WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MARCH 12, 2020 7
Far Rock charter school closes for sanitation
after fi rst positive test in the neighborhood
BY ZACHARY GEWELB
ZGEWELB@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Challenge Charter Schools in Far
Rockaway announced Monday
that it would close its K-8 school
sites and offi ces for three days in light of
a recent confi rmed 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
aft er 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 offi cials.
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 confi rmed
diagnosis will temporarily close.
“We would only consider closing
any particular school for very specifi c
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 Offi ce at 718-327-4040
“As always, the safety of our scholars
and their families is important to us, and
we will make every eff ort to do our part
in prevention locally,” Mullins said in
the letter.
St. John’s closes campus in response to outbreak
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRY@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
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. T
he university is taking the preemptive
step of suspending all faceto
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
Challenge Charter Schools’ Enrichment Center at 15-26 Central Ave. in Far
Rockaway.
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.
Out of an “abundance of caution,” St. John’s University is suspending all
face-to-face instruction due to coronavirus. Photo via Wikimedia Commons
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