Feb. 26, 2020
Dear Shady Side Academy Families,
The health and safety of our students and school community are always our highest priorities. Please know that we are closely monitoring the advisories and following recommendations related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Allegheny County Health Department, and other governmental agencies.
While we are thankful there has been no evidence of novel coronavirus in the Pittsburgh area to date, we are actively planning and preparing for that possibility. We have convened the Academy's emergency response team to review existing protocols and formulate contingency plans should the virus appear in our community, or should local authorities issue certain recommendations or mandates for schools.
We have already canceled or postponed several international trips for faculty and students that were planned for this spring, and our admissions office is instituting new protocols for visiting applicants. If your family has plans to travel internationally over spring break, we urge you to closely monitor the latest travel advisories and to be aware that Shady Side Academy will need to follow any governmental recommendations relating to individuals who have returned to the country after traveling overseas.
This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we are keeping pace with the latest guidance for schools. Tonight several of us will be participating in person or virtually in a conference session on novel coronavirus preparedness by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), which will further inform our plans. We will continue to update you as our plans evolve.
In the meantime, we remind all families of the following best practices and school policies:
- Cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or a sleeve, not your hands
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly
- Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- If your child exhibits respiratory or flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing, keep them home from school and contact your healthcare provider.
- Per SSA's illness policy, any student with a fever must stay home for 24 hours after their fever has broken (without the use of fever-reducing medication).
Here are a few helpful resources regarding novel coronavirus (COVID-19):
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or your child's school head. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation as we work together to ensure the health and safety of our students.
Sincerely,
Bart Griffith '93
President