Dear North Hills School District Families,
We continue to monitor the coronavirus (
COVID-19) and its spread across the United States. According to the latest information from the
Pennsylvania Department of Health last updated late this morning, March 10, there are 11 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in our state.
While there are currently no cases in Allegheny County or western Pennsylvania, the spread feels imminent, adding to the concerns and stress felt by our families.
We ask that you please acknowledge the concern but
do not panic, and continue to
take precautions to lessen the spread of germs and reinforce good hygiene at home.
This should include:
- Washing hands multiple times a day for at least 20 seconds with soap and water (Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available)
- Covering coughs or sneezes with your elbow or use a tissue (Do not use your hands!)
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- Cleaning touch-surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones and remotes
- Encouraging fist and elbow pumps over handshakes and high-fives
- Not sharing food or drink
- Staying home if you are sick and for at least 24 hours after a fever
We also ask that you
talk to your children about the virus
.
Children need factual, age appropriate information about the potential seriousness of the disease, and concrete instruction about how to avoid its spread. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety.
Parents should:
- Remain calm. If a parent seems overly worried, a child's anxiety may rise.
- Provide reassurance. Health and school officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the country stay healthy. Children are not high-risk and the majority of people with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms and recover.
- Keep information simple and straightforward. Pittsburgh family physician and parenting expert Dr. Deborah Gilboa suggests asking the child what he/she has heard and believes. This animated video from BrainPOP is also a good place to start.
- Find opportunities to correct misinformation. It’s okay if you don’t know all the answers. Information is constantly changing. Please keep the dialogue with your child open.
- Reinforce that not one group is to blame. No group should be stereotyped as responsible for the virus, and bullying or racial discrimination will not be tolerated in our schools. This virus can affect anybody. This comic created by NPR can be a helpful tool.
As a district, our teachers and school nurses continue to reinforce the behaviors of good hygiene above. Many of our teachers have taught their students new, fun songs to sing while handwashing, and students are given adequate time to wash their hands prior to lunch or snack time.
Our custodians have increased their efforts cleaning our buildings as well. All desks, door knobs and other touch surfaces are wiped daily with a hospital grade EPA disinfectant. All rooms are also sanitized each night with a vital oxide spray.
Additionally, our custodians are being retrained this week to ensure the continuation of efficient and effective cleaning processes.
Should COVID-19 become known in Allegheny County and/or our district, we will follow the guidance of local, state and federal health departments, and utilize
Flexible Instructional Days if our schools need to close.
We ask that our families please use the following resources to stay up to date on COVID-19:
Please contact your student’s school nurse or primary care physician with any health-related questions or concerns.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
North Hills School District Administration
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