Coronavirus Update, RE: School Planning Update, Travel Advisory
St. John’s continues to closely monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) and prepare as much as possible for different scenarios. The purpose of this communication is to share with you the proactive measures we are taking to protect our students and staff, as well as steps we will take in the event a student or employee exhibits coronavirus-like symptoms or contracts the virus.
We continue to monitor the latest developments from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and Florida Department of Health. At present, the overall risk of contracting the virus is low and children are reportedly the least affected demographic. At the same time, we are committed to doing all we can to keep everyone well and safe, especially those members of the school community at potentially higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19.
St. John’s current planning focuses on three main areas (Physical, Medical, and Educational) and centers around the following action steps:
Physical—on our school campuses, we have or are:
Installing hand sanitizer dispensers in every restroom
Doubled overall cleaning efforts and cleaning 3-4 times per school day
Focused extra cleaning in areas where disease is most likely to spread
Arranged large-scale deep-cleaning of school facilities should it become necessary
Placed flyers in every bathroom reminding students and staff to wash hands and showing them how to effectively wash hands to stop the spread of germs
Medical—to prevent the spread of illness, we are or have:
Following CDC guidelines for prevention
Increased messaging to students, families and staff
Discouraged physical contact
Reviewing and replenishing relevant supplies
Reviewing large gatherings of students and faculty and planning for cancellation, if necessary
Following the recommendation of the Diocese for Holy Eucharist (“Long Chapel”) services and reception of Holy Communion, which include:
Discouraging handshaking to offer Peace, and rather encouraging elbow-tapping, fist-bumping, or simply wishing someone Peace without any physical touch
Encouraging anyone who has any symptoms or is feeling ill to receive the Bread only, and reminding students that it is always considered a “complete” reception of the Eucharist to receive the Bread only for any who wish to refrain from the Wine at this time
Educational—to ensure learning continues, we are:
Exploring and planning options to ensure students have remote access to learning if they are out of school for an extended period
In addition to the above, we are also preparing for the possibility of a student or staff member exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms at school. COVID-19 is spread similarly to the flu, mostly through contact from an infected individual and transmitted by coughing and sneezing. Common symptoms include: a fever of 100 degrees or higher, cough, and/or difficulty breathing.
If a student presents these symptoms while at school, they will be immediately moved to a quarantined space in the school, while continuing to be monitored by an adult. A family member or emergency contact will be called to pick them up.
If a staff person exhibits symptoms, they will be asked to leave school and call their healthcare provider immediately. We will monitor the staff person’s health conditions as appropriate.
Any member of the school community who develops any flu-like or virus-identified symptoms at any time, especially those who have traveled, must self-quarantine for 14 days in accordance with CDC guidelines (this will be considered an excused school absence).
In order to return to school, the student or employee must first check-in with their respective division director and provide clearance from a medical doctor to return.
In the unlikely event that a SJE community member is confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, steps we are considering include:
‘Deep cleaning’ all school campuses, which may involve a temporary closure
Isolating a specific classroom or group of students
Minimizing or cancelling large gatherings
Closing the school (this is a last resort)
Creating a learning environment to support education at home (which is of secondary importance to our students’ health)
As spring break approaches, and in order to help safeguard our school community, St. John’s will follow CDC Travel Guidelines. These include asking that students, families, and employees traveling to areas affected by COVID-19 stay informed of the
U.S. Department of State and
CDC’s travel advisories, as the situation may change rapidly in the weeks ahead. Many countries are now implementing new entry and exit control measures, as well as quarantines, with very little notice. These actions could severely impact your plans and/or delay your return to home and school. Should you or a member of your immediate family travel anytime between now and the end of the school year and subsequently display any symptoms resembling those of the coronavirus, we are requiring that individual to remain away from school for a period of 14 days.
In times like these, one of the biggest challenges is to be proactive and take the necessary protective steps while also maintaining a sense of perspective and context. There is no reason for panic. Official guidelines suggest that 80% of those who even contract the virus will exhibit only mild symptoms. The risk of serious health issues remains very small to the vast majority of the population. We appreciate your attention and cooperation during this time. Please be assured that our highest priority is ensuring the health and safety of our entire St. John’s school community. We will continue to keep you updated as the situation evolves. As always, please contact us should you have any questions or concerns.