Important Time-Sensitive Spring Break Update, March 2, 2020

Change in Spring Break Calendar/Planning for Possible School Disruption
Dear Collegiate Families, 
 
We are writing to follow up on last week’s communication about novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We will continue to monitor timely resources to inform how we can best uphold our commitment to the health and well-being of our community. While it is unsettling for parents, students and employees to read daily about COVID-19, the CDC has advised communities, businesses, schools and other organizations to be prepared for the possibility of needing to manage this new virus. Collegiate School is committed to being as prepared as possible, and thus provides the following updates on our decisions and guidance to our community. 
 
Change in Spring Break Calendar/Planning for Possible School Disruption
On Sunday, I met with our Academic Leadership Team and we concluded that we need additional time and training in order to explore “online school” or remote learning should this become necessary for an unforeseen period of time.  

As such, we are canceling school for students on Monday, March 16, the day we were to return from Spring Break, and will use this day for professional development.

On that day, JV and Varsity athletics, play practice and robotics will take place. Cub sports will be canceled. Athletic practices will begin at 4 p.m. Specific communication will be emailed from coaches. Robotics will begin at 4 p.m. Private music lessons and Upper School theater crew call will begin at 3:30 p.m. Play practice will begin at 7 p.m. in Oates Theater. Dance company rehearsals for 3rd and 4th Grades will be canceled.
 
The faculty and staff will report for professional development and application of online instruction by division and department.
 
We recognize this is an inconvenience for some who need child care. As such, we will offer free child care from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. for any Collegiate students in Grades JK-12 who require care that day. Students can be dropped off at their regular carpool locations. In order to be staffed appropriately, please sign up here by Thursday, March 12, if you would like this day of care.
 
We will begin our professional development immediately, use Spring Break for refinement and test applications specific to each teacher on this day without students.
 
To this end, we suggest you ensure that your student has access to high-speed internet should virtual learning need to occur for any period of time. If access is a problem for your family, please contact your child’s division head.
 
For those with students in 4th-6th Grade, you will hear more from your division heads about bringing home School-owned and provided devices before Spring Break, should we need to commence online learning. 
 
Business or Other Travel
Many of our parents are required to travel for business or other reasons, and we ask that those who travel to areas of CDC Level 2 or Level 3 concern inform the School of their travel so that we may provide appropriate guidance. We will be asking travelers from those countries to refrain from coming to campus for a minimum of 14 days after their return home.

Spring Break Travel
With Spring Break quickly approaching, we are particularly mindful that many of our families have plans to travel. We encourage families to take the usual health precautions. 
 
As you evaluate your own travel, we encourage you to keep abreast of changes in restrictions for COVID-19 by using the following website: U.S. State Department to review your destination(s) before your departure, during your trip and upon your return. We understand this information changes and as such, encourage you to check this website regularly.
 
Many countries have instituted restrictions and quarantines for travel into and out of the country that may directly affect you. Please be mindful that travel restrictions can change with little or no advanced notice, and airlines may change or cancel flights in response.

Self-Quarantine For Travelers
Please note that the CDC is asking all travelers arriving in the U.S. from China, even if asymptomatic, to self-quarantine for 14 days. 
 
In an abundance of caution, we ask Collegiate School students, parents, faculty, staff and volunteers who are traveling to and/or returning from CDC Level 2 or Level 3 areas, or whose household members are returning from CDC Level 2 or Level 3 areas, not to return to school (including any school activities on or off campus) until a 14-day period has elapsed following their return to the United States, and to obtain medical clearance before returning to campus. If you travel to these areas, we ask you to self-report, via the emails listed below, to the respective school nurses and division heads.
 
Please contact your personal physician for specific instructions regarding self-quarantine. Please know that should your student require quarantine post-travel, we will do our best to provide remote learning and extend deadlines.
 
School Trips
The School has and will continue to carefully evaluate its School-sponsored trips in light of health and travel concerns for both departures and returns. Given the continuing uncertainty regarding both health risks and potential travel restrictions, we have canceled planned March trips to China, Italy and France. Individual communications will/have been sent to the families affected. We will be monitoring the health risks of travel as part of our routine decision-making process for the remainder of the trips planned this school year.
 
Official Sources of Information
Collegiate School is following the current guidance provided by the Virginia Department of Health, the CDC, U.S. State Department and the World Health Organization (WHO). These are all excellent sources of information if you have any additional concerns about COVID-19. We will, of course, keep you informed of any recommendations that might affect our ability to operate the school normally.
 
Regular Flu Reminders
As we wrote last week, we remind you and your families to follow these simple steps, routinely recommended during flu season.
 
Avoiding Bias
Finally, we are very aware that anxiety can be heightened during such situations.  
 
We want to separate fact from rumor by relying on our health care experts: the local, state and federal agencies that are responsible for guiding us. No one in our community should be unfairly targeted for any reason; our mission and community values all of us to be inclusive
 
As we partner with you and our greater community to meet known and unknown challenges, we are committed to keeping the channels of communication open and doing all we reasonably can to ensure the health, safety and well-being of our community. We plan to communicate regularly with families as we monitor the situation and we will post health-related updates on the News page of our website.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any medical or health issues, please feel free to reach out to the local health department or one of our school nurses:
 
Kathryn Heidt - 804.741.9787 kathryn_heidt@collegiate-va.org
Jana Barnes - 804.741.9788 jana_barnes@collegiate-va.org
 
If you have any questions relating to our policies and procedures, please feel free to contact your respective division head or me. 
 
School Contacts:
 
Debbie Miller, Lower School Head
debbie_miller@collegiate-va.org
804.741.9774
 
Tung Trinh, Middle School Head
tung_trinh@collegiate-va.org
804.741.9715

Patrick Loach, Upper School Head
patrick_loach@collegiate-va.org
804.741.9732
 
In closing, I am grateful for your support and for the teaming of our extraordinary professionals who continue to meet for careful planning and accomplishment of our shared goals for Collegiate’s desire to offer a safe and optimal learning environment.
 
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