High school applications open the week of January 18, 2021, with the deadline to apply coming during the week of February 22, 2021.

The SHSAT, the entrance exam that determines admission to eight of the city's nine specialized high schools, will be administered to students in their local middle schools, though parents will need to register their children. Registration for that opens Monday, December 21, 2020, and closes Friday, January 15, 2021. 

Unlike middle schools, high school's geographic admissions priorities are being phased out over a two-year period. For this admission cycle, district priorities have been eliminated; geographic priorities, like borough residency requirements, can still be utilized but will be eliminated in the 2022-23 admissions cycle.
High schools can also rely on admission screens, utilizing a combination of 2018-19 test scores, previous years' grades, or other measures determined by each school. Schools must post their full admissions rubric online.

Auditions for performing arts high schools have shifted online, too. Students can produce one audition piece to submit to multiple schools. 

How to Apply to NYC's Public Schools
All families must set up a MySchools Account to process applications, whether applying to 3K or high school or any grade in between. Questions about the process can be addressed by your child's current school, by reaching out to the Family Welcome Center in your home district, or by calling 311.

The middle school application opens the week of January 11, 2021, and closes the week of February 8, 2021. While middle schools can provide geographic priority for in-district students to keep younger kids closer to home, all other admissions priorities must be dropped for this admissions cycle. Schools with more applications than available seats will utilize a lottery system to determine which students receive offers.
The removal of screens will be reevaluated prior to the next admissions cycle and affects 196 schools citywide that use some sort of screening in their admissions process.
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​How to Apply to NYC's Public Schools
All families must set up a MySchools Account to process applications, whether applying to 3K or high school or any grade in between. Questions about the process can be addressed by your child's current school, by reaching out to the Family Welcome Center in your home district, or by calling 311.

By Libby Hastert TrueNorth

​What Causes Bad Breath?
Halitosis, the medical term for bad breath, is caused by several things.

Bacteria inside the mouth is the most common cause of bad breath. Bacteria grows as a result of poor dental hygiene.

What you put in your mouth is another underlying factor in bad breath. If last night’s dinner is still lingering, garlic or onions might be to blame. Drinking alcoholic beverages or coffee can also leave you needing a breath mint or three. And if you followed your meal with an after-dinner cigarette, your breath might really be in trouble.
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When Bad Breath Won't Go Away
If bad breath is chronic, lasting more than a few days, an underlying health problem may be at the root of the issue.

Bad breath is sometimes caused by:

- Chronic acid reflux
- Chronic dry mouth
- Kidney failure
- Tooth decay or gum disease, which results from plaque build-up
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Untreated tonsilitis, allergy-related postnasal drip or respiratory infections like sinusitis or bronchitis 


How to Treat Bad Breath
The good news is that while bad breath can be frustrating, it’s often short-term and treatable.
​
Quick fixes include:

Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily
Eating healthy 
Staying hydrated
Stopping the use of tobacco products
Treating allergies to reduce postnasal drip
If your bad breath lasts more than a few days, call your doctor. Because conditions like diabetes and kidney failure pose a serious risk to your overall health, it’s important to discuss chronic bad breath with a medical professional.

The second application period runs from Dec. 18 through Feb. 1 and previous applicants do not need to reapply. The state will re-evaluate all past applications based on the new criteria.
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Free rapid COVID tests are available at these Test & Trace Clinic locations:

• Central Harlem: 2238 5th Ave., 1st floor 
• Chelsea: 303 9th Ave.
• Riverside: 160 W. 100th St.
• Washington Heights: 600 W. 168th St., 3rd floor

Schedule an appointment online here. Appointment slots are available up to a week in advance.

Free Neighborhood Testing Sites:

Manhattan School of Music, 120 Claremont Avenue

Manhattan Borough President's list of testing sites

NYC Health & Hospital Sites

https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/covid-19-testing-sites/

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By Gillian Smith Patch

Run by a new nonprofit called the Urban Outreach Center, the site includes a supermarket-style food pantry that allows visitors the comfort of being able to choose from available foods, adding dignity and a sense of normalcy for people receiving fresh produce and healthy staples from the pantry.

The Urban Outreach Center is at 1745 1st Ave., between East 90th and 91st streets. While hours will expand after the new year, it is currently open Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the sidewalk in front of the building.
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The location also includes community dinners on Tuesday evenings, offering hot, restaurant-quality meals to food-insecure families senior citizens and low-income New Yorkers.
There are also clothing rooms, mail distribution services and a job center.

By Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH Livestrong
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​When it comes to mask annoyances, you probably never thought stink-to-high-heaven breath would be on the top of your list. But more than 80 million people suffer from chronic halitosis, according to the Academy of General Dentistry, a condition you may not normally be able to sniff out on your own.

Read More...

By Meghan T. Walls, PsyD KidsHealth

​If you feel stressed about coronavirus, you're not alone. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had ripple effects into almost every aspect of our lives. It's affected the way we live every day. So much has changed in such a short time.

It's natural to feel anxiety when we face a crisis, the unknown, or sudden change. It's a normal reaction to feel the need for safety, certainty, predictability, and control.

Anxiety is a normal emotion and serves as a signal to pay attention so we can protect ourselves. Anxiety alerts us. It prompts us to adapt. But when we're overwhelmed by anxiety, it sometimes can do more harm than good.

When anxiety becomes overwhelming, we're less able to rise to a challenge, and sometimes we get stuck.

Here are some tips that can help you cope with anxiety and give you a sense of control even during an uncertain time. Many are simple techniques with proven benefits.

Follow the advice of experts. First, know what to do to avoid the spread of germs. This not only helps keep you safer, it gives you and your kids a sense of control! Follow the expert guidelines for health and safety. Wash your hands well and often. Keep surfaces clean. Stay at home when you can. If you need to go out, wear a mask and keep a safe distance from others. When you do these things, you protect yourself, your family, and your community.

Notice, label, and accept your emotions. When you feel anxious, quietly say to yourself, "OK, there's my anxiety again." Just putting a label on what we feel helps reduce our concern.

Accept anxiety as one of your many emotions. Don't ignore it, fight it, reject it, or be afraid of it. Don't judge yourself for feeling it. Be kind. Give yourself permission to be human.

Keep it in perspective and notice the good. Don't let anxiety run the show. It's one part of your emotional life, but it's not the whole thing. Leave room to challenge yourself: Is there anything going well? What positive things have happened that make me think this anxious thought might not be accurate?

Direct your attention or practice mindfulness. When you notice anxious thoughts, know that you don't have to dwell on them. Direct your attention to things that help you feel calm. You can use techniques such as guided imagery (easily found on YouTube or Google Video) or mindfulness practices that help you focus on being in the moment.

Practice breathing. Just pausing to take a breath can calm you in a difficult moment. It can help you pause before you react, and choose how to react. Specifically, "belly breathing" or diaphragmatic breathing is most helpful. Practice for 5–10 minutes a day. Try an app like "Belly Bio" that is free to download.

Reach out to others. Staying in touch with friends and family is good for you and for them. Feeling close to others reduces anxiety, and has been known to boost the immune system. Even though we're staying home more, we can reach out by phone, video chat, or social media. We can feel close, even while we're apart. Practice physical distancing, but social togetherness.

Practice gratitude. Noticing what we're grateful for is a powerful remedy to anxiety. Showing gratitude is another way to feel close to others. It benefits your mood and your health. Say a simple heartfelt thank-you. Make a list of what you're grateful for. Send a letter to someone who's helped you. Let loved ones know how much they mean to you.

Be awed by nature. Even 5 minutes spent appreciating nature can lower anxiety and blood pressure. It raises emotional well-being. It reminds us we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

Be active. Even though we are staying at home more, find ways to be active every day. There are plenty of ways to be active outdoors and still practice social distancing (also called physical distancing). Exercise relaxes you. It generates hormones that boost the body's immune system. If you can't get out, take a fitness class online.

Keep your balance. Calming anxiety doesn't mean ignoring problems. It's about finding our balance so we can cope well; so we can help ourselves and each other though this situation. We can find calm and well-being even when we face great uncertainty.

Know when to reach out for help. If your anxiety seems overwhelming — if you're having trouble sleeping, eating, or interacting in the ways you normally would — get help. Most behavioral health providers are offering telehealth visits during this time and can schedule with new patients. Don't be afraid to reach out for help during this stressful time!
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Find a Free Meal Location Near You
- Free "Grab and Go" meals are available for all New Yorkers
- Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm 
- Meals Hubs will operate for children and families from 7:30 am to 11:30 am, and for adults from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
- No one will be turned away at any time
- All adults and children can pick up multiple meals at once
- No registration, ID, or documentation required
- No dining space is available, so meals must be eaten off premises.
- Parents and guardians may pick up meals for their children
- View sites that offer exclusively kosher certified meals

By Rhea Saravanan Odyssey

Estos son los protocolos y procedimientos que seguirá el estudio en este momento.
Se pueden hacer modificaciones según sea necesario durante la temporada.