Greetings MPH Families,
Congratulations on a successful second week of this historic school year! I am inspired every day by our students’ adaptability and resilience as they learn and grow in the midst of significant challenges. Our whole community is engaged in the difficult work of accepting the realities of this school year and forming necessary new habits that allow us to gather safely on campus and/or to learn via simulcast access from home.
As I shared with my colleagues last evening, I am proud of the ways that all of us – students, employees, and families alike – continue to live into this extraordinary school year with ingenuity, energy, and good cheer. As we try new things and learn from what is working and what isn't, we are demonstrating in real time the power of growth mindset in action. Our students watch the adults around them as we meet real-world challenges with curiosity and courage; they see us planning and preparing, as well as fine-tuning as necessary; and in many cases, they themselves are helping address problems and "pinch points" with their own innovative ideas and solutions.
Yet even as we proceed with optimism, we remain vigilant and aware of the changing nature of COVID-19 and its potential impacts on our community. Our Pandemic Response Team (PRT) meets every morning to monitor information pertinent to the health and well-being of our whole community. We are glad to report that every student and employee continues to complete their Daily Health Assessment (DHA) every day, as required. Almost all parents are remembering to complete the DHA by 7:15 a.m. to ensure that their child is not delayed in getting to class on time. Note: The DHA must be completed by parents and guardians only. Students are not permitted to complete their own DHA.
As schools across the country and around the world open to in-person instruction, the news about COVID-19 cases is mixed. MPH, however, continues to be in a strong position to proceed safely with our educational programming on campus, thanks to low positivity rates in our region and our community’s compliance with daily screenings, face coverings, hand washing, physical distancing, and other health protocols. We are working to help students gauge and maintain six feet of distance from others as they move about on campus, and additional floor signage will be installed to help us promote and develop these healthy, new habits. At the same time, we can expect that sometime during the school year someone in our community may test positive for COVID-19. The PRT has just released an update on MPH’s protocols for COVID-19 testing and tracing, and we have added the following to the FAQs section on MY MPH:
Q. What will MPH do if someone in our community becomes infected with COVID-19 or comes into close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19?
A. The Pandemic Response Team (PRT) has developed a list of questions and answers about COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and specific procedures that MPH will follow in the event that someone in our community tests positive or comes into close contact with someone who has been infected with COVID-19. MPH’s protocols are informed by and aligned with the guidance and requirements of the Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD), and the School is well prepared to work closely with health officials should the need arise. Please find details here about MPH’s Protocols for COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing.
As we complete our second week of school and look forward to the next, I am grateful for the collaboration and support of every member of our MPH community. Even as our students and my colleagues have been working hard to master the different behaviors needed to teach and learn in this new environment, our families have been united in their support. Today my colleagues and I were delighted by the Parents’ Association’s special delivery of goodie bags for each and every member of the MPH faculty and staff (photos below). On behalf of my colleagues, please accept our thanks for your generous and heart-warming support. Truly we are all in this together!
Best wishes to all for a beautiful weekend, and Happy New Year to those celebrating Rosh Hashanah this week. Shanah Tovah!
Dave McCusker
Head of School
