Dear Baker parents:
The safety and well-being of our Baker students, parents and staff is always our top priority. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve locally, nationally and globally, we want to highlight a few action steps we are taking and also reiterate helpful precautions for individuals from the CDC and IDPH.
Field Trips & Assemblies
For now, we are postponing field trips that require transportation. Student explorations in nature in the immediate area around the school that can be done by walking are still encouraged. We will also not hold assemblies for the foreseeable future.
Visitors in the Building
We are asking that all visitors (including parents) to the building wash their hands after checking in at the Main Office. We are postponing outside speakers wherever possible and are limiting facility rentals.
Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday and Friday
At this point, we plan to hold parent-teacher conferences as planned. If you would prefer to conduct your conference via phone or Google Hangouts Meet, please reach out directly to your child's teacher(s) to let them know. For everyone entering the building for conferences, please arrive a few minutes early to wash your hands before attending your first conference.
Additional Building Precautions
In addition to regular cleaning protocol, frequently touched surfaces are being wiped down 3 times per day and teachers are taking extra precautions wiping down classrooms throughout the day.
Trips & Travel
We encourage everyone traveling to continue to check the
CDC
and
State Department
websites for travel advisories. If you do travel to an area designated level 3 or above, we ask that you to self-report to Assistant Head of School,
Denise Boswell
.
Recommended Precautions for Individuals
Basic precautions can help slow the spread of this virus. The following recommendations follow the guidelines of the
CDC
and the
IDPH
. Please contact school nurse,
Anne Riggs
if you or someone in your household is under a self-quarantine or if you have a combination of a fever, cough and shortness of breath and have obtained the advice of a medical professional.
- Wash your hands often for 20 seconds with warm water and soap
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Wipe down surfaces regularly with disinfectant wipes
- Avoid touching your face, especially eyes, nose and mouth
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw it away immediately
- Do not send your child/ren to school if they are sick. Children who have had a fever cannot return to school until they are fever-free without medication for 24 hours. Out of an abundance of caution, we would encourage you to keep your child home until they are fever-free for 48 hours if possible.
As we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our entire community, we will keep you updated. We know this is creating anxiety and fear for a lot of people. As is at the heart of the Baker ethos, we encourage you to continue to let kindness and not fear guide your interactions. Fear is not an excuse for discrimination, exclusion and the fueling of hatred or bias.
Sincerely,
Carly and Baker Leadership Team
