March 16, 2020
 
Dear Ranney School Community,
 
As you are likely aware, Governor Murphy has closed all public and private schools in New Jersey, starting Wednesday. Schools will stay closed until health officials deem it safe for classes to resume.  Although our conference call with the Department of Education indicated that the initial order would be for two weeks, state officials made it clear that the likelihood is that the closure will be extended for some time.  As a result, we will plan to resume classes virtually after Spring Break. Virtual classes will begin on Wednesday, April 1, which will allow faculty to prepare and communicate plans and procedures to students on Monday March 30 and Tuesday March 31. You will receive more information about division-specific plans from your respective Division Head(s) prior to the end of the scheduled break.
 
Please rest assured that Ranney is prepared to continue your child(ren)’s education without interruption. In addition to exploring unique ways for faculty to deliver academic lessons online, we will ensure that homeroom teachers and advisors connect with their students individually so that we are able to give every student the support they need. 
 
Please continue to use safety@ranneyschool.org with any questions or concerns.  To access ongoing updates, including the information below, please visit: COVID-19 Updates .
 
Stay safe and we hope students have the opportunity to relax during the break.
 
Sincerely,
Dr. John W. Griffith
Head of School

WILL RANNEY CLOSE IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19?
On March 16, Governor Murphy ordered the closing of all public and private schools until the health officials deem it safe to return. Ranney is prepared to move to distance learning following the break, with classes resuming on Wednesday April 1.
WHAT HAS RANNEY DONE TO PREPARE FOR SCHOOL CLOSURE?
Faculty and staff have developed division, department, and course-specific online curriculum to support program continuity. Faculty participated in a full day of professional development on March 13 to complete training and plan. Faculty will use March 30 and 31 to finalize plans and communicate with their students and families.

Upper / Middle School:  We have trained faculty to conduct online classes to prepare for a possible school closure. Faculty are able to teach via Google Classrooms, Google Meet, and myRanney. Faculty have also been introduced to OBS Studio, a software package that allows faculty to create video lessons that can be used asynchronously and disseminated on youTube, Google Classroom, or in myRanney. 

Lower School:   In the event of school closure Lower School teachers and specialists will provide assignments via myRanney. Faculty are reviewing with their students how to use relevant software and applications. Please complete the form in myRanney to indicate if you have access to the required technology at home (iPads for Beginners through Grade 2 or a chromebook for Grades 3 through 5) or if you would like to borrow a device.
HOW HAS RANNEY ENHANCED ITS CLEANING/
HYGIENE PROTOCOLS?
We began a complete deep cleaning of our campus Monday, March 16th and this will continue through Friday, March 20th. We have restricted building access during this cleaning. The cleaning process include 360 hours of meticulous, hands-on work with both an electrostatic sprayer and deep cleaning and disinfecting of floors, desks, and all touch points. The School has also stepped up its cleaning protocols with nightly cleaning staff to wipe down all touch surfaces with cleaners approved by the FDA to kill COVID-19.
WHAT ARE RANNEY'S POLICIES RELATED TO TRAVEL OVER SPRING BREAK?
We know many families have canceled their Spring Break travel plans, so many students will be home for the break. We ask that you limit your child’s social interactions over Spring Break as social distancing prevents the spread of COVID-19.  We have canceled all athletic practices and scrimmages over the break. If students are involved in events sponsored by other organizations over the break, we invite you to use your discretion regarding attendance.  

We recognize that some Ranney families may still have plans to travel during Spring Break. While we cannot ask you to change travel plans, we strongly encourage you to take every precaution and follow CDC and State Department guidelines. Please refer to the 2020-21 School Calendar for help in rescheduling travel, if necessary.

If anyone in your household travels to a place for which the CDC has issued a Level 3 (avoid non-essential travel) advisory, Ranney expects that the family follow any then-current CDC guidelines related to self-care, including but not limited to self-quarantine for two weeks upon return. Please note that conditions can change rapidly in a country at any time, so please check Travel Advisories for your destination.
WILL RANNEY CANCEL SCHOOL-RUN TRIPS INCLUDING MAYMESTER?
After careful consideration, the COVID-19 Task Force has decided to cancel Upper School Maymester travel experiences to Europe, South Africa and Florida planned for this year. The safety of our students is paramount, and although this news is disappointing, we will not risk putting our students' health in jeopardy or the possibility of quarantine while traveling. In the meantime, faculty are working to develop meaningful local alternatives to take the place of these travel programs during the last two weeks of this school year.
 
We will be in touch at the Division level with details about cancellations related to other field trips and events.
WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE TO PROTECT MY CHILD(REN)?
The same preventive measures that are advised for the flu are advised for COVID-19: 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Please keep your child(ren) home when they are sick so that they do not expose other children to illness.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze into your elbow. If it is necessary to use a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

And, of course, all families are reminded to follow Ranney's Sick Policy  when making attendance decisions.
HOW IS RANNEY MONITORING COVID-19?
The COVID-19 Task Force, which includes the Medical Advisory Board, has been closely following developments related to COVID-19 through   Johns Hopkins University (JHU) , the  World Health Organization (WHO) , the   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , the  U.S. State Department,  International SOS (iSOS), and the  New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) . We are also consulting with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS) to follow best practices and align ourselves, where appropriate, with our peer schools. In addition to the School's COVID-19 Task Force's monitoring of federal authorities' advisories, our School Nurses are in close contact with our local Health Departments to remain apprised of the latest recommendations.
WHO IS ON THE RANNEY COVID-19 TASK FORCE?
The Ranney COVID-19 Task Force includes members of the Board of Trustees, Medical Advisory Board and Administrative Leadership. 
 
Board of Trustees
Bob Chandler, Chair
Joe Guiliano, Vice Chair
 
Medical Advisory Board
Dr. Shamina Dhillon, Chair
Dr. Ramil Bhatnagar
Dr. Seth Dinowitz
Dr. Meg Fisher
Dr. Amy Goodman
Dr. Niraj Govil '85
Dr. Sunita Mann
Dr. Janine Sanderman
Dr. Brian Torpey
 
Administration
Dr. John Griffith, Head of School
Dr. Greg Martin, Assistant Head for Academics and Head of Upper School
Chuck Zalewski, Chief Financial Officer
Jennifer Collins, Chief Advancement Officer
David Ketcham, Head of Middle School
Dr. Andrea Danial, Head of Lower School
Chris Landosky, Director of Operations
Tara Kardum, Health Office 
Sara Zavorek, Director of Marketing & Communications