Good Morning District 99 Students, Families, and Staff:
I know that everything yesterday moved quickly and there are many questions out there about what comes next for our school community. Please expect to be receiving a lot of digital communication in the coming days.
Please take time to read the messages that come your way.
Yesterday’s decision to cancel school for the next few weeks came together very quickly. We have been operating with guidance from the DuPage County Regional Office of Education and the experts at the DuPage County Health Department (their information related to COVID-19 can be found here). They have been explaining to us the CDC guidelines for COVID-19, and how they work to keep us safe. With the absence of confirmed COVID-19 cases in DuPage County, we have been operating for the past week within the strategies recommended by the CDC in the first two columns on pages 3-7 of the chart in the CDC guidelines. Based on that information, I had fully expected to have school in session until Spring Break.
However, yesterday the strategy across our community and the State began to change towards an approach of social distancing. As a result, we are responding to this crisis in a proactive manner, as if our community already has a substantial outbreak, even before there is a reported case in DuPage County. Therefore, we have put into place personal protective measures to close down our schools for students, while most of our staff will continue to work to support our community.
This is a drastic--but we believe critical--measure. For it to be effective and not anxiety producing, we ask that you take the following actions based on recommendations by the CDC and the DuPage County Health Department:
- Avoid gathering in public places - especially in close proximity to others.
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
- Try to keep 6-10 feet between yourself and others - give yourself space.
- Be at home as much as possible.
- Try to limit who you and your children interact with to the same people you typically are around.
- Students and families should not:
- Gather in large groups - this is a time to be close with those who are closest to you.
- Visit each other’s homes or having sleepovers.
- Share food or drink.
- Compete in team sporting activities - use this time to train individually or with someone in the home.
- Students and families should:
- Avoid excessive media coverage of COVID-19.
- Take care of their bodies. Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.
- Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Try to do some other activities you enjoy to return to your normal life.
- Spend time outside - fresh air and exercise is one of the best things you can do over the next few weeks.
- Connect with others. Share your concerns and how you are feeling with friends or family members. Maintain healthy relationships.
- Use your technology and social media for good purposes - support one another and show that you care for one another.
- Maintain a sense of hope and positive thinking.
Keep following the practice of washing your hands regularly and covering your cough or sneeze.
We will be following up on Monday with a lot more information related to teaching and learning. We are focused on demonstrating to you that we care about you and want to help keep moving our students’ learning forward during these unprecedented times.
We ask that you partner with us in “flattening the curve,” and helping to stop the outbreak even before it gets into our school community. Please set the example for our children through your actions and put the safety of everyone above our own valued experiences.
I appreciate our partnership in keeping our students and community safe and healthy.
More to come…
Hank