RBS - COVID-19 - Coronavirus Update
March 12, 2020
From the Executive Director
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Thank you for your confidence in Rock Brook School, which has been evident by your display of calm and patience, as we navigate the endless alerts, warnings and cautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know, this is a quickly-evolving issue and school closures are increasing hour by hour.
Please know that Rock Brook School will be open tomorrow, and will remain open each and every school day to serve your children, unless we receive a written directive to close our school from a local, county, state, or federal agency with jurisdiction to effect such an order. We understand the critical importance for your children to receive the services we provide, and we will remain open to provide those services as long as we are able.
We are fully aware that many public school districts have closed or are planning to close for one or more days in order to clean and/or provide time for staff to prepare online lessons in case of a government mandated closure. Please know that our amazing Rock Brook staff began working on plans last week, and then continued their efforts this week, so that a full day closure for planning is not necessary at this time. Our previously scheduled Early Release day for this coming Monday, March 16, will provide additional time for our staff to continue working on a variety of Digital Distance Learning (DDL) plans that we would utilize if a school closure is mandated.
As you know from recent communications from us, we are gathering information about students’ at home Internet access, and device accessibility, to assist us with planning for the possibility of a school closure and a need for DDL. If you have not yet responded to our recent surveys, please do so as soon as possible. RBS - Home Technology Access Survey
Within our school and classrooms, our staff is actively cleaning and disinfecting surfaces throughout the day and monitoring students to ensure that we are doing everything possible to avoid the spread of corona or any other communicable virus. Nurse Lisa has also begun a “classroom tour” by visiting classrooms, sharing universal precaution practices and encouraging health and wellness practices among our students. Additionally, our school counselor, Miss Jessica, has shared the following link from the National Association of School Psychologists, which you may find helpful for conversations with your child:
Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource
We will continue to keep you informed as new information becomes available. Again, thank you for your support and your patience as we work through this challenge together. Be well!
Sincerely,
Glenn Famous