A MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATE HEADMASTER
March 6, 2020
Hello from the Hilltop,
As our campus prepares to quiet down for March Break and our students look forward to spending much-deserved time with family and friends, I'd like to reiterate Salisbury's action plan regarding COVID-19 including the return-to-campus protocols for all families. Before I outline the protocols in place, I would like to acknowledge the stress and anxiety that COVID-19 has created around the world and extend a sincere thank you to those families and students who made the decision to remain on campus during our March Break in lieu of returning home to family in areas designated high-risk by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
I'm proud to write that the entire Salisbury community has embraced the call for making such accommodations possible for our students. We have designed an itinerary that will both entertain our boys affected by travel restrictions and allow for periods of rest and relaxation in front of our final trimester which begins on March 30. In addition to planning for their stay, the Salisbury community has worked to acknowledge the emotional strains placed on our boys and make time to ensure our students are well cared for emotionally and physically. Our community continues to amaze me with its capacity to make more room for those in need.
To begin, please know that Salisbury continues to monitor the situation closely through the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), and based on their guidance and recommendations, we will persist with the following measures:
· We continue to request that all visitors to campus, including admissions candidates and parents, who have traveled to heavily impacted areas within the last 14 days, re-schedule their visit to campus.
· We are requesting that no students, faculty or staff travel to those areas designated by the CDC at a level 2 or higher, and other high-risk areas.
· To prevent airport delays, ALL students were provided with a letter from our Director of Health Services Beth Hammond P'20 that verifies the student's presence on campus during the previous 14 days and attests to the student's good health prior to his March Break departure from campus.
· As the situation continues to evolve, we have asked the Salisbury community to stay up to date with travel guidelines made by the CDC and be aware that the guidelines may change while traveling.
· Should the situation arise, please be prepared to find alternative quarantine arrangements for your son, as students will not be allowed to quarantine at Salisbury School. Families traveling internationally may experience travel delays and difficulties and need to be prepared to make arrangements for distance learning options, housing and supervision and healthcare of their son should the situation require such alternative plans.
The health and wellness of the Salisbury community is, as always, our top priority. Salisbury will continue to monitor the recommendations made by the CDC and WHO on COVID-19 and is prepared to expand its return-to-campus safety protocols should recommendations change. Additionally, faculty will continue to remind students to be aware of how they are feeling and encourage any student who may not feel well to visit the Health Center.
As a reminder, flu season is still in full swing and our goal is to maintain a healthy campus throughout the spring trimester. Upon return to campus, Salisbury will be implementing measures to reduce the potential spread of viruses. These include reinforcing best hygiene practices, modifying dining services protocols, increased cleaning and sanitation measures and making adjustments to our daily schedule, if needed.
Please be mindful that, regardless of where your son has traveled, if he has ANY signs of illness within 5 days of his return to campus, please contact the Health Center and keep him home until he is cleared to return to campus. Parents are advised that, should your son become ill while at School, Salisbury will require parents to make arrangements to care for students off-campus as soon as possible.
We are confident that with continued attention to detail, good communication and by working together we can navigate this growing concern while maintaining a healthy community.
Thank you for your continued partnership. Bobby Wynne P'19 Associate Headmaster ©2020 Salisbury School |