Dear Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences Community,
I am reaching out to keep you informed to the best of my ability during this rapidly evolving and unprecedented challenge. I continue to be sensitive to the anxiety associated with this dynamic and uncertain situation.
It is important to note that, as of this writing, we have had no reports of anyone in our community as being identified as having COVID-19. However, we recognize that the practice of social distancing is crucial to slowing down the spread of COVID-19 to protect our community.
Please take time to read the following updates:
• Barnesville School will be closed to students at the conclusion of the academic day today until at least through the end of Spring Break (March 27).
• We are proactively having every student bring home educational materials and devices should there be a need to transition to distance learning after March 27.
• Faculty are working with Middle School students to orientate them to the digital platforms that we will be using should distance learning be implemented.
• Next week – our Faculty and Administration will use Monday and Tuesday to refine our distance learning protocols which will be shared with parents once finalized. Administrative Offices will be open the remainder of the week.
• Spring break – we ask everyone to monitor country-specific
Travel Health Notices issued by the CDC and to please contact the school if your travel plans (including layovers) include a Level 2 or 3 country. We expect all community members to follow CDC requirements to self-isolate or self-quarantine to ensure the safety of the entire community.
• We have launched a dedicated
webpage to centralize communication and resources related to COVID-19.
• We urge you to continue to use best practices to prevent the spread of illness from COVID-19 including:
o Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
o Avoid touching eyes, mouth, and nose with unwashed hands.
o Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.
o Stay home when you are sick.
o The CDC recommends that individuals remain home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication (i.e., chills, feeling warm, flushed appearance).
o Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately discard the tissue in the trash.
o Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
o Take any anti-viral medication prescribed to you as instructed.
As before, we ask that you continue to partner with us to support your child/children by limiting media exposure, relying only on highly trusted sources for information, and continuing to engage in proactive hygiene measures.
Our current plan is to resume in-person instruction on Monday, March 30. However, we are fully prepared to transition to delivering our curriculum virtually if distance learning becomes necessary. I will continue to provide you with timely updates.
As always, thank you for your support as we navigate this uncharted territory together. I sincerely hope that you and your family remain healthy. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Susanne Johnson