March 12, 2020
 
Dear Ranney School Community,

In light of extraordinary developments even over the past 24-hours, and with the safety of our students and community being our utmost priority, the COVID-19 Task Force has decided to cancel after-school activities, athletics, and after-care today and will begin Spring Break for students one day early, starting tomorrow March 13 . This will give faculty the opportunity to continue professional development focused on online classroom resources and to prepare to bring home materials in the event we need to move to virtual learning after the break. Faculty are encouraging students to bring home textbooks and materials this afternoon. We encourage parents and guardians to bring extra bags to pick up to help students bring home relevant materials.

During the break, we will also cancel any previously planned practices or scrimmages for spring sports. If your students are involved in events sponsored by other organizations over the break, we invite you to use your discretion regarding attendance.  

As you have seen in the news, the U.S. State Department has encouraged citizens to reconsider travel abroad. While we cannot ask you to change Spring Break 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. We know many families have already taken this step, so many students will be home for the break. We ask that you limit your child’s social interactions during tomorrow’s closure and over Spring Break as it seems social distancing prevents the spread of COVID-19.

We have already planned to close campus entirely for the first week of the break to do a deep cleaning of the entire campus. We will continue this cleaning on an ongoing basis, and starting on Monday, we will also be using an electrostatic sprayer on an ongoing basis. We are currently scheduled to reopen administrative offices on March 23.  Should this schedule change, we will let families know. 

We will stay in close communication over the break regarding updates and any changes in plan. 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 .

Please stay safe and we hope students enjoy the break.
 
Sincerely,
Dr. John W. Griffith
Head of School
HOW IS RANNEY ENHANCING ITS CLEANING/
HYGIENE PROTOCOLS?
The School has 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. Over Spring Break, we will do a deep cleaning and will begin using an electrostatic sprayer on an ongoing basis. Hand sanitizer is available to students, faculty, and staff. We have adjusted food service to eliminate self-service stations including salad, soup, and infused waters. All food will be served by FLIK staff. FLIK has shared this   communication  for more information.
WHAT ARE RANNEY'S POLICIES RELATED TO TRAVEL OVER SPRING BREAK?
We recognize that some Ranney families have plans to travel during Spring Break. We strongly urge you to take extra precautions and refer to the CDC's and U.S. State Department's recommendations regarding travel health notices. 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.

We ask that you limit your child’s social interactions over Spring Break as it seems social distancing prevents the spread of COVID-19.
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. We are in communication with the travel companies and will reach out to families whose children had planned to travel with more information on Friday, March 13.
 
We are also planning to restrict travel related to other school-sponsored field trips. We will be in touch at the Division level with details about these cancellations.
WILL RANNEY CLOSE IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19?
We are beginning Spring Break for students one day early and all school-sponsored events, primarily practices and scrimmages for spring sports, are canceled over the break. We have not made the decision to move to distance learning after the break, however. i f this decision is made, families will be notified immediately using the School's emergency alert system. 

If a member of your family suspects that they have the virus, we ask that you inform us immediately at  safety@ranneyschool.org.
WHAT IS RANNEY DOING TO PREPARE FOR EXTENDED SCHOOL CLOSURE?.
We are working to put in place strategies for leveraging technology to deliver distance learning. Faculty and staff are currently developing division, department, and course-specific online curriculum to support program continuity. In the event of a prolonged school closure, parents and students will be notified of next steps and expectations. 

  • Upper / Middle School: We are training 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.
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.
WHAT IS RANNEY'S SICK POLICY-- UPDATED
Please keep your child(ren) home when they are sick so that they do not expose other children to illness.  Review the full Sick Policy here .

Students should stay home if they have any of the following conditions:

  • A temperature above 100 degrees
  • Antibiotics are prescribed for a contagious illness
  • The student has vomited
  • The student has diarrhea
  • The student has an undiagnosed rash
  • A student is diagnosed with a communicable disease (e.g. Influenza, Pneumonia, Strep Throat)
  • A student has severe cold symptoms.
  • A student is lethargic, is pale, has little appetite, and is generally "not him/herself."

The student will be allowed to return to school 24 hours after symptoms resolve without fever-reducing medications, when a normal diet can be resumed, and a doctors note is obtained. A student may return to school after taking antibiotics for a minimum of 24 hours. A note from a physician is also required if a student has missed three or more consecutive days.

Students are also discouraged from coming late to school due to illness. If your child does not feel well in the morning, please keep him or her home for the day.
    
You may contact the Health Office directly with details or questions regarding your child.
 
Health Office Contact:  Tara Kardum , 732-542-4777 Ext 1132.
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