This letter describes the steps Greene Street Friends School is taking to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and also to prepare for distance learning in light of continuing concerns about the virus. You will also see that several requests follow.
More communication will follow based on our rapidly evolving situation.
To date, we have:
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Developed risk metrics that outline strategies for continued education and operations.
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Re-envisioned tomorrow afternoon's professional development. It will now be an afternoon committed to teacher education about virtual learning.
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Cancelled the student trip to Costa Rica.
The risk metrics include considerations for school opening and closing, field trips, group gatherings, outside facility rentals, and visitor protocols. Right now, we are at a
Level 1:Low Risk
, which translates to regular school programming, with hygiene and handwashing emphasized. International travel has been cancelled. Other risk levels include:
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Risk Level 2 would include a campus only open for students and teachers. Parents and Caregivers by appointment, and some form of distance learning for quarantined students.
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Risk Level 3 would include closing campus fully to visitors, no exceptions, cancelling all field trips.
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Risk Level 4 would see a closure of the facility. We would do this under the direction of the City of Philadelphia or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Should the risk level change
, we will inform the school community immediately via email and give further direction at that point.
There are a few items that we hope that you can help with:
Attendance:
Please keep sick children at home. As a reminder, students may return to school if they are fever-free for 24 hours. We understand that strong attendance is a concern for families who are applying to public schools. We will work with schools to see that these absences are excused, as we have in the past.
If a member of your household is tested for Covid-19,
please alert us with a direct communication to [email protected] so that we can support you and your family and work with health officials to make the best decisions for our school.
If you or any family member in your household has returned from China, Iran, South Korea, or Italy in the last 14 days, or if you or any member of your household have had contact with an infected or quarantined person in our area,
we ask that you follow the following safety protocols:
Family and professional travel:
We ask that all GSFS families consider professional and personal travel carefully. The CDC has recommended that vulnerable populations avoid air travel, cruises, crowded venues and events that host over 150 people. We know that when we are exposed we will expose others, some of whom may be vulnerable. We ask families to self report travel and, based on the recommendation of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, may ask that you and your family delay your return to campus following travel.
Preparing in case of remote learning:
We are currently assembling plans and solidifying platforms to use with teachers and students if school is closed for Coronavirus-related reasons.
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6th, 7th, 8th graders:
Students in these grades will be expected to bring their school-issued chromebook home each night.
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5th graders
will be provided with school-issued chromebooks for remote learning on Thursday. They should take these devices and chargers home and have them remain at home.
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If your child is having any issues with chromebooks - needing charging cables, internet connectivity, etc., please let Julia know ([email protected])
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Lower school students
should also expect a combination of online resources and pdf files of work packets to be assigned.
It is possible that middle and lower school students (perhaps with caregiver support) will be invited to participate in an on-line conference call with teachers and their fellow classmates to discuss certain aspects of the curriculum. We will have more to share about this soon.
We will stay in close touch with you and continue to appreciate your partnership.
Sincerely,
Dr. Edward W. Marshall
Head of School
