POTSDAM -- Potsdam Central School has announced that two cases of COVID-19 have been discovered at the high school and students will switch to fully remote learning for the next two weeks in response.

A letter from superintendent Joann Chambers and high school principal Mark Bennett was sent to parents in the district regarding the cases on Thursday, Sept. 17.

The school is working closely with the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department to expedite contract tracing connected to the cases, the letter said. Parents of high school students who came into contact with those who tested positive will be contacted directly by Public Health.

"Our rigorous health and safety protocols, along with the smaller in-person class sizes, have helped to mitigate the number of potential student contacts. However, some PHS students will be directed by SLC Public Health to quarantine and seek testing for COVID-19," the letter said.

Potsdam High School will shift to a fully remote learning model from Monday, Sept. 21-Friday, Oct. 2. During a phone conversation with North Country This Week late Thursday, Chambers confirmed that elementary students will continue with the schedule established at the beginning of the semester; only the high school students would be going fully remote Chambers said.

The superintendent said the school already has a remote learning system in place and all of the students have worked with the system at least part of the time since school began this year. And, one cohort of senior high students has participated in online learning full time since starting the fall semester.

The public health situation and level of spread in the community will be reassessed prior to Oct. 2 and a determination regarding a return to in-person learning will be made at that time, said the letter.

"While we are disappointed to have to pause our in-person learning, the health and safety of all students and staff will always be our first priority. We believe this cautious approach is in the best interest of our entire school community," the superintendent and principal write.

Students in Cohort A (Monday/Tuesday) and Cohort B (Wednesday/Thursday) will follow their normal period-by-period class schedule and join their teachers via Google Meet. These remote class sessions are required.

Teachers will be sending out Google Meet invitations to their students' school email. Students in Cohort C will continue to follow their remote mandatory class meeting schedule, said the letter.

Eleventh and 12th grade students who attend BOCES' Seaway Career and Technical Center will continue to participate in their program. These students are already engaged in remote learning for their other courses, said the letter. Some BOCES special education programs at Potsdam High School will continue in-person instruction as well.

"Finally, though we had hoped to begin the fall interscholastic athletics season on Monday, September 21st, the Department of Health guidance does not allow schools that are fully remote to offer athletics. If high school students are able to return to in-person learning, we will assess the feasibility of beginning interscholastic athletics at that time," said the letter to parents.