|
Dear Oxbridge Faculty and Staff,
On January 31 we informed the Oxbridge community of the precautionary measures we implemented and our plans to closely monitor the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to remain updated on the developing situation regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). A lot has happened since then that necessitates this update to you, and a separate update to our parents regarding their students. While this information may seem like an overabundance of caution, the school's responsibility is to effectively manage the risks associated with COVID-19 and to put measures in place to limit the possibility of an outbreak on campus. Please review the information below that pertains to all employees.
International Travel
If your plans between now and the end of the school year involve international travel, we require that you share your travel plans with us.
If you travel through or to an area for which CDC suggests self-quarantine or an area that later becomes subject to a CDC warning or alert, the school will require you to wait 14 days after your stateside return before you return to campus. Countries are being added, upgraded, and downgraded on CDC's lists daily. As of today, the CDC considers
China, Iran, Italy and South Korea Level 3 areas, and Japan as Level 2. The situation with this virus is fluid. We advise that you follow the CDC information when making your travel decisions and keep in mind any quarantine requirements that may affect you upon your return. You should also be aware of travel restrictions in layover cities and countries as well as your final destinations as each country has determined restrictions or bans on travel to and from other countries.
Upcoming School-Sponsored Trips
All domestic and international student trips that are currently planned, as well as local field trips, are being evaluated based on travel recommendations from the CDC and the state of Florida. This is a very fluid situation that will impact decisions on a daily basis. We will keep you informed as soon as we make decisions.
Campus Visitors/Speakers
If you have arranged for a speaker or a guest artist in your classroom, please check with them to ensure they have not been in one of the risk areas identified by the CDC as Level 2 or 3 in the last 14 days. Please notify your department head if this is an issue.
International Students
Two of our international students from China who planned on returning home for spring break are unable to do so due to travel restrictions. We are grateful to their host families for accommodating these students during the break. We are working on contingency plans should our students from China and other countries be unable to return home after the school year ends. COVID-19 is an especially troubling situation for our international students. We need to provide extra care and support for these students who are far away from their families during this global COVID-19 outbreak.
School Shutdown Contingency Plans
We are working on contingency plans should the spread of the outbreak worsen, requiring schools to shut down. We are reviewing platforms that can facilitate distance learning, the technical requirements necessary, and the timing of content delivery. We will discuss this with staff and faculty at tomorrow's meeting.
CDC Guidelines to Prevent the Spread of Illnesses
We are doing everything we can to keep our community safe. Please help us by doing your part by following the CDC guidelines to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:
- If you are sick, please stay home. If you have questions about your sick days, please contact Melissa Nace-Perez.
- Cover your cough and sneezes.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-90% alcohol.
- Disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Centralized Communication
It is important that we have a centralized location for inquiries and questions we receive regarding our plans and policies related to COVID-19 and coordinate all school communications. Refer parents and students with questions to the most recent school communication about COVID-19 and suggest they contact [email protected] if they have additional questions. The communications department will route questions to the appropriate staff member and catalog all inquiries and responses. Please do not disseminate any information that has not been reviewed by the communications department and approved by me.
We encourage you to regularly check the CDC website for updates. This is the main site for COVID-19 information being used by Oxbridge, the Palm Beach County School District, the Palm Beach County Health District, and the state of Florida.
We will continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 and update the Oxbridge community as needed.
Best,
Ralph
|
