Hello O’Hara families,
I want to update you as we continue to monitor COVID-19/coronavirus and prepare for the possibility that the virus could impact our schools. The health and safety of our students is our priority.
We have made a number of changes and increased efforts to help reduce the spread of germs:
- Students are released from class 5 minutes early for snack and lunch to wash their hands before eating.
- Reminders to students about coughing & sneezing etiquette.
- Extra wiping down of desks, doorknobs, drinking fountains and other surfaces.
- Increased cleanings with our Clorox Total 360 System.
- Students who exhibit signs of illness will be immediately sent home.
Additionally, we ask that parents please adhere to sick-day guidelines:
It is imperative that anyone exhibiting symptoms stay at home. According to the Oregon Department of Education, students should be excluded from school if they exhibit:
- Fever greater than 100.5. The fever must stay below 100.5 F for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
- Vomiting: Vomiting must cease for 24 hours before returning to school
- Stiff neck or headache with fever
- Any rash with or without fever
- Unusual behavior changes, such as irritability, lethargy, or somnolence
- Jaundice (yellow color or skin or eyes)
- Diarrhea (3 watery or loose stools in one day with or without fever)
- Diarrhea must be stopped for 24 hours before returning to school
- Skin lesions that are "weepy" (fluid or pus-filled)
- Colored drainage from eyes or ears
- Brown/green drainage from nose with fever or complaints of illness
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; serious, sustained cough
- Symptoms or complaints that prevent the student from participating in his/her usual school activities, such as persistent cough, with or without presence of fever, or
- Student requires more care than school staff can safely provide.
We also ask that you please review the CDC's recommendations to prevent the spread of contagious respiratory illnesses, including the coronavirus and flu:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Put used tissues directly in a wastebasket.
- Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, if you do not have a tissue.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people and if you are sick, stay home to recover.
In the event that we are directed to close school, O'Hara will be utilizing Digital Learning Days.
Information and links for students and parents would be posted on our website for access should that situation arise.
Additional Links our families will find helpful:
We remain committed to keeping our school clean and our students and staff healthy. To that end, we are continuing to monitor recommendations and adhering to the informed guidance of public health authorities.
We will continue to monitor and send updates to our families as necessary. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all.
