March 6, 2020
Dear Oakridge Community,
Today's dismissal will mark the conclusion of the third grading period and the beginning of Spring Break. As you might imagine, the positive energy on campus is palpable as students anticipate the holiday. Your children have earned this time off. Make no mistake: the faculty and staff are excited and deserving, too. These stellar educators pour their hearts and souls into their work and into your children.
Since I last wrote to you on February 27, coverage of coronavirus (COVID-19) has continued to dominate the news. I want to assure you that The Oakridge School is monitoring the situation closely. In addition to the actions I shared in my last letter, we continue to connect with local, regional, and national resources. This week, for example, we participated in several conference calls and webinars, including two hosted by Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) officials. It gives us confidence to know we can rely on great communication and sound guidance from the TCPH Director Vinny Taneja, as well as the organization's chief epidemiologist and its emergency preparedness coordinator.
Across the country, parents are curious about how their children's schools will handle short-term or long-term closures. We have been discussing this very thing at Oakridge - internally and with other schools in our associations – and we are in a fortunate position. If school were to close for a few days, we would treat the situation much like we do for snow or ice days and enjoy the unexpected rest. If an extended closure occurred, we would take much of our learning online. While there is no substitute for our on-campus experience, the faculty and I pledge to work tirelessly to provide virtual instruction if it becomes necessary.
What can we all do now? Experts in the medical community, including our school nurse, Kim Campbell-Martinez, recommend we follow the same basic health practices as we do during any cold and flu season. These include washing hands thoroughly and often, covering up coughs and sneezes, keeping hands away from eyes/noses/mouths, staying away from others who are ill, and remaining home from school or work with a fever or when feeling ill.
Recognizing that your children may be anxious, I offer a couple of resources about how to talk to young people about COVID-19, one from The New York Times parenting section and one from the National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Nurses.
Many in our community will be traveling over Spring Break; therefore, we encourage you to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and consult with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization for guidance. This link may be helpful to those contemplating international travel.
It should go without saying, but please share any information regarding potential exposure to COVID-19 with health professionals and the school. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership as we make every effort to keep our community healthy and safe.
Wishing you all a restful and peaceful holiday,
Jon Kellam ©2016 The Oakridge School |