At around 8:15 AM on Thursday, Scarsdale families received an email explaining that students attending Quaker Ridge School would not go to school that day. Earlier that morning, two students at QRS woke up with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Upon learning this information, the school district decided to close the school for the day.

“In consultation with our District Physician, we have decided to place the Quaker Ridge School on remote instruction for Thursday, October 15th out of an abundance of caution,” wrote Eric K. Rauschenbach, Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and Student Services, in the email sent that morning. The school followed procedures for a positive COVID-19 case: testing the students for COVID-19, identifying others who had come into contact with the two students, and preparing to assist the Department of Health in case the students tested positive. 

Luckily, both students tested negative, but they and their families will remain in quarantine for two weeks as per New York guidelines. “A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the family, administrators, faculty, and staff for your cooperation, hard work, and care today,” wrote Dr. Thomas Hagerman, Superintendent of Schools, in an updated email sent to the Scarsdale community.