Dear EBI Community,
I trust that this message finds you and your family doing well. Given how quickly the global novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is evolving, we continue to refine our plans to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff, as well as prepare for a continuous educational experience in the event of a temporary school closure. Our faculty and staff have received additional training and resources so that they are prepared to support students under all scenarios. In lieu of my monthly letter, I am using this opportunity to share with you additional details on our response plan for COVID-19.
Response Team
We have formed a designated response team that monitors and evaluates the evolving situation, comprised of the Head of School, Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Director of Facilities, Security and Safety, Director of Advancement, and Executive Assistant. The response team, supported by school administrators and expert advisors, is also responsible for the continual update of our response plan. Please know that we meet daily and are in constant communication to evaluate new developments, assess risks, and make any necessary decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and community.
Possible School Closures
In the event of a potential school closure due to direct or indirect exposure of a community member to COVID-19*, families would be notified via email and our One Call Emergency phone system. Please note that depending upon the circumstances and the recommendations set forth by Alameda PHD, we might be required to close for a 14-day period or longer.
During a school closure, all school events, such as field trips, athletics, performances, community events, etc. will be canceled and rescheduled if and when possible. All campus facilities would go through continued deep cleaning, and all employees, students, and families would be required to remain off campus until school is reopened.
Likewise, depending on local developments and public health recommendations, we
may
in the future need to limit or cancel large gatherings, field trips, trips, and extracurricular activities including, sports, and clubs.
*If you or a member of your family are exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, I ask that you please notify me directly (
pclark@ebinternacional.org
or 510-653-3324).
Learning Experience
Should a school closure occur, our faculty and staff are prepared to ensure a continued learning experience for students. They will use a variety of synchronous and asynchronous strategies such as online learning tools, videoconferences, podcasts, and resources via ManageBac, hard copy educational packets, and ongoing communications. In the case of a closure, these plans and expectations will be communicated directly by Division Heads, and you should expect to receive daily communication and instructions from teachers via email, ManageBac, and/or Google Classroom.
Our teachers are preparing high-quality educational lessons for any possible short- or long-term closures, which will allow students to continue reinforcing skills and learning in alignment with their scope, sequences, and programs. It is important to also note that teachers might not be able to fully replicate some classroom experiences like science labs, group discussions, or circle times, among others. We are very grateful to our wonderful and committed faculty and staff for their hard work to ensure that our students continue receiving an engaging learning experience in the event of a school closure.
Overnight Trips and International Travel
Based on the current recommendations from Alameda PDH, we have not canceled any overnight trips. However, please know that we continue to monitor and evaluate our plans. Should any changes occur, we will communicate with you as soon as possible.
In order to help us ensure the safety and well-being of our community, we would like to request that all families, faculty, and staff traveling outside the U.S. complete this
International Travel Form
and let
Jennifer Galloso
(Grades PK-5) or
Daniel Nube
(Grades 6-8) know if they will be traveling outside the U.S. over spring break.
EBI also follows CDC recommendations regarding travel. Any student, faculty, or staff member traveling to an area with a
Level 3 Travel Health Notice
(currently China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy), will be subject upon their return to a 14-day period of self-isolation off-campus.
Hygiene Best Practices and Actions
We encourage you to continue:
- Adhering to best practices as a family to avoid spreading any infection: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when sneezing or coughing, wash your hands with soap and water often, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
- Staying home if you are feeling sick (we ask you to refer to our family handbook for more details on managing student illness)
- Utilizing, when on campus, along with our students, faculty, and staff the additional hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes that are positioned at different touch points across both campuses
Out of precaution, deep cleaning and sanitizing are taking place at both campuses over the weekend. In addition, we also continue to:
- Invest in midday cleaning and disinfecting of high traffic shared common spaces
- Maintain nightly janitorial disinfecting and cleaning
- Remind employees and students of proper hygiene
- Identify and interview additional third party sources for substitute teachers should we need additional resources
- Evaluate daily the impact that the Coronavirus could have on spring travel, upcoming school trips, and other non-typical school activities (we will communicate any needed changes as they are determined)
Resources
Please find below additional resources available to help you and your family stay even more informed as we move forward:
I remain deeply grateful for your continued support and inspired by the collective strength of our community.
Con gran aprecio,
Paola V. Clark, Ed.D.
