This message is being sent to the entire ASW community along with an SMS message and Zimplicity post to assure that all are aware of the enclosed stipulations before returning to school next week.
In response to the increased concerns in countries surrounding Poland and as a result of the increased risk associated with travel during the break, the following is being implemented as we move to a limited Risk Level 2 on our Crisis Management Matrix.
- By directive from CEESA, all student events have been canceled through May 1, 2020, due to the current and unpredictable risks associated with travel, border crossing, and inspections that traveling groups might face at destinations and while traveling. Many countries are implementing strict standards associated with student travel and gatherings even if borders generally remain open. CEESA’s letter to the region is attached to this message.
- For ASW, this stipulation will also mean cancelation of all other student travel, including most planned local or regional field trips.
- Adult staff travel for Professional Development will be assessed and approved on a case-by-case basis.
Locally, the following is requested and will be required from all families:
- Staff, students, or family members who have traveled to the CDC identified Level 2 or 3 areas will be required to stay home to self-quarantine and monitor symptoms for 14 days from the date of return to Warsaw. The current list includes: China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, and Italy (north of Pisa).
- Students and/or parents should contact their teachers after Monday, March 2 to plan for classwork during this exclusion period. More advice on staying involved in classwork will come next week when staff members have returned and better able to respond. Reminder: school resumes on Tuesday, March 3.
School procedures according to our risk matrix include the following (some continued from before):
- We will continue to interview and provide limited access to the campus for all registered visitors, including during our open house on Thursday, March 5. This is for registered visitors only and not open to the general public.
- School programs, including after school activities will continue without interruption.
- All other regularly scheduled activities will continue as planned other than those excluded above.
- Selected trips scheduled within Poland will be evaluated and determined on a case-by-case basis, informing parents of status at the earliest opportunity.
- The ASW and CEESA Crisis teams will meet weekly going forward to assess and provide guidance on the regional situation.
- All events at school will be restricted to parents, staff, and students only.
- As per prior advice, parents should not send students to school with symptoms. See: https://zimplicity.org/2020/01/29/coronavirus-outbreak/
We are very much aware of concerns developing throughout Europe and the bombardment of media reports, some accurate and many wildly inaccurate. Please remember we measure our actions with a maximum degree of balance and objectivity, using reliable sources. Also, there are still no confirmed cases in Poland and we are hopeful of retaining that status.
We should also be concerned about the social/emotional effect of this situation on ourselves and our children. Earlier this week, I posted a document shared by the ISCA (International School Counselors Association) to help in taking care of your children during this period. Please read it here: https://zimplicity.org/2020/02/24/notes-during-the-break/
Please remain calm during this difficult juncture. We may have many more families affected by this current action. It is impossible for us to know all family travel plans, so this current level of action requires that families follow our stipulations on their own to protect and assure the safety of our community. We’ve already faced this once and it was admirable that three families went to great lengths to protect the school by maintaining their self-quarantine. Their messages were positive and encouraging throughout and speak to the character and quality of the ASW Warrior family. If you have any questions, please write to me. I’ll do my best to respond. You can post comments on Zimplicity for the community to share and I’ll answer questions publicly there as well.
Stay well and, if you are out of Warsaw, we wish you a safe return.
Additional note: Absences will be excused as long as students maintain contact with teachers, complete assigned work, and maintain academic standing.
Another note: While we tried to secure access based on the suggestion of a parent, hospitals are no longer allowing elective testing for COVID-19. You can only be tested if you are demonstrating symptoms.
Our primary sources remain:
CDC Alert Level – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
WHO Situation Reports – https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/
COVID-19 Situation Report for European Region – http://who.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ead3c6475654481ca51c248d52ab9c61
Johns Hopkins Interactive Map – https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your update of the current situation . Will this 14 days quarantine be counted towards absences?
Best Regards
Mike( 8 grade Parent)
We will review all students and approve waivers for the coronavirus absence as needed. Thanks for this. It was an oversight not to include this in the letter. This waiver is based on students completing work at home that is assigned by the teacher and maintaining good academic standing.