure
that students receive the instruction
needed to complete
coursework.
All residential students are
required to return home by
Wednesday, March 11, at the
latest. Students who cannot
return home will be allowed
to remain in their assigned
residence halls. Montgoris
Dining Hall will remain open
to serve those students.
All New York campuses
will remain open for business
operations. Effective immediately,
university events
are canceled, at least through
March 27. The university has
set up a coronavirus/COVID-
19 page to post communication
and up-to-date information
regarding St. John’s preventive
measures to ensure the
health and safety of the members
of the community. That
page can be viewed here.
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260–4538.
BY ZACHARY GEWELB
Challenge Charter Schools in Far
Rockaway announced Monday that it
would close its K-8 school sites and
offices for three days in light of a recent
confirmed case of coronavirus
in the neighborhood.
The school posted a letter from its
CEO, Rev. Dr. Les Mullings, on its website
Monday announcing that the facilities
would be closed from Wednesday,
March 11, through Friday, March
13, for “comprehensive sanitation.”
School will be back in session on Monday,
March 16, Mullings said.
“Regular school hours will be
maintained on Monday, March 9,
and Tuesday, March 10, to allow
you to make arrangements and to
disrupt the learning of our students
as little as possible,” the announcement
reads. “Please understand
there is no threat to our scholars.
As with many other schools and districts
across the region and nation,
this action is a proactive measure in
the prevention of the spread of the
virus.”
The charter school’s closure
comes after a Queens Uber driver
was hospitalized at St. John’s Episcopal
Hospital in Far Rockaway and
tested positive for coronavirus.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Saturday
evening that the driver is in his
30s and drives on Long Island. He is
not a TLC licensed driver, according
to the mayor.
Challenge Charter schools is not
the only school in New York City
to announce that it will shut down.
Brooklyn Paper reported Monday
that Brooklyn Friends School — located
in Downtown Brooklyn — will
close for two weeks amid coronavirus
fears, according to school officials.
The private school, with two locations
on Pearl and Willoughby
streets near MetroTech, will remain
closed from March 10 through 13,
and the school will cancel its upcoming
spring break camp for elementary
schoolers that runs from March
18 to the 22, according to Brooklyn
Paper.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday
morning that there are no plans
to close public or private schools
because of the virus, but that any
school with confirmed diagnosis
will temporarily close.
“We would only consider closing
any particular school for very specific
reasons and for as brief a period
of time as possible,” he said at a
Brooklyn press conference, held not
far from Brooklyn Friends School.
Challenge Charter schools
asks those with any questions to contact
them by calling the following
phone numbers:
• K-5 at 718-327-1352
• 6-8 at 347-990-1875
• Central Staff Office at
718-327-4040
“As always, the safety of our scholars
and their families is important to
us, and we will make every effort to
do our part in prevention locally,”
Mullins said in the letter.
Reach editor Zach Gewelb by email
at zgewelb@schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–8303.
Out of an “abundance of caution,” St. John’s University is
suspending all face-to-face instruction due to coronavirus.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
link
link
link
link
link
